Most Popular Nursing Scholarships

Nursing is not only a fulfilling career, but it’s also in high demand. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow about 6% from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all jobs (bls.gov). This growth translates to roughly 190,000+ job openings for nurses each year, as healthcare needs continue to rise with an aging population, according to the BLS.gov.

However, becoming a nurse requires years of education, and the cost of nursing school can be steep. Many prospective nurses graduate with significant student debt. The good news is that there are numerous scholarship programs designed to support nursing students financially.

Below, we’ve updated the details on some of the most popular nursing scholarships available, including their current eligibility criteria, award amounts, sponsors, and application requirements. These scholarships can make a real difference in helping you achieve your nursing education goals without breaking the bank.

BoardVitals Nursing School Scholarship

The BoardVitals Nursing School Scholarship is an essay-based contest aimed at helping nursing students pay for their education. BoardVitals, a healthcare exam preparation company (part of Ascend Learning), sponsors this annual scholarship. Each year, three nursing students are awarded funds based on their essay submissions.

The first-place winner receives $2,000, the second-place winner gets $1,000, and the third-place winner earns $500, according to nursingbeat.com. Awards are typically provided in the form of prepaid Visa cards to use toward education expenses.

Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program in the United States (this includes students in BSN, ADN, or other nursing degree tracks). You also need to be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old. BoardVitals welcomes applications from students in any year of their nursing program (whether you’re just starting or nearing completion).

Application Requirements: The application involves writing a short essay (around 500 words) on a prompt given by BoardVitals. The essay question usually relates to your aspirations in nursing or the principles that drive you as a future nurse. For example, past prompts have asked about core values and how they influence the care you plan to provide. Submissions are collected through an online form on the BoardVitals website. No purchase or fee is required to enter – it’s completely free to apply.

Deadlines: The BoardVitals scholarship runs once each year. Keep an eye out at the start of the year – applications often open in the winter, with a deadline around late spring (in previous cycles, the deadline was in May). Winners are typically announced during the summer after all submissions have been reviewed. Be sure to check BoardVitals’ official scholarship page for the exact dates each year, as they can vary slightly.

FNSNA Undergraduate Scholarship Program (Foundation of NSNA)

The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) offers an Undergraduate Scholarship Program that awards hundreds of thousands of dollars to nursing students every year. This program actually encompasses multiple scholarships funded by various sponsors and is divided into two main categories: the General Scholarship Program and the Promise of Nursing Scholarship Program. Both are open to current nursing students and share a common application process, meaning you fill out one application and you might be considered for many different scholarship awards based on the information you provide.

General Scholarship Program: These scholarships are funded by a variety of donors and are often tailored to students with specific career interests or backgrounds. Many focus on areas of nursing that need more representation – for example, specialties like oncology, critical care, or emergency nursing. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a state-approved nursing program (Associate Degree in Nursing, diploma, BSN, or direct-entry master’s) and in good academic standing. Academic achievement, financial need, and involvement in nursing student organizations or community health projects are key selection criteria. The award amounts can vary by sponsor, but the foundation generally awards significant funding (up to $10,000 per academic year) to each recipient (fnsna.org). Many individual awards through the general program fall in the range of a few thousand dollars (often up to about $7,500 in past years), helping students cover tuition, books, and fees.
Promise of Nursing Scholarship Program: This scholarship category is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson as part of their effort to address the nursing shortage in certain regions of the U.S. It is called “Promise of Nursing” because it directs funds to students in areas with specific needs. To be eligible, you must be attending a nursing school in one of the designated Promise of Nursing states (these states are those that have participated in Johnson & Johnson’s fundraising initiatives for nursing; the list of eligible states is provided in the scholarship application materials). Like the general scholarships, applicants are evaluated on academic performance, financial need, and service. The award amount is also up to about $7,500–$10,000 per year for tuition and related education costs. By targeting certain states, this program aims to invest in nursing students who will hopefully serve those communities after graduation.

