MSN Degree Scholarships

Don’t let your financial situation dictate whether or not you go back to school. If you’re considering a master of science in nursing (MSN), you may not qualify for college grants if you’re currently working as an RN. However, that doesn’t mean that you aren’t eligible for any kind of financial aid. Scholarships are based on merit, not financial need, so they can help supplement your income to give you enough money to back to school.

What Types of Scholarships are Available?

Most of the time, “scholarships” is the term used for financial aid for undergraduates, and these are given based on merit. However, scholarships are also available for advanced students interested in getting a master’s degree. Sometimes, these are referred to as “fellowships,” and they many require you to work in a research position in order to earn the money for school.

Who Gives Scholarships to Nursing Students?

The United States government provides thousands of dollars in scholarships to nurses every year, in order to help encourage people to choose this career field and alleviate the national nursing shortage problem. However, the government isn’t your only source for nursing scholarships. The following organizations all offer scholarships to nursing students:

Oncology Nursing Society
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Infusion Nursing Society
National Gerontological Nurses Association
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations
Neuroscience Nursing Foundation

You can (and should) also check out general scholarship funds. This kind of money is available to any student meeting their qualifications, regardless of program of study. Usually, there is more competition for general scholarships, since they are open to more students, but it is important to apply for as many scholarships as possible.

Local sources can also offer scholarships for students. These are often not highly publicized, but houses of worship, community groups, and more may be willing to give you money for college.

Schools themselves also offer scholarships. The head of the nursing department at your college of choice, as well as the financial aid office, can help you learn about the scholarships available to help pay for your education. Often, scholarships directly from the school can cover more than half the cost of tuition. All you have to do is apply.

How should I Apply?

When applying to scholarships, for nursing programs or otherwise, there are certain things you can do increase your chances of being awarded the money. First, read the directions carefully. If you send your application to the wrong person, fail to address questions they ask, or otherwise don’t follow directions, they may disqualify you even if you are the best applicant. You should also have someone you know read over you application to look for spelling errors, typos, and confusing sentence structure. You want you application essay to be as strong as possible. Lastly, take care to send your application well before the deadline. Essays that are even just one day late won’t be eligible for the money.

Top Masters in Nursing Degrees

While a bachelors or associates degree in nursing is perfect for many entry level positions, advancement in the field often requires further education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Nurses with an MSN degree will have intricate knowledge of the healthcare field, and be able to use their expertise to treat patients in a variety of medical situations. Below you will find an extensive list of schools offering accredited MSN degrees.

