35 Best RN to BSN Scholarships for Nursing Students (+ Application Tips)

Key Takeaways

• FAFSA is the starting point for nearly every scholarship and all federal aid, even if you don’t expect to qualify for need-based grants.
• Federal programs like the NURSE Corps Scholarship pay tuition and a stipend in exchange for a post-graduation service commitment.
• National scholarships such as the FNSNA General Scholarship are open specifically to RN to BSN completion students, not just first-time nursing students.
• Specialty and identity-based awards through organizations like NBNA, NAHN, and AAMN often require membership, so it pays to join early.
• Most working nurses fund a BSN by stacking several smaller awards rather than relying on one large scholarship.

Money is usually the first hurdle a registered nurse weighs before going back to school. You already have a full schedule, a license, and real clinical experience, but what you need is a clear picture of how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) actually gets paid for.

There’s no shortage of reasons to make the move. Magnet-recognized hospitals increasingly require a BSN for staff RNs, leadership roles favor bachelor’s-prepared nurses, pay differentials reward the degree directly, and a BSN is the first step to graduate study if you eventually want to pursue an advanced degree. But before any of that, most RNs want the same three answers: What scholarships exist for RN to BSN students? Who actually qualifies? And how much do they cover?

This guide covers RN to BSN scholarships, undergraduate nursing scholarships, and scholarships for RN to BSN, including everything from federal programs and national awards to specialty scholarships and state-based programs. Once you know your options, this guide will help you choose among them and how to apply.

How Can You Pay for Your BSN? Start With FAFSA

Before you search for a single scholarship by name, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most scholarship committees and every federal aid program ask for it, either to confirm your eligibility or to calculate your financial need. Filing early keeps you from being disqualified from an award over a missed form.

It also helps to understand what you’re applying for. Financial aid falls into three categories: scholarships, grants and loans. Scholarships and grants don’t have to be repaid and are awarded based on merit, need, background, or a combination of the three, while loans do have to be repaid, with interest, and should generally be your last resort after scholarships and grants are exhausted.

There are two federal grants worth knowing by name:

Federal Pell Grant

• Eligibility: Undergraduate student with demonstrated financial need who has not already earned a bachelor’s degree; eligibility and award amount are calculated from your FAFSA and Student Aid Index (SAI).
• Award amount: Up to $7,395 for the 2026–27 award year (minimum award: $740).
• Application deadline: No fixed date — determined by your FAFSA submission. The federal filing window for 2026–27 runs through June 30, 2027, but individual schools set earlier priority deadlines, so file as soon as the FAFSA opens each fall.
• Apply: File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• Eligibility: Undergraduate student with exceptional financial need (among the lowest SAI at your school); funds are limited and distributed by each school’s financial aid office, not guaranteed to every eligible applicant.
• Award amount: $100 to $4,000 per year.
• Application deadline: Set by each school’s financial aid office. Since funding is limited and first-come, first-served, file your FAFSA and follow up with your school as early as possible.
• Apply: Apply through your school’s financial aid office

What Federal Nursing Scholarship and Loan Programs Are Available?

A handful of federal programs offer some of the largest scholarships available to nursing students in exchange for a service commitment after graduation. These are worth serious consideration if you’re open to working in a shortage area.

NURSE Corps Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident; accepted or currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program, including BSN programs; preference given to applicants with high financial need or from disadvantaged backgrounds. In exchange, recipients commit to a minimum two-year service obligation at a Critical Shortage Facility after graduation and licensure.
• Award amount: Full tuition, required fees, an annual allowance for books/clinical supplies/uniforms, and a monthly stipend (approximately $1,642/month for full-time students in the 2026–27 cycle). The entire award is considered taxable income.
• Application deadline: Annual cycle. The 2026 application window ran March 10 – April 9, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET); expect the next cycle to open in spring — check HRSA’s site for exact 2027 dates.
• Apply: Apply through HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Per current HRSA guidance, NHSC Scholarship eligibility is limited to students in primary care disciplines — physicians (MD/DO), dentists (DDS/DMD), nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants. It does not currently cover BSN-level (RN to BSN) coursework; RNs pursuing an NP track after their BSN would be the relevant fit. Recipients commit to one year of full-time primary care service per year of support (two-year minimum, four-year maximum) in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
• Award amount: Tuition and required fees, plus an annual payment for other reasonable educational costs and a monthly stipend.
• Application deadline: Set annually by HRSA/NHSC — recent cycles have opened in the spring; confirm current dates before applying.
• Apply: Apply through NHSC’s Scholarship Program page

