A List of US-Based Nursing School Scholarships

Looking for a list of US-based nursing school scholarships? You are in the right place! 

Choosing a nursing career is one of the most important decisions that you can ever make. It means that you have chosen to be part of a life-changing field that offers plenty of opportunities for advancement. 

However, studying nursing is a journey that requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and finances. Needless to say, paying for school can be an overwhelming task.

The good news is that nursing students can now find financial support for nursing school with a variety of scholarships and grants.

In this article, we will cover the following:

• What you need to apply for nursing school scholarships
• Tips that will help your scholarship application stand out
• US-based nursing school scholarships for US citizens and minority students
• Let’s get started!

Why You Should Apply for Nursing School Scholarships

According to a report released by the United States government, approximately 40% of first-time nursing students receive loan funds, with 26% of these students receiving federal student loans.

This goes to show that a majority of graduate nursing students struggle with student debt.

The same report goes on to say that nursing students finance living costs and educational outlays from a variety of funding including scholarships.

These students apply for scholarships for the following reasons:

An opportunity to enjoy stress-free education

Without financial assistance, nursing students may find it hard to fully concentrate on their studies.

This is because there are numerous costs associated with nursing school including tuition books, practicals, examination fees, and living expenses.

With the aid of a scholarship, students can focus on their studies knowing that these expenses are already taken care of.

Scholarships fill the gap

Nursing schools carry all kinds of students, including those who come from low-income and high-income families.

As such, they can be a great help to students who yearn for better education but are not able to afford it.

They are equally a great substitute for students who do not meet merit-based scholarships. They can still get the funding that they need by applying for various scholarship options.

A way to ease the student loan burden

If you are planning to be a full-time nursing student and have to pay your way through nursing school, chances are that you will apply for a student loan.

This will help ease the financial burden as you study. However, it still means that students have the responsibility of paying this debt once they graduate from nursing school.

It may be difficult to keep up with the debt, especially with the growing yearly rates. With a scholarship in hand, nursing students can kick student loans to the curb.

In essence, scholarships help nursing students achieve their financial and career goals at large.

Nursing School Scholarships: Checklist

Knowing what you need beforehand is the best way to ace a nursing scholarship application. As with any other thing in life, preparation is key.

First things first! It is important to know that these scholarships are offered to students with excellent performance, either on merit or due to financial need.

But other than good academic standing, there are a few other things that students need. They include:

All required information

A majority of nursing students feel that by applying for as many scholarships as they can get their hands on, they will have higher chances of scoring one (or two).

While this may be true in terms of acceptance statistics, it may make you miss out on the vital information that the scholarship requires. Always take time to go through the required information by the selection panel and cross it out as you acquire it.

References or letters of recommendation

A vast majority of scholarships require letters from student referees. This is the best way to find out who you are and the values that you stand for.

As such, it does not hurt to get your letters a little early in the game. In fact, reach out to your referees to get your recommendation letters even before you embark on your application process so that you are better prepared.

The right documentation

More often than not, scholars will ask you to attach supporting documentation alongside your application. The most commonly requested documentation includes:

a. The completed scholarship form

b. Copy of your ID/passport

c. Copies of your transcripts from the last school that you graduated from or are currently attending

d. A 300-400 word letter of motivation that explains why you are applying for the scholarship

e. Financial information including your parents’ tax returns if you are a student who is applying for a scholarship because of a lack of finances

Your scholarship checklist will act as a guide of sorts. By having all of these things in hand, your application process will be that much easier.

3 Tips To Make Your Nursing School Scholarship Application Stand Out

Remember, everyone is applying for a nursing scholarship for the same reason - to acquire the money that will help them pay for their tuition.

Depending on the scholarship award that you choose, you may be one out of thousands of applicants. As such, knowing how to make your application stand out is a necessity.

Here are three ways to do just that:

1. Be original

There are nursing students who copy and paste essays and answers so that they could “sound better” but the reality is that this is the worst mistake that you can make.

Scholars go through thousands of applications and if students are providing similar answers then chances are that they are plagiarized.

This will disqualify your application. Therefore, it is best to be original in the answers that you provide. This will set you apart from the rest.

2. Mention any merits and awards that you have previously received

There is nothing better than showcasing your achievements and merit awards through your application. This will give your application a lot of extra points.

Here, students can document their clinical encounters by storytelling. It is a great opportunity to get published and make your application or CV stand out.

3. Be personal and passionate

This especially applies to your essay. By being personable and showcasing your true self then scholars will get a good sense of who you are.

For instance, you could choose to include your healthcare journey and why you decided to take up nursing as a course.

But try not to focus on the negatives that led you there. If you have to mention them, focus on how they shaped your journey.

Granted, sending your scholarship application may be challenging. But it will be well worth it when you get chosen for the award. These three tips are sure to get you there!

List of US-based Nursing School Scholarships

Here are a number of US-based nursing school scholarships that will help you offset nursing school expenses:

Cascade Healthcare Nurses Make A Difference Scholarship

This scholarship is for students who are currently enrolled in an accredited nursing school or have been accepted into nursing programs but require financial assistance.

Dollar amount: A scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to qualifying students.

Application process: Students simply need to complete the application form on the website. Accompanying the application should be a form that proves the student requires financial assistance, a personal essay as well as letters of recommendation.