	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to offering relevant accredited programs to browse 100+ online nursing schools
BSN to MSN (General) MSN in Leadership & Mgmt MSN in Nursing Informatics MSN in Nurse Education	Walden University — The Walden University online MSN degree is offered in two tracks. The BSN track is reserved for Registered Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the RN Track is for Registered Nurses with a hospital diploma, Associate Degree in Nursing, or Bachelor's degree other than Nursing. Walden also offers many other specialized MSN degrees.
MSN in Midwifery/Women's Health MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner	Georgetown University — Georgetown University offers two Masters of Science in Nursing degrees through online programs: Family Nurse Practitioner and Midwifery/Women's Health. These degree programs are accredited and available onsite too, but the online programs have the added benefits of cutting many of the costs associated with campus programs. Assignments can be completed at home, school, the library, or even on the go.
BSN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administrator MSN in Nurse Educator	Kaplan University — Kaplan University offers two Master's in Nursing degrees in additional to its general BSN to MSN program. The Masters in Nursing Administration is designed for students interested in management roles, while the Nurse Educator Masters program is focused on training future nurse educators. Both of these degree options are provided in an online format.
MSN in Clinical Nursing MSN in Nursing Education MSN in Patient Care	Sacred Heart University — For nurses that hold an associate degree in nursing or diploma looking for an accelerated MS in clinical nursing leadership, this is the perfect course. The course's upper division classes satisfy both the undergraduate and graduate level requirements. Degrees are also offered in nursing education and patient care services.
BSN to MSN MSN in Health Education MSN in Informatics MSN in Health Administration MSN in Healthcare Mgmt	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix Master of Science in Nursing program provides an advanced study of nursing for registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree. Courses including Concepts of Family Nursing Theory and Population-focused Health Care give students the tools necessary to become future health care leaders. Program specializations are offered in health education, health administration, healthcare management, and medical informatics.
Dual Degree: MBA & MSN MSN in Nursing Education MSN in Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — The Grand Canyon University Master of Science in Nursing program offers a variety of degree options to advance the skill set of the nurse practitioner. The program offers degrees in Nursing Education, and Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems. For the business-minded nurse, GCU also offers a dual MBA & MSN degree.
MS in Nursing MSN in Case Management MSN in Informatics MSN in Leadership	American Sentinel University — The Master in Nursing degree from American Sentinel University comes in several specializations, including case management, health informatics, infection prevention, and nursing leadership. Actively licensed registered nurses are eligible to enroll in these programs, and completion requires 36 graduate credit-hours plus any additional uncompleted undergrad credits (usually no more than 21).
MSN in Adult Acute Care MSN in Adult Psychiatric Care MSN in Clinical Trials MSN in Nurse Leadership	Drexel University — The online MSN program from Drexel is regarded as one of the nation's top online nursing schools. Founded in 1864, the Drexel Nursing School offers a variety of online Masters in Nursing specializations, including Adult Acute Care, Nurse Leadership, Clinical Trials Research, and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health.
MSN in Adult Nursing MSN in CNS/Nurse Educator More...	University of Cincinnati — The University of Cincinnati Master of Science in Nursing program couples nursing theory and related sciences as a basis for teaching advanced nursing methods that enhance the health care practice. Students will participate in both course work and actual health care settings. The Master of Science in Nursing program is offered both part-time or full-time, in class or online.
MSN in Clinical Nurse Leader	St. Xavier University — St. Xavier University offers an online MS in Nursing degree program that offers a specialization in Clinical Nurse Leadership. Accredited and approved by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), this degree program is designed to teach the skills required to be able to balance the responsibilities of patient care with the need to coordinate with doctors, pharmacists, social workers, and other nurses.
MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — Students in the Chamberlain College of Nursing MSN degree program rave over the curriculum's variety and co-curricular learning. The curriculum includes courses in nursing theory, research, leadership, professional role development and informatics in health care. A 100 hour practicum is also required.
MSN in Nurse Educator MSN in Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — The MSN - Nurse Education degree program at Capella University is designed to teach advanced knowledge of nursing theory and practice, including the implementation of nurse education programs. For those students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, the Nurse Educator Bridge track specialization allows for the completion of an MSN degree.
MS in Nursing MSN in Health Leadership MSN in Nurse Education	Gonzaga University — The RN to MSN degree program is one of three MS in nursing degrees offered online through Gonzaga University. The other two are the MSN in health leadership and the MSN in nurse education. All of these are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and offer a rolling admissions calendar, for easy student access to learning.
MS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Adult Health MSN in Nurse Education	South University — Designed to train nurses on the rapidly advancing body of knowledge in the nursing field, the online nursing programs from South University provide students with the skills necessary to teach tomorrow's health care professionals. In addition to their general MSN degree and accelerated RN to MSN track, South University also offers specializations in adult health nurse practice and nursing education.
MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Lewis University — Lewis University's MSN programs in nurse administration and nurse education require the completion of 42 credit hours. Offered in a convenient, online format, these specializations require no residency requirements. Courses include Strategic Directions in Healthcare and Human Diversity and Social Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University — Featuring an innovative curriculum that combines eight core courses with the flexibility of four additional electives to comprise an area of focus, the Benedictine University Master of Science in Nursing program is an leader in nursing education. Students can choose from specializing in Public Health, Health Education, Administration, Leadership, Disaster Management, or Health Policy.
MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nursing Educator	Norwich University — Norwich offers two specialized Master of Science in nursing degree programs: the nursing administration specialization prepares nurses for administrative careers within the healthcare industry; the nursing educator specialization prepares nurses for academic positions and teaching roles to help educate the next generation of nurses.
MSN/MPH Dual Degree PhD in Nursing Clinical Nursing Certificate	University of Massachusetts — For students looking to earn their degree in a fast, flexible, and convenient way, University of Massachusetts has recently included several Masters in Nursing degrees to their course catalog. Students are able to complete course material at a pace comfortable for them in an environment of their choosing. UoM offers accredited online programs for MSN/MPH Dual Degree, PhD in Nursing, and Clinical Nursing Certificate.
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