Top Scholarship and Financial Aid Resources for Nursing Students

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Undergraduate Scholarship Programs

• The Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association Undergraduate Scholarship: The NSNA scholarship is open to all U.S. citizens and students who have a valid Alien Registration number who is enrolled in a pre-nursing program or a state-approved school of nursing. Scholarships are between $1,000 and $5,000 and awarded based on financial need, involvement in health related community activities and nursing activities, and academic achievement.
• Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship Program: This program is open to students who are attending baccalaureate or graduate nursing programs. Students of anesthesia nursing programs are also eligible. Applicants must have served in the U.S. Army.
• Army ROTC Scholarships: A number of scholarships based on the number of years a student has left to complete his or her degree. Scholarships include living expenses in addition to the award.
• AfterCollege/AACN $10,000 Scholarship Fund: The AfterCollege fund awards one scholarship quarterly with an award amount is $2,500. Eligible students must be seeking a baccalaureate or higher degree.
• Nurse Corps Scholarship Program: To be eligible for this program, students must be U.S. citizens and accepted and enrolled in baccalaureate, associate degree or nursing program at a fully accredited academic institution. Student must be willing to work two years at a facility that has a critical shortage of nurses.
• Virginia Nursing Scholarship Programs: Listing of scholarship programs that are offered through the Virginia Department of Health website. 
• The Recovery Village Health Care Scholarship: $1,000 scholarship to students pursuing a medical-related course of study.
• Elite Rehab Placement:: $1,000 scholarship towards books and tuition to students pursuing a career in psychology, substance abuse counseling, or have been affected by addiction in some way.

Graduate School Scholarships Programs for Nursing

• Nurse Corp Scholarship Program: A program for students who are in graduate nursing programs, as well as students who are in programs for an associate or baccalaureate degree. Students who awarded this scholarship must work at a Critical Shortage Facility for a minimum of two years after graduation. This is a U.S. government program that is designed to help alleviate the nursing shortage in Health Professional Shortage Areas, or HPSAs. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or nationals. They must also be enrolled in a professional nursing degree program that is also an accredited school of nursing.
• Continuing Professional Development Scholarships: This is a scholarship program presented by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. It is designed to help nurses acquire additional skills beyond the traditional academic education. 
• AIGC Graduate Fellowships: Fellowship program that awards American Indian and native Alaskan students who are seeking a graduate degree. The fellowship award is between $1,000 and $5,000.
• March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarships: The March of Dimes offers several scholarships with awards of $5,000 annually. Applicants must be enrolled in graduate programs for maternal child nursing and they must also be registered nurses.
• Graduate Scholarships in Cancer Nursing Practice: This scholarship is from the American Cancer Society. Eligible students must be pursuing a master's or doctorate of nursing practice (DNP). Awards may be for 2 years, with stipend of $10,000 per year.
• Anna May Rolando Scholarship Award: Offered through Exceptionalnurse.com, which offers a number of scholarships for disabled nursing students. The award for this scholarship is $500 and gives preference to students who are seeking a graduate degree.
• Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Master's Scholarships: Masters degree annual scholarships of $5,000 each. Student must have an interest in and commitment to oncology nursing. Must be enrolled in or applying to a master's nursing degree program at a school of nursing that is accredited by NLN or CCNE.
• ALA Scholarship Program: A scholarship program from the American Library Association. Scholarships are for students who are pursuing a master's degree in library and information studies or a master's degree in school library media.
• Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship and Living Expenses Grant: A scholarship provided by the Nurse Support Program, or NSPII. It is meant as a way to increase the number of bedside nurses working in Maryland. To meet the eligibility requirements a student must be a full or part-time graduate student who is admitted and enrolled in a post-graduate nursing program at a college located in the state of Maryland.

Federal Loan Repayment/Forgiveness Programs

• Health Professions Loan Repayment Program: A loan repayment program offered by the U.S. Navy. Eligible individuals must be a nurse or in another health profession. He or she must also be a commissioned officer or qualified who agrees to two years of active service for one year of loan repayment.
• Federal Student Aid Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: Certain types of cancellations are available to military personnel, teachers, nurses, child care providers, or borrowers affected by the closure of a school. Provisions differ depending on the type of loan you have.
• The Minnesota Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program: This program is available or eligible students in RN or LPN programs who intend to practice in nursing home in Minnesota or in a care facility for people with mental retardation. The intent must also be to practice full-time or thirty hours a week on average. The program offers up to four years of loan repayment.
• Vermont Educational Loan Repayment Program for Nurses (LPN,RN) (PDF): A program for Vermont residents that repays loans in exchange for services. In order to be eligible the individual must have outstanding educational debt. Payments are up to $10,000 annually; however, individuals must apply yearly for a maximum of four years.
• The IHS Loan Repayment Program (PDF): Repays up to $20,000 a year on qualified loans in exchange for two years of nursing service at an approved Indian health care facility. Program extensions are possible following the mandatory two years upon request and require an additional year of service until the full loan payment has been made.
• Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program: Established in 1989 the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program is meant to encourage individuals in the nursing field to seek employment in the state of Florida, particularly where there are shortages. Applicants must be a RN or LPN that is licensed in Florida. The program pays up to $4,000 per year for four years.?
• Iowa Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program: A forgiveness program for registered nurses and nurse educators in Iowa. Eligible applicants will have a federal student loan such as a Stafford loan. The maximum award is twenty percent of the loan balance.
• Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program: A repayment program that is meant to retain nurses for areas that are underserved. Sixty percent of the qualified loan is repaid with two years of nursing service. Eighty-five percent of the loan is paid for three years of nursing service.

Additional Student Loan information

• Bankrate's guide to paying off student loans. This guide provides solutions to paying off student loan debt for every student loan profile, including forgiveness, repayment and refinancing.