Physical Therapy Scholarships

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program has a number of internal and external scholarships that are specifically available to qualifying DPT students, including:

  • Description

    Purpose: To award a scholarship to a Year 3 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student(s) to offset costs to attend clinical education experience.

    Where to Apply: River Hawk Scholarship Portal

    • Date Portal Opens: September 15
    • Date Portal Closes: November 1

    Selection Requirements

    Scholarship Criteria: Applicants must:

    Be a Year 3 DPT student (≥ 74 credits earned)

    Demonstrates financial need to support travel or significant impact on housing cost for attending a clinical education experience that they would otherwise face significant challenge attending

    Statements

    Two Essays:

    1. Discuss your professional, University or community involvement that merits consideration for this award. Emphasize the knowledge, skills and abilities that demonstrate your potential for leadership in the profession. Max Length 600 words
    2. Describe your financial need and expenses you expect to incur during your third-year clinical experience (e.g., travel, housing, etc.). Max Length of 600 words
      • Be specific regarding funding requests, such as: (1) round trip air fare; (2) round trip mileage if driving (need to provide a google map document for confirmation); (3) tolls if driving; and (4) monthly rental expenses (documentation requested [e.g., lease, or email from landlord, etc.]).
      • Normally incurred expenses, such as gas required to commute to the site, groceries, or exploration of the novel area are not to be included.
      • If you did not file a FAFSA, please explain your financial need and why you should be considered for need based scholarship.

    Previous Recipients

    • 2023: Erin Buron and Emilie Hurley

  • Description

    Purpose: Provides scholarships to graduate students who are pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who demonstrate potential for leadership in the profession. Students must have financial need.

    Where to Apply: River Hawk Scholarship Portal

    • Date Portal Opens: March 1
    • Date Portal Closes: March 27

    Selection Requirements

    Scholarship Criteria: Applicants must:

    1. Be a DPT student
    2. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) ≥ 3.0
    3. Demonstrate financial need

    Previous Recipients

    • 2023: Allyson Dillon and Jonathan Louis
    • 2022: Thomas Sherriff

  • Description

    Student members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) are also eligible for a variety of scholarships and awards through the APTA, the Physical Therapy (PT) Fund, and various APTA Academies.

    Visit the APTA website and the PT Fund website for more information.

Other Scholarships

There are also a number of other internal scholarships from UMass Lowell that are available to qualifying DPT students, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Description

    Purpose: Provides scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Awarded to students in the departments of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, Public Health and Sustainability, Physical Therapy, or Nursing. Recipient selection will rotate among the four majors annually. Students must provide two letters of reference: one from within and one from outside the University. This scholarship was established by Dr. Janice Stecchi.

    Where to Apply: River Hawk Scholarship Portal

    • Date Portal Opens: March 1
    • Date Portal Closes: March 27

  • Description

    Purpose: Provides scholarships to non-traditional/second career students pursuing a degree in Radiology Technician, Medical Technician, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Imaging Technician, Medical Assistant. Students must be living or working in Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford. This scholarship was established by Nashoba Valley Health Care.

    Where to Apply: River Hawk Scholarship Portal

    • Date Portal Opens: March 1
    • Date Portal Closes: March 27

  • Description

    Purpose: Provides scholarships to graduate students, with financial need, who have a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Recipients will be selected based on academic record, service to the University and/or community and a strong individual capacity or ability in a creative field or discipline. This scholarship was established by Noresco.

    Where to Apply: River Hawk Scholarship Portal

    • Date Portal Opens: March 1
    • Date Portal Closes: March 27