What National Nursing Scholarships for RN to BSN Students Are Available?

These awards are open to nurses regardless of state, which makes them a good starting point no matter where you live or work as a nurse.

Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) General Scholarship

• Eligibility: Currently enrolled and matriculated in a state-approved nursing program including RN to BSN completion, RN to MSN completion, and LPN/LVN to RN programs; enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; involvement in nursing school organizations and/or community health activities; demonstrated academic achievement and financial need.
• Award amount: Up to $10,000 per award; the FNSNA Foundation distributes over $500,000 annually across all of its scholarship funds.
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have opened in the fall and closed in January (the 2025 cycle closed January 24, 2025); confirm the current-year window before applying.
• Apply: Apply at FNSNA.org

QGenda – American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled at an AACN member school; minimum 3.5 GPA; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; one academic or professional reference; 500-word essay. The scholarship cycles by program level: entry-level baccalaureate students apply in the July cycle, accelerated baccalaureate/master’s students in the February cycle, and master’s/doctoral students in the October cycle.
• Award amount: $5,000, awarded three times per year.
• Application deadline: February 1, July 1, and October 1 (annually recurring).
• Apply: Apply through AACN’s student scholarship portal

Barbara Rhomberg Excellence in Nursing Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program (associate or bachelor’s); a non-traditional student, defined as someone with at least a three-year gap between high school and college enrollment because they entered the workforce, the military, or fulfilled a family or nonprofit obligation. Past applicants and winners may reapply.
• Award amount: $1,000, non-renewable, paid directly to your institution.
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have opened around April 1 and closed around April 30; confirm the current-year window before applying.
• Apply: Apply through B4 Brands

Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship (Daughters of the American Revolution)

• Eligibility: U.S. citizen who has been accepted to or is currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing, including RN to BSN completion students; demonstrated financial need. No DAR membership or family connection to the DAR is required. Applicants submit a letter of acceptance or a transcript confirming nursing enrollment.
• Award amount: $2,500, one-time, awarded to three students each cycle.
• Application deadline: Submitted through DAR’s online scholarship portal; the current cycle closes January 31, 2027.
• Apply: Apply through the Daughters of the American Revolution

What Specialty and Identity-Based Nursing Scholarships Are Available?

A number of scholarships are tied to a nurse’s background, community, or area of focus. Several require membership in the sponsoring association, which is usually inexpensive relative to the award and often worth joining before you apply.

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Scholarships

• Eligibility: Current NBNA member (membership is required to apply); official transcript from an accredited school of nursing; a two-page/500-word personal statement or essay; two letters of recommendation (one from a dean or faculty member, one from a chapter president or vice president); a professional headshot.
• Award amount: $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the specific named fund (NBNA offers more than a dozen distinct scholarships each cycle).
• Application deadline: Applications typically open in the winter and close in April each year; confirm exact dates on NBNA’s site.
• Apply: Apply through NBNA’s scholarship program

National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Scholarships

• Eligibility: Current NAHN member for at least six months; enrolled in an accredited LVN/LPN, associate, diploma, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing program; members may reapply when pursuing a higher degree.
• Award amount: $1,000 to $2,000 per award; NAHN distributes roughly $230,000 in total scholarship funding across all awards each cycle.
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have closed in late March, so confirm the current-year deadline on NAHN’s site.
• Apply: Apply through NAHN’s scholarship page

