Nursing School Scholarships

Updated November 18, 2022

Nursing school scholarships provide students with financial aid to pay for school without taking on debt. Find the best scholarships for nursing students here.

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Quick Sort: Scholarships for Nursing Students

Healthcare is a rapidly growing part of the United States economy; as a result, the current demand for nurses is strong and expected to grow. This translates into a wealth of professional opportunities for those who want to work in nursing. Though there might be employers begging for nurses, getting a degree to become a nurse requires some thought and planning, especially when it comes to paying for school. That's where scholarships come in – they are awards that do not have to be paid back and can cover a big chunk of college expenses. This guide looks at the potential scholarships available to future and current nursing students.

Use the tool below to get started in your search of nursing school scholarships. While we've gathered an extensive number of scholarships here, this still represents only a small number of nursing scholarship opportunities available to students who qualify.

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General Scholarships

General scholarships are popular because they often have more open eligibility requirements. This doesn't necessarily mean they're easier to get, only that more students may be eligible to obtain an award.

Sponsor: AfterCollege and the AACN
Amount: $2,500 each calendar quarter
Deadline: The end of March, June, September and December

See Scholarship

For nursing students seeking a bachelor's or master's degree, with special consideration given to those seeking to be a nursing educator.

Sponsor: American School Health Association (ASHA)
Amount: $250
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Helps ASHA member students in the medical field pay for attendance to an ASHA conference.

Sponsor: Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: July 1

See Scholarship

ARN offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for members, including those working toward a BSN degree.

Sponsor: BestNursingScholarship.com
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Available to current nursing students; it is awarded four times each year.

Sponsor: B4 Brands
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: March 31

See Scholarship

Nontraditional students pursuing an undergraduate nursing degree are encouraged to apply for this scholarship.

Sponsor: Daughters of the American Revolution
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Middle of February

See Scholarship

Based on financial need, this scholarship goes to one of three students attending or planning to attend an accredited nursing school.

Sponsor: DiversityNursing.com
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Early May

See Scholarship

Students from accredited nursing programs at any level may apply for this annual scholarship award.

Sponsor: The Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association, Inc. (FNSNA) and Johnson & Johnson
Amount: Varies
Deadline: January

See Scholarship

Availability of this scholarship depends on localized fundraising efforts. Selection criteria include academic merit, financial need and student organization involvement.

Sponsor: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: The end of January, April, July and October

See Scholarship

Awarded four times a year to two nursing students from an AACN member institution or those who have applied to a nursing school using NursingCAS. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA.

Sponsor: HOSA-Future Health Professionals
Amount: Varies.
Deadline: Middle of March

See Scholarship

Through a network of partnerships, HOSA has a number of scholarships available for many professional fields, including nursing.

Sponsor: Beta Mu Chapters of the Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: End of April

See Scholarship

Students enrolled in an associate or bachelor's nursing program who show a commitment to community service and academic excellence are eligible.

Sponsor: Daughters of the American Revolution
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Middle of February

See Scholarship

Only nursing students who are also members, descendants of members or are otherwise eligible to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution can apply for this scholarship.

Sponsor: The Eight and Forty
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: Middle of May

See Scholarship

Students enrolled in an accredited nursing or respiratory therapist program may apply for this annual scholarship, with a preference for pediatric patient focus.

Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Late June

See Scholarship

Students with exceptional academic performance who plan on pursuing a medical field can apply.

Sponsor: US Air Force
Amount: Full Tuition plus a living expense stipend.
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Available to those who commit to three years in the Air Force and intend to enroll in an allied health, dental, nursing or medical program.

Graduate Students

Many graduate students often have additional financial obligations (such as supporting a family) that can make paying for school more difficult. Scholarships and other forms of financial aid that don't have to be paid back are especially nice at this level.

Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Amount: Up to $2,500
Deadline: Late March

See Scholarship

Nurses pursuing an advanced nursing degree or certification are eligible to apply.

Sponsor: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of June

See Scholarship

For nursing students at any bachelor's or graduate level program who are interested in a surgical or perioperative specialty.

