If you're thinking about nursing school and are searching for college scholarships, you'll be pleased to see how many nursing scholarships are available! Whether you're considering a two-year or four-year degree, you'll find many organizations who want to help out aspiring nurses. Something important to note: most nursing scholarships are local, which means recipients must live in a particular geographic region or attend a specific school. Local scholarships can be much less competitive than national ones, so be sure to contact your financial aid office or local nursing organizations for more information! There are also quite a few nursing scholarships for minority students.
Here are some nursing scholarships that are available to a more general population:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Sevices Nursing Scholarship Program. Are you willing to work for two years at a health care facility that has a critical shortage of nurses? If so, you maybe eligible for this program, which will pay your tuition, fees, some educational expenses, and a monthly stipend. You must be enrolled in a full or part-time accredited nursing program, and preference is given to those with financial need. Over 200 scholarships are awarded annually. For more information, call 1-877-464-4772.
National Student Nurses' Association General and Specialty Scholarships. These awards go to students who are enrolled in state-approved nursing and pre-nursing programs of all kinds: two-year, four-year, and graduate programs. Selection is based on financial need, academic achievement, and participation in nursing organizations and community service. The NSNA also awards specialty scholarships to students who intend to specialize in anesthesia nursing, critical care, emergency, oncology, preoperative, orthopedic, nephrology, or nurse education. Stipends range from $1000 to $5000, and approximately 46 are awarded each year. For more information, call (718) 210-0705.
Lydia's Professional Uniforms/AACN Excellence in Academic Nursing Scholarships. Administered by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, this award goes to students who are juniors or seniors in a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree program. Applicants need at least a 3.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. This award is for $2500, and two are awarded annually. For more information, call (202) 887-6791.
American Red Cross Jane Delano Society Scholarships. Have you volunteered for the American Red Cross during the past five years? If so, and if you're enrolled at two-year or four-year nursing program, you may be eligible for one of two $1000 nursing scholarships. For more information, call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.
The Dr. Hildegard E. Peplau Scholarship. Administered by the American Psychiatric Nurse Association, this $1000 stipend goes to any student enrolled at a NLN-accredited nursing program. Applicants need to write three 500-word essays about their career goals, professional activities, and community service. For more information, call (703) 243-2443.
StraightForward Media NursingSchool Scholarships. This private company offers a nursing scholarship of $500 every three months. Applicants apply on-line and complete an essay.
See also: Weird College Scholarships and Scholarships for African American Students