American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current AAMN student member enrolled in an undergraduate (associate or bachelor’s) nursing program. Applications are evaluated on personal statement, financial need, volunteer/community service history, professional associations, reference letter, academic status, honors, resume, certifications, and current workload.
• Award amount: Multiple $1,000 awards per cycle.
• Application deadline: Published annually on AAMN’s scholarship page; confirm the current-year deadline before applying.
• Apply: Apply through AAMN’s scholarship page

ExceptionalNurse.com Scholarship

• Eligibility: Documented disability; enrolled full-time in (or accepted into) a postsecondary nursing education program; preference given to undergraduate students. Requires a Medical Verification of Disability Form and supporting application materials.
• Award amount: $250 to $500 per award, depending on the specific named fund.
• Application deadline: Historically due in June each year; confirm current-year availability directly on the site, since some individual funds have not been offered every cycle.
• Apply: Apply through ExceptionalNurse.com

What State Nursing Scholarships for RN to BSN Students Are Available?

State-level scholarships often come with residency requirements or an expectation of in-state service after graduation. Some also require students to be studying at a college or university within the listed state, so be sure to thoroughly check the eligibility requirements.

California

California Nurses Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Varies by fund, but most require current CNA/NNOC membership; some funds are open to students in an accredited Associate Degree of Nursing program in California and several other states without requiring membership.
• Award amount: Varies by fund.
• Application deadline: The 2026/2027 cycle closes July 15, 2026.
• Apply: Apply through National Nurses United

Deloras Jones RN Scholarship

• Eligibility: California resident enrolled full-time in a California BRN-approved ADN, BSN, or entry-level MSN program (or a CCNE-accredited postgraduate MSN/doctoral program); not a Kaiser Permanente employee. Minimum GPA requirements range from 2.5 (affiliate schools) to 3.8 (prelicensure).
• Award amount: $1,000 to $3,000, depending on category (Academic Excellence, Graduate Studies, Doctoral Studies, or Affiliate Schools).
• Application deadline: Applications typically open in late summer. Confirm the current-year window on the program site.
• Apply: Apply through Kaiser Permanente’s Nurse Scholars Academy

Texas

Good Samaritan Foundation Scholarships

• Eligibility: Texas resident; enrolled in clinical-level nursing coursework at a program approved by the Texas Board of Nursing; in good standing with your school of nursing. Open to undergraduate and graduate nursing students.
• Award amount: $1,000 per semester.
• Application deadline: Rolling, three cycles per year: Spring (Jan. 15 – Feb. 15), Summer (June 15 – July 15), and Fall (Sept. 20 – Oct. 20). Previous recipients must reapply each semester.
• Apply: Apply through the Good Samaritan Foundation

Texas Nursing Students Scholarship

• Eligibility: Texas residents enrolled in an eligible vocational or professional nursing program at a participating Texas institution; awarded through each school’s financial aid office based on state priority.
• Award amount: Varies by institution and the year’s available state funding.
• Application deadline: THECB’s state priority deadline is January 15 each year; individual schools may set their own earlier deadlines.
• Apply: Apply through your Texas nursing school’s financial aid office

Florida

Florida Nurses Foundation Scholarships

• Eligibility: Florida resident for at least one year (and continuing to reside in Florida during the award term); enrolled in an accredited Florida nursing program (associate through doctoral); completed at least one semester by the application deadline; minimum GPA 2.5 undergraduate / 3.0 graduate.
• Award amount: Typically around $500 per award; exact amount depends on the specific named fund (the Foundation manages 30+ individual scholarship funds).
• Application deadline: Annual application window: January 1 – June 1.
• Apply: Apply through the Florida Nurses Association

Janet Colliflower Keys Nursing Scholarship

• Eligibility: Florida (Miami-Dade area) resident; junior or senior in a nursing program with a demonstrated commitment to caring for children/pediatric nursing.
• Award amount: $1,000.
• Application deadline: Applications are typically due in May each year.
• Apply: Apply through the Miami Foundation

Illinois

Illinois Nurses Foundation — Sonne Scholarship

• Eligibility: Member in good standing of the Student Nurse Association of Illinois (SNAI); enrolled in an Illinois state-approved nursing program leading to RN licensure eligibility.
• Award amount: Up to $3,000.
• Application deadline: Applications typically open in the fall; confirm the current-year deadline on the Illinois Nurses Foundation site.
• Apply: Apply through the Illinois Nurses Foundation

Nursing Education Scholarship (NES)

• Eligibility: Illinois resident for at least one year; enrolled full- or part-time in an approved practical nursing, associate, hospital-based diploma, bachelor’s, or graduate nursing program; demonstrated financial need; must work as a nurse or nurse educator in Illinois within six months of graduating.
• Award amount: A portion of tuition and fees, plus a living allowance for full-time students; the exact amount varies with each year’s state funding level.
• Application deadline: Standard window is March 1 – April 30 each year (the 2026–27 cycle was extended to May 31, 2026).
• Apply: Apply through ISAC

Arizona

Arizona Foundation for the Future of Nursing (AzFFN) Academic Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled in a prelicensure BSN program, or an ADN program with concurrent BSN enrollment; completed at least one semester of BSN curriculum; enrolled part-time or full-time.
• Award amount: $2,500 (a related Arizona Nurses Foundation fund awards $1,000 specifically to BSN and RN-to-BSN applicants, $500 to ADN applicants, and $2,500 to graduate applicants).
• Application deadline: Applications have typically been due August 1 each year.
• Apply: Apply through the Arizona Nurses Association

Colorado

Colorado Nurses Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: RN seeking advanced education, or a student admitted to an approved Colorado nursing program; minimum GPA 3.25 undergraduate / 3.5 graduate.
• Award amount: $500 to $3,000, depending on the specific named fund.
• Application deadline: Application window opens September 1 and closes at the end of October; recipients are announced in December and funded in January.
• Apply: Apply through the Colorado Nurses Foundation

Virginia

Virginia Nurses Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Prelicensure nursing student attending school within a participating Virginia Nurses Association local chapter’s area; some VNF funds specifically favor RN to BSN students who show high academic achievement, commitment to nursing, and clinical/leadership ability.
• Award amount: Typically$1,000 per local-chapter award
• Application deadline: Varies by chapter; the next general cycle opens in January 2027 — check the current calendar before applying.
• Apply: Apply through the Virginia Nurses Association

Mary Marshall Nursing Scholarship Program (Virginia Department of Health)

• Eligibility: Virginia resident for at least one year; enrolled in or accepted to an LPN or RN nursing program; minimum GPA 2.5; demonstrated financial need verified by your school’s financial aid office. Recipients agree to a service obligation of one month of full-time Virginia nursing work per $100 received, with a two-year minimum.
• Award amount: Up to $2,000 per year, for up to 4 years.
• Application deadline: The Spring 2026 cycle ran March 2 – April 2, 2026; the program runs on an annual cycle.
• Apply: Apply through the Virginia Department of Health

Maryland

Nursing Foundation of Maryland Scholarship

• Eligibility: Maryland resident; enrolled in an accredited Maryland nursing education program; minimum GPA 3.0; scheduled to receive your nursing degree within the stated award years; demonstrated community service and leadership potential; RNs must be Maryland Nurses Association members for at least six months.
• Award amount: $1,000 per award (the Foundation typically distributes six to 14+ individual scholarships each cycle).
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have closed in August (dates have ranged from Aug. 10 to Aug. 27); confirm the current-year deadline on the Foundation’s site.
• Apply: Apply through the Nursing Foundation of Maryland

Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG)

