Top Ten College Scholarships For Nursing Majors

As America’s population continues to age and demand for sophisticated medicine grows, the medical field is expected to expand accordingly. This is good news for the student who is pursuing a nursing degree, particularly for those planning to become a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner.

College costs for nursing majors continues to increase sharply as most medical centers require that job candidates have completed a bachelor degree program with some giving added weight to nurses who have completed schooling through the master’s level. Unlike many other students, nursing majors have additional costs to cover including lab fees, uniforms and related program expenses.

While some students choose to start their education at a community college, many nursing majors prefer to begin and end their studies at the same university. To help students pay for their education, the following top college scholarships are geared toward enabling future nurses to reach their goals:

1. CHANCES Scholarship Program – Designed for students choosing a career in pediatric nursing, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHANCES) is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2010-2011 academic year until May 1, 2010. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or better and have already been accepted into a nursing school. Recipients will receive tuition equivalent assistance for $16,000 per academic year, for up to two years. In exchange for the award, scholars will be committed to work as a Registered Nurse for CHANCES for 18 months for each academic year of support received.

2. Clinique Nursing Scholarship – Skin care specialist Clinique generously supports the nursing profession through its comprehensive nursing scholarship program. Demonstrable financial need and a GPA of at least 3.5 are needed in order to qualify.

3. C. R. Bard Foundation Nursing Scholarship – As one of the largest suppliers of healthcare products and services, C.R. Bard awards $2500 scholarships to qualifying students each academic year.

4. Elks National Foundation – Awarding as many as 500 college scholarships annually, the Elks National foundation dispenses awards ranging from $1000 to $15,000. Open to high school seniors, applications are accepted beginning in September and are due by March 1st. Applicants compete against other students to determine their prize and award.

5. ENA Foundation Scholarship Program – ENA Foundation scholarships are intended for currently licensed nurses (RN, LPN, or LVN) who are pursuing their undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees.

6. Genesis Health Services Gala Nursing Scholarship – B.S.N. students who attend school in the Quad City area of Iowa can apply for scholarships from Genesis Health Services. Information is posted to their website in mid-January with applications due by early March.

7. March of Dimes – Designed to assist students who are already Registered Nurses (RN), the March of Dimes awards several $5000 scholarships annually to those RNs enrolled in graduate programs of maternal-child nursing. Applications are accepted in the fall and are due by the following January 15th with awards announced in May.

8. National Student Nurses Association (FNSNA) – For undergraduate students, the application for scholarships administered by (FNSNA) is now available for the upcoming academic year. Scores of recipients are named each year with more than $150,000 awarded in some years.

9. The Eight and Forty Lung and Respiratory Disease Nursing Scholarship Fund – For current Registered Nurses seeking advanced preparation leading to supervisory, administrative or teaching opportunities. This American Legion scholarship opportunity award is worth $3000 each.

10. U.S. Air Force ROTC Nursing Scholarships – The United States Air Force awards nursing scholarships in exchange for national service. Candidates must be a sophomore or junior, majoring in Nursing at an NLN or CCNE accredited college or university. Recipients can have up to $18,000 in college costs and $900 in textbooks covered annually.

Many of the listed scholarship programs update their information in the fall or early winter for the upcoming academic year. Visit each site to learn when awards are announced and how much money recipients received in order to gauge current scholarship trends.

Tags: grants, scholarships