Application Process: The FNSNA Undergraduate Scholarships use a single application system. Each year, the application typically opens in the fall (around September) and closes in the winter (late December or January) for the following academic year.

For example, if you’re seeking funding for the 2025–2026 school year, you would apply by the end of 2024. Pre-nursing students (students taking prerequisite courses with intent to start a nursing program) may also be eligible to apply, as long as they will be enrolled in a nursing program by the award period. The application is done online (often through a scholarship portal) and usually requires: proof of enrollment (or acceptance) in a nursing program, transcripts, a résumé, one or more letters of recommendation, and short essays or personal statements.

You’ll also need to demonstrate your involvement in leadership or community health activities and explain your financial need. Tip: Because many scholarships under FNSNA have specific criteria (like pursuing a certain specialty or hailing from a particular region), be thorough in describing your background and career goals – it can help match you to applicable sponsored scholarships.

Why It’s Great: With FNSNA’s program, multiple winners are chosen each year. In fact, the foundation awards over $500,000 annually in total across all its scholarships, so many students receive supportfnsna.org. Whether you’re working on an associate degree or a bachelor’s (or even a direct-entry master’s for non-nurses), this is one of the broadest-reaching nursing scholarship programs out there. It’s well worth the time to apply.

NURSE Corps Scholarship Program

The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program (often abbreviated NCSP) is a federally funded scholarship with a mission to alleviate critical shortages of nurses across the country. It’s one of the most generous scholarships available because it covers almost all educational expenses for nursing school.

If you receive a NURSE Corps scholarship, the program will pay for your full tuition, mandatory fees, and reasonable educational costs (like textbooks, clinical supplies, and uniforms) for the remainder of your nursing program, and even provide you with a monthly living stipend (nerdwallet.com). In exchange, after you graduate, you’ll commit to working at an approved Critical Shortage Facility for at least two years. (A Critical Shortage Facility is typically a hospital or clinic in a Health Professional Shortage Area – in other words, a healthcare site in a community that really needs nurses (bhw.hrsa.gov).

Eligibility: To qualify for the NURSE Corps Scholarship, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident (bhw.hrsa.gov). You need to be accepted or enrolled in an accredited nursing degree program (this can be an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing program, including RN-to-BSN or direct-entry MSN programs).

You also must not have any existing service obligation (for example, you can’t already be committed to serve in the military or another program for a different scholarship), and you must be free of any federal debt delinquencies or judgment liensbhw.hrsa.gov. Because this is a service-based scholarship, they will require a background check and an agreement that you’ll fulfill the service after school. Financial need is a major factor – the program gives preference to applicants who have the greatest financial need, as determined by your Expected Family Contribution (from your FAFSA) and other indicatorsbhw.hrsa.gov.

Application Requirements: The NURSE Corps Scholarship application is online through the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) website. The application typically opens each spring. In recent years, the application cycle has opened around March and closed in May (nerdwallet.com). You’ll need to submit school acceptance/enrollment documentation, academic transcripts, a resume, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. The essays usually ask why you want to be a nurse and serve in underserved communities, and about your commitment to primary care or health equity. You also must submit a FAFSA to demonstrate financial need.

After applying, it’s a bit of a waiting game: notifications usually go out by late summer or early fall to those who are selected. If you’re awarded the scholarship, HRSA will cover your costs starting that academic year.

Do note: Because the NURSE Corps Scholarship is so comprehensive, it is highly competitive. It receives a lot of applications nationwide. If you have significant financial need and a passion for working in communities with shortages, it’s definitely worth applying. But be sure to have some backup funding plans too, since not everyone will win this one.

Commitment: Scholars who accept the award sign a contract agreeing that, after they become licensed, they will work full-time for at least 2 years at a qualifying NURSE Corps site (with the option to extend the service for additional benefits). Failing to fulfill the service obligation has serious consequences, including having to repay all the funds with hefty interest, so make sure you’re fully on board with the service commitment if you apply for and accept this scholarship.

