In a critical move to safeguard student access to graduate public health education, the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) has committed more than $250,000 toward new scholarship support for incoming Master of Public Health (MPH) students. Thanks to new philanthropic gifts from some of ColoradoSPH’s most generous donors, the investment comes as prospective students nationwide await clarity on proposed federal financial aid rules that could significantly limit borrowing for public health degrees.
Federal Lending Changes Prompt Proactive Strategic Investment
As has been reported by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), recently proposed updates from the U.S. Department of Education would remove some public health degrees from the list of designated professional programs—a category that currently allows higher federal loan limits. Under the proposal, only fields such as medicine, dentistry, and law would retain that designation, effectively reducing borrowing capacity for MPH and DrPH students studying areas such as disease prevention, emergency preparedness, disaster response, health care delivery, and administration.
“These potential changes introduce economic uncertainty for aspiring ColoradoSPH students,” said Dr. Madiha Abdel‑Maksoud, associate dean of academic and student affairs. “Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, I hope today’s announcement brings comfort and certainty to those scholars joining us next academic year.”
Because of uncertainty with federal lending programs, some schools of public health are experiencing declines in both applications and matriculating students. ColoradoSPH has observed some reticence among its applicant pool as well, prompting this swift action.
Expanded Scholarships for Incoming Students
The school is poised to offer up to 25 scholarships, each valued at $10,000, for incoming Fall 2026 MPH students. In addition, ColoradoSPH is allocating short-term funding to provide a $500 award to every U.S. student beginning a University of Colorado Anschutz-based MPH program in Summer 2026.
These efforts add to the school’s current portfolio of scholarship offerings and are designed to reduce financial strain for students entering fields essential to public health—ranging from epidemiology and community health to biostatistics, environmental health, and global health.
Commitment to Public Health Education
“While funding limitations are always a reality in public health, our mission to educate and train public health leaders remains unwavering,” said Dr. Cathy Bradley, dean of ColoradoSPH. “Regardless of the eventual outcome of federal lending constraints, we believe deeply in the bright minds joining our ranks and will continue making wise investments in their future.”
Applications for the Fall 2026 MPH cohort are due May 1, 2026, with scholarships awarded on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early to maximize their eligibility. More information on programs and deadlines is available via the ColoradoSPH admissions website. To support ColoradoSPH scholarships, members of the community and other allies are encouraged to donate here.