Nursing Scholarships

Prospective students should visit each school in which they are seriously interested and discuss with the school's financial aid office the assistance the school can be expected to provide. Scholarships are awarded by foundations, civic clubs, and other non-profit organizations. Eligibility requirements (e.g. minimum grade point average, residency, or field of interest), funding amounts, and deadlines vary.

One of the best financial aid programs is the nursing scholarship program offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. In exchange for at least two years of service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses, the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program pays tuition, required fees, other reasonable costs including required books, clinical supplies, laboratory expenses, and a monthly stipend ($1,344 for the 2017-2018 academic year). You can sign up for email notification when the 2017 application becomes available.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Provides financial assistance to academy members who wish to pursue graduate study.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
AACN provides a variety of programs and resources to assist members in conducting research projects.

American Nurses Foundation
Awards are given in all areas of nursing, including patient outcomes, health care policy development, critical care, gerontology, women's health, community and family intervention, as well as a variety of other topics. Note: The principal investigator must be a licensed registered nurse who has obtained at least one degree, either a baccalaureate degree or higher, in nursing.

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
AORN awards funding for undergraduate and graduate nursing education to AORN members who apply for scholarships and provide funding to nursing students who are enrolled in educational programs leading to initial licensure as registered nurses.

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Scholarships
Recipients will be selected on the basis of current academic standing and financial need. Must demonstrate potential for professional contributions to nursing and in serving as positive role models for other Hispanic nursing students.

You should start your scholarship search early to ensure that you have ample time to complete applications before their deadlines. Some states offer public funding through nursing scholarships to students interested in serving underserved areas upon graduation. Find out if hospitals in your area have scholarship programs. Contact your state board of health to see if they offer nursing scholarships.

When you apply for a nursing scholarship make sure you follow the guidelines of the application, check your spelling and grammar, make your application stand out and obtain good letters of recommendation. Do not apply for scholarships for which you are not qualified.