College Scholarships for People With Asthma

A number of asthma-related associations, foundations, and related groups offer scholarships specifically for students who have asthma. While having the condition is a universal requirement for such programs, each asthma scholarship has its own additional application requirements, as well as a unique monetary award and deadline.

If you're a high school or college student living with asthma, it is worth seeing if you qualify for an asthma scholarship, as it can help you pay for tuition and other costs of your higher education (such as living expenses and books).

Close-up of asthma inhaler with doctor using laptop at desk
Neustockimages / Getty Images

Asthma Scholarship Programs

Various organizations offer asthma scholarships. It takes time and effort to find scholarships and to apply for them. But given that scholarships can offer hundreds or even thousands of dollars, the investment is often considered more than worthwhile.

You can look for asthma specific scholarships by browsing the websites of professional associations, advocacy groups, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and others who are working on improving the lives of people who have asthma, raising asthma awareness, and supporting future researchers.

The college you plan to enroll in may also offer an asthma-specific scholarship to incoming students.

Don't forget to talk to your school counselor about your interest in scholarships, as they may be aware of some programs you are not. If you have attended an asthma camp, that could also be a resource that may help you identify asthma scholarships.

Additionally, your asthma doctor or clinic may be aware of asthma scholarships. There may be a clinic or organization that offers scholarships to students in your local region or your state, so consider connecting with local researchers or companies that serve people with asthma.

This list is a good place to start when doing your application research.

These scholarships do not impose any limitations on the recipients' area of study. Generally, scholarship money is directly paid to your college, but sometimes the funds are given to the student.

Keep in mind that some organizations might provide a scholarship annually, while others only do so in certain years. Some of the asthma scholarship programs select one student per application cycle, while some offer scholarships to more than one student in an academic year.

Scholarships for Students With Disabilities

You may also qualify for scholarships or programs that are available for students with disabilities even if they don't specifically pertain to asthma. Depending on the guidelines of a given scholarship, your asthma diagnosis might make you a candidate. If you aren't sure if you qualify, consider contacting the scholarship administrators to check their requirements.

Some national resources you can use to find financial assistance and other support for students with disabilities include:

Applying

As you put together your applications, be sure to check deadlines and to include all the required information so your scholarship application won't be disqualified for being incomplete.

You might need to answer questions, provide a letter from a doctor that verifies that you have asthma, write an essay, or make a video to apply for a scholarship.

Highlight your strengths and show that you are determined to work hard as you pursue higher education. If you already have ideas about what you might want to do in your future, don't hesitate to share your ambitions. And most importantly—be yourself and be creative.

Keep in mind that you can ask your parents, high school counselors, and/or teachers to review your scholarship application if you want feedback.

A Word From Verywell

As a young person living with asthma, you work to overcome health obstacles on a regular basis. You can continue to achieve great things. A number of organizations want to honor this and help you on your path to achieving your dreams by granting scholarships to help with the financial aspects of your higher education.

Beyond weighing the costs of college, remember to also consider things like housing (could you request a private room so you can control trigger exposure?) and climate (chilly locations may be problematic as cold weather can exacerbate symptoms).

1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Mallett LH, Soto A, Govande J, Ogborn C, Sagar M. Role of asthma camp in improving the overall health of children with asthma. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2019;32(1):54-57. doi:10.1080/08998280.2018.1533309

By Pat Bass, MD
Dr. Bass is a board-certified internist, pediatrician, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians.