U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
HRSA
Bureau of Health Professions

Purpose

The purpose of the Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) is to provide scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a service commitment at an eligible health facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

Eligibility Requirements

For the 2003-2004 school year, an applicant must be:

• Enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a professional program at an accredited school of nursing for a school year beginning between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004. Professional programs include: graduate, baccalaureate, associate degree, or diploma schools of nursing
• In an accredited program located in the U.S.
• A U.S. citizen or national
• A full-time or part-time student
• Free of any federal judgment liens
• Free from existing service commitments (see Applicant Information Bulletin for exceptions)
• Note in default of any federal debt.

Funding Preferences

Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants who:

1. Demonstrate the greatest financial aid
2. Are full-time students
3. Are enrolled in an undergraduate program

Submission of a Student Aid Report (SAR), obtained after filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is required for applicant consideration.

For more details on funding preferences see the NSP Applicant Information Bulletin.

Scholarship Award

Scholarship recipients will receive an amount for tuition, fees and other reasonable costs (such as required books, clinical supplies, and laboratory fees). In addition, full-time students will receive a monthly stipend of $1,098. Scholarship awards may be available up to 4 years for full-time students.

Commitment

Each program participant is required to sign a contract obligating the participant to serve no less than 2 years, on a full-time basis, at a health facility designated by the NSP as having a critical nursing shortage. Applicants incur 2 year service commitment for the first 2 years of support on a full-time basis. For each year of support beyond the first two years, the applicants' service obligation will be extended one year. Participants wishing to serve on a part-time basis must obtain approval from NSP and agree to extend their service obligation so that the aggregate amount of service performed will equal the amount of their full-time service obligation. All participants must begin fulfilling their service commitment within 4 months of graduation from the program for which they received funding.

Applications

The NSP is not a school-based program. Students must apply directly to HRSA. Applications will be available May 16, 2003. Applications must be received or postmarked no later than June 30, 2003. For more information visit: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/scholarship.
To request an application call: 1-866-867-6856.