To become a nurse practitioner, you need at least a master’s degree, which includes first getting a bachelor’s degree and, in some cases, an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing. All of that schooling can get expensive, which can be daunting to recent high school graduates or those looking to change careers. Few people have thousands of dollars lying around to put towards schooling, and not everyone qualifies for low-interest student loans or college grants.

One option for paying for your schooling is a nurse practitioner scholarship. Because nurses are in high demand, there are many scholarships to go around. Scholarships are more desirable than loans, since you don’t have to pay them back when you graduate, and although comparable to grants, scholarships are merit-based instead of based on financial need. Nurse practitioner scholarships can be based on your academics, personal essays, or proof or talent.

On your nurse practitioner scholarship search, start by contacting the college you intend to attend. Most colleges, both public and private, offer scholarships to students. Some even offer full rides to students with the highest grades and best SAT scores. Along with checking out your college’s general scholarships, contact the nursing department directly and ask about opportunities directly from them. Specific programs often have alumni who donate money for scholarship funds based on your course of study.

Scholarships for nurse practitioners are also available though private organizations. With the current U.S. nursing shortage, this has never been more true. Organizations like the American Nurses Association, American Health Care Association, American Red Cross, National Institute of Nursing Research, and other nursing groups have funds available for aspiring nurse practitioners. In some cases, hospitals and health care organizations offer scholarships as well, dependent on your affiliation with them after you graduate.

In fact, looking to your employer for money for school is a great idea, even as you’re applying to scholarships from your college and private organizations. If you get your associate’s degree or diploma in nursing to become a RN (registered nurse), some employers offer tuition reimbursement and other incentives if you go back to school. These come in the form of scholarships, as well as other types of funds set aside to advance employees’ education. To qualify, you may have to work for the employer for a number of years first, continue working at least part-time as you go to school, or commit to a certain number of years as their employee after you graduate.

Don’t forget to look to the United States government as a source for nurse practitioner scholarships. The government, in order to help alleviate the shortage problem, offers a number of scholarships and grants every year to deserving students. Many, however, go unclaimed, since there are still too few students to fill all of the open nursing positions.

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t have to pay a dime out of pocket for your schooling if you want to become a nurse of any kind. Through scholarships, as well as grants and reimbursement programs, your education can be free.

Nowadays, earning an advanced nursing degree online from the comfort of your own home is quite simple. The following schools are tops in the nation in terms of delivering a quality, accredited online nursing practition education.

MSN - Clinical Nursing MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Women's Health More...	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse administration, family nursing, nurse midwifery, and mental health nursing.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability and their general MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for busy working healthcare nurses and professionals looking for advancement in their respective careers.
MS in Nursing MSN / MBA Dual Degree MSN / MHA Dual Degree MSN - Health Education MSN - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available.
MSN for Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty's Master of Science degree program in nursing is geared toward individuals interested in acute care nursing. Students of this program will be trained to become a clinical nursing specialist (CNS) in acute care. Liberty University is the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation.
RN to MSN - Practitioner MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership	Gonzaga University — Gonzaga's RN to MSN degree program will dutifully prepare anyone for a career as a nurse practitioner. Students of this program learn administrative, human capital management, financial, ethical, and legal skills. Other programs are offered in nurse education and health systems leadership.
MS in Nursing - RN Track RN to MSN - Informatics RN to MSN - Education RN to MSN - Leadership	Walden University — The Walden School of Nursing offers several unique master's in nursing degree programs for the aspiring nurse practitioner. For those RNs who have already obtained their BSN degrees, there are multiple fast-track MSN programs offered that will get you on the path to your degree as fast as possible. MSN specialty programs are available in subjects like informatics, education, and leadership.
MSN - Adult Acute Care MSN - Adult Psych Care MSN - Clinical Trials MSN - Nursing Leadership	Drexel University — Drexel's MSN - adult acute care nurse practitioner program is geared toward preparing students for professional nursing practice with acutely ill patients. Graduates of this program can find careers in several settings, including ICUs, clinics, emergency departments, medical research laboratories, and more. Programs are also available in adult psychiatric care, clinical trials, and nursing leadership.
MSN - Nurse Educator MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — The master's degree in nursing education is taught in two flavors by Capella University. The regular MSN in nursing education is geared toward nurses with a BSN under their belts. They also offer an MSN bridge degree in nursing education that is designed for bachelor's degree holders in other subjects not related to nursing.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University — The online Master of Science degree in nursing program from Benedictine University prepares students to become nurse educators, leaders, administrators, case coordinators, managed care consultants, and more. This program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
MSN - Nurse Admin MSN - Nurse Education	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration and nurse education degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more.
MSN - Nurse Education MSN/MBA - Leadership MSN - Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — Grand Canyon University is always worth a look for students seeking a well-rounded education that integrates the ideals of the Christian belief set. GCU is not only one of the most renowned Christian universities in the nation, but also offers a variety of graduate-level nursing degrees for students to choose from, including nursing education and nursing leadership (also with an MBA option).
RN to MSN Bridge MSN - Health Mgmt	Loyola University of New Orleans — Two online degree programs are offered at Loyola University of New Orleans for aspiring nurse practitioners. Their RN to MSN bridge program covers topics of leadership, community health, health promotion, and professional development to help prepare students for careers as nurse practitioners. Loyola also offers an online MSN degree in health care systems management.
MSN - Clinical Leadership	St. Xavier University — The online MSN program from St. Xavier University has a focus on clinical nurse leadership, ideal for any student who is looking for an advanced nursing role within the healthcare industry. Nurse leaders help identify, design, implement, and evaluate critical administrative processes to enhance patient care.
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