---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 293a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "293a"
heading: "Scholarships for disadvantaged students"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/293a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter V — Health Professions Education"
  - "Part B — Health Professions Training for Diversity"
---

# §293a. Scholarships for disadvantaged students

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may make a grant to an eligible entity (as defined in [subsection (d)(1)](#d-1)) under this section for the awarding of scholarships by [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) to any full-time student who is an eligible individual as defined in [subsection (d)](#d). Such scholarships may be expended only for tuition expenses, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses incurred in the attendance of such [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6).
- (b) **Preference in providing scholarships—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not make a grant to an entity under [subsection (a)](#a) unless the health professions and nursing [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) involved agree that, in providing scholarships pursuant to the grant, the [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) will give preference to students for whom the costs of attending the [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) would constitute a severe financial hardship and, notwithstanding other provisions of this section, to former recipients of scholarships under sections [293](/usc/42/293.md) and [293d(d)(2)(B)](/usc/42/293d.md) of this title (as such sections existed on the day before November 13, 1998).
- (c) **Amount of award—** In awarding grants to eligible entities that are health professions and nursing [schools](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give priority to eligible entities based on the proportion of graduating students going into primary care, the proportion of underrepresented minority students, and the proportion of graduates working in medically underserved communities.
- (d) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible entities—** The term “eligible entities” means an entity that—
    - (A) is a [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, nursing (as defined in [section 296 of this title](/usc/42/296.md)), pharmacy, podiatric medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, chiropractic, or allied health, a [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) offering a graduate [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in behavioral and mental health practice, or an entity providing [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for the training of physician assistants; and
    - (B) is carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for recruiting and retaining students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
  - (2) **Eligible individual—** The term “eligible individual” means an individual who—
    - (A) is from a disadvantaged background;
    - (B) has a financial need for a scholarship; and
    - (C) is enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an eligible health professions or nursing [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) as a full-time student in a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) leading to a degree in a health profession or nursing.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 737, as added Pub. L. 105–392, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3531.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 293a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 737, as added Pub. L. 102–408, title I, § 102, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2023, authorized grants to health professions schools for provision of scholarships and undergraduate assistance, prior to the general amendment of this part by Pub. L. 105–392.

Another prior section 293a, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VII, § 721, as added Sept. 24, 1963, Pub. L. 88–129, § 2(b), 77 Stat. 165; amended Sept. 4, 1964, Pub. L. 88–581, § 3(b), 78 Stat. 919; Oct. 22, 1965, Pub. L. 89–290, §§ 3(b), (c), 5(a), 79 Stat. 1056–1058; Nov. 2, 1966, Pub. L. 89–709, § 2(b), 80 Stat. 1103; Aug. 16, 1968, Pub. L. 90–490, title I, §§ 103(a)(3), 105(a), (b), 82 Stat. 774; Nov. 18, 1971, Pub. L. 92–157, title I, §§ 102(e), (f)(1), (2)(A), (g), (h), (j)(2), (3), (7)(A), 108(b)(1), 85 Stat. 434–437, 461; Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title III, §§ 301, 303, 308(a), 90 Stat. 2253, 2254, 2256; Aug. 1, 1977, Pub. L. 95–83, title III, § 307(b), 91 Stat. 389; Oct. 17, 1979, Pub. L. 96–88, title III, § 301(a)(1), title V, § 507, 93 Stat. 677, 692; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title XXVII, §§ 2723(c), (d), 2724(a), 95 Stat. 916; Nov. 4, 1988, Pub. L. 100–607, title VI, §§ 628(4), 629(b)(2), 102 Stat. 3145, 3146; Aug. 16, 1989, Pub. L. 101–93, § 5(o)(1), 103 Stat. 614, related to applications and eligibility for grants for construction of teaching facilities for medical, dental, and other health personnel, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–408.

A prior section 737 of act July 1, 1944, was classified to section 294j of this title prior to the general revision of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–408.