Sponsor: Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: April 30

See Scholarship

Eligibility includes possession of a BCEN credential and enrollment in a doctoral level nursing program.

Sponsor: Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1

See Scholarship

Active National JACL members who are graduate students and plan on a career in a medical profession can apply.

Sponsor: Florida Nurses Association
Amount: Varies
Deadline: June 1

See Scholarship

Open to residents of Dade County who are studying in a master's level NP program.

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
Amount: $125,000 over the course of three years
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Goes to two doctoral students at the University of Pennsylvania seeking a PhD in a nursing-related field.

Sponsor: US Army
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Students in the US Army and seeking a master's degree to become a specialized nurse can apply.

Sponsor: American Cancer Society
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: November 1

See Scholarship

For advanced practice nurses who intend to focus on oncology.

Sponsor: Georgia Nurses Foundation
Amount: At least $500
Deadline: Middle of June

See Scholarship

Doctoral or master's level nursing students who are Georgia residents may apply.

Sponsor: Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners & Nurse-Midwives (KCNPNM)
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: Middle of February

See Scholarship

Current RN, NP or CNM nurses who are members of the KCNPNM can apply for this scholarship to help pay for a doctoral degree in nursing.

Sponsor: March of Dimes
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Mid-January

See Scholarship

For current registered nurses enrolled in a graduate program with a focus on maternal-child nursing.

Sponsor: National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Applicants must be members of the NBNA and enrolled in a PhD nursing program.

Sponsor: Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1

See Scholarship

Registered nurses in an accredited graduate nursing program in the United States are preferred applicants.

Sponsor: Nursing Economic$
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Middle of May

See Scholarship

Intended for registered nurses in graduate school who are focusing on administration or management.

Sponsor: Oncology Nursing Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: February 1

See Scholarship

Master's level nursing students with an interest in oncology nursing can apply for this one-time scholarship.

Minority Students

As is the case with many other professions, certain groups of individuals aren't fully represented in the nursing field. To help remedy this issue, many organizations provide financial aid opportunities to students who are of minority status.

Sponsor: Association on American Indian Affairs
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of July

See Scholarship Enrolled tribal citizens who are full-time students may apply for this merit-based scholarship.

Sponsor: American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship Male AAMN members from an accredited nursing program are eligible to apply.

Sponsor: Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA)
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Early June

See Scholarship Applicant must be an AAPINA member for at least two years and currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate nursing program.

Sponsor: The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA)
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: June 1 (for fall semester) or December 1 (for spring semester)

See Scholarship Students of American Indian background can apply for this scholarship if they enroll in a nursing, health care or health education field.

Sponsor: UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Late December

See Scholarship Open to undergraduates at all levels in a variety of fields, including nursing, and show financial need.

Sponsor: Danish Sisterhood of America
Amount: $850
Deadline: March 1

See Scholarship Nursing students with a GPA of at least a 3.0 who are members of the Danish Sisterhood of America and desire a degree in nursing or similar profession can apply.

Sponsor: National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
Amount: $4,000
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship Open to members of the NAHN only, with special preference given to male nursing students.

Sponsor: Indian Health Service (IHS)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Late March

See Scholarship Assists American Indian and Alaska Native students who are enrolled in a bachelor's or graduate degree program that will lead to full-time clinical practice.

Sponsor: AACN, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson
Amount: $18,000
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship Minority students who agree to teach in a nursing school after graduation can apply. Preference given to those in doctoral programs.

Sponsor: Office of Intramural Training & Education
Amount: Up to $20,000 per academic year
Deadline: Middle of March

See Scholarship Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who plan on working in a behavioral, biomedical or social science /health relate research field and have exceptional financial need can apply.

Sponsor: National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA)
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Middle of April

A member of the NBNA who is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate nursing degree can apply.

Sponsor: PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization)
Amount: Up to $12,500
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Sponsor: ExceptionalNurse.com
Amount: $500.00
Deadline: June 1

See Scholarship In memory of Peter Gili, this scholarship goes to a nursing student who has a disability.

Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and American Nurses Association (ANA)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Early May

See Scholarship Lasting three to five years, this fellowship is open to those belonging to an ethnic or racial minority group who are also nurses committed to studying minority substance abuse and mental health issues.

Sponsor: Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
Amount: Up to $7,000
Deadline: Early March

See Scholarship Approximately 50 students who choose a career of significant impact on Native Americans, such as healthcare, can receive this scholarship.

Nursing Specializations

The more experience a nurse has, the greater the opportunity for advancement. But getting a promotion or more challenging work often requires additional schooling. The following scholarships help pay for this training.

Sponsor: Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: April 30

See Scholarship

Goes to a master's student in nursing with a focus on administration.

Sponsor: American Nephrology Nurses Association
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: Middle of October

See Scholarship

Full members of the ANNA involved in nephrology nursing can apply.

Sponsor: American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

The ACNM makes this scholarship available to nursing midwives who plan on working outside a hospital who also show financial need, academic performance and leadership potential.

Sponsor: Bethesda
Amount: $3,000
Deadline: Middle of May

See Scholarship

Available to undergraduate Lutheran students from any field of study, but they must choose an area that will allow them to serve individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Sponsor: Florida Nurses Association
Amount: Varies
Deadline: June 1

See Scholarship

Applicants who intend to specialize in psychiatric nursing and decide to attend school in South Florida are given preference for this scholarship.

Sponsor: American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Open to AHNA members who plan to practice holistic nursing after becoming a registered nurse.

Sponsor: Mercer Foundation for Health
Amount: Up to $500
Deadline: March 31

See Scholarship

Current or former high school students from Mercer County, Illinois who are studying to become a Certified Nursing Assistant are the primary recipients.

Sponsor: Association for Radiologic & Imaging Nursing (ARIN)
Amount: Full payment of fees to register for the Certified Radiology Nurse exam
Deadline: Late December

See Scholarship

Goes to those studying to become certified radiology nurses.

Sponsor: Heartland Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

For residents of relevant counties in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas or Nebraska who plan on working in surgical nursing.

Sponsor: Heartland Foundation
Amount: $500
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Available to residents of relevant counties in Missouri who will provide care for those nearing the end of their lives.

Sponsor: Health Resources & Services Administration
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Nursing students can receive financial assistance for all aspects of their nursing education if they promise to work at a medical facility with a critical nursing shortage.

Sponsor: Oncology Nursing Foundation (ONF)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1

See Scholarship

Those looking to focus on oncology nursing after completion of a bachelor's degree in nursing are encouraged to apply.

Sponsor: The National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care (NADONALTC)
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1

See Scholarship

For nursing students devoted to working in the long-term care or geriatrics field after nursing school.

Sponsor: National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA) and VITAS Healthcare
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Open to both current nurses and student nurses, as long as they pursue a career in end-of-life medical care.

Sponsor: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Amount: Up to $2,750
Deadline: April 30

See Scholarship

This scholarship was created to encourage minority nursing students to go into pediatric care at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center after graduation.

State or School Specific

A student's residency or institution of choice can make a big difference in the cost of attendance. Many states and schools have special financial aid opportunities for their students or residents, a few of which are listed below.

Sponsor: Alabama Board of Nursing
Amount: Varies
Deadline: July 31

See Scholarship

Alabama residents who already have an RN license and are enrolled in a graduate nursing program in Alabama can apply.

Sponsor: Rhode Island Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Designed for nursing students who demonstrate financial need, with a preference given to Rhode Island residents.

Sponsor: BECA Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Early March

See Scholarship

Students planning on pursuing a career in the medical or healthcare fields can apply for this scholarship if they are also from, or will attend school in, San Diego County, California.

Sponsor: The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Deadline: July

See Scholarship

In addition to being enrolled in a nursing program, applicant must also be an employee or student at Ocean Medical Center.

