Grants to Help Nursing Students in 2022

Going through nursing school is an excellent career decision despite the grueling coursework, tests, and long hours of studying. But moving into this career can be entirely worth the cost. 

Grants for nursing students in the 2022 school year are available to help fill these increasingly critical roles and alleviate the burden of student debts. 

Even in such an in-demand field, taking out loans for schooling is sometimes necessary to complete the required education. Schooling costs (tuition, books, testing, etc.) and loans can loom over any student’s head during the school year and after graduation.

Donors from various organizations offer grants to students with challenges stacked against them. You can find numerous grants, scholarships, and other resources available to help achieve a successful nursing school year with minimal stress. 

The Current State of Grants for Nursing Students 2022

It’s a tough decision to pursue nursing school when it requires students to find a balance between debts, family, sleep, and other costs in time and money.

According to sources collected by NerdWallet, the average nursing student debt adds up to $19,928 for Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs, and $23,711 for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.

Even though a post-grad nursing career can help pay these debts off, they can be enough to push students out of programs altogether.

Applying to grants can be an excellent investment of your already limited time, and a great way to help pay off dues. Numerous grants are available for almost every nursing student, each with varying qualifications. 

These qualifications can vary by attending program, demographic, pre-nursing school achievements, and more.

So let’s look at what qualifications you need to consider for nursing school grants.

How to Qualify for a Nursing School Grant or Scholarship

Nursing school grants and scholarships are only for enrolled students, so congratulations on knocking down one qualifier out of possibly many. Most grants and scholarships have similar qualifications including:

• Specific school: Some grants may be school-specific or cater only to public or private institutions.
• Area of focus: Other grants may only apply to specific program types or medical specialties. 
• GPA: Donors typically look for at least a 3.0 GPA from high school or other pre-nursing school institutions.
• US and state citizenship: Studying and working in the US requires some variation of permanent or temporary citizenship or sponsorship.
• Existing experience: Although nursing students most likely won’t have any medical expertise, some grants may be available for those with prior experience (i.e. returning nurses).
• Test scores: The most popular pre-nursing school test is the TEAS exam, which shows how much pre-knowledge and skills a potential student has for nursing school.

This list shows some possible and common qualifications, but each grant and scholarship has its specific qualifications. So be careful with choosing which grant or scholarship you can realistically score.

For instance, if you’re planning on attending a private nursing school for nurse practitioners immediately after high school, a grant for veteran registered nurses won’t be for you.

But what financial help is available to you? And how can you find which grants you qualify for? 

Which nursing school grants are available?

High schools or other pre-nursing schools sometimes offer bulletin boards or other resources to find scholarships. There are also websites dedicated to searching for all sorts of grants, including for nursing schools.

General Scholarship Sites for Nursing Students

You can find exactly what you need with these grant and scholarship finders and databases:

• CareerOneStop (Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor)
• U.S. Department of Education 
• Bold.org
• Scholarships.com
• CollegeGrants.org
• CollegeScholarships.org

Top Scholarships and Grants for Nursing Students

Some of the most popular scholarships specifically tailored for nursing students include:

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• Nurse.org
• Minority Nurse
• Nursing License Map
• Nursing Scholarships

There are also program-specific scholarships including Nurse Corps Scholarship Program and Johnson & Johnson Nursing.

In addition to grants and scholarships, look for tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment programs, work-study programs, and nursing apprenticeships from your school.

Check out our own scholarship contest here for 2022 students.

How to Apply for a Nursing School Grant

You want to apply for grants as soon as possible, well before the beginning of the school year. Don’t let time be your main disqualifier, and gather as much proof of eligibility as possible.

The most essential documents you need for scholarships applications include:

• Personal I.D.
• School Transcripts
• Test Scores
• Letters of Recommendation
• Essays

Competition to win a grant can get tough, so spend time on those you qualify for the most. Not following a scholarship donor’s specific eligibility requirements can immediately disqualify you. 

Following these general tips can also score as many grants and scholarships as possible:

1. Submit polished, readable essays.
2. Personalize your application and include as many crucial details as possible.
3. Find your niche and tailor your application to it.
4. Don’t be discouraged if you lose out on a grant.

Even if you have limited time, blocking out a few hours to apply for grants can make all the difference in winning grants.

Make Nursing School Easier with SimpleNursing

Going through all the hoops to complete nursing school is well worth it (especially in higher-demand US states).

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses (with a bachelor’s) is $77,600 or $37.31 per hour (as of May 2021). They also claim employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030.

Studying throughout nursing school is easier when the financial burden of tuition, books, supplies, and living costs are lifted off your shoulders.

Having a wide comprehensive library of learning resources at your fingertips also eases schooling anxieties when faced with boring materials, and unengaged teachers.

With all these challenges stacked up, don’t let school costs be the biggest. Grants and scholarships can set you up with the future you want in nursing.

Unlock even more nursing school resources here.