Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs for Nurses
Scholarships/Financial Incentives While You Are In School
The Health Sciences Service Program is a loan repayment program (not a financial aid scholarship) for health professions students interested in practicing in underserved communities in West Virginia. The program makes approximately 15 awards each academic year to students enrolled in West Virginia healthcare education degree programs.
Nurse practitioners and nurse midwives are eligible to receive $15,000 in a loan repayment award in exchange for a full-time, two year service obligation.
For more information about the program, visit the website or contact Cynthia Persily at cynthia.persily@wvhepc.edu.
The goal of the Higher Education Adult Part-Time Student Grant Program is to encourage and enable West Virginia students that demonstrate financial need to continue their education on a part-time basis at the post-secondary level. Nurses in ASN or BSN programs would be eligible to receive funds if enrolled part-time.
For students enrolled at a public college or university, the maximum grant is based on the actual per credit hour tuition and required fees charged. For students enrolled at other eligible institutions, the award is based upon the average per credit hour tuition and required fees charged by public undergraduate institutions of higher education. Total aid, including a HEAPS award, may not exceed the recipient's total cost of education. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.
For more information about the program visit the website or contact staff in the Financial Aid Division of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission at (304) 558-4618.
The purpose of the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program (Nurse Corps SP) is to provide scholarships to nursing students in exchange for a minimum two-year full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent), at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.
Students who might qualify include those enrolled in ASN, BSN, RN to BSN or direct entry MSN programs.
More information about the program can be found on the program website.
The PROMISE Scholarship is a merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents. Students who achieve certain academic requirements are eligible to receive funds to help pay for college. Eligible high school graduates will receive annual awards up to $4,750 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public or independent institutions in West Virginia. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.
More information about the scholarship can be found at the website.
The West Virginia Higher Education Grant is a need-based financial aid program designed to ensure West Virginia students with financial need are given an opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. The grant may be renewed until the student's course of study is completed, but may not exceed an additional three academic years beyond the initial award. Awards are based on demonstrated financial need and generally may be used in conjunction with other forms of state, federal and institutional financial aid. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.
More information about this program can be found at the website.
West Virginia Invests is a "last-dollar-in" financial aid program designed to cover the cost of basic tuition and fees1 for certificate or associate degree programs in specific high-demand fields, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, at a participating West Virginia public two- or four-year institution. With 3/4 of jobs in the current economy requiring postsecondary education or training, West Virginia Invests is designed to help more West Virginians LIKE YOU earn the credentials you need to land a rewarding career right here at home.
ASN and LPN programs at West Virginia Community and Technical Colleges are included as eligible programs.
For more information about the program, visit the program website.
TGKVF helps students follow their educational dreams and prepare for their future careers. TGKVF administers over 500 funds and more than 100 of those are designated for statewide scholarships. In the 2019 – 2020 academic school year, TGKVF funded 362 scholarships for a total of $736,182.00.
Scholarships available vary based on the location and career focus of each student and can vary from year to year.
Find out more about what scholarships are currently available by visiting the website.
Loan Repayment/Finanancial Incentives After You Graduate
The purpose of the NHSC LRP is to recruit and retain medical, nursing, dental, and behavioral/mental health clinicians in eligible communities of need designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). This loan repayment opportunity is open to nurse practitioners and nurse midwives.
More information about the program can be found on the website.
This project offers up to $20,000 in matching funds for healthcare professionals and is a dollar for dollar match program with employers. The project is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and is available for nurse practitioners and nurse midwives.
For more information about the program, contact Beth Amare at Bethlhem.S.Amare@wv.gov or 304.558.4382.
This program offers $40,000 in loan repayment for a two year commitment service commitment at an eligible site. The program is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and is available to nurse practitioners and nurse midwives.
For more infomration about the program, contact Brandon Carman at Brandon.K.Carman@wv.gov or 304.558.4382.
Important Note: Students who receive awards from state-funded programs with service obligations may qualify for other financial incentive programs to practice in West Virginia. In some cases, the service obligations can be met concurrently. However, federally law prohibits concurrent service obligations with most state loan repayment programs, such as the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program. Be sure to check with the programs if you are applying for multiple programs.
Some programs also require that private and public loans cannot be consolidated. Prior to consolidating student loans, be sure to consult with any loan repayment program you are interested in applying for.