Spring 2026 Application for SDS Scholarship

Pathways to Practice: PA Scholarship Program

Award Period: Spring 2027 Term
2026–2027 FAFSA Award Cycle
Mandatory Federal Notice: This program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Instructions
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program provides scholarships to full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate financial need. To apply, you must have an official FAFSA on file with the University of Bridgeport Student Financial Services Office. Awards are prioritized for students with severe financial hardship and are conditioned upon continuous full-time enrollment and academic standing.

Personal Information

Student Name(Required)

First Last

UB ID Number(Required)

Institutional Email Address(Required)

Permanent Email Address(Required)

Permanent Phone Number(Required)

Academic & Program Enrollment Status

Please select your anticipated graduation year:(Required)

Did you receive an SDS scholarship from the University of Bridgeport during the prior academic year?(Required)

Yes (Continuing scholars in good standing receive renewal priority subject to annual FAFSA need and grant funding)

No (New applicant)

Have you completed your 2026-2027 FAFSA?(Required)

(To apply, you must have an official FAFSA on file with the University of Bridgeport Student Financial Services Office.)

Yes

Are you a US citizen and/or permanent resident?(Required)

(This federally funded program is open to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, lawfully admitted permanent residents, or qualified aliens under PRWORA (Section 431(b)) only.)

Yes

Are you currently enrolled in or have been accepted for enrollment in the University of Bridgeport PA program as a full-time student?(Required)

(Students must be registered for the Spring 2027 term for eligibility.)

Yes

Are you currently in good standing and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) per The University of Bridgeport’s Student Financial Services policy?(Required)

Yes

No (Students are ineligible until satisfactory academic standing criteria are met)

Disadvantaged Background & Family Educational Status

Please select the highest level of education completed by either of your parents/guardians:(Required)

Important FAFSA Consistency Notice: Federal grant rules require your first-generation status to be audited and verified directly against the Parents’ Education Status field on your submitted FAFSA. Your selection below must match the responses provided on your official FAFSA record. If you skipped or left the parent education section blank on your FAFSA, or if your answer here differs, you must log into studentaid.gov to update and resubmit your FAFSA before this application can be approved under the first-generation pathway.

Neither parent attended college (Eligible — First-Generation)

One or both parents attended college, but neither completed a 4-year degree (bachelor’s degree) (Eligible — First-Generation)

One or both parents completed a 4-year college degree (bachelor’s degree) or higher (Not First-Generation)

Do not know / Decline to answer

High School Information

Please note the High School you graduated from or last attended:

High School Name(Required)

City / State / Zip(Required)

High School Graduation Year(Required)

National Provider Identifier (NPI)

HRSA requires SDS recipients in eligible health professions to have an individual National Provider Identifier (NPI number).

Please select your NPI status:(Required)

I have an NPI number

I do not have an NPI yet, but I agree to register on the NPPES Registry (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov) and provide my 10-digit NPI prior to receiving any scholarship disbursement.

10-digit NPI Number(Required)

Please enter your 10-digit individual NPI number.

Authorizations & Agreements

FAFSA Data Review Authorization:
I authorize the University of Bridgeport Financial Aid Office and the SDS Selection Committee to review my FAFSA data (including Student Aid Index [SAI], Cost of Attendance [COA], Pell Grant eligibility, citizenship match, and reported income) and the information provided in this application to evaluate my eligibility and calculate my scholarship amount under HRSA guidelines.

FAFSA Review Authorization – Please Initial:(Required)

Post-Graduation Contact & Employment Reporting Agreement:
I agree to provide post-graduation contact and employment information (employer name, clinic location, specialty, and underserved setting type) to the school upon request for up to one year following graduation.

Post-Graduation Reporting Agreement – Please Initial:(Required)

Certifications & Electronic Agreement

Certifications & Electronic Agreement(Required)

By submitting this application, I certify and agree that:

All statements made in this application and any supporting materials are true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I understand that submitting this application does not guarantee selection or funding. Awards are competitive and prioritized for eligible applicants with the greatest unmet financial need.
I understand that if awarded, an SDS scholarship must equal at least 50% of my annual tuition and cannot exceed my calculated unmet financial need. Awards are packaged according to federal grant rules and institutional cost of attendance policies.
I understand that scholarship funds cannot be disbursed in a single lump sum. If awarded, funds will be credited to my student account in installments across academic terms, contingent upon maintaining continuous full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
I acknowledge that any scholarship awarded is for the current academic period only. Future continuation is not guaranteed and remains subject to maintaining full-time enrollment and SAP, annual FAFSA need recalculation, and the continuation of federal grant funding from HRSA.
I understand that scholarships are disbursed term-by-term and are not guaranteed in advance. Future installments and subsequent-year renewals remain strictly contingent upon maintaining full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), annual FAFSA unmet need recalculation, and the official release of annual federal grant funds by HRSA. The university reserves the right to adjust or cancel unreleased disbursements if federal grant funding lapses or eligibility changes.
I acknowledge that this program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

I have read, understand, and agree to all the statements and conditions listed above.