Nursing is one of the most popular careers in the United States today. Many prospective nursing students consider returning to college to start a second career in the medical field, and finding money for nursing school can be a challenge. Numerous foundations, government programs, and university programs offer grants for nursing whether the student is embarking on a first BSN degree, returning to school for a fast-track nursing program, or looking for a two-year ADN/RN program.
Organizations That Offer Grants for Nursing Education
Grants for nursing are generally different from scholarships in that grants are typically based on financial need, while scholarships are normally based on academic merit. In order to receive a nursing grant prospective students must show adequate academic ability, but typically do not compete against others directly for these monies based on academic performance. Every fund is different, however, and some may be based in part or in full on academic records.
Many professional organizations within the nursing field offer grants to nursing students, such as:
- National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA): this organization of nursing students offers up to $1000 per student.
- Emergency Nurses Foundation Association: this association offers money for current nurses seeking to complete an ADN, study to be an RN, BSN, MSN, or to receive a doctorate in nursing. Contact 847-460-4100 for more information.
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses: association members can apply for and receive funds of up to $1500 toward nursing education costs.
- Oncology Nursing Society: nursing students who choose to specialize in oncology nursing can receive one of 70 scholarships offered by this grant for nursing program.
State Retraining Money for Nursing
In addition to associations and societies that offer nursing grants, other options include state retraining programs for unemployed or displaced workers. These programs may cover all tuition for a specified period of time or a type of degree (two-year only, or degree completion). To learn about these grants for nursing education go to CareerOneStop.
Are Grants for Nursing Paid Back?
No. A grant is money given, so there is no need to pay back these funds. However, there are loan forgiveness programs for nursing education which can be treated like a de facto grant for nursing. For instance, the American Association of Medical Colleges has a loan repayment grant database with more than 85 programs that offer partial or full repayment of nursing tuition loans.
In addition to this money for nursing program, the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services offers the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. Nurses working in specific fields and positions where there is a critical shortage of nurses can have up to 60% of their student loans forgiven by this federal program for money for nursing education.
Combine Grants, Scholarships, and Loans for Nursing School Money
While many of these nursing grant programs have strict criteria that eliminate participation for all but a small number of recipients, other programs are open to a wide array of nursing students and graduate nurses. Finding money successfully for nursing school needs to be a multi-pronged strategy, encompassing personal funds, scholarships, grants, loans, and loan forgiveness programs. For more information on money for nursing school, please read Scholarships for Nursing Students.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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