Becoming a nurse practitioner is a great way to advance in your career as a nurse. However, extra school can be expensive, and although being an nurse practitioner will qualify you for higher paying jobs once you graduate, that doesn’t solve the problem of how you’ll afford an education when you have to pay for it out of pocket. Two options available to you are scholarships and grants.
Scholarships and grants are essentially the same thing – money for college that doesn’t have to be repaid after you graduate, like is necessary with student loans. Scholarships are typically based on merit, while grants are typically based on financial need, but you can use both kinds of financial aid to help pay for your education.
The government offers a number of financial aid programs for students in all areas of study, so this is a great place to start if you’re looking for nurse practitioner scholarships and grants. You can also look to private groups, organizations, and companies for funds for college students. Some groups offering financial aid for nurses in the past include the following:
In addition, there are groups that offer scholarships and grants to all types of medical students, so if you’re a nurse, you should look for these forms of financial aid, which do not specify that you must be a nurse practitioner. There are also scholarships and grants available for students regardless of field of study, from organizations both national and local.
Once you’ve located a number of scholarships and grants that could help make your education possible, it is time to apply for the money. Each organization has its own procedures, so make sure you read the directions carefully and submit all necessary information in full. If you have to write an application essay, as is common with scholarships, you may want to ask others to read over your submission to help look for typos and places where the essay could be stronger. Of course, make sure you meet deadlines! If you’re even one day late with your application, you’ll likely be ineligible for the award.
As a nurse, keep in mind that you may be eligible for other special kinds of financial aid. Some employers offer to pay for advanced education, so if you’ve been working as an RN or LPN for at least a year, check into your employer’s tuition reimbursement programs. In addition, there may be some federal student loan forgiveness programs that can help you if you work in an area that is great in need of nurses. Both are additional options that can help make a nurse practitioner education possible for you.
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who provides primary and specialty care to patients. A nurse practitioner is responsible for administering both nursing and wider healthcare services; and, they are licensed to prescribe medications. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires the completion of a master's degree program. Below are the most popular colleges offering online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees.
Fill out the short form below, and we'll help match you to a college that caters to your educational interests.
