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BSN: Financial Resources
NEWS! The Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has just posted the 2007 application for the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program. This ANA-supported program pays back up to 85% of outstanding student loans for approved RNs who agree to work full-time in a facility deemed to have a critical shortage of nurses (nursing homes, disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers, rural health clinics and others). In order to be considered for this program, applications must be received by March 9, 2007. The application and background materials can be found at: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm
There are financial resources designed specifically for nursing students. In addition to the following description of sources of financial assistance, students are notified of new information via email as it arrives. Materials and applications, when available, may be obtained from the nursing department office or found on designated bulletin boards.
- Institutional Scholarship and Loan Programs: Hospitals and other institutions often offer monetary assistance to students in return for a work commitment following graduation. These are excellent offers if you know where you would like to work. Contact institutions you are interested in directly and ask about programs for nursing students. Most of these programs fund only the junior and senior years.
- Federal Loan Programs: Excellent federal loans specifically for nursing students are available at a low rate of interest. No interest is payable while in school and for nine (9) months post-graduation. Repayment can be deferred or canceled depending upon employment following graduation. Eligibility depends on your financial need status. The financial aid office has applications.
- Whitehead Scholarships: The Whitehead Foundation provides significant money annually to the JMU Nursing program for distribution to students with financial need. It is need-based as determined by the Financial Aid Office, and you must file a financial aid form with them. Eligibility requires that you be from designated southern states. If you qualify on the basis of geography and financial need you will automatically be considered for this award.
- Military Scholarship and Loan Programs: All branches of the military (Air Force, Army, Navy, and ROTC) offer programs for nursing students. Contact the branch of your choice if you want to explore these programs. The Nursing Department has informational materials and phone numbers for contact.
Federal Scholarship Programs
- The Veterans Administration Scholarship Program is a very good, but highly competitive scholarship program that involves commitment for employment following graduation.
- The Indian Health Service has a less competitive but excellent scholarship program as well.
- Virginia General Assembly Nursing Scholarships: The Commonwealth of Virginia has a nursing student scholarship program for Virginia residents. Applications are available in the nursing department. Applications are usually available in spring for the following year.
- National Student Nurses Association: The NSNA Foundation awards scholarships annually to NSNA members. Information about these scholarships can be secured through the JMU Chapter of VNSA or directly from NSNA.
- Virginia League for Nursing: The VLN offers several smaller scholarships annually. Information regarding applications is available in early from the Nursing Department.
- Other Nursing Department Scholarships: There are two small need-based scholarships designed for persons with specific unmet financial need, the Henley and McHone Scholarships, for which the nursing department makes awards to a junior and senior each year. You can secure an application from the Nursing Department in the spring, complete, and return the completed application to the Nursing Department.
Scholarship and Financial Aid Information for Undergraduate Nursing students