Sponsor: Birmingham Black Nurses Association (BBNA)
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Middle of August

See Scholarship

Nursing students from the state of Alabama who are also in an undergraduate pre-licensure nursing program are eligible.

Sponsor: Oregon Student Assistance Commission
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 1

See Scholarship

Students attending an Oregon institution of higher learning who are also majoring in nursing can apply for this need-based scholarship.

Sponsor: Daughters of the American Revolution
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: Middle of February

See Scholarship

Current nursing students at the University of the District of Columbia who are also residents of Washington, D.C. are eligible.

Sponsor: The University of Utah
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Early February

See Scholarship

Doctoral students attending the University of Utah's College of Nursing who can show academic excellence and financial need are encouraged to apply.

Sponsor: eQuality Scholarship Collaborative
Amount: $6,000
Deadline: January 31

See Scholarship

In addition to attending a post-secondary institution in California to study nursing or other health related fields, applicants must also demonstrate service to the LGBT community.

Sponsor: Foundation for Seacoast Health
Amount: Varies
Deadline: April 1

See Scholarship

For undergraduate and graduate students who choose a health-related field of study and are also residents of specific towns in New Hampshire or Maine.

Sponsor: Georgia Nurses Foundation
Amount: At least $500
Deadline: Middle of June

See Scholarship

Goes to residents of Georgia who are working toward a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Sponsor: Amarillo Area Foundation
Amount: $500
Deadline: February

See Scholarship

Nursing students attending Amarillo College or West Texas A&M University may apply.

Sponsor: Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Residents of the state who attend any post-secondary level Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approved program are encouraged to apply.

Sponsor: Nebraska Methodist College
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

See Scholarship

Students at Nebraska Methodist College with at least a 3.0 GPA are in the nursing program are eligible for this financial aid award.

Sponsor: Heartland Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Middle of April

See Scholarship

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited RN program and also be residents of relevant counties in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas or Nebraska.

Advice From Financial Aid Director Sherrod Wilkerson

Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Wilkerson has worked in student aid for over ten years. He is passionate about helping individuals understand the student aid process. He's been recognized as an Emerging Leader by the Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Sherrod earned a graduate degree in Higher Education from Vanderbilt and is currently the Director of Student Financial Services at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

The very first thing I would suggest is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). If they are applying for our school, we also ask them to complete the student aid application. If they are not certain where they want to go to school, we would encourage them to contact the schools, go to their websites and find out what additional forms they need to complete to be eligible for financial aid. For example, some schools require students to fill out a separate application for school scholarships, whereas here at Johns Hopkins, the admissions application is also their scholarship application.

There are a lot of workforce development programs out there for nurses. One of the bigger ones is the Health Resources and Services Administration. They have a lot of repayment and scholarship programs and we always encourage our students to apply for those. We've been pretty fortunate over the past few years in having students receive those awards. On top of that, nearly every state has their own workforce development program for nurses.

Any student here that applies for student aid is offered a loan as part of the self-help component. However, the amount they're offered can vary. I would say about 60% to 70% of our students use federal student loans.

They are available to our students as with any similar institution. We will post jobs. The student then goes to an interview and then through the hiring process. Once they've been hired, students will work up to twenty hours per week maximum. They will receive payment in the form of a check to use for the personal or travel expenses, or any other expenses during course of the year. It is possible to have those funds directly apply to tuition, but we encourage our students to take those payments directly.

Starting the research process late or forgetting the research process altogether. Finding the best funding opportunities is a matter of research, research, research. A lot of times individuals may not know the best options for them because they don't do enough research. I'll give you an example. A student can go to a school in their state and receive a quality education and pay as an in-state resident. However, if the student qualifies for a larger scholarship at an out-of-state school, the total education cost could be cheaper. But someone wouldn't know that unless they research the options that are out there.

