Realizing that you have to figure out how to pay for nursing school can put quite a damper on the excitement of reading an acceptance letter. It’s no secret that college puts thousands of young adults into debt every year, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up.
In fact, there’s more financial assistance out there than you might at first expect. Let’s break down what your options are and hopefully answer your key questions along the way.
How can I afford to attend nursing school?
Nursing students typically fund their education through a combination of personal savings, financial aid such as scholarships and grants, and alternative options like employer tuition assistance, military benefits, or student loans.
For example, many students pay for nursing school with a combination of loans, scholarships or grants, and a side job like per diem CNA shifts.
The nurse staffing shortage has motivated governments and the industry itself to make nursing programs more accessible. This means that in addition to traditional school loans, there are lots of programs that can help turn your nursing dream into a reality.
- There are scholarships and grants funded by federal or state governments.
- Scholarships and grants are also awarded by foundations, organizations, corporations, and the nursing schools themselves.
- Federal student loans and private loans are also available. They typically serve to cover the leftover education costs after any scholarship or grant amounts are applied.
Is nursing school covered by FAFSA?
Yes. Prospective and current nursing students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. This application will provide you with access to the following:
- Federal grants: These are awarded based on the student’s financial need.
- Federal loans: These usually have lower interest rates than private loans and defer repayment until after graduation or if beneficiaries drop below full-time student status.
- Federal work-study program: These are part-time jobs that are on campus.
How does the FAFSA work?
After you fill out the application for the FAFSA, you’ll receive a financial package offer. This package is an offer, which means you do not have to accept it. Your offer may have a combination of grants, loans, or work-study programs. You can accept only certain parts of the package or the entire thing.
Fill out the FAFSA even if you don’t think you’ll qualify. Some federal loans on offer are not based on income or credit. This means that you can still qualify for a loan regardless of your parent’s financial status.
Tip: You can appeal your initial financial aid package offer for more financial aid.
What’s the difference between a scholarship and a grant?
You may see both these terms and think they’re interchangeable. And often, people use them as such. They are both financial assistance awards that usually do not incur a debt. In other words, you don’t have to pay them back.
However, scholarships are generally awarded based on the applicant's academic merit or achievements, whereas grants typically consider the applicant's financial need.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t apply for either of them if your situation is one way or the other. It’s merely a distinction to keep in mind that may influence your eligibility or likelihood of receipt.
Full nursing scholarships: truth or myth?
If you’re wondering if you can get a full scholarship for nursing, welcome to the club. That’s one of the most frequently asked questions, and—happily—the answer is truth.
The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) accepts applications on a yearly basis for the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. Yes, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program is legit and, therefore, totally worth your time to apply.
Here are important details about this scholarship:
- This scholarship is only awarded for registered nurse (RN) and nurse practitioner (NP) programs.
- This scholarship covers tuition and fees, books, supplies, and a monthly stipend.
- For each year of nursing school that you receive this scholarship, you must work a year in “an eligible healthcare facility with a critical shortage of nurses.”
Additionally, most of the U.S. military service branches offer various nurse scholarships that could be considered “full”—meaning the amounts awarded often pay tuition and living stipends to cover other expenses. We’ll explore those in greater detail later.
Loan repayment programs: truth or myth?
Truth.
How many of you are stressed about the idea of repaying your school loans once you’re out of the classroom and into the practical setting?
Let this offer some relief: Loan repayment programs are available. Understandably, they have stipulations. Nevertheless, they might be just what you’re looking for.
Loan repayment or forgiveness programs within the military branches exist as well as on both the federal and state levels for civilians. Let’s take a closer look.
Federal loan repayment programs for nurses
The HRSA offers several loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals. Here’s a look at a few that specifically apply to nurses:
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program
If you missed out on the HRSA’s full scholarship, this may still be an option for you. If accepted, it can pay up to 60 percent of your loan balance in return for two years of service at a qualifying healthcare facility.
Like the scholarship, this program applies only to RNs, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty.
NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) also has a repayment program. Nursing students in their last years at certain schools may be eligible. It can repay up to $120,000 in exchange for three years of service at an NHSC medical facility.
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Do you know who else is struggling with the nursing shortage?
Many schools report they can’t expand their nursing programs because they don’t have enough faculty. Unfortunately, many APRNs don’t go on to become nurse educators because the salaries aren’t competitive, but this loan repayment program may entice some of you.
This repayment program is also offered by the HRSA. It is for faculty with “disadvantaged backgrounds” and offers up to $40,000 in exchange for two years of service in an “eligible health professions school.”
It’s not exclusive to nurses either. Check out the eligibility list of other health professions and let your healthcare professional friends know, too.
State loan repayment programs
Most states also have loan forgiveness programs for nurses and APRNs. However, they all have different eligibility and commitment requirements. Additionally, you’ll want to watch out for residence requirements in relation to the state in which you are licensed to practice.
If you’re a licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) and are disappointed with the information provided so far, don’t lose hope. LPNs are eligible for loan forgiveness programs in many states.
Where can you find your state’s loan forgiveness programs?
Predictably, each state handles loan forgiveness differently. However, sometimes, you just need to know where or what to look for. Here are a few tips to help your search:
- Check with your local state board of nursing.
- Check with your state’s health department.
- Check directly with your nursing program.
- Search “nurse loan repayment program in [your state].”
- Search “nurse loan forgiveness program in [your state].”
- Search “nurse incentive program in [your state].”
- Search “nurse education assistance program in [your state].”
- Search “nurse healthcare investment program in [your state].”
Make sure you exhaust numbers one through eight—and try some variations—before giving up.
Remember that loan forgiveness programs usually stipulate where you can work.
