Scholarships and Grants

College of Nursing Scholarships
The College of Nursing awards approximately $100,000 in student scholarships every year. Scholarship criteria vary, some funds are merit-based and others are need-based. One application serves to apply for all scholarships.

Admitted, degree-seeking nursing graduate students may apply by submitting a Graduate Scholarship Application (available Spring 2010). Materials must be turned in to the Nursing Graduate Programs Office in 3166B Health Sciences Building no later than April 15.

Important notes:

• Awards will be made as scholarship credit to students' Higher One accounts.
• Awards are made for fall and spring semesters. One-half of amount will be credited in the fall and the remainder will be credited in the spring.
• All scholarship criteria (e.g. GPA, residency) must be maintained throughout the academic year in order to receive the second installment.

Scholarships:

• Eunice Mann Garner Memorial Scholarship
  This scholarship was established in memory of Eunice Garner because of her interest in nursing as a career and the care that she received from nurses during her life.
• Evelyn D. "Timmie" DeSimone Memorial Scholarship
  This scholarship is awarded to a junior, senior, or graduate student. Eligibility includes dedication to and potential in profession of nursing, academic merit, financial need, and other qualifications at the discretion of the Student Affairs Committee.
• Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation Scholarship
  This Foundation has provided scholarship and emergency loan funds that are available to undergraduate and graduate nursing students.
• Gravely Foundation Scholarship
  This scholarship is awarded to a full-time junior, senior, or graduate student. Selection is based upon academic excellence, financial need, qualities of citizenship and dedication to the nursing profession.
• Health Sciences Golf Classic Scholarship
  This scholarship is awarded to a full-time junior, senior, or graduate student who carries a minimum 3.5 GPA and who demonstrates achievement in clinical study (if applicable), service, and financial need.
• Hospice of Tarheel Scholarship/Fellowship
  This scholarship/fellowship is an annual scholarship for a student, either graduate or undergraduate, who expresses financial need and works in hospice, or secondly is willing to consider hospice work following graduation. The student should be in good academic standing and meet certain merit criteria as deemed appropriate by the College of Nursing Student Affairs Committee.
• Loretta Ford Scholarship
  The Loretta Ford Scholarship has been established to encourage RNs in North Carolina and other states to become Nurse Practitioners. The program is open to RNs who are interested in pursuing graduate level education so they can become Nurse Practitioners. Applicants must be RNs with previous work experience in medically underserved populations in a non-metropolitan area. They must be accepted to an approved master's degree NP program in North Carolina. Financial need must be demonstrated. Priority is given to North Carolina residents and to those RNs who are active in their local and statewide professional nursing association. For additional information, please contact the North Carolina Foundation for Nursing.
• Naomi Bartoe Graduate Nursing Student Fund
  This fund provides an annual $1,000 stipend to a graduate student, deemed deserving by the graduate scholarship committee. The student must be pursuing gerontology. There is no merit or financial needs restriction.
• Mabel Cooper Hayden Memorial Fund
  This fund provides loans to nursing students who wish to pursue a career in public health nursing. It is available for an undergraduate or graduate nursing student.
• Pauline Vincent Scholarship
  Eligible recipients are MSN students in good academic standing who exhibit financial need and interest and involvement in community-based care.
• Patricia Ann Yow Memorial Scholarship
  This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate nursing student chosen on academic merit.
• Perry-Oyler Scholarship
  This scholarship is awarded to a full-time graduate or undergraduate student carrying a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and who expresses an interest and commitment to a career in nursing.
• Roccapriore-Tschetter Fellowship
  Available for graduate students with preference given to those whose academic concentrations are oncology and/or Nurse Practitioner.
• Ruth Glass Bunting Memorial Scholarship
  This scholarship is available for full-time undergraduate and graduate students in nursing that are NC residents, exhibit financial need, and demonstrate good citizenship.
• Sigma Theta Tau International, Beta Nu Chapter Scholarship
  This scholarship is available to an undergraduate or graduate nursing student based on academic merit and need. The intent is to assist with research, scholarships, and professional and academic activities.

The North Carolina Nurse Scholars Program
The purpose of this program is to attract outstanding nurses to pursue a degree in nursing and to also provide nursing services to citizens of North Carolina. Eligibility includes:

• Be a citizen of the U.S. and a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes.
• Have earned a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in previous college work.
• Be enrolled as a full-time nursing student in an eligible North Carolina institution.
• Designate your intention to enroll full-time (12 hours) or part-time (6-11 hours) per semester. Preference will be given to full-time applicants.
• Have a demonstrated record of professional leadership and service through collegiate extracurricular and community activities.
• Mail a complete NSP application by the published deadline (usually early May).
• Sign a promissory note and enter into a scholarship agreement upon receipt of a nurse scholarship. Recipient agrees to work as a full-time RN in North Carolina for one year for each year of NSP funding.

Recipients are selected on the basis of academic performance, evidence of leadership, professional contributions, and the promise of service as a registered nurse in North Carolina. Awards of $3,000 per year will be made for full-time students. Scholarships may be renewed for one year. Awards of $1,500 per year may be made for part-time students. Scholarships may be renewed for up to three years. For more information on the NC Nurse Scholars Program access the College Foundation of North Carolina at www.CFNC.org. Scholarship applications for master's students are available at http://www.cfnc.org/nursescholarsmasters.

