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Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
93.925
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program increases diversity in the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The SDS program aims to increase the: 1) number of graduates practicing in primary care, 2) enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and 3) number of graduates working in medically underserved communities (MUCs). Schools provide scholarships, maintain and operate a program to recruit and retain students from disadvantaged backgrounds that encourages completion of school and service in primary care and in medically underserved communities.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
In Academic Year 2017-2018, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 3,047 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, slightly below the FY 2017 target but an increase from the prior year of 2,811 scholarships. This was due in large part to fewer grants being awarded in FY 2016 as well as a significant increase in the scholarship limit per student (increased from $15,000 to $30,000), resulting in more substantial investments in fewer individuals. The adjustment to the scholarship cap was made to reflect the increasing costs of health professions education programs. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (64 percent). Additionally, 1,051 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of Academic Year 2017-2018. Upon graduation, 68 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 52 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
In Academic Year 2017-2018, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 3,047 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, slightly below the FY 2017 target but an increase from the prior year of 2,811 scholarships. This was due in large part to fewer grants being awarded in FY 2016 as well as a significant increase in the scholarship limit per student (increased from $15,000 to $30,000), resulting in more substantial investments in fewer individuals. The adjustment to the scholarship cap was made to reflect the increasing costs of health professions education programs. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (64 percent). Additionally, 1,051 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of Academic Year 2017-2018. Upon graduation, 68 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 52 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
In Academic Year (AY) 2019-2020, the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,992 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (65 percent). Additionally, 1,325 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2019-2020. Upon graduation, 70 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 49 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
In Academic Year (AY) 2020-2021 the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,664 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (65 percent). Additionally, 801 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2020-2021. Upon graduation, 69 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in medically underserved communities, and 49 percent intended to work or pursue additional training in primary care settings.
In Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022 the SDS Program provided scholarships to 2,676 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of students were considered under-represented minorities (URMs) in their prospective professions (69 percent). Additionally, 1,193 students who received SDS-funded scholarships successfully graduated from their degree programs by the end of AY 2021-2022. Upon graduation, 54 percent currently work in medically underserved communities and 28 percent work in primary care settings. SDS students also trained in a variety of clinical settings: 67 percent in medically underserved communities, 37 percent in primary care settings, and 15 percent in rural areas. Furthermore, SDS students received additional training on topics such as health equity (50 percent) and integrating behavioral health into primary care (30 percent).
In Academic Year (AY) 2022-2023, the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program provided scholarships to 2,613 health professions students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A total of 1,236 students graduated, including 471 nursing students, 299 behavioral health students, and 239 allied health students. Select program outcomes include helping disadvantaged students progress through their health professions training, and encouraging students to work in medically underserved communities and primary care: • 3 percent of program graduates earned an associate degree, 24 percent earned a bachelor’s degree, 53 percent earned a master’s degree, and 19 percent earned a doctoral - level degree. • 59 percent of graduates with follow-up data worked or trained in medically underserved communities one year after graduation, and 30 percent in primary care settings.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
