Information on Federally Assisted Health Professions Scholarship Programs

The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Department of Defense (DOD), and other medical scholarship programs are compared. The DOD program does not appear to be as competitive with other programs because of: (1) its longer service obligation; (2) the deferred eligibility of DOD program graduates for variable incentive pay; (3) uncertainty over the tax status of scholarship program benefits; and (4) deferred residencies under the DOD program. Appendices include plans to make the DOD program more competitive.