The above scholarships are a great start for prospective and current nursing students! However, there are other ways that you can pay for your nursing degree. These include need-based financial aid from your program, state government, or the federal government. All students should submit the FAFSA to be considered for need-based aid. Another option is college or institution-specific scholarships. Chances are your college offers scholarships that are specifically for nursing students (or more generally for high-achieving students). Check in with the admissions and financial aid office to see what opportunities you might be eligible for. You might also find some great local opportunities.

Yes, you can win a full ride scholarship to pay for nursing school. There are a few ways that you can do this, including applying for merit scholarships from colleges that offer full rides, creating your “full ride” by combining scholarships and need-based financial aid, and, if you have significant financial need, attending a college that meets 100% of demonstrated financial aid.  

Generally, nursing scholarships are going to be assessing your academic profile and your “fit” for the nursing profession. As far as academics, grades, challenging classes, and test scores will help make your academic case for nursing scholarships. Bonus points if you have strong grades in your science classes, as nursing degrees will require an extensive science curriculum. You will be able to show your “fit” for nursing through your interviews and essays. The scholarship committee will be interested in why you want to become a nurse and how you are suited to succeed in nursing school, as well as the profession. Remember, nursing is a profession that requires strong interpersonal skills as you work extensively in patients. You can try to show your high social intelligence, empathy, and caring nature through specific examples from school, sports, clubs, or volunteering. Strong candidates for nursing scholarships may also have specific volunteering experience in a hospital, doctor’s office, or other medical setting.

It’s never too early or too late to apply for nursing scholarships! There are many opportunities available, and each has its own deadline. As a result, it’s a good idea to keep your finger on the pulse of what scholarships are available. To maximize your additional money, you can apply throughout the year. A great way to go about this is via our free scholarship search tool. This tool custom-matches you to vetted scholarships based on your demographic information and interests. It automatically updates with new opportunities and eliminates ones whose deadlines have passed. On top of that, you can earmark opportunities that interest you to help plan your application schedule.

All undergraduate students with demonstrated need who fill out the FAFSA are eligible for Pell Grants. So, if you are completing your undergraduate degree on a nursing track, you are eligible for Pell Grants. However, if you are in a nursing program after getting your bachelor’s, you are not eligible for Pell Grants. That being said, you should reach out to your schools of interest to see if other grants may be available. There could be state-level grants to incentivize nurse education in your state of residence or in the state you want to attend school.

Although you should fill out the FAFSA for nursing school, you won’t be eligible for grants such as the Pell Grant. However, you can use the FAFSA to take out federal loans and to qualify for institutional and possibly state aid. The FAFSA is free and relatively easy, so even if you don’t think you’ll take advantage of these programs, it’s a good idea to fill it out just in case.

Many colleges offer scholarships for nursing students! Most colleges with nursing programs will have a page of scholarships and financial aid on their website. This example from Rush University in Chicago is a great example. Some colleges consider students for their scholarships immediately upon applying. Other times, you’ll have to apply separately. Remember, there are other sources of scholarships besides a college. Try investigating local scholarships and using our free scholarship search tool to maximize your opportunities.

Yes! There are various nursing scholarships for American Indians across the country. Some are on a national level while others are state-by-state. The most popular opportunity out there is the NSCDA American Indian Nurse Scholarship Award Program, which started in the 1920s and is available to American Indian nursing students across the country

Yes! The Oncology Nursing Society offers a wide variety of scholarships to aspiring oncology nurses, with over $1,000,000 in funding per year. They offer academic scholarships, research grants, and certification and leadership scholarships. Check out their website for further details on the opportunities that may suit you.