Financial Aid Resources for Students
You may find it financially rewarding to explore a variety of aid in pursuit of your career in audiology, speech-language pathology, and the related sciences.
Types of funding. Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral students.
Sources. Federal, state, and local governments; private agencies; foundations; and service organizations such as fraternities and sororities.
Aid for specific groups of recipients. Racially/ethnically diverse, those with disabilities, mature returning students, and gender specific.
Get Started Early
The sooner you begin, the better your chances of tapping into all available funding sources. By starting now and searching thoroughly, you may well be able to complete your education debt-free!
Ask for advice. Consult with your high school guidance counselor, college/university career counselor, and/or the financial aid office.
Get specific. Research various sources of aid. Make a list of the requirements, applications, and deadlines. Apply early for the best opportunity.
Expand Your Search. In addition to the many funding resources shown here, expand your search to include audiology, speech-language pathology, communication, healthcare and science careers. Time spent on the Internet can pay big dividends.
Funding Opportunities
American Speech Language Hearing Foundation
Each year the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHF) offers several scholarship and grant competitions to graduate students and new researchers in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
Up to ten Graduate Student Scholarships are available annually for master's or doctoral level students studying audiology or speech language pathology. Of the ten scholarships, one gives priority to a student with a disability, one gives priority to an international student studying in the US, and one gives priority to a US citizen who is a member of an ethnic or racial minority group. The scholarships range between $2,000 and $4,000.
Research Grants
Graduate Scholarships
Federal and State Education Programs
- Department of Education - Especially for Students
- For information about federal programs, visit Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. Programs include the Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Loans and Work-Study Programs. Also, you may obtain information concerning federal education loans, for example, the Federal Perkins Loans, which allow audiologists and speech-language pathologists working in public schools cancellation privileges.
- State Grant Programs. Contact Special Education Departments, Higher Education Assistance, Student or College Aid Commissions to learn about financial assistance available in your state or visit your state's Web site to learn more.
Resources, Scholarships and Loan Programs
Publications
- Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid
- Foundation Directory. This book can be found at college, university and local public libraries. Foundations award scholarships to high school graduates and individuals enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Need a Lift
An annually updated booklet published by the American Legion. You may obtain one by visiting Need a Lift, or sending a check or money order for $3.95 to National Emblem Sales, P.O. Box 1050, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206.
Universities
Most graduate programs have their own grant, scholarship and loan programs as well as opportunities for part-time employment. Students may inquire through the graduate school, and the communication sciences and disorders department at the college or university where they expect to be enrolled. You can find out about funding opportunities for specific academic programs through the ASHA online search engine for academic programs, EDFIND .
Web Links
Training Grants
Contact departments of communication sciences and disorders at individual colleges and universities regarding training grants for audiology and speech-language pathology programs that they may have available. Funding may be provided by federal government agencies, such as the following: