Top Nursing Scholarships 2026: Free Money to Pay for Nursing School

Nursing school prepares students to become licensed nurses by providing education in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, patient care, and hands-on training via clinical rotations in healthcare settings. With the right nursing scholarships and financial aid strategies, you can graduate debt-free and launch a rewarding career helping others. There are several types of nursing degrees and training programs to choose from, depending on your career goals and timeline. These include the following: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Accelerated BSN (ABSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).

Nursing Career Opportunities After Graduation

Career opportunities after nursing school include clinical roles such as ER nurse, pediatric nurse, hospital RN, travel nurse, and surgical nurse. Non-clinical nursing careers may include nurse researcher, healthcare administrator, case manager, and nurse educator. Other unique nursing career routes may include school nursing, telehealth nursing, military nursing, or public health nursing. It's an excellent time to pursue a career in nursing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in nursing is projected to grow 9% (compared to the national average of 4%) through 2030, creating thousands of new job openings for qualified graduates.

2026 Nursing Scholarships: Free Money for Nursing Students

Whether you're a high school senior preparing for nursing school or a graduate student specializing in advanced practice, these 2026 nursing scholarships can help you pay for your degree without taking on excessive student loans.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

Deadline: 4/9/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Full-Tuition Scholarship Details: The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program is open to full - time nursing students. Recipients of this award must commit to working at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses for at least two years after graduation.

WOCN Accredited Educational Scholarship

Deadline: 5/1/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies Scholarship Details: The WOCN Society Accredited Nursing Program Education Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing an education in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing care. You must be accepted into a WOCN Society Accredited nursing program to be considered for this award.

DiversityNursing.com Education Award

Deadline: 5/12/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000 Scholarship Details: The DiversityNursing.com Education Award is available to undergraduate and graduate students. You must be enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing in a professional registered nurse program to qualify for this award.

Mometrix Nursing Scholarship

Deadline: 5/15/26
Available to: High School Seniors & College Students
Award Amount: $500 - $1,000 Scholarship Details: The Mometrix Nursing Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. To be considered, you must submit an essay explaining your plans for nursing school.

Nursing Economic$ Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: 5/16/26
Available to: Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies Scholarship Details: The Nursing Economic$ Foundation Scholarship is available to registered nurses who are enrolled in a master's or doctoral program. You must hold a career focus in nursing administration, management, leadership, or education to be eligible for this award.

NLN Nursing Education Scholarship Award

Deadline: 5/19/26
Available to: Graduate Students
Award Amount: $8,000 Scholarship Details: The NLN Nursing Education Scholarship Award is available to master's and doctoral nursing students who have completed at least one full year of study. You must be planning to advance your career as a full - time nurse educator to be eligible for this award.

Platinum Educational Group Scholarship

Deadline: 5/26/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 Scholarship Details: The Platinum Educational Group Scholarship is available to EMS, nursing, and allied health students. To be eligible, you must submit a shareable public link to a post on any of your social media platforms that includes the hashtags #PlatinumEdScholarships and #FutureHealthcareProvider.

Iowa Nurses Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: 8/1/26
Available to: College Freshmen—Seniors
Award Amount: $2,000 Scholarship Details: The Iowa Nurses Foundation Scholarship is available to students enrolled in a pre - licensure ADN or BSN program at DMACC, Grand View University, or the University of Iowa College of Nursing. You must be a resident of Iowa to be eligible for this award.

Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

Deadline: 8/1/26
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,500 Scholarship Details: The Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship is available to full-time students. You must be majoring in a health - related field, such as athletic training, psychology, biology, kinesiology, nursing, general medicine, dentistry, behavioral sciences, personal training, physical education teaching and coaching, health and physical fitness, exercise science, sports and recreation management, health sciences, or physical therapy to be eligible for this award.

AvaCare Medical Scholarship

Deadline: 12/15/26
Available to: High School Seniors through Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 Scholarship Details: The AvaCare Medical Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a degree in a medical field. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. Additionally, you must submit an essay, video, or image that describes or represents an act of kindness that inspired you. Preference will be given to students with a physical disability.

CentraCare School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies Scholarship Details: The CentraCare School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship is available to students in Minnesota who are enrolled in an undergraduate or technical program in the nursing field. To be considered for this award, you should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate community involvement and civic and social engagement.

How to Win a Nursing Scholarship

Winning nursing scholarships requires more than just good grades. It takes strategic planning, community involvement, and a compelling application story. Students majoring in nursing should strive to get involved in community service. Volunteering in your community is a powerful way to showcase your compassion, care, and dedication to the greater good -- qualities that scholarship committees actively look for in nursing scholarship applications. Here are some nursing volunteer opportunities within your community: • Homeless Shelters • Nursing Homes • Hospitals • Animal Shelters There are also many national-level healthcare-related causes looking for volunteers. Below are just a few organizations that could benefit from student nurse help: • American Heart Association • American Red Cross • The Medical Reserve Corps • Action for Healthy Kids • Project HOPE Your volunteer service can become the foundation of compelling essays required for nursing scholarship applications. It is important for you to keep a detailed list of each community service and volunteer event you participate in, including dates, hours served, and specific responsibilities or achievements. Gaining hands-on experience is another way you can boost your odds of winning a nursing scholarship. Consider finding and applying for a healthcare internship or certified nursing assistant position to gain clinical experience.. Be sure to reference all your nursing internships and volunteer experiences on your scholarship applications. Real-world healthcare experience makes your scholarship application stand out from the competition. Remember, the more nursing scholarships you apply for, the more chances you have to win. Winning scholarships takes creating a consistent habit of applying for multiple awards throughout the year. Set a goal to apply for at least 5-10 nursing scholarships per month to maximize your financial aid.

How to Pay for Your Nursing Degree without Student Loans

Many organizations have created scholarship funds specifically for nursing students, making it easier to pay for nursing school without taking on massive debt. Many state hospitals offer college tuition reimbursement to their employees. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resource and Services Administration is a federal-level example of a program that awards nursing scholarships and grants to students pursuing careers in underserved communities. Joining the military is another smart way to pay for your nursing degree. Three military branches, the U.S. Navy, Army, and Air Force offer active duty and reserve duty nursing roles: • Navy Nurse Corps • Army Nurse Corps • Air Force Nursing Having your nursing degree paid for in full while serving on active duty is possible. Military.com adds, "... the military pays up to 100% of college tuition while you serve on active duty, and the military also offers the GI Bill (approximately $36,000) to use for college up to 10 years after leaving the service." It is important to note that if you choose to work as a nurse for any government organization at the local, state, or federal levels, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, according to StudentAid.gov. While PSLF can eliminate remaining federal student loan debt after 10 years of qualifying payments, it should not be your primary strategy to pay for nursing school. Prioritize scholarships and grants first. Consider scholarships and grants as the primary way to pay for your nursing degree. To qualify for financial aid, you will need to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens every October 1st for the following academic year.

What You Should Know About Pursuing a Degree in Nursing

Nursing is part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career fields, meaning your college course load will be rigorous and demanding. However, the rewards of being a nurse will pay off in your career, as you will touch many lives and enjoy strong job security, competitive salaries, and opportunities for career advancement. Expect to take courses in chemistry, microbiology, physiology, psychology, and human anatomy, just to name a few. Ask any student majoring in nursing and you will likely hear it takes a lot of studying and a determined spirit to earn that nursing degree. Time management, strong study habits, and peer support networks are essential for success in nursing school. Many current licensed practical nurses, vocational nurses, and nurse practitioners retire annually, creating thousands of new job opportunities for graduating nursing students. What's more, as baby boomers age, the need for nurses and healthcare professionals is expected to continually increase, especially in residential health care facilities and in specialties such as geriatric care, hospice care, and in-home health care environments. Just as there are many types of nurses, there are different paths you can take to make your nursing career dream a reality. You can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), an accredited nursing diploma program at a hospital, or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college. There are also online nursing degree programs that offer flexibility for working students or career changers. Whatever path you decide, Fastweb has the nursing scholarships and financial aid resources you need to make your nursing career happen without drowning in student debt.