20 Nursing Scholarships You Should Know About
When applying to nursing school, there are many things to consider, including motivations for earning your degree, the program format that is best for your learning style, and ways to finance your degree. The financial aspect should not be taken lightly, as investing in your future takes a substantial amount of planning. Nursing scholarships are a great way to reduce the cost of tuition and gain recognition from some of the top nursing and health care organizations throughout the world.
Here are 20 scholarships for RNs interested in furthering their nursing education to consider:
Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
This scholarship is awarded to support outstanding nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs. Two $5,000 scholarships are distributed to the top applicants four times each year. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA in their current program or last school attended. They must be admitted or enrolled in a program at an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member institution affiliated with CertifiedBackground.com.
Hurst Reviews/AACN Nursing Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Hurst Review Services and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing have partnered to offer scholarships to students pursuing professional nursing degrees. Two $2,500 scholarships are awarded twice yearly.
Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
Amount: $1,000
The Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship, Mildred Nutting Nursing Scholarship, and Madeline Pickett (Halbert) Cogswell Nursing Scholarship are all available through the Daughters of the American Revolution Society. Each scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000.
Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund
Amount: $2,500
This scholarship is awarded to minority women pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in health care fields. Applicants must be a female of Hispanic, African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander or other minority origin and have a GPA of at least 3.0. Registration for this scholarship is open from April until December.
AANP Education Advancement Scholarships
Amount: Up to $62,500
Applicants are required to be current AANP members; if selected as an award recipient, AANP membership must be maintained throughout the entire award funding cycle. Applicants must be formally admitted to and currently attending courses in a fully accredited MSN program, enrolled in an FNP or WHNP program, and maintain a 3.5 GPA.
SGNA RN Advancing Education Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 or $2,500
The SGNA RN Advancing Education Scholarship is awarded to RNs working in gastroenterology who are pursuing a BSN, MSN, or Ph.D. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a SGNA member enrolled in an accredited advanced degree program and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Recipients of the scholarship who are full-time students will receive $2,500; part-time students will receive $1,000.
Nurses Educational Funds Scholarships
Amount: Varies
The Nurses Educational Funds scholarship program includes 19 scholarships available to students enrolled full- or part-time in an NLNAC or CCNE accredited nursing program who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6 over at least 12 credits. Scholarship amounts vary.
National Student Nurses’ Association Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
The NSNA Foundation awards more than $330,000 annually; scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000. Applicants must be enrolled in state-approved schools of nursing for their first degree in nursing.
Mary E. Smith Foundation Excellence in Science & Medicine Award
Amount: $2,500
This scholarship is for nurses currently enrolled in an advanced educational program. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, have three science courses with a minimum grade letter of B in each course, rank in the top half of their class, and have an SAT or ACT score of at least 850 or 21, respectively.
ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships
Amount: $250 or $500
ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarship applicants must be students with a documented disability who have applied to or already been admitted to a full-time nursing program. Scholarships totals are either $250 or $500.
St. Francis School of Nursing Alumni of Pittsburgh, PA Scholarship Fund
Amount: Varies
Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from a professional nursing program and demonstrate financial need. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to apply.
NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
Amount: Tuition, fees, books, and monthly stipend
Open to students enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing programs, the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program helps alleviate the critical shortage of nurses. Recipients of this scholarship are required to work in a health care facility located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for at least two years. Preference is given to students pursuing a master’s level Nurse Practitioner degree.
Oncology Nursing Association Master’s Scholarships
Amount: $5,000
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a master’s degree nursing program at an NLN or CCNE accredited school. An interest and commitment to oncology nursing is required. $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually.
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Applicants must be current nursing school students in a baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. An interest in the field of perioperative/surgical nursing is required. Selection of winners is based on academics, transcripts, an essay, financial need, and completion of the application.
Greta James Memorial Scholarships
Amount: $2,500
Two $2,500 scholarships are awarded to candidates who are currently enrolled in nursing school and complete two essay questions. Peers in the nursing profession select the recipients through an online voting system.
Cherokee Uniforms “A Nurse I Am” Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Inspired by the “A Nurse I Am” documentary, applicants must complete an application and submit an essay in order to be considered for the scholarship. Up to 10 scholarships of $2,000 are awarded to students who have been accepted to or are enrolled in an accredited LVN/LPN, RN degree (ADN or BSN), diploma, or RN to BSN program.
TYLENOL Future Care Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Each year, TYLENOL awards a total of $250,000 to 40 nursing students who demonstrate academic excellence, exemplary leadership, community involvement, and dedication to a career of caring for others.
National Student Nurses Association McKesson Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
In order to combat the nursing shortage, the McKesson Foundation awards 25 $1,000 scholarships to low-income nursing students every year.
AfterCollege/AACN Scholarship Fund
Amount: $2,500
Applicants must be pursuing a degree in nursing at the baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral level to be eligible for this $2,500 scholarship. Special consideration is given to students in a graduate program with the goal of becoming a nurse educator; students completing an RN to BSN or RN to MSN program; and those enrolled in an accelerated program.
Touchmark Foundation Nursing Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Scholarships are awarded to support students pursuing degrees in nursing. Only nurses who live in or attend school in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, or Alberta, Canada, can apply.
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