First-generation college students face many financial barriers. These nursing scholarships can help cover the cost of your undergraduate or graduate nursing degree.
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Key Takeaways
First-generation nursing students have access to scholarships that help ease financial burdens.
Eligibility varies by program, with some targeting specific groups or those with financial need.
Awards range from $1,000 to full tuition; some require service commitments or GPA minimums.
Paying for nursing school can be hard, especially for first-generation college students. Fortunately, nursing financial aid through scholarships and grants can make your degree more affordable. Even better, you’ll qualify for various nursing scholarships if you’re the first in your family to earn a degree.
This guide introduces undergraduate and graduate scholarship opportunities for first-generation nursing students.
Many organizations offer scholarships for first-generation college students. While some of these scholarships are open to all majors, nursing students can still apply.
Full cost of attendance after other financial aid
Who Can Apply: Students of color planning to attend college in any major. More than half of all recipients are first-generation college students. Applicants must have a 3.3 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Some students receive full funding.
Who Can Apply: Women ages 35 and older with incomes below the poverty level, including first-generation students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending accredited vocational or technical schools, colleges, or universities.
Who Can Apply: Women with international backgrounds, including first-generation Americans, who are entering U.S. colleges or universities. Each applicant submits two essays and two recommendation letters. Selected candidates are interviewed by phone.
Who Can Apply: Diverse candidates, including those from underserved communities who may also be first-generation college students. Applicants must be enrolled in accredited vocational, technical, or undergraduate degree-granting schools. Offered by Sallie Mae, this scholarship increases access to higher education.
Who Can Apply: Minority and underserved learners, including first-generation students in their final year of postsecondary education. Sallie Mae delivers awards based on financial challenges that threaten students’ ability to finish their degrees.
Who Can Apply: Full-time students who have completed one year of their associate or bachelor’s degree programs with a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need. High school seniors are not eligible to apply.
Who Can Apply: First-generation college students are those with two parents who do not have a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship considers leadership, work experience, and unique personal or family circumstances.
Who Can Apply: Offered by the University of Central Florida, this scholarship supports a first-generation Florida resident attending the university’s college of nursing. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Who Can Apply: West Chester University in Pennsylvania offers a nursing scholarship for first-generation students. Applicants must be at least rising sophomores; recipients can renew their award if they maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
A graduate degree in nursing can mean a higher earning potential and greater clinical responsibilities. While graduate scholarships typically do not list first-generation learners among their criteria, many focus on serving underrepresented communities and applicants with financial need.
Varies
Who Can Apply: Enrolled tribal members with 2.5 GPAs, including first-generation students, may apply for funds that support degree-seeking students in any field who want to serve their tribes after graduation.
Scholarships are awarded twice a year until students graduate.
Who Can Apply: Tribal members, including first-generation nursing graduate students, with 2.0 GPAs and demonstrated financial need. Recipients must commit to at least two years of postgraduate service in Indian healthcare.
Who Can Apply: Graduate-level nursing students, including first-generation students, can apply for funding covering tuition and costs and monthly stipends. Criteria include native Hawaiian ancestry and a two-year commitment to work in underserved areas in Hawaii.
Who Can Apply: NBNA awards several scholarships to its graduate student members, including first-generation learners. Each applicant must have at least one more year of school to complete and submit an essay for consideration.
Who Can Apply: Selected graduate nursing students, including first-generation applicants, receive a full year of funding. Qualifications include pursuing a primary care degree at an accredited program and a commitment to working in underserved communities.
Who Can Apply: First-generation students enrolled in graduate nursing programs may apply if they commit to working in a critical shortage facility after graduation. The scholarship program prioritizes applicants with financial need.
Who Can Apply: NEF provides scholarships to advanced nursing program enrollees who demonstrate financial need, including first-generation students. Master’s and doctoral nursing students with registered nurse (RN) licenses and 3.6 GPAs can apply for funding to support their training at accredited schools.
Who Can Apply: Minority graduates and professional students from historically underserved communities. This includes first-generation nursing students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Who Can Apply: These scholarships support graduate nursing and certified nurse-midwife program students. Applicants must demonstrate a dedication to maternal and infant health.
Most first-generation scholarships require neither of your parents to hold a bachelor’s degree. That means you’re eligible even if your parents attended some college or hold an associate degree. Make sure to check how scholarship programs define “first generation” when applying.
You can qualify for additional scholarships as a first-generation nursing student. Many foundations and nursing colleges offer scholarships to help first-generation students earn a nursing degree. First-generation students may also receive additional advising or mentoring opportunities.
Yes, you can get a full scholarship for nursing school. Some nursing scholarships, such as the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program, cover full tuition in exchange for agreeing to work in a healthcare shortage area or another area. You can also apply for scholarships from professional associations, private foundations, and nursing schools.
Yes, some hospitals pay for nursing school through tuition assistance or reimbursement programs. Hospital employees can receive financial support to advance their education. These programs may require them to work in the hospital after graduating.
