Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
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This guide describes scholarships for online students in nursing school, including graduate and undergraduate nursing scholarships. While nursing school typically requires a significant financial investment, scholarships can help reduce tuition costs and education debts.
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Undergraduate Nursing Scholarships
In addition to scholarships from schools, prospective enrollees can research scholarships from other organizations, including nonprofits and foundations. Professional associations also deliver scholarships for online learners.
American Assembly for Men in Nursing Gender-Inclusion Scholarship
Who Can Apply: AAMN members who commit to working in historically underrepresented gender service areas may apply. Financial need is the primary qualification, followed by professional and community engagement.
Amount: $2,500
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Geraldine ’Polly’ Bednash Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Students with minimum 3.2 GPAs enrolled in or attending accredited nursing schools at AACN member institutions affiliated with CastleBranch may apply.
Amount: $5,000
American Red Cross Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Undergraduate or graduate nursing students with at least one year of school who have served as Red Cross employees or volunteers within the last five years qualify for this scholarship.
Amount: $3,000
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses Foundation Scholarships
Who Can Apply: Undergraduate and graduate nursing students with 3.0 GPAs who show a demonstrated interest in the field of perioperative/surgical nursing may apply. AORN chooses recipients based on financial need, interest, and aptitude.
Amount: Varies
Bill and Mary Russell Healthcare Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Students enrolled in full-time nursing programs may apply. The Mosaic Life Care Foundation chooses recipients based on academic achievement and application essays.
Amount: Varies
Foundation of the National School Nurses’ Association Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply: Eligibility varies from year to year based on the sponsor. The 2022 requirements include enrollment in a full-time nursing program, documented financial need, good academic standing, and engagement in student nursing and/or community activities.
Amount: Up to $7,500 per year
Healthline Stronger Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Black, Hispanic, or Native American undergraduate juniors or seniors dedicated to increasing health equity in their communities and with a history of commitment to health equity may qualify.
Amount: $7,000
Health Resources & Services Administration Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply: U.S. citizens accepted to or enrolled in accredited nursing schools who commit to working at critical shortage facilities may apply.
Amount: Full tuition, fees, and other costs, plus a stipend
National Black Nurses Association Scholarships
Who Can Apply: NBNA members currently enrolled in accredited nursing programs in good academic standing with at least one year remaining in their program may apply. Applicants should have a history of engagement in student nursing organizations and the African American community.
Amount: $1,000-$90,000
Save a Life Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Any undergraduate, 18 or older, in a healthcare or education program at an accredited college or university or who has been accepted to a program may apply. The American Academy of CPR and First Aid selects recipients based on their application essays.
Amount: $1,500
Graduate Nursing Scholarships
Graduate school can often cost even more than undergraduate programs — especially for nurse practitioner programs. Fortunately, online graduate students at accredited nursing schools can pursue helpful scholarships.
Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply: Students with minimum 2.0 GPAs who are enrolled in at least six credits in accredited advanced practice nursing programs may apply. Each recipient must commit to practicing for at least 12 months after graduation in a medically underserved area in California.
Amount: Up to $25,000/year, can be renewed for up to three years
Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Graduate Student Award
Who Can Apply: Master's or doctoral students engaged in research that creates new knowledge about how best to design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement initiatives may apply.
Amount: $5,000 in project costs
Hispanic Scholarship Foundation Scholar
Who Can Apply: Students of Hispanic descent who are U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, or part of DACA, with at least a 3.0 GPA may apply.
Amount: $500-$5,000
Indian Health Service Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply: Registered members of Native American tribes enrolled in graduate or undergraduate programs who commit to serving for at least two years may apply.
Amount: Tuition, fees, stipend
March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarships
Who Can Apply: Registered nurses (RNs) enrolled in graduate programs of maternal-child nursing, such as nurse midwifery, are eligible.
Amount: $5,000 in project costs
Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation Scholarships
Who Can Apply: Graduate students in an accredited nurse practitioner program may apply. Details vary each year based on the sponsor. Typically the foundation offers both scholarships and research awards each year.
Amount: Varies
Osmosis Raise the Line Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Students in graduate nursing programs must submit applications, including essays and videos, to qualify.
Amount: $5,000 or $1,000
Emergency Nurses Association Foundation Academic Scholarships
Who Can Apply: ENA members attending graduate nursing programs with minimum 3.0 GPAs who commit to pursuing emergency nursing as a profession may apply.
Amount: Varies
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
Who Can Apply: This scholarship is open to graduates with at least one year remaining in their studies (including students not yet enrolled in graduate school) who possess minimum 3.0 GPAs.
Amount: $10,000
Frequently Asked Questions: Scholarships for Online Learners
When should I start applying for scholarships?
Scholarships have varying application deadlines, so you should search and apply year-round. Some scholarship programs require that you already attend school, while others offer scholarships for online students enrolling in their first year. Most scholarships require that you have at least one year left in your studies.
Can you get scholarships for online colleges?
You can apply for any college scholarship that does not specifically call for on-campus attendance. However, scholarships that deliver funds specifically for room and board or other costs associated with on-campus expenses may not apply to online learners, though some scholarships for online students do include a living stipend.
Can I get financial aid for online courses?
Most scholarships for online students cover tuition for full-time students rather than for individual courses. However, some associations offer professional development funding for specific courses, and some education providers offer reduced costs for learners with financial needs.
Can you go to nursing school online?
Online nursing schools typically feature the same curriculum for online and on-campus students, often helping to arrange clinical placements in your local community. However, many schools include some on-campus requirements for onboarding or parts of certain courses, so you may still have travel expenses. Scholarships for online learners rarely cover these costs.
Related Resources
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