How UNCF scholarships work
UNCF does not run a single healthcare scholarship. It administers many separately funded scholarships, each with its own eligibility rules, award amount and deadline, and it lists the open ones every month on its website. UNCF describes itself as "the nation's largest private scholarship provider to minority group members" and says it awards more than $62 million in scholarships each year.
Health-field scholarships in the 2026-2027 cycle
These are the health-field awards UNCF's own monthly listings name for 2026-2027. All three have closed for this cycle, and they show the kind of award to watch for next year.
- Pearl S. Carter Endowment Fund: up to $6,842 in need-based aid for nursing students at a four-year accredited university, including UNCF-member institutions and other accredited HBCUs. Closed October 5, 2026.
- Johnson & Johnson Scholarship: $5,000 merit-based awards for New Jersey residents who are juniors or seniors pursuing nursing or other health sciences degrees at an accredited four-year school. Closed August 28, 2026.
- Wyeth-Aryst/AHP Endowed Scholarship: helps students in health-related fields bridge funding gaps so they can continue their education. Closed October 1, 2026.
How to apply
Each scholarship has its own application on UNCF's opportunities portal, linked from its listing on uncf.org/scholarships. UNCF's instruction is plain: "You will not be considered for a scholarship, internship or program until you submit all the information and essays the application requires." New health-field awards appear in the monthly lists, so check back each month.
Sources
- UNCF, Scholarships.
- UNCF, Scholarships for October at UNCF.
- UNCF, Scholarships for August at UNCF.
Checked against these pages on November 2, 2026.