Financial Aid & Nursing School

Nursing Financial Aid Money As mentioned above, scholarships and grants offer great opportunities to help pay for nursing school, but they are far from a student's only options. The most common source of financial aid for college students in any course of study, in fact, is student loans. There are a number of loan sources available for nursing students. The place to begin, as mentioned earlier, is with the Federal Student Aid program and the FAFSA®. FAFSA® is the application students fill out to determine eligibility for all federal student loans as well as by most private lenders. Federal Student Aid sponsors several loan plans to college students regardless of area of study. They include the Federal Perkins Loan, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan and the Direct LOAN Plus. Details for each can be found here. Another federal loan source for nursing students is the HRSA. The HRSA's Nursing Student Loans program provides long-term low-interest loans to full-time and half-time students pursuing a course of study leading to a diploma, associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree. To be eligible for a HRSA loan, a student must demonstrate financial need and provide financial information about his or her parents. Private students loans are another option, but are less preferable when compared to federal loans due to less attractive interest rates and terms.

How Much Does Nursing School Cost?

Any potential nursing student wants to know how much this endeavor is going to cost. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer. Many variables affect the cost of attendance; let's look at some of the biggest factors that affect the cost of getting a nursing degree.

Residency status

Attending a school as an in-state resident can save tens of thousands of dollars. According to The College Board, the average in-state tuition rate at a four-year institution with in-state residency status is about $9,400 per year. However, as an out-of-state student, that same school would cost almost $24,000 per year.

Type of school

Private schools generally cost more than public ones. Depending on the student's desires and professional needs, this extra cost might be money well spent, as it can lead to more effective learning and better opportunities to network.

Type of degree

The longer a program takes, the more it costs to get that degree. So it's no surprise than an associate degree (which typically takes two years) will usually cost far less than a doctoral degree (which typically takes five or more years) or a four-year bachelor's degree.

School location

Cost of living is an often overlooked aspect of calculating school cos. It's an important factor, especially if attending a traditional school and living off-campus. For example, it'll take a lot more money to pay for housing in a place like San Francisco or New York City than it will in a small college town in the southern part of the country.

Students' academic and professional background

If an incoming student can bypass certain classes due to earlier coursework or years of experience in a certain field, they can shave a semester or more off their degree program. For instance, at the University of Kansas, an incoming student who is already a registered nurse may be able to obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing online in as little as one calendar year.

Type of program

One way to save money on schooling is to enroll in an online program. The ability to avoid moving costs as well as the opportunity for asynchronous learning can make an online degree significantly more affordable than a traditional college or university education.

Nursing Loan Repayment & Forgiveness for Graduates

If you consider scholarships and grants as free money, you'll understand why using them to pay for your education is always preferable to student loans. Loans leave a student with a debt load that could take some students years, even decades, to pay off, which could result in long delays to achieving life goals like buying a home or starting a family. Fortunately, there are a few options available to nursing school graduates to help pay off their student loans more easily or have those loans partially or completely forgiven. Because of the substantial need for qualified nurses throughout the nation, nursing school graduates are very likely eligible for loan repayment or forgiveness programs regardless of where they live. Here is a brief look at the leading loan repayment and forgiveness programs for nursing students:

Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation for Nurses

Nursing students with Federal Perkins Loan debt are able to have 100% of their loan balance forgiven over a five-year period. To qualify, a debtor must be employed full-time as a nurse, defined by the program as a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, or other individual who is licensed by the appropriate state agency to provide nursing services. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. To apply for cancellation, students should contact their loan servicer.

NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program

Sponsored by the HRSA, the NURSE Corp Loan Repayment Program will pay 60% of a debtor's unpaid nursing student loans in two years in return for two years of service at a program-defined “critical-shortage facility.” Participants may also receive an additional payment of 25% of their original loan balance for an optional third year of service. Nurse faculty participants are required to work at an accredited public or private non-profit school of nursing. Application for this program is made directly to the HRSA. More information can be found here.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) forgives the remaining balance on a student's Direct Loan after he or she has made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employers include government organizations at any level, tax-exempt not-for-profit organizations and other not-for-profits that provide certain types of qualifying services. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

