Rockhurst University and external scholarship opportunities and information include:
Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean's Scholarship
The Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean's Scholarship is awarded to two eligible DPT students who are entering the program. Each awardee will receive a $25,000 scholarship that will be dispersed over the two and a half years of the program ($10,000 for the first year, $10,000 for the second year, and $5,000 for the third year). The purpose of this scholarship is to support academically talented students who want to lead positive change related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in physical therapy. Application details are made available upon acceptance to the program.
Eligibility criteria
- Accepted into Rockhurst University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program
- Have a minimum cumulative science and pre-requisite GPA of 3.4.
- Preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.7 or above, but those with 3.4 or above are encouraged to apply.
Application process
- Students who meet eligibility criteria and wish to apply must submit a 2–4-page essay.
- The scholarship release date and deadline will be provided upon acceptance into the program.
PT Department Scholarships
The PT Department also offers a few internal scholarships. Most are between $500 to $2,500. These are available to students enrolled in the program.
Graham Davis Scholarship
The Graham Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Graham Davis, who was a member of the founding class of the Rockhurst MPT Program. Graham was diagnosed with leukemia in his second year of the program and passed away one year later at age 40. Graham had a love for knowledge and placed a high value on lifelong learning. Prior to entering the PT program, Graham earned undergraduate degrees from Atlantic Christian College and the College of the Albemarle in North Carolina, along with his MBA at Rockhurst. He had taught at the high school level and was an adjunct instructor in Rockhurst's MBA program. Had he completed his MPT degree, Graham planned to either teach or do research in the field. Graham's family offers this scholarship to a deserving student who wishes to pursue a non-traditional path to physical therapy as Graham did.
The Early Achievement Scholarship
The Early Achievement Scholarship is provided to a full-time student at the end of the first year in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. This award is granted to a student who is in the top 10% of their class academically at the end of the first year in the program and who also demonstrates leadership behaviors, service involvement, and professional growth during the first year. In addition, applicants must describe a detailed plan to continue their professional growth in the remaining two years of the program.
Megan Barnett Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of Megan Barnett, who was a student in the PT class of 2008 before her untimely death in December 2006. As a student, Megan demonstrated remarkable growth in knowledge, self-confidence, and all aspects of professional behavior. Megan's family endowed this scholarship, and it is awarded annually to a second-year DPT student who meets the qualifications and can articulate growth similar to Megan's while enrolled as a student in the PT program.
Jean Hiebert Scholarship
The Dr. Jean Hiebert Scholarship is awarded annually to a student enrolled in the Rockhurst University Physical Therapy Program. Preference will be given to an applicant who self-identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. If needed, additional criteria will be based upon: non-Caucasian, first-generation college student status and financial need.
External Scholarships & Financial Aid
- The American Physical Therapy Association offers guidance regarding scholarships and financing for students admitted to physical therapy programs. For information, see: apta.org/CurrentStudents/ScholarshipsAwards
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation Inc. For details, see: akaeaf.org/scholarships
- FastWEB (Financial Aid Search Through the Web) is the largest and most complete scholarship search on the Internet with a database of over 1.5 million scholarships. See details at: fastweb.com
- The Research Foundation has awarded scholarships to multiple 2nd year DPT students in our program. For details, see: theresearchfoundationkc.org
- Online Physical Therapy Programs provide an extensive list of scholarships available for physical therapy students. For details, see: onlinephysicaltherapyprograms.com/scholarships