12 Nursing Scholarships You Can Apply for to Get Help with Tuition Fees

Like many people who want to pursue nursing as a career, you may be surprised by how expensive nursing school can be. However, you shouldn't let high tuition costs scare you. There are plenty of ways to make nursing school more affordable, and scholarships are a prime example. Regardless of your background and educational goals, odds are that there are several scholarships that you can apply for and even receive.

It pays to do plenty of research about nursing school scholarships to get as much financial assistance as you can. To get you started, here are 12 especially popular examples:

1. Advantage Medical Staffing Scholarship

This scholarship is intended for nursing students who are currently pursuing either a BSN or an ADN. It is worth $1,000, and the money may be used to cover the cost of tuition, books and other fees. The funds are paid directly to the school. To be eligible, you must be at least 25 years old and have demonstrable financial need.

2. Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

If you have completed at least one year of your undergraduate nursing studies at an accredited college or university and still have at least one year of school left, you should apply for this scholarship. Multiple awards are available, and they range in value from $500 to $5,000.

3. OSHPD Bachelor of Science in Nursing Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to nursing students who are currently pursuing BSNs in the state of California. To be eligible for this scholarship, which is valued at up to $13,000, you must be willing to work in a medically underserved area in California for a period of two years.

4. eQuality Nursing Scholarships

If you are attending an accredited nursing program in the state of California, this scholarship may be for you. To be eligible, you must be pursuing a BSN. You also must be able to demonstrate that you have provided service to the LGBTQ community. You must also be in good academic standing. The scholarship is worth $6,000, so it could go a very long way toward helping to make nursing school more affordable.

5. Nurses Make a Difference Scholarship

In exchange for writing a winning essay about nursing, you may be able to receive this scholarship. Worth $1,000, it is awarded by Cascade Health Solutions. You must be an undergraduate nursing student to apply, and you must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You will be provided with a topic for your essay.

6. National Association for Hispanic Nurses Nursing Scholarships

The National Association for Hispanic Nurses, or NAHN, promotes nursing careers among the Hispanic population. If you are Hispanic in heritage and pursuing a career in nursing, you may be eligible. The amount of the scholarship varies, and it is awarded based on a few different criteria, including financial need, your potential as a role model for aspiring Hispanic nurses and academic standing.

7. Dr. Lauranne Sams Scholarship

There are many scholarships out there for minorities who are pursuing careers in nursing. Many of them, including this one, are awarded by the National Black Nurses Association, or NBNA. This scholarship is worth $2,000. To be eligible, you must be a member of the NBNA, currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program with at least one year left to go and black.

8. AAMN Johnson & Johnson Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Scholarship

Offered by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, or AAMN, this scholarship is designed for male nursing students who are pursuing either ADNs, BSNs or MSNs. Therefore, you can be an undergraduate or graduate student. You must also be a member of the AAMN and enrolled in an accredited nursing program. Additionally, you must have completed at least one term of school. This scholarship is worth $5,000, so it is well worth looking into.

9. Judith C. Kelleher Memorial Scholarship

Valued at $5,000, this scholarship is intended for graduate students. If you already have your BSN and are interested in pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner, this may be a good fit for you. It is offered by the Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA, and open to those who have been ENA members for at least 12 months. You also must be attending an accredited school and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

10. Nursing Economics Foundation Scholarships

This is another scholarship for graduate students. Worth $5,000, it is intended for registered nurses who are enrolled in accredited MSN and DNP programs with an emphasis on management and administration. If you are ready to progress in your career and need financial assistance, apply for this scholarship.

11. A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Many nursing scholarships are available to minorities, and this one is a prime example. Available to undergraduate and graduate students with Native Hawaiian, American Indian and Alaskan backgrounds, awards range from $1,000 to $2,000. You must be pursuing a degree in medical science, but the scholarship is open to students who are pursuing degrees in other areas as well, so it is very competitive.

12. American Addiction Center's Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program

This scholarship is offered by the American Addiction Center, or AAC. It is designed for full- and part-time nursing students who are focusing their studies and careers on mental health and substance abuse issues. There are three awards. The first-place recipient receives $5,000, and the second- and third-place recipients receive $2,500.

As you can see, there's a lot of free money out there for nursing students. You just have to take the initiative and apply for the ones that you are eligible to receive. Applying doesn't usually take very long, and the financial assistance that you will receive in exchange will make it that much easier for you to achieve your dream of becoming a nurse or of advancing your nursing education.