Student Grants

Nursing Grants

Nursing is one of the fastest growing jobs today. With advances in technology, there is an ever increasing need for qualified nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing employment is expected to grow by as much as 22 percent by 2018.

The demand for nurses will be in a variety of settings including outpatient facilities, home health and nursing care facilities, and doctors offices.

Nursing is one of the top career choices for those people that want to make a difference in the lives of others. To become a registered nurse you might choose to attend a technical school, attend college for 2 years to earn your associates degree, or attend college for 4 years to earn your bachelors degree.

Once you have made the decision on the type of education you want to obtain, it is time to finance your education. Nursing is one field that offers several scholarship and grant opportunities.

Using College Resources

There are several ways to learn about the resources that are available in your area. Speak to a high school guidance counselor or, if you are already enrolled in college, speak with an advisor. They often have information available to assist their students in finding financial aid.

One of the more popular places to look for additional information is the FAFSA Federal Student Aid website. This website can be found at Fafsa.Gov and will provide guidance to the types of financial aid available to everyone. This site offers a free application for student aid that can be filled out and filed online. It is one website that can assist everyone, regardless of the profession they wish to attend college for. This is most often the starting point for all college students that need assistance to pay for their college education. It is necessary for the student to fill out a new FAFSA form each year that they are enrolled in college and in need of tuition assistance.

US Department of Health and Human Services

Scholarship programs geared specifically toward the medical profession are available. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a nursing scholarship program. This information can be accessed by visiting their website at Hrsa.Gov to learn more and to apply. Applications are accepted annually in either March or April and those chosen to receive a scholarship will be notified by the end of July.

This program works to alleviate the shortage of RN’s by helping student’s complete training to become an RN. In exchange, once the student has graduated, he must serve 2 years working at a health care facility that is experiencing a nursing shortage.

In exchange for their service, those awarded a scholarship will enjoy having any tuition, fees, books, clinical supplies and so on paid for. They will also receive a monthly stipend, which varies from one year to the next.

To be eligible the student must be a US citizen, enrolled or have been accepted into a professional registered nursing program, and not be delinquent on any debts with the Federal government. Those applicants that show the greatest financial need are typically given preference.

AfterCollege /AACN Scholarship

This scholarship provides scholarship awards to 8 candidates each year to help pay for them to further their nursing education. Those students that are pursuing a variety of degrees are eligible to apply. To qualify the student must be enrolled in a nursing program that is an AACN participant and must have a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Each application period will award this scholarship to 2 applicants. There are 4 deadlines each year. To access the application and for further information, visit their website at: AfterCollege.Com

Emergency Nurses Association Scholarship

The Emergency Nurses Association, also known as ENA has awarded over $1 million in scholarship funds to students since 1991. In 2011 they will celebrate their 20th anniversary. The ENA Foundation offers academic scholarships to licensed nurses that are active members of the ENA that are currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program and carry a GPA of 3.0.

Multiple scholarships are available, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. Scholarships are available in the following 4 categories: non-RN, under graduate, master, and doctoral. Further information regarding eligibility requirements can be found on the ENA website at Ena.Org

Single Mother Grants

If you are a single mother that has gone back to school for nursing, additional scholarship options may be available for you to help finance your education. There are grants and scholarships available for new students, single mothers, nursing students, and those that are geared specifically toward women.

One of the nursing scholarship programs that are geared toward single mothers is the Ford Opportunity Program. For students that are attending Oregon College more information on this scholarship can be found online.

Grants for Men in Nursing

Although they are typically underrepresented as nurses, over 5% of those enrolled in nursing schools are men. As the times change, this number continues to increase so more organizations have begun offering financial support to men that are interested in nursing careers. There are grants and scholarship opportunities for men available now and more opportunities are added each year.

One such example is The American Assembly for Men in Nursing Foundation, or AAMN. Johnson & Johnson have teamed up with the AAMN foundation to offer a scholarship worth $1000 to male students that are pursuing a nursing education. Since the program began in 2004, more than 50 nursing students have received the $1000 scholarship. More information can be found on their website at: AAMN.org .

Minority Nursing Scholarships and Grants

Those people that are considered minorities may also find additional scholarship opportunities that they will qualify for. Although many of them are not of high dollar value, there are several scholarships available for a minority that is seeking assistance for a nursing education.

Arizona State University is a sponsor of the American Indian Students United for Nursing. Funded by the Indian Health Services, this program provides nursing education scholarship funds to Native Americans who might not otherwise be able to pay for the classes needed to join the nursing profession.

Oncology Nursing

If the student is interested in Oncology Nursing, the Oncology Nursing Society or ONS Foundation has an amount of $500,000 that is dedicated to their many scholarship opportunities each year. One of the opportunities awards $2000 to an Oncology Nursing student. Additional information can be found by visiting their website at www.ons.org.

