Sharpen your pencil because it’s time to take notes as we prepare you to explain to a scholarship board why you’d make a great healthcare professional and deserve any of the many scholarships for nursing students out there. It’s time to write about why you stand out.
Let’s face it: College can be a financial burden for many. While your nursing school education will pay out later as you settle into your career, the initial investment can be difficult. For lots of students, going to college means applying for financial aid, going into debt, and working long hours while studying to pay for their higher education.
So, let’s hear it for nursing grants! While these scholarships for nurses may not cover all your tuition, they can provide a significant boost. Unlike loans, nurse scholarships are rewards, so you never have to pay them back. They help lessen the financial burden, taking a weight off your shoulders.
How much does nursing school cost?
You can’t know how much to save unless you know how much you’ll spend. So, how much does a nursing education cost, anyways?
The answer depends on whether you plan to attend a public or private school. As public schools receive subsidies, tuition tends to be lower, especially for in-state students. In general, nursing school tuition ranges from around $9,000 to $35,000 in the United States. Sounds like a lot? For many, it is. That said, let’s explore some nursing school grants that can help.
Fifteen popular scholarships for nursing students
There’s a nursing school scholarship out there for everyone. Each of the scholarship funds we’ve compiled in the list below serves a different population. Find out which is suitable for you, and don’t forget to look up the application deadline and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requirements.
The American Red Cross’ Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship
If you’ve ever volunteered or worked for the Red Cross, you’re eligible for this award. You’ll have to prove good academic standing and should have completed your first year of nursing school to be considered for this $3,000 grant, destined for academic purposes such as tuition or books.
Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship
Awarded by the Daughters of the Revolution, this scholarship is a good option for any current nursing student or nursing student hopeful who can demonstrate financial need and their acceptance to a college-level educational program (yes, this means you, high school seniors!). You could receive one of three $2,500 awards.
Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association (FNSNA) General Scholarship
Specializing? This scholarship recognizes enrolled undergraduate or graduates nursing students who wish to work in a specific area of nursing. These awards range from $1,000 to $7,500, which the foundation pays directly to the school you attend to ensure the funds go toward tuition or other academic fees.
TYLENOL Future Care Scholarship
This award is also open to students earning either undergraduate or graduate degrees who are enrolled in an accredited nursing program and are more than one academic year away from finishing their degree at the time of applying. For this hefty $10,000 student scholarship, the board considers GPA, community service and your essay on what becoming a nurse means to you.
Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund Legacy Scholarship
This generous award is intended for women students who maintain a high GPA of 3.0 or more. If you fill the bill, complete the scholarship application on the fund’s website to be considered for a $5,000 or $10,000 scholarship.
Unigo $10K Scholarship
This is the third $10,000 award on our list because we understand the financial weight of nursing school and want to help guide you toward the “big bucks” that can help alleviate it. How can you earn this scholarship? By putting your pen to paper and showing the board why you’re special.
The Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation Scholarship Program
This scholarship opportunity is perfect for anyone planning to attend nursing school and wanting to start off on the right foot financially. To be eligible, you must show a minimum GPA of 3.4 and excellent scores on your SAT or ACT. If you’re the first generation to attend college in your family or have served in the military, you’ll receive preferential consideration for this award. Once again, you’ll need to express yourself uniquely in an essay to get the board’s attention.
Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream Award
If you’re a single mother, you are already doing some of the most challenging work on the planet. The fact that you want to become a nurse and do even harder work to help others means that you’re the type of person who goes above and beyond and should be rewarded for it. This club awards scholarships in $1,000, $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000 denominations. This financial assistance can be put toward academic fees, childcare and expenses that make it easier for you to attend school. Write candidly about your experience as a single mother and how this scholarship would help you.
The McKelvey Foundation Scholarship
If you’re attending nursing school next year and you’re the first in your family to attend college, you’re eligible for one of 125 $12,000 scholarship awards. This scholarship aims to help those who are experiencing financial hardship but still give back to their communities. Apply this funding toward any 4-year nursing degree program in your state.
American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) Scholarship
If you are a man enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate nursing program provided by an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member, you could earn a $1,000-1,500 scholarship. To be eligible, you must have already completed at least one term of nursing school, and if you win the award, you’ll have to give a speech or webinar on men’s health to the members of this organization (mic check!).
VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship
This scholarship is available to anyone who’s served in the military and holds an E-5 rank or lower. You must also prove financial need to be considered for these $5,000 scholarships paid directly to the institution you attend for tuition and fees.
Minority Nurse Scholarship Program
If you’re a third- or fourth-year nursing student pursuing your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and form part of a racial or ethnic minority as per the eligibility requirements of this college scholarship program, you could be considered for one of these $1,000 or $3,000 awards. Show the board how you’ll make a difference in the brief personal statement required as part of the application process.
disABLEDperson, Inc. Scholarship
This award is open to differently abled students who attend school full- or part-time. You’ll need to be a member of the “disABLEDperson” community before you can apply, but by joining this organization, you stand a chance to earn $2,000 for your schooling. You guessed it: To make your case before the board, you’ll have to show them who you are in a 1,000-word essay.
Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) Scholarships
If you want to earn your master’s degree or doctorate degree for free, this is your chance. Active part- and full-time students are eligible for this award that covers full tuition in some cases. To be considered, you’ll need to write a moving essay and have three references put in a good word.
Gallagher Student Health Careers Scholarship Program
Many awards require that applicants be U.S. citizens. This can make it difficult for non-citizens and international students to attend programs in the U.S. as they may have to pay tuition in full. However, this scholarship program is open to all full-time undergraduate students working toward a 4-year degree, regardless of their citizenship status. The reward is a generous one, too: The organization offers six $7,500 scholarships. To be considered, you’ll need to present a stellar 500-word essay on why you’d make great healthcare professional and have two recommenders back up that claim.
We understand that becoming a nurse can be long, difficult, and expensive, which is why we’re so dedicated to finding resources that can help you kickstart your career. We know that you’re going to rock your nursing career!