NAHN Scholarship Programs (National Association of Hispanic Nurses)

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) offers a range of scholarship programs each year for nursing students who are NAHN members. NAHN’s mission is to advance the health in Hispanic communities and to support Hispanic students in nursing, and one way they do this is by providing financial aid to those pursuing nursing degrees. Each year, NAHN awards multiple scholarships to eligible student members enrolled in accredited nursing programs at various levels – this includes LPN/LVN programs, associate and diploma programs, BSN programs, as well as graduate (MSN, DNP, PhD) programs (nahnnet.org). In other words, whether you’re working on becoming an RN or are already a nurse advancing your education, as long as you are a student and a NAHN member, you could qualify.

Eligibility: These scholarships are only open to NAHN members, so you do need to join NAHN (and maintain membership) to apply. Typically, you must be a member in good standing before the application opens or by the application deadline, so if you’re interested, it’s wise to become a member early.

NAHN is an organization dedicated to Hispanic nurses, but students of all ethnicities can join as members and be active in the organization. That said, the spirit of the scholarships is to support those who will contribute to the nursing profession and potentially serve as role models in Hispanic communities (boardvitals.com). Applicants are usually expected to demonstrate how they have been involved in their local NAHN chapter or community service, and how they plan to give back or mentor others in the future. Strong academic performance and financial need are considered as well (nahnnet.org).

Scholarship Details: NAHN’s scholarships are funded through the NAHN national scholarship fund and often with contributions from partner sponsors. For example, in past years NAHN has offered scholarships sponsored by the United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative, by NurseThink®, and by other healthcare companies and donors(boardvitals.com).

The number of awards and the award amounts can vary each year depending on funding. Usually, each scholarship award is in the range of a few thousand dollars (often $2,000 – $5,000 each). In some years, specific large awards have been available (for instance, one recent partnership provides multiple $10,000 awards targeted at certain students, showing how generous some awards can benahnnet.orgnahnnet.org). NAHN typically spreads out the funding to help as many students as possible, so expect that there will be several scholarship winners annually (often there are a dozen or more recipients across all the different sponsored scholarships).

Application Cycle: NAHN opens its national scholarship application once per year. The timeline can vary, but it commonly opens in February and closes around March. (For example, the application window for the 2025–2026 scholarships opened February 17, 2025, and closed March 21, 2025 nahnnet.org.) The application is usually done via an online form or portal.

You’ll need to submit proof of your NAHN membership, transcripts showing your enrollment and academic performance, a personal statement or essay (often about your goals in nursing and how you plan to contribute to the Hispanic community or nursing profession), and letters of recommendation. They may also ask for a résumé and evidence of any leadership or community activities you’ve been involved in (especially those aligning with NAHN’s mission).

After the deadline, applications are reviewed by NAHN’s scholarship selection committee. Recipients are typically announced around the time of the NAHN annual conference in the summer, and awards are applied to the upcoming academic year. If you’re a winner, not only do you get financial support, but you’ll likely be recognized by NAHN – which is a nice honor to add to your resume as well.

Tip: Since NAHN scholarships are only for members, your level of involvement with NAHN can strengthen your application. If you have a local NAHN chapter nearby, consider attending meetings or volunteering in chapter initiatives. That kind of engagement can both connect you with potential mentors and show your dedication, which you can highlight in your scholarship application.

American Red Cross Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship

The American Red Cross Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship is a program established to promote nursing as a career and to encourage new nurses to get involved with the Red Cross. It is named in honor of Jane A. Delano, a pioneering nurse who was the principal organizer of the Red Cross Nursing Service in the early 20th century. This scholarship is unique in that it targets nursing students who have a connection to the Red Cross through volunteer service or employment.

Eligibility: To apply for the Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship, you need to be currently enrolled in a nursing program (undergraduate or graduate) and in good academic standing, and you must have volunteer or work experience with the American Red Cross (allnursingschools.com). In fact, the requirement is that you have served as a Red Cross volunteer or employee within the last 5 years. This means if you’ve volunteered with any Red Cross chapter (for example, helping at blood drives, disaster relief, health and safety education, etc.) or worked for the Red Cross in some capacity, you could be eligible.

