Nursing Scholarships, Grants, and Financial Aid

Funding Your Nursing Studies

There are many options available for funding your nursing education:

First Steps

1. In January, fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid  and have the results sent to the UW.  You may not think you qualify for any federal aid, but you won't know for sure until you fill out and submit the form.   Your financial circumstances may unexpectedly change during the course of the year too, so it is best to have the application on file even if you are not awarded aid initially.   filling out the FAFSA also will make you elligible for additional scholarships here at UW Bothell, including scholarships from the Nursing program.  To receive the best aid award, submit your FAFSA by mid-February, so it is received by the UW Bothell Financial Aid office by February 28th. 
2. Does your employer or your union offer money for education?  Investigate any workplace funding opportunities from your employer or union.
3. Start your scholarship hunt by using the resources on this page.

Scholarship Databases and General Information

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) offers scholarship and financial aid information.
• The Discover Nursing web site has a scholarship search database.
• Wondering about IRS tuition tax credits?  Wondering about taxes if you win a scholarship?  UW Seattle provides an informative website discussing these issues.
• Military scholarships:
  •  Navy: steve.redden@navy.mil
  • Washington State Army National Guard: http://washingtonguard.org/ARMY/Recruiting/OSM/AMEDD/
  • Article on opportunities: http://www.minoritynurse.com/military-nurses/army-and-navy-and-air-force-opportunities
• NurseZone offers scholarship and financial aid information.  
• UW Bothell Financial Aid produces a handout "Funding Your Education: UWB Financial Aid and Scholarship Guide" that you may find useful as an introduction to the process.
• UW Seattle's Nursing program offers scholarship and financial aid information.
• The University of Washington offers the Grants and Funding Research Services for prospective and current graduate students.
• The University of Washington Graduate School offers Fellowship and Assistantship information for prospective and current graduate students.
• Are you a Veteran?  Read MyVA for general information about your benefits.  Veterans applying to our program should also read the military Admissions FAQ page, and then the Veteran student information page, where you can also make an online appointment with UW Bothell's Veterans Advisor, Rosa Lundborg, to discuss the particulars of your situation.

Scholarship Opportunities

• The American Legion Auxiliary offers the Marguerite McAlpin Scholarship.
• The American School Health Association offers scholarships.
• The Emergency Nurses Association Foundation offers scholarships.
• The Health Professional Scholarship program was created to attract and retain health professionals to serve in critical shortage areas in Washington state.  The scholarship program provides financial assistance to students training to become primary care health professionals. (Note:  Program suspended for 2012-2013).
• The King County Nurses Association offers scholarships.
• The Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization offers scholarships.
• March of Dimes offers graduate student nursing scholarships.
• National Black Student Nurses' Association offers scholarships.
• The National Student Nurses' Association offers scholarships.
• The Pride Foundation offers scholarships.
• UW Bothell offers scholarships.
• The Washington Center for Nursing has scholarship offerings available.
• The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board offers the American Indian Endowed Scholarship Program.

Loan Repayment Programs

• The Health Professional Loan Repayment program was created to attract and retain licensed health professionals to serve in critical shortage areas in Washington state.  The program provides educational loan repayment assistance to licensed primary care health professionals.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a nursing student loan repayment program.

Financial Aid

• If you want to be eligible to receive Federal financial aid, you must fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   It is important to do this as soon as possible.
• The UW-Bothell Financial Aid Office has information available here about the campus financial aid process.
• The US Department of Education offers an excellent web site about financing your education

Tuition Reimbursement

• Your own employer or union may offer tuition reimbursement.  Be sure to check their policies.