Dates and deadlines: The application deadline for this scholarship is annually on August 1st.

Eligibility: Applicants must be US citizens who are undergraduate nursing students, They must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Coursey Enterprises Student Scholarships

This scholarship is open to first-year nursing students who are pursuing a registered nursing (RN) or licensed practical nursing (LPN) course.

Dollar amount: A $250 scholarship is awarded to one student every semester.

Application process: Students are required to fill out an application form and submit a 200-word essay entitled “ Why I Want To Be A Nurse”. This is a chance for students to show why they deserve the scholarship. Accompanying this information should be a student photo.

Dates and deadlines: Fall applications are open from February 1-June 1, with recipients announced in September. Spring applications are open from September 1-December 1, with recipients announced in January.

Eligibility: All students must be US citizens. They may also maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Hurst Review Services Nursing AACN Scholarship

This nursing scholarship is available to students who are enrolled in a nursing program or institution accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Dollar amount: Two scholarship awards of $2500 are awarded twice a year.

Application process: Students are required to complete the application form on the website.

Dates and deadlines: The deadlines for applying are January 15 and July 15, with recipients announced within 60 days.

Eligibility: Applicants must be pursuing professional nursing degrees at an AACN school. They must maintain a 3.2-grade point average in their current program or at the last school attended.

While there are numerous US-based nursing scholarships, these are known for their high student acceptance rates and favorable eligibility requirements.

US-based Nursing School Scholarships for Minorities in the US

American Indian Medical Scholarship Program

This scholarship opportunity is open to graduate and undergraduate nursing students who are enrolled in two to four-year nursing programs.

Dollar amount: Scholarship winners receive $1500 per semester, with funds automatically forwarded to the recipient’s school to be applied towards their tuition and educational materials. Once approved, students can re-apply for this scholarship every semester as long as they remain in good academic standing.

Application process: Students are required to complete the application form on the website and attach their transcripts, a personal photo, a personal statement, letters of recommendation as well as proof of financial need.

Dates and deadlines: The deadline for this scholarship application is June 1st for fall scholarships and December 1st for spring scholarships.

Eligibility: Applicants should be at least one-quarter Indian and prove that they are part of a tribe. They must also be in good academic standing in a pre-nursing or health education program. Most importantly, applicants should prove financial need.

Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA) Scholarship

A scholarship to support nursing education for organization members and contribute to supporting the core mission and goals of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association.

Dollar amount: $500

Application process: Students must provide a CV/resume, two letters of recommendation, and write a personal essay. See website for details.

Dates and deadlines: Applications close on June 30.

Eligibility: Applicants must be a member of AAPINA for at least a year and enrolled in a nursing program with at least a 3.5/4.0 GPA. 

A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Program

Funded by individual donations, fundraisings, and memorials, the A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship was established to honor A.T. Anderson, one of AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) founders.

Dollar amount:

• $1,000 for the academic year for undergraduate students
• $2,000 for the academic year for graduate students

Application process: Students must fill out a profile on the OASIS scholarship platform. They will need to upload relevant documents( transcripts, resumes, indigenous native verification, personal essays, academic acceptance letters, personal photos, and letters of recommendation) to be considered for a nursing scholarship. Once the profile is completed, the student will be notified of their eligibility.

Dates and deadlines: Scholarship applications close on May 31st with an application review period of June 1st to June 30th.

Eligibility: Any STEM-related degrees inclusive of medical sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, technology, engineering, and natural resources are supported by this scholarship. Additionally, applicants must be enrolled and a citizen or a descendant of an enrolled citizen who is a Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. The scholarship also applies to the indigenous people of Canada. Applicants must be current AISES members at the time of their application.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is open to high school seniors who have future career interests in the nursing field, as well as undergraduate students who are pursuing a nursing course.

Dollar amount: The scholarship award amounts range from $500 to $5000 per student.

Application process: Students are required to fill out the application form on the scholar’s website.

Dates and deadlines: The application opens on January 1 with a deadline of February 15 and selection in June. The scholarships are awarded in December.

Eligibility: All applicants must be of Hispanic heritage. They should also be permanent US residents. Additionally, high school seniors should have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale while college and undergraduate students should have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher on the same scale.

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Scholarships

A selection of scholarships for Black nursing students who are members of NBNA (both the national organization and a local chapter, when feasible), enrolled in a nursing program, and have at least one year remaining in their schooling.

Dollar amount: A variety of scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 are awarded to qualifying students.

Application process: In addition to filling out the application form, students must provide a copy of their CV, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a letter from the registrar verifying enrollment and anticipated graduation date, a professional headshot, a list of any student nurse or community activities, as well as writing a two-page essay up to 500 words in length.

Dates and deadlines: Varies. See website for details.

Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a nursing program with at least one year of school left and be members of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA).

NurseJournal Guide to Scholarships for Indigenous American Nursing Students

A scholarship guide for Native American students planning to enter a nursing career to learn more about Indigenous American scholarships, how to qualify, and when to apply. Both undergraduate and graduate-level scholarships are available.

Dollar amount: Varies

Application process: See each scholarship for details.

Dates and deadlines: Varies. All degree-seekers should check individual scholarship websites for current information regarding application deadlines and eligibility. Learners who intend to apply for graduate school should explore grant and scholarship prospects at least a year before their intended start dates.

Eligibility: Varies. See the list of scholarships on their website.

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