| Nursing is a fulfilling career and offers many great | | | | need and enrolled at least half-time in an eligible |
| career opportunities for those with the necessary | | | | undergraduate program. The participating school |
| education and skills. The decision to begin or continue | | | | determines the amount up to $4,000 a year. |
| your nursing education is a big one, and how you plan | | | | Scholarships |
| to pay for school is an important element of that | | | | If you can qualify for scholarships, this would be a |
| decision. | | | | great source of finance for your nursing education. |
| You shouldn't be discouraged in pursuing your goals by | | | | Competition is tough, though. Professional associations |
| lack of funds. Public sources for financial aid include | | | | for particular nursing specialties may offer scholarships |
| federal and state scholarships and loans, as well as | | | | to qualified persons. Other good sources are religious |
| work study programs. In addition, many nursing schools | | | | and other philanthropic organizations. |
| and universities have their own financial aid packages, | | | | Nursing Scholarships |
| while community groups and membership organizations | | | | According to the minoritynurse Web site, the most |
| offer special scholarships and loans. | | | | important rule for winning a nursing scholarship "is to |
| To initiate the application process, get a Free | | | | apply." "Searching for scholarships and filling out |
| Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) directly | | | | applications is indeed time-consuming, but the hours |
| from the school to which you are seeking admission. | | | | invested can pay off in thousands of dollars." There |
| The FAFSA is the one standardized form that all | | | | are many private scholarships available for nursing |
| colleges and universities require and will be used to | | | | students. Visit for a list of over 750 scholarship just for |
| determine most of the financial aid that you will receive. | | | | nursing. |
| Submitting the form means that you are applying for | | | | College Work-Study Programs |
| federal and state need-based grants and loans, federal | | | | The federal program supports part-time employment in |
| college work-study, state merit scholarships, and | | | | participating schools. The school provides you an on- |
| institutional grants and scholarship programs. | | | | or off-campus job paying at least the prevailing |
| Be sure to read and complete the form because | | | | minimum wage and sets the number of hours to be |
| errors will be costly in terms of time and missed | | | | worked. |
| opportunities. You should fill out and submit the forms | | | | To qualify you should submit completed applications |
| as soon as you and your family have collected | | | | early in the calendar year. |
| financial records for the current tax year because the | | | | College Loans |
| amount of aid available at each school is limited. You | | | | There are low-interest college loans. These entail |
| will receive a report after about six weeks about your | | | | some commitment, but they also provide you with the |
| eligibility for financial aid. | | | | means to accomplish your dreams. You usually apply |
| When shopping for financial aid, check the | | | | at your chosen school. |
| accreditation status of the nursing and the school's | | | | Nursing Student Loan Program, U.S. Department of |
| eligibility for aid. All accredited programs qualify for | | | | Health and Human Services, provides loans up to |
| federal funding, but an institution may have limited | | | | $2,500 a year (freshman and sophomore) or $4,000 a |
| access due to high default rates. | | | | year (junior and seniors). Repayment of these |
| Grants | | | | low-income loans begins 9 months after graduation, |
| Federal grant programs provide funds that don't need | | | | over 10 years at 5% interest annually. |
| to be paid back. The application process may be more | | | | Perkins Loans can lend up to $4,000 per year of |
| difficult but the payoff is significant. When you apply to | | | | undergraduate study. Repayment begins 9 months |
| some schools with your FAFSA, they may consider | | | | after graduation at 5% interest; you have up to 10 |
| you for grants. | | | | years to repay the loan. |
| Pell Grants offer substantial support, depending on | | | | Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for |
| your financial need. You should apply for Pell Grants as | | | | Undergraduate Students), and SLS Loans are loans |
| soon as possible after January 1, although deadline for | | | | you will have to arrange privately through banks and |
| application submission is May 1 for the fall semester. | | | | other lending institutions. These carry a maximum |
| Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) | | | | interest rate of 8.25%. Usually, there is a total loan limit |
| are available to students with exceptional financial | | | | of $23,000 for all 4 years of study. |