SNAH Scholarships, Grants, Loans & Tuition Reimbursement
FDU students are encouraged to apply for SNAH scholarships, FDU institutional scholarships, and external scholarships to support their educational costs.
SNAH Scholarships
NEW FOR 2023-24!
Graduate Nursing Student Scholarships are available to Fairleigh Dickinson University SNAH students through a grant that has been awarded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Program. The funds (typically $10,000+ per year, based upon FAFSA-determined financial need) are available to Nurse Practitioner (FNP, AGNP, PMHNP, WHNP) MSN-degree students or DNP-degree students who have a Nurse Practitioner certification, and who are taking 6+ credits per semester. Applicants from environmentally and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds (according to a recent FAFSA) receive priority consideration for scholarship funding.
Application Form for the HRSA ANEW Grant Program
Application Form for Entry-Level Nursing Scholarships
FDU Institutional Scholarships
Institutional scholarships are those offered directly through the university. These scholarships are provided by donors to the university and given to selected departments to distribute the funds. Many institution scholarships are specific to students with a certain major, who demonstrate financial need, are from an underrepresented population or are merit-based. Students are required to have a FAFSA on file to be eligible for most of these scholarships. The School of Nursing and Allied Health is fortunate to have many donors supporting scholarships for students in our programs. These funds are usually allocated and distributed in spring. Please consider applying for one of our institutional scholarships:
FDU Scholarships | Fairleigh Dickinson University
Undergraduate Scholarships | Fairleigh Dickinson University (fdu.edu)
External Scholarships
External scholarships are offered by companies, individuals, or professional organizations who are interested in supporting students with qualifications that align with their mission or values. There are many of these external scholarships available to nursing and health studies students across all degree programs. All legitimate scholarships will be free to apply for, and the information about these scholarships will be readily available online. The application requirements and deadlines for external scholarships vary, so be sure to review the instructions carefully. Many of these opportunities are highly competitive and if awarded, should be noted on your resume. If you identify an external scholarship opportunity that may be relevant to your peers but is not included on this list, please share it with us (mariadb@fdu.edu) so that we can post it in this section. Below is a listing of external scholarship opportunities that our SNAH students have been successful in applying for in past years:
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
AANP provides scholarships to nurses who are enrolled in an accredited graduate-level program to become an advanced practice nurse or earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree:
https://www.aanp.org/education/professional-funding-support/scholarships
DNP.org Scholarship Links
DNP.org maintains a list of grants and scholarship opportunities for nurses and allied health professionals across all educational programs. Please take some time to look at their extensive list of opportunities for supplemental funding.
Nurses Educational Funds (NEF)
NEF provides nursing scholarship assistance to support graduate-level nursing students. NEF is the largest, single, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced-level nursing education with many annual scholarship opportunities:
https://www.n-e-f.org/apply.html
National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF)
NHHF awards scholarships to nursing (including BSN), pharmacy, public health, and health policy students with outstanding academic records, leadership, and those who are committed to serving Hispanics:
https://www.nhmafoundation.org/
https://www.nhmafoundation.org/hispanic-health-professional-student-scholarship
National League for Nursing (NLN) Foundation
NLN Foundation provides nursing scholarships. NLN is a professionally endorsed source of funds for nursing education with many annual scholarship opportunities. Please register for the annual webinar (usually in February/March) to learn more and apply by the deadline:
New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN)
NJLN’s Scholarship Program targets nursing students from New Jersey. Among the awards is the Dr. Maureen Sullivan Foley Memorial Scholarship Award (accepts applications in summer). The $100,000 in scholarship awards are made possible by the Community Health Connections Foundation (CHCF), Inc. and administered through the NJLN Scholarship Program:
New Jersey League for Nursing (njln.org)
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
The Reserve Officer Training Corps provides an opportunity for college nursing students to receive practical, hands-on leadership experience. ROTC Nursing Scholarships are available to students majoring in Nursing who are in their freshman, sophomore, or junior years of college. ROTC courses provide a chance for students to develop management, communication and decision-making skills in a non-threatening environment. Physical training and confidence building activities (e.g., rappelling, obstacles courses) also provide a chance for students to be physically and mentally challenged. Contact a ROTC representative to learn more about the scholarship requirements:
Sigma Theta Tau
Sigma Theta Tau is the international honor society for nurses and is committed to “developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere.” They provide multiple annual scholarships for students enrolled in either an accelerated second degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice program at an accredited school of nursing:
https://www.sigmanursing.org/advance-elevate/scholarships
Letters of Support for External Scholarships
Many external scholarships require a “letter of support” from a faculty member. If you are planning to apply for a scholarship that requires a faculty letter of support, please note the following process:
(1) Communicate your interest to the faculty member from whom you are seeking support and make an appointment to meet and discuss at least TWO WEEKS prior to the scholarship application due date.
(2) Send the faculty member a link to the opportunity and a current resume prior to your appointment.
(3) Send the faculty member a “draft” letter of support prior to your appointment. Although the faculty member will be writing their own letter, this draft version (written by YOU, but as if you were the faculty member providing the recommendation) is an opportunity to assure that the faculty member knows EXACTLY why you believe that you are particularly deserving of the award. Be sure to include your unique qualities and novel accomplishments in this draft letter, as well as the accurate sponsor name, review committee member name/title (as applicable), award name, and addresses that should be used in the final letter of support.
Documentation for Tuition Reimbursement
Many employers offer tuition reimbursement for their employees. If a student is seeking tuition reimbursement from their employer and needs faculty verification of enrollment/grades, the student is required to fill out all paperwork for the employer and submit it to the faculty member for verification and signature.
SNAH Loan Programs
In addition to private and federal loans available to FDU students, SNAH sponsors two loan programs for student nurses. Please contact us at SNAH-Grants@fdu.edu if you are an FDU student and interested in either of these loan programs:
Nursing Student Loans (NSL)
This federal loan program is available to students pursuing a degree in nursing and who are enrolled at least half-time. The NSL is a need-based, subsidized loan with a 9-month grace period. The program offers low interest rate loans (5%) to students who may borrow an annual maximum of ~$7500. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
This federal loan program is available to graduate students who have a goal of teaching nursing at the college level upon degree completion. There is a service payback commitment of teaching for 4 years within 12 months following graduation. The service obligation results in the cancellation of 85% of the loan. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.