It is not surprising that nursing is a population profession for students to consider. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average nurse will earn over $73,000 per year. Additionally, the nursing occupation is estimated to grow “much faster than average” professions at a 12% clip. If you are considering nursing school, cost is probably one of your top considerations. Lucky for you, there are some great nursing scholarships so you don’t have to break the bank when paying for your education!

Keep on reading to learn more about these scholarships for nursing students, as well as some frequently asked questions about paying for nursing school.

Top Nursing Scholarships

AACN COVID-19 Nursing Student Support Fund

• Eligibility:  Students must be enrolled in AACN member schools and need financial support. Preference will be given to “entry-level students in baccalaureate and master’s programs in the final two semesters of their nursing programs.”
• Amount: $500 (95 awards are available)
• Deadline: June 30

CastleBranch-GNSA Scholarship

• Eligibility:  Open to students who are enrolled in a masters or doctoral nursing program at an AACN member school.
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: September 30 or December 30

Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships

• Eligibility:  DAR offer a variety of nursing scholarships for students who have been accepted or are attending nursing school. Several of the scholarships are aimed at supporting students with demonstrated financial need.
• Amount: $2,000 to $2,500
• Deadline: Varies

ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships

• Eligibility:  Open to students with a documented disability who have applied to or have been admitted to a full time nursing program.
• Amount: Up to $500
• Deadline: June 1, 2021

Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarships

• Eligibility:  Awarded to nursing students who have submitted their nursing school application through NursingCAS or are a current or admitted at an AACN member institution affiliated with CastleBranch.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31

Frontline Heroes Nursing Grant

• Eligibility:  Awarded to an aspiring or current nurse to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans. Current nursing students, recent nursing graduates, or aspiring nursing students are all eligible to apply
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: October 25

National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses

• Eligibility: Open to aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2021

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Students who are enrolled or accepted at a professional nursing program. Students must have demonstrated financial need to be eligible.
• Amount: Varies depending on financial need
• Deadline: Sign up here to get notified when the application opens

Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships 

• Eligibility: This fellowship is open to registered nurses who are enrolled and attending a graduate program that is in one of the “Promise of Nursing” regions (check out the scholarship webpage for more details about this).
• Amount: $1,000 to $7,500 per year
• Deadline: Rolling deadline

Uniform Advantage-GNSA Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students must be members of the Graduate Nursing Student Academy who are seeking a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing.
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: September 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay for my nursing degree?

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 including:

• 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.
• 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.

Can I get a full ride to pay for nursing school?

Yes, you can win a full ride scholarship to pay for nursing school. There are a few ways that you can do this:

• Apply for merit scholarships from colleges that offer full rides.
• Create your “full ride” by combining scholarships and need-based financial aid.
• If you have significant financial need, attend a college that meets 100% of demonstrated financial aid.

How can I increase my chances of winning a nursing scholarship?

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.

Summary of top nursing scholarships:

1. AACN COVID-19 Nursing Student Support Fund
2. CastleBranch-GNSA Scholarship
3. Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
4. ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships
5. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarships
6. Frontline Heroes Nursing Grant
7. National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
8. Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
9. Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships 
10. Uniform Advantage-GNSA Scholarship