Funding is something that must be considered when determining your undergraduate and graduate academic goals for nursing school. Nursing school is expensive. Depending on the type of school and nursing program you enroll in, total tuition can range from $6,000 for an associate degree to $100,000 for an advanced degree. Luckily, many organizations offer funding options to nursing students from grants to student loans to scholarships. Scholarships are based on a variety of requirements from background to academic standing. But all scholarships are opportunities for someone. Whether you are attending a private or public institution for nursing, scholarships are a great way to fund your nursing school tuition without paying out-of-pocket.
To help you get started, we’ve identified 10 nursing school scholarships for nursing students!
Top 10 Nursing School Scholarships in 2021
1. BoardVitals Nursing School Scholarship
The BoardVitals Nursing School Scholarship awards scholarships to two nursing school students who have shown strong academic standing and a passion for advancements in the nursing industry. The first place winner will receive $2,500 in the form of a VISA Prepaid Card. A second place winner will receive $1,000 in the form of a VISA Prepaid Card. Five third place winners will receive 50% off a BoardVitals question bank.
To apply, you must be a resident of the United States who is currently enrolled as a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th-year nursing student in an accredited nursing school located in the United States. Participants must apply online and submit a 500-word essay or 2-minute video on a nursing industry trend that stands out to you and explain why it interests you. Applications are accepted until July 31st, 2021.
BoardVitals also offers a Medical School Scholarship for 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th-year medical students.
2. FNSNA Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The Foundation of Nation Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) offers an Undergraduate Scholarship Program which is comprised of two separate scholarships: The General Scholarship Program and the Promise of Nursing Program. Both are available to currently enrolled nursing students and “are based on academic achievement, financial need, and involvement in nursing student organizations and community activities related to health care.”
The General Scholarship Program provides funding for up to $7,500 per academic year and focuses on a specific area of nursing specialty that is often under represented such as oncology or emergency nursing.
The Promise of Nursing Scholarship Program is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and is aimed at addressing the nursing shortage in the U.S. To be eligible, applicants must attend a state approved school of nursing within one of the eligible Promise of Nursing States. Funding is up to $7,500 per academic year.
The application deadline for 2021 is currently closed but the deadline for 2022 will open in September 2021.
3. NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
NURSE Corps Scholarship Program (NCSP) helps nursing students complete their nursing education by paying tuition, fees, and other educational costs in exchange for working a minimum of two years at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) upon graduation. The program is focuses on areas lacking enough healthcare professionals.
4. NAHN Scholarship Programs
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) offers a number of scholarships such as the United Health Foundation Diverse Scholars Initiative and the NurseThink.com Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded annually to active NAHN members enrolled in accredited LVN/LPN, associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing programs. Scholarship recipients are a select group of Hispanic nursing students who demonstrate promise of professional contributions to the nursing profession and who have the potential to act as role models for other aspiring nursing students.
The application period begins Spring 2021.
5. TYLENOL® Future Care Scholarship
The TYLENOL® Future Care Scholarship is offered each year to graduate students pursuing careers in medicine. In total, they offer ten $10,000 scholarships and twenty-five $5,000 awarded each year.
The scholarship application process is simple. To apply, you must submit two essays as well as your transcript. To be eligible, participants must be enrolled in a graduate program in medical school, nursing, and/or pharmacy. Entrants will be judged on college GPA, academic records in medical school, community involvement, and essay content.
6. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship
The Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship provides two $5,000 scholarships to top nursing school applicants four times each year to outstanding nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs at AACN member institutions.
To apply, you must write an essay with a maximum of 250 words about your goals and aspirations as they relate to your education and future career goals and plans.
7. National Black Nurses Association, Inc (NBNA) Scholarship Program
The NBNBA Scholarship Program provides several annual scholarships ranging from $1,000-5,000 to students who are NBNA members, currently enrolled in a nursing program, and have at least one full year of school remaining.
To apply, applicants must submit a two-page essay describing their extracurricular activities and community involvement, a statement about their future goals in nursing in addition to their ideas of what they can do as a nurse to improve the health status and/or social condition of African Americans.
Application deadline closes April 15, 2021.
8. IHS Scholarship Program
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program offers scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students in both undergraduate and graduate programs in the form of financial support in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian health program in a health profession discipline.
To apply, IHS scholarship applicants must write an essay detailing their reasons for applying, explain their goals and how they will help meet the healthcare needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
9. American Red Cross Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship
The American Red Cross offers the Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship, which awards $3,000 to one nursing students with at least 1 year of college credits completed and who has served as a Red Cross volunteer or employee at least once within the past 5 years.
10. ExceptionalNurse.Com Scholarship
ExceptionalNurse.com offers scholarships ranging from $250-500 to nursing students with disabilities.
Applicants must submit an essay that answers the various essay topics outlined in the ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarship Application.
These 10 nursing school scholarships are options for nursing students seeking financial support while in school. Nursing school is stressful enough. Scholarships can help ease the financial burden by providing free money for nursing students to access while they pursue their goals of helping their communities. Don’t miss out!
Nacole Riccaboni is an acute care nurse practitioner in Florida (AGACNP-BC) and has been a critical care nurse since 2011. She received her MSN in 2018 from the University of South Alabama, and an MBA in 2020 from Capella University. Nursing is a passion of hers, and she loves her community. Her career focus is within the hospital setting, and she has extensive experience in the adult intensive care setting.
