Missouri nursing scholarships and grants are readily available. Missouri legislators have recognized the need for more skilled nurses in the state, especially in under-served areas.

Need for diversity in nursing drives many scholarships and grants for under-served populations.

Scholarships for Nursing Freshmen

Undergraduates seeking a bachelor’s degree can begin by applying for an Access Missouri Grant.

These are generally available and provide up to $2,000 per year. Bright Lights is a program for students who achieve an ACT or SAT score in the top 3% in the state of Missouri; an ACT of 31 is suggested as a target.

The Missouri Professional Registration Board has a list of approved nursing programs, both for registered nursing programs and licensed practical nursing, online. This list, which provides the contact information for all the programs, can be used to investigate the schools available and the financial aid they offer.

DiscoverNursing.com has a reliable and focused search engine that provides scholarship and grant information which can be focused by geographic area, academic performance or ethnicity. Students of ethnic or racial background or from communities considered to be distressed financially will find extra help available from governmental and private sources.

Searching for nursing scholarships can be an adventure in history as well. The Daughters of the Confederacy Phoebe Pember Memorial Scholarship is available for descendents of Confederate soldiers who wish to pursue a career in nursing. There is also a graduate nursing scholarship available.

Private sources can include corporations in the health care field such as Johnson and Johnson. Students should search company websites for opportunities. Some companies sponsoring scholarships:

  • 3M
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • McKesson
  • Pfizer
  • Mayo Clinic

Professional Nursing Groups and Organizations

Many private scholarships are made or administered through nursing organizations. Websites for these organizations provide links to forms and more information. Seek out these groups:

  • American Nurses Association
  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • National Student Nurses Association
  • Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow
  • Missouri Nurses Association
  • Missouri League for Nursing
  • Missouri Hospital Association
  • Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing

Scholarships for Junior or Senior Nursing Students

After students have demonstrated some academic success, the universities in Missouri have numerous scholarships for them in their junior and senior years. For example, the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg has six scholarships for nursing students available from the University’s foundation. Check with the institution’s office of financial aid.

Stimulus Package Educational Opportunities

As a result of the current economic downturn, funds are available through the Federal Government to pursue either a bachelor’s degree in nursing or practical and associate nursing certifications. Financial aid experts at nursing training and collegiate institutions have information on requirements for available grants.

Scholarships for LPNs and Current Health Care Workers

The Erby Young Scholarship is available to a licensed professional nurse in Missouri pursuing a registered nurse bachelor’s degree. This scholarship is from the Missouri League for Nursing. The Missouri Hospital Association also has scholarships for health care workers currently employed in a Missouri hospital who desire to advance in the nursing field.

Scholarships for Graduate Nurses

Registered nurses looking to specialize will find opportunities from professional organizations. The Oncology Nursing Society has a $10,000 grant available for a registered nurse pursuing graduate training in the field. These opportunities can be found for other nursing specialties such as Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nurse Anesthesia, and Geriatric Nursing.

Low- or No-Cost Student Loans

Missouri has a nursing student loan forgiveness program for nurses willing to serve where there is a shortage of skilled nurses. By committing to work in disadvantaged or rural areas for a period of time, student loans will be paid by the state. See the details on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.

Surprisingly, many of these under-served areas are in metropolitan Kansas City and St. Louis.

Nursing students are especially needed now for the nursing needs of tomorrow. For that reason, nursing scholarships are being funded by a wide variety of groups. From industry to government to private philanthropic organizations, many citizens will find a scholarship or grant that fits their needs and qualifications for nursing schools in Missouri.

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