Apply for the CampusRN - North Carolina Nursing Scholarship
Visit CampusRN to apply for the $1000.00 scholarship. AACN is pleased to announce a new partnership with CampusRN.com to provide a greater level of service to nursing students, faculty and deans at member institutions. CampusRN.com is a leading online service dedicated to serving the career planning needs of nursing students and potential employers nationwide. CampusRN.com is a subsidiary of CampusCareerCenter.com (CCC), the world's leading online campus recruiting company.

The AACN-CampusRN.com partnership involves a new Scholarship Program for currently enrolled nursing students. The Scholarship Fund is designed to support students who are seeking baccalaureate or higher degrees in nursing. Special consideration will be given to students:

• Completing an RN to baccalaureate nursing program (BSN);
• Enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in pursuit of a nursing faculty career;
• Enrolled in an accelerated baccalaureate or master's degree nursing program.

Scholarships in the amount of $2,500 will be distributed every 2 months through this program. Applicants must register for free with CampusRN.com and demonstrate a need for financial assistance. 

Nurse Educators of Tomorrow Program (NET)

The NET Program is a scholarship loan program created by the NC General Assembly to assist students seeking advanced degrees to become nurse educators.  Scholarships are for NC residents with a minimum 3.2 GPA in an accredited baccalaureate degree program and/or coursework in an accredited graduate program; must be admitted to enroll in a master's or doctoral degree program that prepares students to become nurse educators in a participating NC institution.

The terms of the loan require students to teach in a nurse education program in a NC public or private college or university one year for each year of funding received. Borrowers who do not fulfill their teaching obligation are subject to cash repayment with a 10% annual interest rate. Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2007. Visit www.CFNC.org/NET for more information.

Please note: Nurse Scholars, Health, Science and Mathematics (HSM), Nurse Education Scholarship/Loan recipients (NESLP), and students borrowing through other state scholarship/loan programs are not eligible to receive these funds.

North Carolina League for Nursing Academic Scholarship Fund

Administered by Foundation for the Carolinas, this scholarship provides graduate scholarships to students who are pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree in nursing or a related discipline. Applicants must be legal residents of North Carolina. The application deadline is March 15 and is available here.

AfterCollege/AACN Nursing Scholarship Fund

AfterCollege, the leading employment website for nursing/allied health care students and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) have partnered to offer this new scholarship program for students pursuing professional nursing education programs.

This scholarship program supports students who are seeking a baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degree in nursing. Special consideration will be given to students:

• Enrolled in a master's or doctoral program with the goal of pursuing a nursing faculty career
• Completing an RN to baccalaureate program (BSN), or
• Enrolled in an accelerated baccalaureate or master's degree nursing program

Who Qualifies?

Nursing students enrolled in a baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degree program in nursing with a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Scholarships will be in the amount of $2,500.

Winners will be announced within 60 days of each deadline.

To apply, download scholarship application here.

Federal and State Government Aid
Undergraduate students may apply for the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal College Work-Study Program and the William D. Ford Direct Stafford Loan Program.

Federal Perkins Loan
A Federal Perkins Loan is a low interest (5%) loan, funded by the federal government and previous borrowers' repayments. Loan eligibility is based on financial need. Repayment begins 9 months after the student borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. First-time Perkins Loan borrowers receive information about debt management before receiving loan funds. Minimum payments are $40 per month. Borrowers have up to 10 years to repay the loan, depending on amount borrowed. The ECU annual limit is $2000. Aggregate loan limits are $15,000 for undergraduate studies and $30,000 for graduate and professional studies, including undergraduate borrowing. Students who receive a Perkins loan on their award letter must report to the Student Loans Office, 126 Old Cafeteria Complex to sign a promissory note.

Federal Stafford Loan
Variable interest rate loans, with a cap at 8.25%. Loans are funded by private lenders but regulated by the federal government. Repayment begins 6 months after the student borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Borrowers have up to 10 years to repay depending on amount borrowed. Subsidized portion is based on financial need, while unsubsidized portion is available without regard to need. The loan amount may not exceed the cost of attendance. First time borrowers are required to view a loan counseling videotape and receive other debt management counseling before receiving Federal Stafford loan funds. This can be accomplished by checking out the video from the Office of Student Financial Aid or viewing it at Joyner Library. Once you have watched the video, please report to the Office of Student Financial Aid to complete the loan counseling paperwork. The amount of loan funds a student may borrow depends upon his/her academic grade level, remaining financial need, and dependency status.

Federal Work Study Program
Federally funded, need based part-time employment program with positions on and off campus. Some positions are in community service settings. Students are paid at least minimum wage and are paid for the hours actually worked. The average student works 10 to 12 hours per week while enrolled in classes. Employment opportunities are posted in the lobby of the Office of Student Financial Aid, which is viewable at all hours of the day.

Other Internet Sites For Financial Aid Information