• Eligibility: Maryland resident (and parents, if a dependent student); enrolled full- or part-time in an eligible Maryland institution pursuing a degree in a designated workforce-shortage field, including nursing; ranked first by GPA, then by financial need within each field.
• Award amount: Up to $4,000 per year.
• Application deadline: July 1 each year.
• Apply: Apply through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MDCAPS)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Nurses Foundation (MNF) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Varies by the specific named fund within the MNF application; generally open to Massachusetts nursing students and RNs pursuing further education.
• Award amount: Varies by fund.
• Application deadline: Application must be postmarked by June 1 each year.
• Apply: Apply through the Massachusetts Nurses Association

Massachusetts Nurses Association Member Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current ANA Massachusetts / MNA member pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree in nursing or a related healthcare field.
• Award amount: Varies by named fund (for example, one fund awards $2,500 to accelerated BSN students).
• Application deadline: Varies by fund; check ANA Massachusetts’s site for current-cycle dates.
• Apply: Apply through ANA Massachusetts

Connecticut

Connecticut Nurses’ Foundation Nursing Scholarship

• Eligibility: Entering or currently enrolled in an NLNAC- or AACN-accredited nursing program (associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral); demonstrates scholastic ability, professional promise, and financial need. Preference is given to Connecticut residents, students attending Connecticut schools, or those committing to practice in Connecticut after graduation, though the award is open to students in any state.
• Award amount: Varies by fund.
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have closed between mid-February and mid-April; confirm the current-year deadline on the Foundation’s site.
• Apply: Apply through the Connecticut Nurses’ Foundation

Indiana

Indiana State Nurses Association/Indiana Nurses Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA) member enrolled in an accredited Indiana nursing program.
• Award amount: Varies by the specific named fund.
• Application deadline: Varies by fund; check the current listings before applying.
• Apply: Apply through the Indiana State Nurses Association

Indiana Nursing Scholarship

• Eligibility: Non-Indiana resident; directly admitted to a participating Indiana institution’s BSN program as a first-time, full-time, first-year student.
• Award amount: $3,000, applied through the institution’s financial aid package.
• Application deadline: Set by each of the 29 participating Indiana institutions, apply directly through your chosen school.
• Apply: Apply through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Alaska

David E. Knox Memorial Nursing Fellowship

• Eligibility: Completed prerequisites for a nursing (BSN or RN) degree-seeking program; enrolled full-time by the start of the next academic session; minimum GPA 3.0; commits to a one-year service obligation practicing nursing in a small Alaska community (population under 50,000).
• Award amount: Up to $2,500.
• Application deadline: Recent cycles have closed in mid-March (dates have ranged from March 15 to March 17); confirm the current-year deadline.
• Apply: Apply through the Alaska Community Foundation

American Indian Medical (AIMS) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled member of a tribe or village (or documented direct tribal ancestry); pursuing a career goal directly related to the healthcare needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian communities; demonstrated financial need; enrolled in an accredited nursing or health program.
• Award amount: $1,500 per semester, for up to eight semesters.
• Application deadline: Two cycles per year: applications open in June and December.
• Apply: Apply through the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

Hawaii

Hawaii Community Foundation nursing scholarship funds

• Eligibility: Varies by individual fund. HCF’s single Common Scholarship Application screens applicants against more than 300 individual scholarship funds, some of which are nursing-specific; generally open to Hawaii residents pursuing postsecondary education.
• Award amount: Varies by fund.
• Application deadline: The 2026–27 Common Scholarship Application opened December 8, 2025 and closed February 26, 2026 (4 p.m. HST); the cycle recurs annually on a similar timeline.
• Apply: Apply through the Hawaii Community Foundation

American Indian Medical (AIMS) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Enrolled member or documented direct ancestry of a Native Hawaiian, American Indian, or Alaska Native community; pursuing nursing, healthcare, or health education; demonstrated financial need.
• Award amount: $1,500 per semester, for up to eight semesters.
• Application deadline: Two cycles per year: applications open in June and December.
• Apply: Apply through the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