Preference is given to student volunteers (as opposed to employees) if there are many applicants. Additionally, applicants should have completed at least one year of their nursing program by the time of funding – so typically, second-year associate degree students, second-year (sophomore) BSN students and beyond, or any graduate-level nursing students can apply, but first-year nursing students might need to wait until they have a year under their belt. This ensures recipients have already demonstrated commitment to both nursing studies and volunteerism.

Award Amount: The Red Cross awards this scholarship to a few students each year – generally, up to three students are selected nationally. Each winner receives an award of $3,000(redcross.org) to put toward nursing school expenses. The funds can usually be used for tuition, books, and academic fees (not for personal expenses outside of school costs). While $3,000 may not cover your whole tuition, it definitely helps chip away at the costs, and it’s a one-time award. Some recipients of this scholarship have been undergraduates, and others graduate students – it spans all levels as long as you meet the criteria.

Application Process: The application for the Jane Delano scholarship is typically made available through the Red Cross (often via the Red Cross’s youth or volunteer services division). The deadline is usually in May each year (for instance, applications might be due by May 15 – always double-check the current year’s date). When applying, you’ll fill out an application form (sometimes hosted on a platform like Microsoft Forms or a Red Cross portal) and provide documentation of your enrollment and your Red Cross volunteer hours or employment. A significant part of the application is the essay. In fact, the application usually asks for a two-part essay:

A description of your experience with the Red Cross – what roles you’ve had, what you’ve learned from volunteering or working, and how it has influenced you.
An explanation of your plans in the nursing field – essentially, your career goals in nursing and how you plan to incorporate your Red Cross experience or the values of service into your future as a nurse.

Each part is typically a few hundred words. This is your chance to shine a light on your commitment to humanitarian service and how that complements your nursing ambitions. Be sure to highlight any specific Red Cross projects or missions you were part of, especially if you took on leadership or made a meaningful impact.

You will also likely need a letter of recommendation. Often, the Red Cross asks for a recommendation from someone who can speak to your Red Cross involvement – for example, a Red Cross supervisor or chapter leader – or from a faculty member if appropriate. The recommender may have to fill out a separate form or send a letter directly to the selection committee.

After the deadline, a committee reviews the applications. If you’re chosen as a scholarship recipient, the Red Cross will notify you (usually over the summer). They may make a public announcement or news release as well, since this scholarship is part of continuing Jane Delano’s legacy of inspiring nurses to serve in the Red Cross.

Why this scholarship is special: It highlights the value of volunteer work. Many scholarships focus purely on academics or need, but this one explicitly rewards those who give time and effort to humanitarian causes while in school. If you’ve been active with the Red Cross, it’s a way for that service to pay off in both experience and education funding. And if you haven’t volunteered yet, this might even inspire you to get involved with a local Red Cross chapter – not just for the scholarship potential, but for the personal growth and networking that come with it.

Final Thoughts: Pursuing a nursing degree is challenging enough without the added stress of financial burden. Scholarships like the ones above are here to help lighten that load. Each of these programs has its own niche — whether it’s community service, heritage, academic excellence, financial need, or a commitment to serve in high-need areas, there’s something for everyone. As a nursing student in 2025, you have more opportunities than ever to get funding support, but it also means staying proactive.

A few quick tips to wrap up: start your scholarship search early, and note the deadlines well in advance (they tend to repeat annually around the same time). Read the requirements carefully for each scholarship and tailor your application to show you meet those criteria. Don’t shy away from applying to multiple scholarships, either — the more you apply to, the better your chances of receiving one. Even smaller awards can add up or cover that extra cost like textbooks or clinical supplies.

Most importantly, remember why these scholarships exist: organizations, companies, and communities want to invest in the future of nursing. They want to invest in you – the future nurse. Good luck with your applications, and keep striving toward that nursing career you’ve dreamed about. With dedication and a little financial help along the way, you’ll get there.

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5 Most Popular Nursing Scholarships