HRSA Grant-Funded Education
Earn a Fully-funded MPH or Graduate Public Health Certificate
Transform your career with a grant-supported Master of Public Health (MPH) or Public Health Certificate. Through this program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), you'll be part of the strengthening the public health system to meet core functions and essential services, and decrease health disparities for underserved communities.
The University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions is the recipient of $1.3 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to be used in the education and training of the nation's future public health workforce.
Western New York suffers from a severe shortage of public health workers, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some parts of the region have the worst health outcomes in the state. The education and training through the Public Health PRACTICE (Prepare, Respond and Collaborate to Address Inequities, COVID and other Emergencies) grant aims to address both of these issues by ensuring that area health departments and community-based organizations have skilled staff to reduce health disparities and lead COVID-19 response.
The program will fund graduate tuition for Master of Public Health (all concentrations) and Advanced Public Health Certificate program students from underrepresented backgrounds. The program is rooted in several key objectives, including educating the public health workforce to address public health inequities and health disparities, and incorporate principles of social determinants of health into practice. Another objective involves training the public health workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to recovery activities related to COVID-19, as well as other public health emergencies, by providing public health field experience opportunities.
You'll gain skills employers seek with a public health education from a world-class, CEPH accredited, nationally ranked school of public health.
HRSA trainees receive paid New York State resident graduate tuition and fees. Students receiving HRSA funding have the opportunity to complete certificates, trainings, and microcredentials, as well as gain hands-on practice-based experience with a community partner.
Am I Eligible?
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, are applying to the University at Buffalo MPH or Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate, and meet one or more of the eligibility areas below, you may qualify for funding.
I come from an African American or Black, Hispanic, Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander background.
I meet criteria for these federal guidelines for a low income household.
Neither of my parents or caregivers graduated with a 4-year college degree.
I come from an environment that has inhibited me from obtaining knowledge, skills and abilities needed to enroll in and graduate from a public health program.
I will contribute diversity to the program in a way that aligns with the School's diversity statement.
Funding requests for Fall 2023 are closed.
You can return here beginning in fall 2023 to request funding for programs in spring 2024.
Apply for funding in 2 easy steps!
- First apply online to the MPH or Advanced Public Health Certificate program.
- Return here in the Fall to complete a supplemental online request form for Spring 2024.
Funding requests are reviewed once an applicant is accepted into the MPH or Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate program.
Continued funding support is contingent upon availability of funds from HRSA, satisfactory progress in your program which includes earning grades of B or better in all courses, and completing extracurricular HRSA trainee activities described in Benefits to You.
Benefits to You
All HRSA trainees receive grants, not loans, with tuition and fees up to the New York State resident rate covered. You can also complete the following activities during your program:
- Leadership in Public Health Crises Certificate enabling you to lead an emergency response across multiple sectors, agencies and diverse communities
- Practice experience beyond the classroom through our network of community partners, providing career preparation, mentoring, and guidance, as well as support for job after you graduate
- Microcredential in Strategies to Eliminate Health Inequities preparing you with skills to eliminate real-world health disparities
- Cultural Competency training
Frequently Asked Questions
The HRSA training grant will support tuition for part-time and full-time MPH and Advanced Public Health Certificate students.
If you are not a NYS resident, the HRSA training grant will support two options:
- Online tuition- you can complete your education in your home state via our online MPH option. Trainees will still be required to complete the extended field training requirement from their location.
- You pay the difference- the HRSA training grant will pay in-state tuition for seated, in-person students, and you will pay the difference between in-state and out of state tuition costs.
Yes! HRSA trainees will still follow our satisfactory grade policy. Continuation in the MPH program or Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate is contingent on students obtaining a grade of B or higher in courses.
You can apply online to the MPH program via our SOPHAS application portal or to the Advanced Graduate Public Health Certificate through the UB application system.
Once your application is completed, please submit this supplemental HRSA funding request and email SPHHP_HRSAtraining@buffalo.edu to ensure all your materials have been submitted and are under review.
Get in touch with our team through an upcoming information session, or via email or phone.
- View our upcoming information session schedule
- Email us at SPHHP_HRSAtraining@buffalo.edu
- Call us at (716) 829-6100
Disclaimer: Funding is contingent upon availability from the HRSA grant. Funds are limited. Not all students who meet eligibility criteria can be funded.
Tuition is paid through the support of Health Resources and Services Administration training grant # T52HP46771
Principal investigator--Dr. Gregory G. Homish, professor and chair, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior
