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10 Great Grants for Nursing School

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Written by Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare

A group of nursing students discusses getting grants for nursing school.

Scholarships and grants for nursing school can help you pay for schooling or academic research. Each financial option has its own application requirements, so it can be time consuming to go through them one by one. But dedicating yourself to this process could save you thousands in tuition, or help your research dreams become a reality.

If you’re not sure how to pay for nursing school, one of the first things you should know is the difference between scholarships and grants.

Scholarships are typically merit-based, meaning that your grades and extracurricular experiences will be important in your application.
Grants are awarded based on financial need, and often support a cause that benefits a disadvantaged group. Some grants are for individual students, but many are for academic research and community programs.

How to Get Grants for Nursing School and Research: 5 Steps

1. Explore available grants, but don’t limit yourself to grants for nursing schools. Many grants aren’t specific to nursing degrees, but still offer financial support to thousands of students a year.

Other grants and scholarships are specific to your state, your ethnicity, or the area you plan to work in after school. Some are offered by nursing organizations and support research or scholarship within that field of study.

Spend some time looking at federal, state, and privately offered grants to understand your options, and contact your nursing school’s office of financial aid for programs specific to your school. If you’re looking for research funding, Sigma Foundation grants are a great place to start.

2. Check eligibility and application criteria for each grant, considering factors such as academic achievements and financial need, and consider whether you qualify. Note the due date for your application, and write it down on your calendar.

3. Complete application forms. Gather necessary documents, which may include transcripts, proof of income, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Government grants for nursing school will require you to report your household income via a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

4. Submit applications on time by starting early and working on them a little each day or week to avoid a missed deadline.

5. Follow up and keep exploring options. Continue to check the status of your applications, and be prepared to respond to any additional requests for information or interviews. You might also want to explore other financial assistance options while you’re waiting, such as nursing scholarships and nursing school loan forgiveness programs.

10 Top Grants for Nursing School and Research

1. American Association of Critical Care Nurses/Sigma Theta Tau Critical Care Grant

The AACN coordinates with Sigma Theta Tau to offer this research grant for experienced nurses focused on high acuity and critical care nursing practice.

The grant supports academic scholarship linked to the AACN’s research priority areas, while corresponding to their vision and agenda. See the AACN’s application instructions to get started. To qualify, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

The principal investigator must be a member of either AACN or Sigma Theta Tau International.
The principal investigator must have a master’s degree or have completed the candidacy requirements in an RN-to-PhD or RN-to-DNP program.

Amount: Up to $10,000

2. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant

The AANA’s DEI grant is for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)/nurse anesthesiologists and student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs), and helps to support diversity within nursing anesthesia. Funding can be used for several educational purposes, not limited to formal academic programs, that increase diversity within the specialty. To request funding, you’ll need to submit an application with a detailed rationale for consideration.

Amount: Up to $25,000

3. American Holistic Nurses Association Research Grants

The AHNA’s research grant supports scholarship that advances holistic nursing care. They assist with funding research projects that are moderate in scope, so you’ll need to plan to complete your study within one to two years. To qualify for this grant, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

Maintain membership as an AHNA member for at least 1 year.
Apply with a 3–5 page research proposal, proposal budget, and a bio-sketch.
Doctoral students must include an approval letter from the committee chair of their dissertation.

Amount: Up to $5,000

4. Federal Pell Grants

These need-based federal grants are awarded to undergraduate students who usually don’t have any other post-secondary schooling. To apply, you’ll need to submit a FAFSA form for every year you attend school. Here are the eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet to quality:

Demonstrate financial need based on your expected family contribution.
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-U.S. citizen.
Have a valid social security number (unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
Prove enrollment as a full-time student in an eligible degree or certification program.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress in your education.
You must not be in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant.
Show you are qualified for a college or career school education, as exhibited by a high school diploma, GED, homeschool education, or eligible career pathway.

Amount: Up to $7,395 (amount may vary)

5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

FSEOG grants are a form of federal student aid awarded to full-time students at the undergraduate level. They’re awarded based on need, and you must be a U.S. citizen and meet the Pell Grant requirements to qualify. To apply, you’ll need to complete a FAFSA form every year you are a student.

Amount: $100–$4,000 ($762 on average)

6. Florida Nurses Association (FNA) Grants

The FNA offers dozens of scholarships and grants for nursing school to Florida students and nurses. To apply, you’ll need to be a Florida resident and FNA member and complete an application. The foundation trustees will match qualified applicants with the scholarship/grant that best applies to their needs.

Amount: Varies

7. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

These federal student grants are for students with family members who have died during conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. To apply, you’ll need to complete a FAFSA form every year you attend school. Here are the requirements you must meet to be eligible:

Meet all requirements for a Pell Grant, except for the expected family contribution.
Have a parent or guardian who died during U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.
At the time of their death, you were under 24 or were enrolled in college on a part- or full-time basis.

Amount: Varies based on need and year.

8. Oncology Nursing Foundation Research Grants

ONF research grants support nursing PhD students who are investigating priority topics, such as patient-centric care and the impact of the environment on cancer outcomes. Use the ONF portal to apply. To meet the eligibility requirements, you’ll need to:

Have a PhD-prepared primary investigator who is an RN actively involved in some aspect of cancer patient care, research, or education.
At least one member of the research team must have prior experience completing a research project with funding of at least $100,000. This person may serve as a mentor for the project.
Ensure your research is original and relevant to ONF’s goals.
Inform your institution of your intent to apply, and have an institutional official review your application.
Review the recommendations for grant proposals.

Amount: $50,000–$100,000

9. Sigma/Emergency Nurses Association Foundation Research Grant

Sigma works with professional nursing organizations to fund academic study in several specialties, including emergency medicine. You’ll need to apply via the ENA Foundation website, and meet these eligibility requirements:

Be an RN with a master’s degree.
Submit a research application and a signed agreement.
Be ready to start, or have already started, your project.
One or more applicants must have experience and knowledge of the research process.
Preferably, be a member of both ENA and Sigma.

Amount: Up to $6,000 per year

10. Sigma/Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Grant

AORN and Sigma collaborate to offer this grant to support perioperative nursing research. You don’t need to be a member of either organization to qualify for funding, but you will need to meet these requirements:

Have a principal investigator with at least a master’s degree in nursing.
Have a principal investigator who is an RN in the perioperative setting, or who has a significant interest in perioperative nursing practice.