Advancing a nursing career with graduate school takes dedication and dollars. Many programs take two years to complete and require students to work hard and stay focused — a work ethic that usually comes from within.
They’ll have to turn outwards, however, if they’d like scholarships to ease the burden of tuition and fees. A number of schools and organizations help nurses to reduce the cost of their education.
“There’s definitely funding out there,” says Marta Okoniewski, associate director of student initiatives at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
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“The first place to start is really at the institution that they have been accepted into,” she says. “A lot of times schools will have merit-based scholarships or scholarships that are funded through some sort of donors specifically for students at that school.”
For example, it’s common for the college of nursing at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to have a number of scholarship opportunities for students, says Shane Hoon, assistant dean of student affairs and diversity at the school of nursing.
Between 80 and 90 percent of graduate students receive various forms of financial aid, he says, which includes scholarships. The school has 448 students who are pursuing a master’s degree in nursing.
Somewhere between eight and 10 scholarships are specifically for graduate students, and some are just for students who want to study a specific topic, he says, such as midwifery.
Students submit essays for various scholarship opportunities, and the school takes a holistic approach to evaluating their candidacy.
“We look at everything,” he says. Applicants’ level of need, career plans and past achievements are considered, he says.
“What we’re really looking for is some sort of focus and passion,” he says.
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Applicants should also be humble. “If they come across almost with a sense of entitlement or being owed, I know that that’s generally not looked upon favorably,” he says.
At the University of California–Los Angeles School of Nursing, 86 percent of master’s students receive a scholarship, says Craig Kusunoki, the school’s director of financial aid.
Those interested in scholarships must start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine their need, he says.
The school offers a mix of general scholarships and scholarships for students studying specific specialties, such as geriatrics.
Students in the school’s advanced practice nurse program, however, get a special advantage if they work at UCLA’s hospital or a hospital within the University of California school system.
“They get two-thirds off of the tuition so that counts as a type of scholarship,” says Kusunoki. “That’s a great employee perk because we have at least 70 students a year that are employees of UCLA that take advantage of that.”
Students write one essay to be considered for multiple scholarships and can discuss why they chose UCLA, what attracted them to nursing, community service and other aspects of their lives that show their interests.
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“We just want to learn more about the student,” Kusunoki says.
Nursing school experts also encourage students to look outside of their schools for resources. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing offers more than 20 scholarships for graduate students, Okoniewski says.
Students can also find scholarships through the American Cancer Society and branches of the military and other organizations that are invested in nursing, Hoon says. Plus, they can continue to apply for scholarships after they enroll, he says.
Nursing students should research opportunities sooner than later to make sure they’re aware of their options.
“As soon as you’re thinking about graduate education,” says Okoniewski, “that’s a good time to start thinking about funding.”
For in-depth rankings, searchable data and an expanded directory of programs, sign up for the U.S. News Nursing School Compass.
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Be a Strong Applicant for Graduate Nursing Degree Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com