Nursing scholarships and grants
Wondering which grants are available for nursing school?
Let’s add a few more questions for context: Who, what, where, and how much? These are critical questions on the subject of scholarships and grants.
- Who offers them? Professional nursing organizations, private foundations, the military, private philanthropic and corporate organizations, nursing programs, health systems, hospitals, healthcare pharmaceutical companies, and more offer scholarships and grants.
- What is offered? Scholarships and grants are usually freely offered, but be sure to check if there are any work agreement stipulations before you accept.
- Where can you go to school? Scholarship and grant awards are often contingent on your chosen nursing school’s accreditation, location, and/or population designation (rural community, under-served marginalized community, etc.).
- How much will they award? The amounts vary widely. Don’t stop at applying for one or two. As previously mentioned, you can cobble together funding from multiple sources to lower the financial burden.
So, that’s pretty broad. We can’t provide you with an exhaustive list of all the opportunities out there. However, this list can hit some high points and hopefully serve as inspiration for where else to look.
Scholarships from professional nursing organizations
Professional nursing organizations work to provide support, advocacy, and advancement of the nursing profession. Understandably, they have a vested interest in growing the future generations of nurses. Many offer scholarships or grants to nurses for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Check out these organizations to start:
- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) offers scholarships, grants, and even loans.
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners offers the Loretta Ford Centennial Scholarship annually to five RNs to pursue roles as NPs.
- The National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) awards undergraduate nursing scholarships.
- The National Black Nurses Association offers scholarships for nurses working towards all levels of education. LPNs/LVNs, that includes you.
Tip: If you’re a nurse with a specialty, check with organizations related to your specialty. The Emergency Nurses Association and several others offer scholarships for members and non-members.
Military scholarship programs
Several of our country’s military branches offer multiple nursing scholarship opportunities. Some cater to officers, while others are for military spouses, veterans, and active duty or enlisted personnel. Here are just a few examples:
- The Army Nurse Corps Association offers scholarships for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. In order to be eligible, you must have served time in the Army, the National Guard, or the Army Reserve.
- The U.S. Navy Nurse Candidate Program includes sizeable grants and living stipends. Eligibility is contingent on several requirements, including joining the Navy Nurse Corps following graduation.
- The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP) with the U.S. Air Force is for active duty enlisted members. It includes assistance for tuition and books. Beneficiaries also continue to earn income while going to school full time.
Scholarships from hospitals, nursing programs, and others
Check with your school to see what scholarships and grant opportunities it offers. But don’t stop there. What about the major health system(s) in your area?
Here are a few that have nursing scholarship foundations:
- Legacy Health: Ohio, Oregon, Florida, Washington
- HCA Healthcare: Florida, Colorado, Texas
Have you checked with your local hospitals?
Hospitals sometimes offer financial aid opportunities, including practice agreements for clinical rotations and employment agreements after graduation.
Tip for current nurses: Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities often offer tuition reimbursement programs for their nurses to further their college education. If you’re waffling on whether or not to go back to school, this may help you decide.
Scholarships promoting diversity and equity
According to the most recent data available from the AACN, around 80 percent of nurses nationwide are White/Caucasian.
If you’re a prospective nursing student and a minority, there are other additional avenues of financial support for you to explore as well. Here are a few to get you started:
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Provides scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees
- Good Rx: Awards the Healthcare Equity Scholarship to five recipients annually
- DiversityNursing.com: Offers a $5,000 Education Award annually
- American Indian College Fund: Provides scholarships for eligible students for certification programs, undergraduate degrees, and graduate degrees
- Indian Health Services: Sponsors scholarships for healthcare degrees, both graduate and undergraduate
- Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association: Has scholarships for undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees, as well as research grants
- ExceptionalNurse.com: Awards scholarships to nursing students with documented medical disabilities
Note that not all of these scholarships are exclusive to nursing. So, share these details with your friends in other fields, too.
Other scholarship sources
Open your mind and imagine the possibilities.
Philanthropic organizations, churches, and corporations understand the importance of supporting healthcare professions—even if they aren’t directly part of the industry. Here are a few additional potential scholarship sources that didn’t fit in the categories above:
- March of Dimes: Offers scholarships for certified nurse midwife degrees
- American Red Cross: Provides scholarships for Red Cross volunteers
- Johnson&Johnson: Partners with different organizations for scholarships (Their website also has a scholarship search engine that allows you to filter results by degree type and location. It may not be exhaustive, but it’s definitely a resource to explore.)
- Tylenol: Offers sizable scholarships that aren’t exclusive to nursing but to students pursuing healthcare degrees
- B4Brands: Sponsors the Barbara Rhomberg Nursing Scholarship for prospective associate’s or bachelor’s degree nursing students who have “gaps” in their education history (i.e., entered the workforce right after high school or started college but had to stop and enter the workforce or military or fulfill a family obligation)
- Church of the Brethren: Awards scholarships to church members for LPN programs and undergraduate and graduate nursing programs
The bottom line: Don’t stop believing
Don’t let thoughts of student debt undermine your nurse career plans.
If you take anything away from this article, let it be the realization that financial resources are out there, and you can find assistance to reach your goals.
You plan to pursue a career in a profession that is in demand and offers countless paths to success. Do your research on scholarships and grants and explore options for self-funding your education.
For example, Nursa is a great option for CNAs to pick up shifts and make extra money while they are putting themselves through a nursing program.
Don’t be afraid of rejection.
Write your essays, request recommendation letters, and keep applying.
Check out Nursa’s library of resources for tips on the NCLEX, writing resumes, preparing for job interviews, best nursing jobs, nurse salary guides, and more.
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