Scholarships

Through the generosity of alumni, friends, corporations and foundations, the IU School of Medicine annually awards scholarships and loans to financially and academically deserving medical students. The named scholarships programs listed below reflect the importance that individuals have placed on making an investment in future physicians — an investment that will yield a valuable resource and quality medical practitioners.

Apply for scholarships

For more information on applying for Scholarships and Financial aid, please email medaid@iu.edu.

Scholarship Selection

IU School of Medicine awards over $8 million in scholarships annually, placing us at the national average for total scholarship funding per enrolled student. Scholarship funding has been a priority for the school. Dean Hess and the Office of Gift Development focus on scholarships when meeting with donors and alumni. To show his level of commitment, Dean Hess and Mrs. Hess have personally funded scholarships.

IU School of Medicine scholarships are used in the recruitment of our best and brightest students (focusing on merit and diversity). Additionally, IU School of Medicine grants merit-based and indebtedness scholarships to the fourth year students.

IU School of Medicine’s scholarship selections are made by the scholarship committee each year in late June with recruitment scholarships decided throughout the recruitment and admissions season. While some scholarships have restrictions, the committee maintains a philosophy of equal opportunity. Medical students receiving the Indiana Primary Care Scholarship, Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Programs (HPSP) or the National Health Service Corps Scholarship (NHSC) will be deemed ineligible for IU School of Medicine scholarships. Likewise, any student who is in the combined degree program will not be eligible for our scholarships.

Current categories of scholarship support

Academic/merit based
Donor-specified funding requirements (i.e., specific counties in Indiana, attending a specific campus, etc…)
Scholarships promoting class diversity
Financial need/disadvantaged/indebtedness

Scholarship requirements

Annual scholarships may be one year only with no expectation for renewal. Multi-year scholarships may have requirements for renewal.

All renewal scholarships require clear first time passing of all courses/clerkships and students must be in good academic standing require passing all courses on the first attempt as well as all USMLE exams.
Progress academically in a timely fashion and take exams when appropriate.
Loss of scholarship for academic (e.g. failure or repeating a year)/professionalism reasons may be permanent.
Scholarships from all sources may not exceed total tuition.
No more than four years of funding.

Good academic standing, as defined by the scholarship committee, is a student who is not on academic probation for any reason during the entire preceding academic year or semester.

View the current scholarship committee

Search for Scholarship Funds

The following endowed scholarships are available through the IU School of Medicine.

Striped table
Name	Description
Bloomington Medical Sciences Program Scholarship	Established in 1995 to aid students attending the Bloomington Medical Sciences Program, this scholarship is to be awarded to students who demonstrate high academic achievement and financial need.
Boyd L. Mahuron, MD, Scholarship	This scholarship was established in February 2000 through the Mahuron Charitable Remainder Unitrust to support medical student scholarships.
Brater Family Scholarship in Global Health	This scholarship was established in 2017 by the Brater Family to be used to support scholarships for medical students at the Indiana University School of Medicine who exhibit an interest in global health and would like to devote part of their medical school education to traveling to underserved countries to engage in outreach initiatives, particularly students participating in experiences in sub-Saharan Africa and most particularly in Kenya with the AMPATH program or its successor programs. Because, as part of its mission, Indiana University is committed to diversity, special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students, and/or students with diverse cultural experiences. The donors have a preference for underrepresented minority students. The scholarship shall not facilitate learners participating in religious based/mission programs in any area of the world. This scholarship may be used to defray travel expenses, such as airfare, lodging, etc., incurred during their educational experience as well as other reasonable program costs attendant to the work of the learner while on site.
Buckner Family Scholarship	Established in 2015 by Susanne Buckner Knoebel, MD, to honor five generations of the donor's family that have practiced medicine to provide scholarship and research support for academically talented IU School of Medicine students within the medical school's scholar's program. The recipient must demonstrate participation in rigorous coursework, and have achieved scholastic excellence in terms of academic awards and honors. To remain a Buckner Family Scholar, the recipient(s) must carry a full course load, remain in good academic standing, and display the highest standards of professional conduct. Participation in scholarly creative activity is also required, such as scientific research, or clinical studies. During a recipient(s) academic career, they shall be paired with a mentor to assist in the development of scholarly projects, career counseling and other aspects of educational and professional growth. The scholarship shall provide tuition, fees, and a living stipend for four years of study at the IU School of Medicine. In addition, Buckner Family Scholar(s) shall have access to research, internships, and creative activity grants to enhance learning opportunities during the summers before first and second years of medical school. Any application by a Buckner Family Scholar for an additional stipend to cover costs associated with attending a professional meeting; to work in a laboratory or clinic of a prominent scientist or clinician outside IU; to perform work in another institution; or for research, internship and creative activity grants, must be forwarded as a written recommendation by the recipient's mentor to the committee for approval.
Calvin E. and Alice Oyer Scholarship	Established in 2011 by Calvin E. Oyer to express his appreciation for the education he received which enabled him to have a fulfilling career and serve his community in a meaningful way.
Charles E. Test, MD, Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1998 by Dr. Charles E. Test, an Indianapolis physician and longtime friend and volunteer of the IU School of Medicine. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who has exhibited academic excellence.
Charles M. Wunsch, MD, Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 2006 by Charles M. Wunsch, MD and Linda Hojnacki. This scholarship will be used to support medical students scholarships. The recipients will demonstrate financial need. It is the preference of the donors that the recipient be of African-American decent.
Charles Meredith Thomas Memorial Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1988 through the will of Charles M. Thomas, who was comptroller of The Muncie Star and The Muncie Evening Press for 21 years before retiring in 1969. Scholarships are based upon need, character and scholastic standing, with preference given to students from Huntington County, IN.
Chase Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1996 by Chase Bank to support a scholarship for a medical student.
Chester A. Stayton, Jr. Scholarship	Established in 2010 by Frances M. Stayton, Michael Stayton, Robert Stayton and Barbara Stayton in honor and in memory of their husband and father, Chester A. Stayton, Jr., MD. The scholarship gives preference to medical students with financial need.
CICF Charles E. Test, MD, Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 2023 through the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Preference is given to students who are IU Bloomington graduates and reside in Indiana.
Class of 1943 Robert A. Garrett Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1998 by the Class of 1943 in celebration of their 55 year reunion and dedicated to Dr. Robert A. Garrett, past chair of the Department of Urology and class president.
Class of 1945 Rolla N. Harger Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1994 by the Class of 1945 alumni to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students. The alumni dedicated the scholarship to Rolla N. Harger who made a significant contribution to their success.
Class of 1946 and 1971 R. H. Behnke Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1996 by the Classes of 1946 and 1971 to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students.
Class of 1949 Scholarship	This scholarship is established in July 1999 by the Class of 1949 to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students.
Class of 1950 Hershel C. Moss scholarship	This scholarship was established in May 2000 by the Class of 1950 to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students.
Class of 1951 Scholarship	This scholarship was established in May 2001 by the Class of 1951 to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students.
Class of 1952 J. O. Ritchey Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1992 by the Class of 1952, this fund provides scholarships in memory of Dr. J. O. Ritchey, a noted physician and faculty member.
Class of 1953 Frank Forey Scholarship	This scholarship was established in 1998 by the Class of 1953 in celebration of their 45 year reunion and in memory of Dr. Frank Forey, the first full time chair of the Department of Pathology.
Class of 1954 Scholarship	This scholarship was established in May 1999 by the Class of 1954 to provide scholarships for IU School of Medicine students.