Philippine Nurses of America

The Philippine Nurses Association of America is an organization that has chapters nationwide. They work to provide scholarships to Filipino nursing students, both men and women. There are some requirements in order to qualify. These requirements include enrollment in an accredited nursing program. Scholarships are awarded based on the student’s financial needs and their grades. For more information you can visit their website at mypnaa.org.

Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service or IHS realizes the need for dedicated health professionals. Alaskan Natives or American Indians are eligible to receive an IHS scholarship. The student that is chosen for this award can expect to receive $1160 each month for a period of 10 months. Students that are enrolled in a full time program will receive this payout for 2 years, part time students will receive funding for as many as 4 years. For more information or to apply, visit their website at IHS.gov.

Doing adequate research and finding nursing grants can play a vital role in paying tuition for many people. It is important to start applying early because often there are limits to the number of applicants that a single grant will be awarded to so getting your application in early is beneficial.

Spend some time each week searching for grants. Nurses are in high demand right now which encourages universities and the government to make tuition grants and other resources available.

Educating yourself about the different scholarships and grants that are available is also a vital part in receiving them. Learn about where they have come from and why they are being awarded. There are many sites, such as collegescholarships.org that frequently update with new information. This site offers additional information regarding scholarships for disadvantaged nursing students, state-funded grants, grants for minority nursing students, and more.

Some nursing students already know what area they want to specialize in after graduation. For these students, professional grants may be a primary focus. To ensure that all available grants have been discovered, contact the association that relates the specialty that you are the most interested in. Some examples include:

  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners who offer research grants to nurse practitioners
  • American Association of Critical Care Nurses awards scholarships in the amount of $1500 to undergrad and grad students specializing in critical care.
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists offer 3 grants annually based on research to nurse anesthetists.
  • Gerontological Society of America offers grants and scholarships to graduate nurses that are studying to work in areas with the aging population.

State Funded Grants

The latest report from the American Nurses Association has stated that 38 states have established state-funded programs specifically for nursing education. Some examples of these state-funded programs include Florida and North Carolina.

State schools in Florida are considered to be one of the top nursing education programs. 4 of the universities have been awarded HRSA grants for Advanced Education Nursing. Included are the University of South Fl., University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Florida-Gainesville.

In North Carolina, the State Education Assistance Authority awards between 300 and 400 scholarships. Recipients can receive up to $6000 as long as certain criteria have been met. Criteria including full-time enrollment in a state-accredited nursing program will help determine eligible candidates.

Federal grants are also available for nursing students. The U.S. Department of Health and Human services sponsors grants that are targeted specifically toward nursing students. These grants include scholarships for disadvantaged students along with loan repayment plans that are intended to ease the burden of repaying student loans that were applied to a nursing education.

Scholarship for the Disadvantaged

This program is federally funded to assist financially disadvantaged nursing students. To see if they qualify, students must apply through the financial aid office at the college that they are attending. This scholarship may be awarded to students enrolled in one of several programs in the health science field.

Nursing Scholarship

The nursing scholarship program provides over 200 awards to qualifying nurses annually. Instead of repaying the amount that was awarded, recipients must agree that they will work for a minimum of 2 years following graduation at a health care institution that is in desperate need of nurses.

Loan Repayment Plans

Federally funded and government funded repayment programs are available for financially disadvantaged nurses that meet certain criteria and who are in participating programs. These programs typically require that, once they have graduated, registered nurses work in a health care institution that is in high need of qualified nurses. In exchange, those enrolled in these programs will have a portion of their student loan debt repaid for them.

There are several grant and scholarship opportunities for those that wish to become nurses, from every walk of life. When looking for the opportunities that you might qualify for, working with the financial aid office in the college of your choice is one way to find information. New opportunities are being added all the time in an ongoing effort to encourage more participation into the nursing field.

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32 Comments

  • Reply Cynthia Fenn June 20, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    I am trying to find scholarships for myself, as I am going back o school for Nursing. I was working in the legal field for the past 12 years before getting laid off. I am a married women with two children ages from 6 years and 2 years. Any information you can help me wtih will be great. I will be attending Community College in hte Fall.

  • Reply Maliaka Johnson June 22, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I would like more information on this , thank you !

  • Reply Helen Siverling June 27, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Does the nursing scholarship program apply to someone who has been trying to get into a nursing program and finally had to graduate with a bachelor’s in psychology because the university wouldn’t put them in the core nursing program (pleaded “not enought slots”) so she couldn’t get any more loans to take classes while she waited? Please send me what information you may have that could help. Or suggestions of where to turn to next. This request is for my daughter who lives in Phoenix, AZ.

