Nursing Scholarships for Graduate Students

The job outlook for the field of nursing is expected to grow at a rate of 12% over the period of 2018 to 2028, a sign that an upward trend in demand for licensed nurses will continue in the coming years.

Obtaining a proper nursing education is a non-negotiable part of becoming a licensed and practicing nurse anywhere in the country. This process can take multiple years and cost students quite a lot of money, depending on how far they advance in their schooling. To help lift this potentially heavy financial burden, many students interested in advancing their nursing education turn to scholarship opportunities to help offset the cost.

Earning a graduate degree can be a heavy financial burden, and as a result, many counselors-in-training turn to scholarships to reduce their debt burden. This article highlights 25 scholarship opportunities that might help you pay for your degree should you qualify and be selected. Each scholarship includes a brief description, the award amount, and a link to the scholarship website. As you read, please keep in mind that some information may have changed since this article's publication (November 2019)

Graduate students on their way to becoming nurse practitioners are one subsection that might be in need of assistance funding their schooling, as these degrees take longer to obtain than bachelors. Below, we have compiled a list of scholarships geared directly towards those pursuing graduate nursing degrees. Each scholarship features the eligibility criteria, amount of award, and a link to the scholarship’s website.

As you read, please keep in mind that some information may have changed since this article's publication (December 2019)

Nursing Scholarships

AAUW Return to Learning Scholarships

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Students must reside in Lombard, Villa Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Wheaton, Addison, Glendale Heights or Glen Ellyn, Illinois in order to apply.

Amount: Scholarship information available January 2020


To Apply: Visit Lombard Website to Apply

A Nurse I am Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must begin/have begun classes no later than January 31.
  • Essay required

Amount: $2,000


To Apply: Visit A Nurse I Am Website to Apply

A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Student must be a full-time student and must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must be an enrolled member or a decedent of an enrolled member of a federal or state recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village; or Native Hawaiian or decedent from a Native Hawaiian; or Pacific Islander or decedent from Pacific Islander
  • Applicants be current AISES members at the time of application. All applicants will be required to enter a valid AISES membership number.

Amount: $2,000


To Apply: Visit A.T. Anderson Website to Apply

AfterCollege and AACN Scholarship Fund

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must already be enrolled (not just accepted) at an AACN member institution.

Amount: $10,000


To Apply: Visit After College Website to Apply

Alice Newell Joslyn Medical Fund

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be living or attending a college in San Diego County at the time of application.
  • Eligibility is based upon a student's financial need, scholastic determination, and community/cultural awareness.

Amount: $500 - $2,000


To Apply: Visit BECA Foundation Website to Apply

American Assembly for Men in Nursing

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a male nursing student enrolled in either a graduate accredited nursing program who have completed a minimum of one academic term.

Amount: between $1,000 and $5,000 each


To Apply: Visit American Assembly Website to Apply

AG Bell College Scholarship Program

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be attending a mainstream university and working toward a four-year graduate degree.
  • You’ll need to submit an essay.

Amount: $1000 - $10000


To Apply: Visit AG Bell Website to Apply

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Oncology Nursing Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The candidate must be currently enrolled in (or applying to) a masters nursing degree at an NLN or CCNE accredited School of Nursing and enrolled in the 2020-2021 academic year.
  • The candidate must have an interest in and commitment to oncology nursing.

Amount: $5,000 each


To Apply: Visit Oncology Nursing Foundation Scholarship To Apply

Virginia Elizabeth and Alma Vane Taylor Nursing Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Be enrolled in an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing degree program (preference will be given to students seeking first-time degrees).
  • Must be accepted in an accredited North Carolina school of nursing program.
  • Must be a North Carolina residents (preference will be given to students living in Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties).

Amount: $1,500 yearly


To Apply: Visit Virginia Elizabeth and Alma Vane Taylor Website to Apply

Tylenol Scholarship Program

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be pursuing healthcare-related degrees.
  • Be a resident of the 50 United States

Amount: $10,000 - $5,000


To Apply: Visit Tylenol Website To Apply

Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants are not required to be Hispanic; an affinity for the health of Hispanic communities and an interest in participating in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities is required.

Amount: $2000 - $5000


To Apply: Visit The Hispanic Health Professional Website To Apply

National Association of Hispanic Nurses Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a nursing degree program at the diploma, practical/vocational, Associate's, baccalaureate, or graduate degree level.
  • Must be a NAHN member.

Amount: $1,000


To Apply: Visit the NAHN website to Apply

Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
  • Applicants must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States.

Amount: $1,000


To Apply: Visit Caroline E. Holt Website To Apply

Mildred Nutting Nursing Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Scholarship is funded by NSDAR ,Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
  • Applicants must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States.

Amount: $1,000


To Apply: Visit Mildred Nutting Website to Apply

Stephanie Carroll Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must make a commitment to work in long term care and/or post-acute care for a minimum of two years post-graduation.
  • Must include an essay of over 100 words on why they chose nursing as a career.

Amount: Varies


To Apply: Visit NADONA website to Apply

SGNA RN Education Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must have previously been a member of SGNA for two or more years.
  • Must be Currently employed as a caregiver in the field of gastroenterology.

Amount: $1,000 to $2,500


To Apply: Visit SGNA RN Website to Apply

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NurseTim Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a graduate level nursing students who are specializing in nursing education and who plan on teaching upon graduation.

Amount: $1000


To Apply: Visit NAHN Website to Apply

Foundation for Neonatal Research and Education Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a registered nurses and be accepted into an accredited in a master's degree nursing program or nursing administration.
  • Must have at least a 3.0 GPA average and be actively involved in neonatal nursing at the professional level

Amount: $1500


To Apply: Visit FNRE webiste to Apply

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have lived in New York State for at least a year at the time of application.
  • Students must be registered nurses, be licensed in the state of New York, and be accepted into an accredited graduate school nursing program within New York.
  • Students must also agree to serve in a nursing facility for four years in order to receive up to $20,000 in award money.

Amount: $20,000


To Apply: Visit HESC Website to Apply

Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be from a minority background.
  • Students must agree to teach in a school of nursing after graduation and must be enrolled in their program full-time.

Amount: N/A


To Apply: Visit JNJ Website to Apply

Academic Study Award

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Students should have an interest in environmental or occupational health.

Amount: $2,500


To Apply: Visit AHON website to Apply

The Bernice McNamara Memorial Scholarship Award

Eligibility Criteria:

  • This scholarship is aimed to students who have lost a parent or guardian to cancer or have a parent or guardian with cancer.

Amount: $2,500


To Apply: Visit ulmanfoundation Website to Apply

Kay F. Fullwood Northeast Florida Geriatric Nursing Scholarship Fund

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Students must be enrolled in an accredited graduate nursing program with a focus on geriatrics or be a practicing geriatric nurse who needs financial assistance to conduct research or attend a conference about geriatric nursing.

Amount: N/A


To Apply: Visit Florida Nurse Website to Apply

CNA Region 11 Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a member of the Alameda County Nurses Association.
  • Students must be enrolled in an educational nursing program, be attending (or plan to attend) a nursing conference, or be engaged in nursing-related research.

Amount: Varies


To Apply: Visit NNU Website to Apply

Colorado Nurses Association Nightingale Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be a Colorado residents who are members of the Colorado Nurses Association or the Colorado Student Nurses Association.
  • Applicants must be RN students enrolled at any postsecondary institution.
  • Students must be planning to practice nursing in Colorado after graduation.

Amount: $1,500


To Apply: Visit Colorado Nurse Foundation Website to Apply

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