Montana

Montana Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF) Scholarship

• Eligibility: Montana Nurses Association member in good standing for at least one year; enrolled in a Montana-approved RN to BSN program; completed at least one term of nursing curriculum; nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Award amount: $2,500 (MNAF offers two RN to BSN undergraduate awards and two graduate awards each cycle).
• Application deadline: Check the Montana Nurses Association’s site for the current-cycle deadline.
• Apply: Apply through the Montana Nurses Association

Donald E. Pizzini Memorial Nurse Scholarship

• Eligibility: Montana resident; pursuing or advancing a nursing career with an emphasis on long-term care; minimum GPA 3.0; U.S. citizen or holder of a permanent resident visa.
• Award amount: Up to $2,500.
• Application deadline: February 28 each year.
• Apply: Apply through the Montana Health Care Association

How Do You Choose the Right Nursing Scholarship?

With so many options to choose from, having a strategy will be critical to helping you land the most appropriate RN-BSN scholarships.

• Match to eligibility first. Confirm you meet every listed requirement before investing time in an essay or reference letters. Mismatched applications are the most common reason strong candidates get passed over.
• Prioritize awards that stack. Look for scholarships that explicitly allow you to receive other funding at the same time, so you’re not forced to choose between two awards you’ve already won.
• Weigh service commitments carefully. A NURSE Corps or NHSC award can cover significant costs, but only makes sense if the service location and timeline fit your career and life plans.
• Favor renewable scholarships. An award that renews across multiple years reduces how many applications you need to submit and gives you more predictable funding for the length of the program.

How Do You Write a Strong Nursing Scholarship Application?

A few habits consistently improve your odds and cut down on wasted effort.

• Start the FAFSA early. Many scholarships require it as part of the application, so filing late can cost you more than federal aid.
• Tailor each essay. Reusing one essay across multiple applications is easy to spot from the reviewer’s side, so be sure to write to the specific mission of each scholarship.
• Quantify your experience. Highlight years of clinical experience, hours of community service, number of patients served, or specific outcomes you contributed to.
• Line up recommenders early. Ask faculty, supervisors, or association leaders for letters well before the deadline, not the week of.
• Track deadlines in one place. A single spreadsheet with award names, amounts, deadlines, and required materials prevents the most common and most avoidable mistake: missing a date.

Financing Your BSN at the University of San Diego

Once you’ve mapped out federal, national, specialty, and state funding, it’s worth understanding how tuition works within USD’s online RN to BSN Program itself. For most working nurses, a BSN turns out to be more affordable than expected.

Tuition is the same for every student, no matter which state you live in, and clinical placement costs are already built into that price. If your employer offers tuition reimbursement, especially through a Magnet-designated hospital, the admissions team can provide the documentation you need to support that process.

Internal scholarships are also part of the financial conversation from the start. Every student is considered for the Dickinson Nurse Educator Scholarship, a merit-based award determined at the time of admission using information from your application and interview with no separate application required. Once you’re enrolled, it’s worth completing the annual Scholarship Interest Form each spring, which opens up additional scholarship opportunities as you progress through the program. And for financial aid questions that come up along the way, the Torero Hub is USD’s dedicated resource for financial aid support.

“Don’t let cost stand in the way of your goals,” said program director Dr. Jannise T. Baclig, PhD, RN. “Between scholarships, tuition reimbursement, and financial support resources, many of our RN to BSN students discover that earning their bachelor’s degree is both achievable and affordable.”

Between federal grants, service-commitment programs, national and specialty scholarships, state-level awards, and the funding built into USD’s program itself, a working nurse rarely funds a BSN through a single source. Most students stack two or three smaller awards on top of employer support or federal aid, which is exactly why it’s a good idea to apply broadly rather than waiting for one scholarship to cover everything.

USD’s online RN to BSN program is built for nurses balancing school with a career already in motion. If funding has been the piece holding you back, connect with the admissions team, explore the program page, or download The ROI of a BSN to see what a return on this investment can look like.

Frequently Asked Questions