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| Paying The College Bill Jeffrey Zurlinden, RN, MS, ACRN |
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| You’ve
decided to continue your education, and you’ve
picked a school. Now, how are you going to pay for it?
According to the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing, the US Department of Education is the largest
source of financial aid for students who otherwise could
not afford higher education. In addition to loans
available to any financially strapped student, nursing
students may qualify for a Nursing Student Loan. Because
all federally sponsored loan programs must be
appropriated each year by the US Congress, the
loan’s terms and eligibility criteria are subject to
change. Contact your school of nursing to learn details
about programs that are currently available. Also
consider these possible sources of financial aid: Your school of nursing: Colleges and universities are the second largest source of funding for students. Some awards are based on financial need, while others are based on merit or earmarked for specific purposes. Your professional organization: Many national nursing organizations, and sometimes their local chapters, offer scholarships for nurses advancing their education within the organization’s specialty area or affinity group. Examples include the Maternity Center Association, the National Black Nurses’ Association, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Foundations: Organizations such as the National Foundation for Long-Term Health Care, Nurses’ Education Funds, Inc, the American Cancer Society, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, and many others offer limited scholarships for students meeting specific requirements. Your employer: Many employers offer some sort of tuition reimbursement. Contact your employer’s human resources department for details of this benefit. Under certain circumstances, tuition reimbursement may be considered a taxable benefit by the Internal Revenue Service. The armed services: The US Army and the US Air Force offer nursing scholarships through their Reserve Officer Training Corps. In exchange for financial support, graduates agree to serve in the Army Nurse Corp or the Air Force Corp for a specific number of years. US Department of Health and Human Services, Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students: This program offers scholarships specifically for disadvantaged students in programs for nursing or other healthcare professional degrees. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Health Service Corp: This program offers scholarships for tuition and stipends for nursing students pursuing advanced practice degrees. Professional Nurse Traineeships: This program offers scholarships for master’s and doctoral students in nursing. To start the financial aid process, contact the financial aid department of your nursing school. Give yourself plenty of time, and follow your school’s guidelines to the letter. For additional information about federal programs, write: US Department of Health and Human Services, US Public Health Service, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Student Assistance, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857, or telephone (800) 433-3243 for clearinghouse information. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing also recommends that students consult the book Peterson’s Guide to Nursing Programs for additional information concerning financial aid specifically for nursing students. Jeffrey Zurlinden, RN, MS, ACRN, is a contributing editor for the Chicago/NE Illinois & NW Indiana Edition of Nursing Spectrum |