State-Sponsored Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs

Loan repayment and forgiveness programs can additionally be found on the state level. Plan eligibility and application procedures vary from state to state and program to program. Check with a state's nursing board for more information. A good source to start research for state programs is provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Nursing Graduate School & Aid

Graduate nursing students face a different set of financing challenges compared to their undergraduate counterparts, but are also eligible for financial programs designated specifically for them. The search begins much the same way as with undergraduates. Graduate students should first seek help from their school's financial aid department where they can explore the federal grant and loan programs discussed above. Financial aid departments can also fill students in on these additional potential financing sources:

Fellowships

While the terms internship and fellowship are often used interchangeably, fellowships are typically found more on the graduate level and involve graduate research or other work by the student. Graduate fellowships often involve specialized educational programs, additional classroom time, and hands-on training. Fellowships are offered by governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and private hospitals and clinics. Financial compensation is normally made in the form of regular salaries or monthly or yearly stipends.

Internships and Residencies

The terms “internship” and “residency” are often both used in the titles of their extended orientation programs for nursing graduates and graduate students. These programs are typically paid positions that allow the graduate to help finance his or her education while learning a specialized area of nursing practice. Lengths of internships and residencies can run from a few weeks to a year or longer.

Advice from Student Services Expert Patrick Tufford

University of Washington School of Nursing

Patrick Tufford is the assistant director of academic services at the University of Washington's School of Nursing. His work connects him with a wide range of students, from those in high school students learning about nursing to Ph.D. students conducting original research. Tufford enjoys working with first-generation students navigating higher education for the first time.

I start by talking to the student about the financial aid process at the federal level. The very basic first step is to file your FAFSA®, which qualifies you for federal funding as well as funding at the university level. We have some funding awards in the form of scholarships, grants and work-study student, things like that, depending on your unmet need number. The need number, which comes from the FAFSA® process, is the amount of need that the student is not expected to fund out of his or her own personal resources. Based on that need, we'll award scholarships, grants, and we have a very tiny amount of loan money as well. There are also lots of scholarships that are not administered through us and that we may or may not know about. But we do maintain a financial aid blog where if we do know about a program out there that would be relevant to our students we'll post it to the blog.

We encourage students, particularly grad students to look into research assistant and teaching assistant jobs because in addition to the stipend they get just for working, under certain conditions they can get a tuition waiver as well.

Nursing has some benefits when it comes to debt. Most of our students work as nurses in some capacity or another, or have in the recent past. And depending on where they're working, they may qualify for tuition waivers. For example, we have a medical center system here that is affiliated with the university. The people who work there are state employees and can qualify for some forms of tuition waivers. There are also loan repayment programs. If you want to become nursing faculty, for example, there's a faculty loan repayment program where under certain conditions they will repay a large percentage of a student's loans. Likewise, if you are working in some rural or other populations, there are some loan repayment programs for that. In those programs, you usually have to commit to two years, but you get a large percentage of your loan repaid. So, if you are looking to get your loan paid off quickly, that can be a good way to do it.

I've made the rounds with many of the other administrators here who handle financial assistance and I think universally their advice has to do with taking on too much debt. That's the biggest pitfall for students. You know, you get into school and to get some aid in the form of scholarships, or not, and you take out loans for the rest of the costs. And by the time you finish school, you could be $60,000 in debt. So, making sure you aren't taking on too much debt, especially in the form of unsubsidized loans. That's our biggest worry for students and we make sure that we advise them frequently to take advantage of counseling from our financial aid office.

