Top 14 Nursing Scholarships in 2021
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.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
- Upcoming 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
$500 Nursing Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: December 31, 2021
Chapter’s $500 No Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: All students who complete a 15-minute training call and become a Chapter Ambassador! Ambassadors can also earn up to $500 for referring community members to Chapter, an unbiased Medicare advisor
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 31, 2022
$500 WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Nursing students at every level of study
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: December 1, 2021
$1,000 National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
- Eligibility: Aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 16, 2022
$1,000 WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 16, 2022
Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarships
- Eligibility: 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
Bervell Health Equity Scholarship
- Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students interested in providing equitable healthcare opportunities for underrepresented minorities and low-income communities
- Amount: $1,200
- Deadline: September 1, 2021
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 24, 2021
CastleBranch-GNSA Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students enrolled in a masters or doctoral nursing program at an AACN member school
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: September 30 or December 30
TALSN Scholarship for Certified Nursing Assistants
- Eligibility: People who would like to go back to school, are in school, or interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
- Amount: $800 (2 scholarships are awarded)
- Deadline: October 1, 2021
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: June 15 and January 15
ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships
- Eligibility: 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, 2022
Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships
- Eligibility: 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
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
Frequently Asked Questions about nursing scholarships
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
- $500 Nursing Scholarship
- Chapter’s $500 No Essay Scholarship
- $500 WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship
- $1,000 National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
- $1,000 WiseGeek Nursing No-Essay Scholarship
- Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarships
- Bervell Health Equity Scholarship
- Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
- CastleBranch-GNSA Scholarship
- TALSN Scholarship for Certified Nursing Assistants
- Probo Medical Scholarship
- ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarships
- Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships
- Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
Upcoming nursing scholarships
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
- Opens: November 1, 2021
White Coat Pending Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students planning to or already studying pre-med, nursing, or other healthcare tracks
- Amount: $500
Faith, Hope, & Nursing Scholarship
- Eligibility: First generation college students and underrepresented minorities in New York State
- Amount: $1,000
Pay It Forward Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students planning on careers in the social services, human services, or gerontology
- Amount: $500
