The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences offers two types of scholarships to all new students enrolling in the following entry-level campus-based and flex programs: Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). These scholarship funds are applied to tuition and fees only.

We encourage you to review the eligibility requirements and apply for a scholarship.  The application process will open three months prior to deadline dates listed below.

Scholarship application deadline dates:

Fall

• July 10th
  • *August 15th
    *if admitted July 5th or after and not able to apply before the 1st deadline

Spring

• November 1st 
  • *December 1st
    *If admitted Oct 25th or after and not able to apply before 1st deadline

 Summer

• March 1 
  • *April 15
    *If admitted Feb 23rd or after and not able to apply by 1st deadline

Information on each of the scholarships follows:

Outstanding Academic Achievement and Leadership Scholarship*

The University awards these scholarships in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential to two applicants per program, per campus. The top ranked applicant from each campus-based program that meets the criteria is eligible for $6,000 per academic year ($2,000 per term). The 2nd ranked applicant is eligible for $2,000 per academic year (approximately $667 per term). The top ranked applicant from each Flex program that meets the criteria is eligible for $4,500 per academic year ($1,500 per term), and the 2nd ranked applicant is eligible for $1,500 per academic year ($500 per term).

Scholarships are awarded to the entering students who best meet the following criteria:

• Preferred minimum GRE score (verbal and quantitative sections combined) of 300 (latest GRE version), alternatively a minimum of 3.5 GPA on program prerequisites.
• A one-page essay on “My Leadership Experiences,” please include your name and student ID at the top of the essay and be sure to entitle your essay:  My Leadership Experiences.
• A review of a curriculum vitae or resume that showcases leadership roles held

To retain Outstanding Academic Achievement and Leadership scholarship, a recipient must:

• Remain a full-time student in the applicable degree program. Scholarships are not transferable to another University degree program.
• Remain enrolled each trimester in all courses in the established curricular pathway for the applicable program. Withdrawing from a course(s) would remove a student from the established curricular pathway causing him/her to be ineligible for the scholarship for the subsequent trimester.
• Retain a 3.5 cumulative GPA with USAHS at the end of each trimester; this will be monitored by the Scholarship organizer.

If a recipient does not meet any of these requirements, he/she will be ineligible for the scholarship award for the subsequent trimester. The scholarship would be reinstated the following term if the student again meets the requirement.

Community Service Scholarships

The University awards these scholarships in recognition of dedicated students who help others, and who are regularly involved in volunteer work, possess an extensive service background and a demonstrated interest in future service. The top ranked applicant from each campus-based program is eligible for $4,000 per academic year (approximately $1,333 per term). The 2nd ranked applicant is eligible for $2,000.00 per academic year (approximately $667 per term). The top ranked applicant from each Flex program is eligible for  $3,000 per academic year ($1000 per term), and the 2nd ranked applicant is eligible for $1,500 per academic year ($500 per term).

Scholarships are awarded to the entering students who best meet the following criteria:

• Preferred minimum GRE score (verbal and quantitative sections combined) 298 (latest GRE version), alternatively a minimum of 3.0 GPA on program prerequisites.
• A one/two-page essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community, including in the essay how you plan to continue these activities as a healthcare practitioner. Please include your name and student ID at the top of the essay and be sure to entitle your essay:   “My Community Service Contributions” and include the name and address of the organization(s) included in the essay.
• A review of a curriculum vitae or resume that showcases the co-curricular activities held.

To retain Community Service scholarship, a recipient must:

• Remain a full-time student in the applicable degree program. Scholarships are not transferable to another University degree program.
• Remain enrolled each trimester in all courses in the established curricular pathway for the applicable program. Withdrawing from a course(s) would remove a student from the established curricular pathway causing him/her to be ineligible for the scholarship for the subsequent trimester.
• Submit to the scholarship committee before the end of the award year a summary of volunteer work you participated in for that year and the impact on the community.

If a recipient does not meet any of these requirements, he/she will be ineligible for the scholarship award for the subsequent trimester. The scholarship would be reinstated the following term if the student again meets the requirement.

St. Augustine, Florida, Campus – The first professional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and Master of Occupational Therapy degree programs are approved by the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs for training of veterans and other eligible persons. Questions regarding benefits, enrollment certification, etc., should be directed to the certifying officer in the Financial Aid Office on the St. Augustine, Florida, campus.

San Marcos, California, Campus – The first professional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and Master of Occupational Therapy degree programs are approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education. Questions regarding benefits, enrollment certification, etc., should be directed to the certifying officer in the Financial Aid Office on the San Marcos, California, campus.

Austin, Texas, Campus – The first professional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Master of Occupational Therapy, and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree programs are approved by the Texas Veteran Commission for training of veterans and other eligible persons. Questions regarding benefits, enrollment certification, etc., should be directed to the certifying officer on the Austin, Texas, campus.

