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Here is a list of some of the scholarship and educational resource opportunities available for students pursuing a career in health care in Washington State. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all resources available in our state. To find out more about scholarships, grants, and loans you might qualify for, schedule an appointment with your school’s Financial Aid office. They will have lots of resources, information, tips and tools to help you pay for your education.
The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) supports a nursing workforce that meets the needs of the nation, especially its underserved and rural communities.
This support includes:
Together, HRSA nursing programs advance health equity by ensuring that all communities have access to high-quality and culturally competent medical care
Members of racial marginalized groups make up a disproportionately small number of nurses in the profession. While members of marginalized groups made up about 40% of the U.S. population in 2019, a 2017 National Nursing Workforce survey indicates that these individuals represent only about 19.2% of registered nurses (RNs).
If you’re worried about the cost of nursing school, organizations offer many grants for marginalized nursing students.
The new Washington College Grant is one of the most generous state financial aid programs in the nation, giving more money to more students for more kinds of education after high school. From welding to nursing, from English to computer science—whether one-year certificate or four-year college degree—the Washington College Grant can help students of all ages achieve their educational goals.
The Washington State Opportunity Baccalaureate Scholarship provides up to $22,500 in financial aid support and access to career-launching support services for students pursuing high-demand STEM and health care majors. Funding can be used for any eligible STEM or health care degree, including nursing, at any eligible public or private college or university in Washington state. To learn more about the Scholarship check out the Application Toolkit. As of Feb 12, 2021 the 2021 Baccalaureate application is closed. We will update this information when the new cycle opens.
For Community & Technical College Programs: The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship CTS Scholarship provides up to $1,500 each quarter to fund the pursuit of an eligible associate degree, certificate or apprenticeship at colleges across the state. Applications for this program are accepted three times per year.
The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) offers an educational opportunity for first- and second-year college students interested in exploring a career in the health professions. The program’s focus is on increasing the diversity of health professionals. The career tracks include dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and public health. To learn more, click here to download SHPEP brochure.
The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association Promise of Nursing Undergraduate Scholarships – For students enrolled in state-approved schools of nursing or pre-nursing in associate degree, baccalaureate, diploma, generic doctorate, and generic master’s programs
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program – The NHSC Scholarship Program is a competitive Federal program that awards scholarships to students in return for a commitment to provide care in underserved communities. You can apply to the Scholarship Program if you are committed to primary care and accepted to or enrolled in an accredited U.S. school in one of the following primary care disciplines: physicians (MD or DO), dental, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, or physician assistants.
The scholarship pays tuition, fees, other educational costs, and provides a living stipend in return for a commitment to work at least 2 years at an NHSC-approved site in a medically underserved community. For each year of financial support (up to four years), the student agrees to serve one year (minimum two years) at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need urban, rural, or frontier community across the nation.
Ready, Set, Grad: WA’s comprehensive career and college readiness website for 6th grade through continuing education students, their families and educators.
IHS Scholarship Program – Provides qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students an opportunity to establish an educational foundation for each stage of their pre-professional careers.
HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – The NHSC LRP offers fully trained primary care physicians (M.D. or D.O.), family nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, and certain mental health clinicians $60,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community-based site in a high-need HPSA that has applied to and been approved by the NHSC as a service site.
Similar to the USPHS NHSC partnership described above in the scholarship section, you can take advantage of the NHSC LRP as a Commissioned officer in USPHS. Those same Federal agencies listed above also have approved loan repayment sites that concurrently allow you to accept all NHSC LRP benefits while receiving one of the most comprehensive benefit packages available to health care providers as Commissioned Corps officers.
If you have nursing loans, these programs may help with substantial savings. Your employer and type of loan will determine which opportunity is the best option.
For nurse educators who teach and are faculty members for an approved nursing program.
Learn more about Nurse Educator Loan Repayment (NELR) program.
For registered nurses who work in underserved communities at critical shortage facilities. Applications are accepted once a year.
Learn more about the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
For nurses who work for federal, state, local, or tribal government organizations, non-profit organizations.
Learn more about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
For nurse educators who teach and are faculty members for an approved nursing program.
Learn more about Nurse Educator Loan Repayment (NELR) program.
Full-time nurses who received Perkins loans before 2017 and have worked for 5 consecutive years in a healthcare professional-shortage area may be eligible.
Learn more about the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation
There are a few different types of loan forgiveness programs for nurses that enroll in the military. One of the most popular options is the Army Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program. Both RNs and APRNs are eligible.
Learn more about Military Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses
For Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nurse Midwives.
Learn more about the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
For Registered nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, and Certified Nurse Midwives
Learn more about the NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
For nurses that come from a disadvantaged background, based on environmental and economic factors.
Learn more about the Disadvantaged Faculty Loan Repayment Program