Additional Nursing Resources

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN): The AACN plays a significant role in creating and developing nursing education standards.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: The main professional association for nurses specializing in acute and critical care.
The American Nurses Foundation (ANA): The ANA is one of the preeminent professional nursing organizations in the United States.
Diversitynursing.com: An online community to accommodate the professional and education needs of future and current nurses.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a pivotal step in obtaining financial aid, including many scholarships and grants.
Federal Student Aid: Most students who demonstrate financial need will be eligible for different types of federally funded aid.
The Foundation of the National Students Nurses' Association, Inc. (FNSNA): This organization provides scholarships and grants to support nursing students.
National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN): Neonatal nurses looking for assistance in advancing their educational and professional needs are welcome to join this professional organization.
National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): This organization is comprised of Black nurses whose mission it is to ensure all patients have equal access to high quality healthcare.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The NCSBN is an independent body that helps develop nursing licensure examinations, such as the NCLEX.
National League for Nursing (NLN): The NLN specializes in representing the interests of nurse educators.
National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA): The NSNA is a professional organization that provides mentoring opportunities for nursing students and promotes continuing advancements of standards and ethics in nursing education.
Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation (NPHF): The NPHF is a nonprofit organization tasked with improving the medical care provided by nurse practitioners.
Oncology Nursing Foundation: Aims to help those dealing with cancer by supporting oncology nursing, including helping future oncology nursing students pay for school.
Sigma: A professional organization that represents the interests of nurses from all over the world.

More Guides for Nursing Students

In additional to scholarships, there are other forms of financial aid out there. There's also the significant question of choosing the right nursing program. To learn more about these and similar topics, take a look at these pages.

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Nursing School Scholarships

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Quick Sort: Scholarships for Nursing Students

Top Online Nursing Programs

General Scholarships

AfterCollege-AACN Scholarship Fund

American School Health Association Scholarship

ARN Scholarship

Back to School Nursing Scholarship

Barbara Rhomberg Nursing Scholarship

Carol E. Holt Nursing Scholarship

Education Award

FNSNA Promise of Nursing Scholarship

Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship

HOSA Scholarship

Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority Scholarship

Madeline Pickett (Halbert) Cogswell Nursing Scholarship

National Lung & Respiratory Scholarship

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

US Air Force Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP)

Graduate Students

AANP Scholarship

AORN Foundation Academic Scholarship

Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Doctoral Scholarship

Chiyoko and Thomas Shimazaki Scholarship

Connie Dorry Memorial Fund

Future of Nursing Scholarship Program

The F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program

Graduate Scholarships in Cancer Nursing Practice

Kathryn Suggs Chance Leonard Scholarship

KCNPNM Scholarship

March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarship

Lynne Edwards Research Scholarship

NEF Graduate Nursing Scholarship

Nursing Economic$ Foundation Scholarship

Oncology Nursing Foundation Master's Scholarship

Minority Students

AAIA Scholarship

AAMN Scholarship

AAPINA Scholarship

America Indian Nurse Scholarship Award

BD Scholarship

Elizabeth Garde National Scholarship

Hector Gonzalez Past Presidents Scholarship

IHS Health Professions Scholarship

Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship

The National Institute of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program

NBNA Board of Directors Scholarship

PEO International Peace Scholarship

Peter Gili Scholarship Award

SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program Doctoral

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

Nursing Specializations

Anita Dorr Graduate Scholarship

ANNA Career Mobility Scholarship

Basic Midwifery Edith B. Wonnell CNM Scholarship

Bethesda Auxiliary Scholarship

Charlotte Liddell Scholarship Fund

Charlotte McGuire Education Scholarship Program

CNA Scholarship

CRN Scholarship Award

Mary Alice Hartigan Scholarship for Nursing

Mosaic Life Care Hospice Scholarship

NURSE Corps Scholarship Program

Oncology Nursing Foundation Bachelor's in Nursing Degree Scholarship

Stephanie Carroll Scholarship

VITAS Healthcare/Esther Colliflower Scholarship

William K. Schubert Minority Nursing Scholarship

State or School Specific

Alabama Board of Nursing Graduate Scholarship

Albert E. and Florence W. Newton Nursing Scholarship

Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Scholarship

The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship

BBNA Scholarship

Bertha P. Singer Nurses Scholarship

District of Columbia Nursing Scholarship

Echomae Anderson and Esther Pritchard Endowed Doctoral Scholarship

Quality Scholarship

Edwina Foye Award for Outstanding Graduate Student

Katherine Pope Scholarship