    Thank you,

    Helen Siverling
    Fairfax, VA 22030

  • Reply Ginger Murphy August 31, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    I am currently a nursing student. I will be starting my third quarter on September 21. My graduation date is 12/12. I would like some additional information about grants and scholarships please.
    Thank you

  • Reply Victor in need of Urgent Scholarship November 20, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Iam a male nurse (Zambia Registered Nurse/GRADUATED AS THE BEST PRACTICAL NURSE) from low middle income country Zambia currently pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree within Zambia applying for scholarship to enble me complete the above programme so as to come and help to combat the curent shortage of nurses .KINDLY COME ON MY SIDE,I NEED YOU TO SEE ME THROUGH. I promise to use the tax payers money effectively and deligently. WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. TOGETTHER WE CAN.

  • Reply Kim Hinsley November 28, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Hi, I am a female LVN, and I have been trying to get financially able to take my LVN to RN BSN, I have 8 classes to take to complete the LVN to RN bridge portion, for several years, now. My husband and I took in his sons two sisters due to there home situation. We have a family of six, four children and now my husband had to have emergency surgery, has had to be off work now for the past five months, and will be off at least three more. During this time his employer let him go.
    I feel that I will never reach me goal. I love nursing, and we want me to reach this goal. Is there any programs out there that might help in this situation.

  • Reply heather January 7, 2012 at 8:48 am

    I just moved to Colorado from Duluth, MN, and im trying to get my c.n.a license. In MN I had an ordean grant that paid for the whole course and all of its cost. I was just wondering if they have something like that down here.?

    • Reply Kim January 26, 2012 at 1:53 am

      i just graduated with my cna from red rocks community college in lakewood, co. you can apply for financial aid through the school closest to you with a cna program and they can help u with grants

  • Reply Wanda D. Thorpe January 30, 2012 at 1:50 am

    Please send me more information on grants and scholarships. I am a returning student, interested in a nursing degree.

  • Reply JULIUS ELORM TORKPO March 8, 2012 at 1:15 am

    I am JULIUS ELORM TORKPO a ghanian based citizen and ailling to study nurse anaesthetics as a profession to help carry and give the best to to the refuge and other dependable societies both in africa and international.i hope this my humble application will be given a favourable consideration.thank you.hope to hear from ,through my email address,torkpojulius@yahoo.com

  • Reply Lina M March 9, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    I am a lecturer in the Nursing Academy William Booth in Indonesia. I am looking for education grants for one of my students who are currently located in four semesters. He comes of one of the remote villages in Nias Northern Sumatara. So far he tried to pay for college with work himself. Currently he is threatened removed because no cost. For that reason I beg you of my students whether this information can have grants.

    Your sincerely

  • Reply Lovely claire March 22, 2012 at 5:47 am

    I am happy to meet an information about this nursing scholarship. Nursing is my passion… i’m strongly willing to save God people through nursing. I’m from Philippines. I am a kind of desperate and frustrated to finish my nursing course. Now, I’m a third year B.S nursing student, but sad to say, i wasn’t be able to pursue it because of financial limitations. I would be happy if somebody will lend their helping hand to help me for another one year in my course. I’m willing to follow an agreement you want just for me to study and finish my course. Thank you Ma’am/Sir.
    GOD BLESS US!!!
    Here’s my contact #: 09194803279

  • Reply emeria phiri March 29, 2012 at 5:35 am

    Help me: I have a daughter and sister who are in the second year doing nursing and are supposed to finish next year June 2013 in a private institution in Zambia. I failed to pay the 7000 dollars balance. how can you help me?

  • Reply simon July 17, 2012 at 10:12 am

    I am a 1st year student BScN in Kenya,financially challenged.Am humbly requesting for any of your support.I will highly appreciate any aid.
    Thankyou

  • Reply Natasha fogarty June 12, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Looking to back to school for nursing

  • Reply selinah August 1, 2013 at 12:52 pm

    i have 3 children and i want to be a nurse i did pre-nursing in 2008 but because i am not working and my husband is the one who provide us he does not have enough money to take me to school pls help

  • Reply Sujeeta Ponam Prasad September 24, 2013 at 8:11 am

    Hi!
    I am a Registered nurse from Fiji Islands. I have completed Diploma in Nursing and would like to further pursue my career to degree level. It is possible If I could get financial help to fulfill my dream.

    Thank You
    Punam

  • Reply Danielle September 24, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    I’m 34 yrs old and am going back to school. Dorsey School is my pick. Can anyone help me get a grant. I’m on SSI and Medicaid, I’m hoping to finish school and get to making my own money. Can someone tell me the best places to get grants. My mother is also on SSI after 3 brain surgerys. Thank you!

