Top MSN Scholarships for Nursing Students

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Updated July 10, 2023 · 4 Min Read

The cost of pursuing an advanced nursing degree can be alleviated through the use of financial aid. Review the top scholarships awarded to nursing students looking to earn their MSN.
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The cost of nursing school can overwhelm degree-seekers. For some programs, a graduate nursing degree can quickly total tens of thousands of dollars, deterring nurses from pursuing an advanced education. However, there are a variety of financial aid options to help nurses afford additional schooling.

Provided below are lists of the top master of science in nursing (MSN) and nurse practitioner scholarships currently available to degree-seekers. These scholarships help nurses looking to advance both academically and professionally.

Top MSN Scholarships

The following scholarships are available for nurses considering or currently pursuing their MSN. Application periods and deadlines vary throughout the year.

Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program

  • Who Can Apply: Sponsored by the Air Force, the Health Professions Scholarship Program is available for the following specialties: nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, women's health nurse practitioner, and family nurse practitioner. The Air Force will pay the scholarship winner's tuition and fees and provide them with a monthly stipend. Awardees must fulfill a minimum three-year commitment to the Air Force after nursing school.
  • Amount: Varies

TYLENOL Future Care Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: Each year, TYLENOL awards 35 scholarships to students pursuing an advanced degree in medical school, nursing, or pharmacy. Applicants must be a U.S. resident and a graduate student or college senior enrolling in a graduate program. Scholarship winners must apply the money to tuition fees, books, and the equipment required for a full-time graduate student.
  • Amount: $5,000-$10,000

March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: Through a partnership with Pampers, the March of Dimes offers several graduate nursing scholarships to RNs enrolled in graduate programs focused on maternal-child nursing. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program and an active member of one of the following organizations: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, American College of Nurse-Midwives, or the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
  • Amount: $5,000

Nursing Economics Foundation Scholarships

  • Who Can Apply: The Nursing Economics Foundation offers this scholarship to registered nurses (RNs) in a master's or doctoral program that focuses on administration or management. Applicants must be RNs who have gained acceptance or are currently completing their master of science in nursing or a Ph.D. in nursing. They must also plan to pursue a career in administration, management, leadership, or education upon graduation.
  • Amount: $5,000

Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: The Oncology Nursing Foundation and the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offer this scholarship to RNs earning a master's degree and who are committed to pursuing a position in oncology. Applicants must be accepted or already enrolled in an accredited nursing program.
  • Amount: $5,000

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: The NEF Scholarship is available to current RNs pursuing a master's degree in nursing at an accredited graduate school. Applicants must be a member of a national professional nursing association, such as the American Nurses Association, a specialty organization, or an international honor society.
  • Amount: $2,500-$10,000

Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: The Deborah E. Trautman scholarship is available to graduate nursing students who are committed to leadership roles in academic nursing. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program offered at an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member school affiliated with NursingCAS, a centralized application service for nursing programs.
  • Amount: $3,500

Featured Online MSN Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Top Nurse Practitioner Scholarships

The following scholarships are available for nurses considering or currently pursuing a nurse practitioner degree. Application periods and deadlines vary throughout the year.

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: The AANP Scholarship is exclusively awarded to AANP members who are enrolled in an accredited graduate school and in pursuit of an advanced nursing degree. Applicants must hold RN licensure with at least one semester of classes completed.
  • Amount: $2,500-$5,000

CVS Together We Care Nurse Practitioner Scholarship

  • Who Can Apply: The CVS Together We Care Scholarship, offered in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, provides 20 awards to MSN students and 20 awards to doctoral students. Applicants must be enrolled in a program leading to initial certification as an advanced practice registered nurse with a family nurse practitioner certification, maintain a 3.2 GPA, and demonstrate strong community involvement.
  • Amount: $2,500

Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation (NPHF)/Procter & Gamble Endowed Scholarship in Community Service

  • Who Can Apply: The NPHF/Procter & Gamble Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a nurse practitioner graduate student currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program. Applicants must also have made substantial positive contributions in their community or patient care while in pursuit of their advanced degree.
  • Amount: $1,000

Frequently Asked Questions About MSN Scholarships

What is typically required to apply for MSN scholarships?

When applying for MSN scholarships, applicants typically need to provide transcripts from their most recent academic program and letter(s) of reference. They may also need to have earned an average 3.0 GPA in their previous program and compose a short writing sample addressing the focus of the scholarship.

When is the best time to apply for an MSN scholarship?

While deadlines for MSN scholarships vary throughout the year, the majority are typically due from the end of December to early February; therefore, it is typically best to look for and apply to scholarships no later than the summer prior to the start of the academic year. However, it is beneficial to start searching and applying for scholarships up to a year before the program start date.

Are MSN scholarships available for online students?

While there may not be an overabundance of scholarships specifically geared toward online MSN students, the majority can be applied to an online program. If it is not indicated that the scholarship is available to online students, contact the organization who sponsors the award.

Are MSN scholarships competitive?

MSN scholarships can be quite competitive, as most organizations look for applicants who are not only strong academically, but professionally and socially as well. Scholarship committees base their decisions on applicants who are well-rounded and demonstrate commitment to the future of nursing.


Explore Other Nursing Scholarships

NurseJournal.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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