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!

Jump ahead to

• Top Nursing Scholarships
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Summary of Nursing Scholarships
• Expired Scholarships

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 in 2021

$1,000 Fund Your Future No Essay $1,000 Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to college juniors & seniors and graduate/masters students who are on any of the following tracks: Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Health Informatics, Medical Dosimetry, Nursing (RN/BSN/MSN/DNP – Graduate or 2nd Bachelor)
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 31, 2021

$1,000 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

$500 First-Gen in Health & Medicine Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, or graduate students who are planning to pursue or who are currently pursuing a degree and career in the medical field
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: July 1, 2021

$500 Pay It Forward Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students planning on careers in the social services, human services, or gerontology
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: August 31, 2021

$500 WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Aspiring nurses at any educational level 
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 30, 2021

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

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

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

Probo Medical Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students with a 3.0 or above GPA who submit an essay about medical technology and the future
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: January 15 and June 15

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about how to pay for nursing school.

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. $1,000 Fund Your Future No Essay $1,000 Scholarship
2. $1,000 National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
3. $500 First-Gen in Health & Medicine Scholarship
4. $500 Pay It Forward Scholarship
5. $500 WiseGeek Nurse Appreciation No-Essay Scholarship
6. CastleBranch-GNSA Scholarship
7. ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships
8. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarships
9. Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
10. Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships
11. Probo Medical Scholarship

These scholarships are closed, but will open soon!

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, 2020

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 $5,000
• Deadline: February 15, 2021

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, 2020

Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship

• Eligibility: Scholarships are open to full-time medical, nursing, dental, public health, and pharmacy and health policy students with outstanding academic records, leadership, and who are committed to serving Hispanics
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: September 25, 2020

Lila Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Hispanic students in the Las Vegas area who are interested in pursuing careers in ultrasonography, cardiac sonography, cardiac echo studies, doppler studies, or vascular studies
• Amount: $2,003
• Deadline: February 14, 2021