Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship Guide
Scholarships can help reduce the financial burden of occupational therapy (OT) education. This guide highlights major OT scholarships, additional funding opportunities, and a timeline to help students plan applications throughout the year.
Tip: Apply to at least 3–5 scholarships each year. Many OT students do not apply, which increases your chances of receiving an award.
Major Occupational Therapy Scholarships
Every student should consider these top OT scholarships.
Award: $150–$5,000
Application period: February
- Over 50 scholarships are available annually.
- One application applies to multiple awards.
Award: Approximately $2,500
Application period: Early March
• Requires AOTA student membership.
• Recognizes leadership and commitment to occupational therapy.
Award: $600 – $6,000
Application period: February–April
- One of the most common national therapy scholarships.
- Awards are based on academic achievement and financial need.
Award: Varies
Application period: January–Early March (via AOTF)
- Administered through the AOTF.
- Availability and award cycles vary by year.
Award: Varies
Application period: Spring
Service‑Commitment Scholarship Opportunity
Application period: January–April
Provides tuition assistance for occupational therapy students who commit to working in New York City public schools after graduation.
Eligibility (New York Tech students):
- Available to MSOT students only.
- Available to MSOT students only.
- Available to MSOT students only.
- Requires a service commitment in NYC public schools.
Loan Forgiveness & Employer Education Benefits
While relatively few programs provide direct tuition funding specifically for occupational therapy students, many occupational therapists reduce education costs through loan forgiveness programs or employer-supported education benefits after graduation.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a federal program that forgives remaining federal student loan balances for individuals working in qualifying public service positions.
Key features:
- Available to employees of government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
- Includes many OT employment settings such as public hospitals, school systems, Veterans Affairs facilities, and nonprofit rehabilitation centers.
- Requires 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for an eligible employer.
- Remaining federal loan balance may be forgiven after the 120-payment requirement is met.
This program is commonly used by occupational therapists working in public schools, nonprofit hospitals, and government healthcare systems.
Many healthcare systems offer tuition reimbursement or loan repayment benefits for employees pursuing professional education or repaying student loans. When interviewing for occupational therapy positions, ask about:
- Tuition reimbursement programs
- Student loan repayment assistance
- Continuing education funding
- Professional development stipends
These benefits can significantly reduce long-term education costs.
Students are encouraged to review education benefits when evaluating employment offers, as many healthcare systems provide financial support for continuing education or student loan repayment. Examples of large New York healthcare employers that offer education benefits include:
- Northwell Health: Employee tuition reimbursement program.
- NYC Health + Hospitals: Education benefits and loan forgiveness eligibility through public service employment.
Additional Potential Scholarships
Award: $5,000–$10,000. Scholarship availability varies by year.
Application period: Annual / Varies
Award: $2,500–$5,000
Application deadline: January
Offers several scholarships for students pursuing careers in healthcare and related professions. Every student should consider this scholarship.
Application period: Spring
Supports students entering occupational, physical, or speech therapy careers.
Application period: Annual / Varies
Supports health professions students and clinical education experiences.
Supports students pursuing OT, PT, or speech therapy careers.
Where to Search for Additional Scholarships
In addition to the scholarships listed above, students are encouraged to explore reputable scholarship search databases and institutional resources to identify additional funding opportunities.
Information about institutional aid and scholarship opportunities available to New York Tech students.
Fastweb is a national scholarship database where students create a profile and receive personalized scholarship matches. The database includes opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
Scholarships.com is a large scholarship search engine listing thousands of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Students can filter results by field of study, degree level, and eligibility criteria.
CareerOneStop is a scholarship search tool sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. It allows students to search for scholarships by education level, field of study, and geographic eligibility.
When Are You Eligible to Apply?
Some scholarships listed in this guide are open to prospective or incoming students, while others require applicants to be currently enrolled OT students. Certain opportunities may also require membership in professional organizations such as the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE), the occupational therapy honor society.
As a result, additional scholarship opportunities may become available after you matriculate into the program and join professional organizations. Students are encouraged to revisit this guide periodically, as new opportunities may become relevant as you progress through the program.
OT Scholarship Timeline
| Time of year | scholarship opportunities |
|---|---|
| January | DAR Healthcare Scholarships |
| January–Early March | NBCOT Scholarship (via AOTF) |
| January–April | José P. OT Scholarship |
| February | AOTR Scholarship Deadline |
| February–April | AMBUCS Therapy Scholarships |
| Early March | AOTA E.K. Wise Scholarship |
| Spring | Arthur W. Pense Scholarship NYSBOTC Scholarship |
| Annual / Varies | Tylenol Future Care Scholarship Exxat Scholarship |
Scholarship Application Checklist
Pro Tip: Start preparing scholarship materials 2–3 months before major deadlines such as AOTF and AOTA scholarships.
- Update your resume or CV.
- Draft a general scholarship essay explaining why you chose occupational therapy.
- Identify 2–3 faculty members, supervisors, or fieldwork educators who can write recommendation letters.
- Request recommendation letters at least 3–4 weeks before deadlines.
- Obtain unofficial transcripts if required.
- Prepare a short description of your leadership, volunteer work, and community involvement.
- Save copies of essays so they can be adapted for multiple scholarships.
- Track scholarship deadlines in a calendar or spreadsheet.
- Set reminders 2–4 weeks before each deadline.
- Keep a folder with all scholarship materials.
- Proofread your application carefully.
- Confirm all required materials are uploaded.
- Submit applications at least a few days before the deadline.