  • Reply sandra chikwana October 17, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    l m 33 and am from a less advantaged and broken family l failed to pursue my studies because of my parents separation and other issues too but l would love study nursing as an undergraduate degree.l am from zimbabwe can anyone help me

  • Reply Tammy November 7, 2013 at 3:08 am

    I graduated from college in 1997 with a B.A. in Communications. Now we all know that there are no jobs or jobs that pay little money in that field. From then until now I have had 3 children two who have some for of a disability and I could never hold down a 9-5 just low paying part-time jobs in order to take care of them. During that time I have also defaulted on my four year student loan. Now one would ask why not pay the loan, well with rent, utilities and other bills on a part-time job income how could I unless my children and I would live on the street. I would love to go back to school for nursing but I know that may never happen. I guess I should be angry be my kids come first. I am going to end with this note:

  • Reply Tammy November 7, 2013 at 3:19 am

    1. MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET AN EDUCATION IN A FIELD THAT WILL PAY WELL ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SURVIVE
    2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN JUST IN CASE. YEARS AGO YOU NEEDED TO HAVE AN A AND B PLAN, BUT NOW YOU NEED A A .B .C . AND D
    3. NEVER PUT LIFE BEFORE YOU FAMILY BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER GET THOSE YEARS BACK.
    4. NEVER LIVE WITH REGRETS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAPPENS FOR A REASON

  • Reply Deidre Paxton December 13, 2013 at 3:42 am

    I want to go to school to be a radiologist. I am 20 years old and live in a small community, my family has no money and I have no money to go back to school. I want this more than anything so I can better myself, my future, and the future for my family. If I can get any help at all, it would be much appreciated.. Thanks in advance.

  • Reply Tumwine Rose January 15, 2014 at 11:43 am

    I am an s.6 leaver would like to get sponsorship for comprehensive nursing.I am an orphan leaving in Uganda.I thank you and appreciate your work.

  • Reply Delores Harvey-Perry July 11, 2014 at 10:22 am

    I am 53 year old widow, and I have been trying everything in my power to acommplished my dream in becoming a register nurse. It is like taking one step forward and two steps bacward. I have done all my required subjects to enter the nursing program, but, unfortunate for me I cannot go until I pay my back school fee that I owed in order to get my Transcript. I owed 3500. This nursing program start on the 4th August. I don’t see a way now, but I believe that my God will a way for me to enter this program at the right time

  • Reply FLO July 12, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    I am a Zambian who is still determined to advance my career. I have just been accepted in a university to pursue a master’,s degree in community health Nursing. I need financial assistance because I am currently sponsoring my daughter who is doing Medicine and preparing for my son who is doing ‘A’ levels and preparing to pursue a degree course next year. I seriously need help because my resources will be directed to my children’s education.

  • Reply patience sithole January 8, 2015 at 6:46 am

    I am a single mum in South Africa whomis looking for a scholarship to finish my nursing diploma since i did the prenursing course please do assist.

    My son is in Primary working to save money for school its not easy so I managed to save few money to study prenursing now I want to finish my programme but i I dont have enough finance please help .My current occupation is waitressing so its not easy when you are not getting a salary I am surviving on tips .Need your assistance .
    Thank you.

  • Reply caroline wangari February 4, 2015 at 10:03 am

    IM A SINGLE MUM LIVING IN KENYA AFTER 15yrs I HAVE FINALY ENROLLED FOR NURSING IM SEEKING FINANCIAL ASSISSTANCE TO ENABLE ME COMPLETE MY COURSE

  • Reply tasha April 6, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    I am unemployed wanted to continue nursing, but grant money is so low that I only able to take one class and pay for the others. I would like to go to school full time. but my student loan hunts me. I tried to pay it. that end up no where. so I am stuck. I need help to finish school. please send some kind of help. thanks

  • Reply Nora January 9, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    Currently 19 single mother of one trying to start a CNA program but I am currently unemployed and without a GED. need help finding a program and finical assistance currently living in dupage il

  • Reply Michelle Babbitt March 12, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    I am a single parent of four wonderful children. I also attend a program for CNA. I am looking for ways to apply for nursing scholarships for a LPN course. Financial Aid I can’t obtain at the moment, because I have a Bachelors Degree and need to achieve a Master Degree of some sort to continue education. If you can help me to obtain ideas for funding for nursing school that would be great!!! Since I started my the CNA program nursing field can help me financially/stability with bills and extra cash.

  • Reply Breanne March 27, 2020 at 3:05 am

    I’m a mother of 3 working full time and preparing to apply for my BSN. I am interested in becoming a pediatric oncology nurse, but am willing to work in the hospital for two years after graduation. Please send me scholarship and grant information.

  • Reply Damillie David January 5, 2022 at 7:40 pm

    I am a single mother with two children currently enroll in a BSN program. i have two semesters left and experiencing difficulties paying for my program. are they any help out there to help pay for my tution.

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