Miami, Florida, Campus – The first professional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Master of Occupational Therapy degree programs are approved by the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs for training of veterans and other eligible persons. Questions regarding benefits, enrollment certification, etc., should be directed to the certifying officer in the Financial Aid Office on the St. Augustine, Florida, campus.

Post Professional Programs –

The post professional Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, Post Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Health Science, Doctor of Education, Master of Health Administration, Master of Health Science, Master of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Post-Graduate Nursing certificate degree programs are currently approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education for training of veterans and other eligible persons. Questions regarding benefits, enrollment certification, etc., should be directed to the certifying officer in the Financial Aid Office on the San Marcos, CA, campus.

Campus based First Professional programs participate in Yellow-Ribbon program for eligible Veterans.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is pleased to continue participation in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Program for the Campus-based first Professional campus degree programs. Yellow Ribbon is a scholarship designed to help students supplement the tuition and fees cost that exceeds the amount allotted in the Post 9/11 GI Bill yearly cap.  The program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

Applications are accepted on a first come, first-served basis up to:

• San Marcos, California Campus: 8 – Graduate students at $5,000.00 and 4 – Graduate students at $2,500.00
• Augustine, Florida Campus: 8 – Graduate students at $5,000.00 and 4 – Graduate students at $2,500.00
• Austin, Texas Campus: 8 – Graduate students at $5,000.00 and 4 – Graduate students at $2,500.00
• Miami, Florida Campus: 8 – Graduate students at $5,000.00 and 4 – Graduate students at $2,500.00

The recipients of Yellow Ribbon can receive up to $10,000 (up to $5,000 from USAHS and up to $5,000 to be matched by the VA) for tuition and fees per academic year.

For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 33) students and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679 which means Post 9/11 and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments.  For eligibility consideration, a Post 9/11 GI Bill student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Student must provide a VAF 28-1905 form. Please see 38 USC 3679(e) for complete details.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

For questions regarding eligibility, yellow ribbon benefits, and the application process, contact the certifying officer on the respective campus.

Military Tuition Assistance

Active duty military personnel may be authorized to receive Federal Tuition Assistance.  All Active Duty Service Members (including Guard and Reserve) must contact their Education Service Officer (ESO) or Education Counselor within your branch of service prior to enrolling in USAHS.

Our Financial Aid Director is required to complete the DoD MOU Compliance Tutorial and have the experience and qualifications to administer Tuition Assistance funds.

Return of Tuition Assistance:  Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded.  When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.  To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, USAHS will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through at least 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided.  TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.  These funds are returned to the military Service branch.  Instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

The “Paying for College” webpage, which can be used by prospective students to enter up to 3 schools and receive detailed financial information on each, can be found here.

Most financial aid is disbursed in three equal payments over the award period. Students in good standing may have an excess balance in their account returned to them to pay for indirect education expenses. Any time financial aid proceeds credited to a student’s account exceed direct charges, this creates a Title IV credit balance. The Office of the Bursar will automatically forward the credit balance directly to the student, no later than 14 calendar days after the Title IV credit balance occurs.  It is recommended, at the beginning of each term, to make plans to cover living expenses for at least the first 3 weeks without reliance on loans. Loans do not begin disbursing until a week after classes start.

USAHS has partnered with BankMobile to deliver your financial aid refund. For more information about BankMobile, visit this link: http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/

To view our institution’s contract with BankMobile, a Division of Customers Bank, click here.

Last Updated:  August 5, 2020

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences acknowledges that it signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement Form assuring the University intends to use at least 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.  To meet the reporting requirements outlined in the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, the University is providing the following information:

The University was approved for and has been allocated Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds under the CARES Act totaling $993,092.  Those funds were received from the US Department of Education on May 13, 2020. Those funds were allocated as HEER funds for Student Aid in the amount of $496,546 as well as HEER funds for the Institution in the amount of $496,546.  Under the CARES Act, we are permitted to award HEER emergency student grants to first professional Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology students enrolled in a campus-based degree-granting program of study as of March 13, 2020.

Based on the University’s determination, all CARES Act funds that the University has received, including those received for the University to  cover its own higher costs incurred due to the COVID-19 crisis, should disburse fully to eligible residential students as part of financial relief  in recognition of  the unprecedented COVID-19 situation.  The estimated total number of students eligible to participate in federal aid programs and therefore eligible to receive CARES Act funds is 3,707.

Starting on May 14, 2020, the University to date has released CARES Act funds in the amount of  $268 per student to 3,586 eligible students in the total amount of  $961,048.  Payments have been processed and disbursed to students through BankMobile, the University’s third-party processor that issues student refunds. The University is planning to release the remaining balance to 121 students as their eligibility status is confirmed.

The University informed students of the availability of this funding and steps to confirm eligibility through University communications, as well as posting on the financial aid website.

CARES Act FAQs