13 Nursing Scholarships You Can Apply to This Weekend

When applying to nursing school, there are many questions to consider: Why do you want to earn the degree? What’s the best program format for your learning style? How will you finance your education? That last question is especially important, and nursing school scholarships can be part of the answer by helping to reduce tuition costs.

Here are 13 nursing student scholarships for RNs interested in continuing their nursing education:

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarship Program

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500–$5,000

Deadline: March 24

Scholarships are available to AANP members who are currently enrolled in an accredited school in pursuit of a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. Applicants must be licensed as a registered nurse. Awardees can receive scholarship amounts between $2,500 and $5,000.

AfterCollege/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Scholarship Fund

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500

Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31

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.

Cherokee Uniforms “A Nurse I Am” Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,000

Deadline: TBD; application cycle opens February 1

Inspired by the A Nurse I Am documentary, his scholarship requires students to complete an application and submit an essay in order to be considered. Up to 10 scholarships of $2,000 are awarded to those who have been accepted to or are enrolled in an accredited LVN/LPN or RN degree (ADN or BSN), diploma, or RN to BSN program.

Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,000–$2,500

Deadline: February 15

The Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship, Mildred Nutting Nursing Scholarship, District of Columbia 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 ranging from $2,000 to $2,500.

ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $250–$500

Deadline: June 1

ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarship applicants must be students with a documented disability who have applied or already been admitted to a full-time nursing program.

Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $5,000

Deadlines: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31

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

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500

Deadlines: January 15, July 15

Hurst Review Services and AACN have partnered to offer scholarships to students pursuing professional nursing degrees. Two $2,500 scholarships are awarded twice yearly.

National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: Varies

Deadline: January 15

The NSNA Foundation was organized “exclusively for charitable and educational purposes,” providing annual awards for graduate and undergraduate students. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in state-approved schools of nursing for their first degree in nursing.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

Nursing Scholarship Amount: Tuition, fees, and other educational costs

Deadline: TBD; individuals can sign up for alerts when a new application cycle begins

Open to students enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing program, 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).

Nurses Educational Funds Scholarships

Nursing Scholarship Amount: Varies

Deadline: February 1

The Nurses Educational Funds scholarship program includes 24 scholarships available to students enrolled full or part time in an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)- or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)-accredited nursing program who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6 over at least 12 credits. Scholarship amounts vary.

Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $5,000

Deadline: January 31

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a master’s degree nursing program at an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited school. An interest and commitment to oncology nursing is required; $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually.

St. Francis School of Nursing Alumni of Pittsburgh, PA, Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: $3,000 (average award)

Deadline: February 8

Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from a professional nursing program and demonstrate financial need. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to apply.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

Nursing Scholarship Amount: Varies

Deadline: TBD; application cycle typically begins in May

Each year, Tylenol awards a total of $225,000 to 35 nursing students who demonstrate academic excellence, exemplary leadership, community involvement, and dedication to a career of caring for others.

Citation for this content: Nursing@Simmons, the online FNP program from the Simmons School of Nursing

Last updated February 2021.