Finding College Scholarships
College is expensive, but don`t let that scare you away from earning your nursing degree. There are a wide variety of financial aid resources available to online students, including scholarships, grants, fellowships, assistantships, and loans. Several million scholarship funds award billions of dollars each year to both undergraduate and graduate students based upon need, merit, or abilities. Scholarships may even be available through your company or community! Unlike student loans, scholarships are financial gifts that do not have to be repaid. With so many different scholarships available there are probably several you qualify for - no matter what your age, background, or study interest. Scholarship awards are available for both U.S. students and international students planning to study in the USA. Students receive scholarships by applying for them and emerging as the most qualified candidate.
RNDegrees.net is here to help you learn how to find how to find reliable scholarship information, use free internet scholarship databases, and avoid scholarship scams in order to help you maximize your total financial aid package.
Getting Started Finding Scholarships
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is the form used by virtually all colleges and universities for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid. Most scholarship sponsors also require students to submit the FAFSA in order to apply for scholarships as well, so if you haven`t already submitted one this should be the first step you take. A FAFSA may be submitted either on line at www.fafsa.ed.gov or by completing the paper form. We recommended that you use the FAFSA on the Web because You`ll get your results as much as three weeks faster than using the paper FAFSA.
Need help completing your FAFSA Application? A number of web sites offer to help you complete your FAFSA for a fee, but why do that! You can get free help from FAFSA on the Web`s online help, or from a U.S. Department of Education online guide called Completing the FAFSA at http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing/2006_2007/index.html.
Financial Aid Office
Financial aid advisers exist to help students find a way to pay for college. Your nursing school`s financial aid office will gladly offer advise and assist you in putting together a comprehensive financial aid package. They can also tell you about school specific scholarships and fellowship opportunities you may be eligible for. Many private colleges and universities require you to submit a CSS Financial Aid PROFILE in addition to the FAFSA in order to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the school`s own grants, loans and scholarships.
Avoiding Scholarship Scams - A legitimate scholarship should give you money NOT cost you money!
Scholarship information is plentiful and freely available through your institution`s financial aid office, the public library, the U.S. Department of Education`s free Scholarship Search, and a growing number of free online scholarship databases. Unfortunately, in their efforts to save time some students hire scholarship services that offer "guaranteed scholarships" for a fee, or fall prey to other costly scholarship scams and wind up being defrauded out of thousands of dollars. You don`t have to pay for scholarship information!
Tips for Students on Avoiding Scholarship Scams
The FTC cautions students to look for tell tale lines:
- "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." - No one can guarantee that they`ll get you a grant or scholarship. Refund guarantees often have conditions or strings attached that make it difficult it not impossible to get any of your money back. Get refund policies in writing before you pay.
- "You can`t get this information anywhere else." - You don`t need to pay for scholarship information! Check with your school financial aid office, your company, the library, and the free online scholarship databases for free access to scholarship and grant information. The scholarship search service that wants your money probably gets their list from these same free sources!
- "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship." - A legitimate scholarship should give you money NOT cost you money! Never give your bank account or credit card information to any organization that tells you they need it to "hold a scholarship for you". That`s just setting yourself up for unauthorized withdrawals and charges.
- "We`ll do all the work for you". - As enticing as that may sound it just isn`t true at all. IF they actually provide you with a list of scholarship opportunities YOU still have to do everything involved in applying for each scholarship yourself. No one can "do it for you".
- "The scholarship will cost some money." - Refer to number 3 again, a legitimate scholarship should give you money NOT cost you money!
- "You`ve been selected by a `national foundation` to receive a scholarship" or "You`re a finalist" in a contest you never entered. - This is a common "come on" used by scam artists want to charge a fee for supposed "customized scholarships", with a hint that the information can`t be found elsewhere. What victims receive is scholarship information they could have received for free from their institution`s financial aid office. Remember, you don`t need to pay for scholarship information!
Reputable Online Scholarship Search Databases
We encourage students to explore scholarship and grant sources either through their financial aid office, their public library, company, community, or online through the following reliable FREE scholarship database/search sites:
- U.S. Department of Education - offers a free online scholarship search that allows keyword search for specific scholarships and scholarship matching for those who have filled out the MyFSA Profile.
- Fast Web Free Scholarship Search - Fastweb.com provides access to the largest, most accurate and most popular free online scholarship search database. We strongly recommend FastWeb to locate and apply for local scholarships, national scholarships and college-specific scholarships.
- International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) - International Education Financial Aid (IEFA.org) offers a free searchable database of scholarships specifically for international students wishing to study in a foreign country at www.iefa.org/.
- CollegeBoard.com Scholarship Search - Locate scholarships, loans, internships, and other financial aid programs from non-college sources that match your education level, talents, and background. Search Now!
- Scholarship Experts Scholarship Search - Provides free scholarship application tips and unlimited access to their online database of 2.4 million awards worth over $14 billion. Fill out their free scholarship profile and find out which scholarships fit your unique needs, interests and background.
- FinAid Scholarships for Specific Majors or Courses of Study - On this page you`ll find a several scholarship databases as well as individual scholarships and awards, which assist students pursuing specific majors or courses of study. Search Now!
Additional Scholarship Information
- Scholarship Basics - What You Should Know About Free Money For College
- How to Apply for a Scholarship for an Online Degree
- Tips to Help You Win Scholarship Awards
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- BS in Nursing (RN Required)
- M.S. in Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- Woodland Hills
- Dallas
- Jacksonville
- Online
- Bakersfield
- Oakland
- Temple Terrace
- Fresno
- Los Angeles
- Grand Rapids
- Sacramento
- Hurst
- Maitland
- Killeen
- Salida
- Beachwood
- Henderson
- San Francisco
- Flint
- Tampa
- San Diego
- Houston
- Pasadena
- Gardena
- Mesa
- Lone Tree
- Littleton
- Manassas
- Lancaster
- Phoenix
- Costa Mesa
- Daytona Beach
- Chandler
- Hollywood
- Fairfax
- Miami
- Westlake
- Livermore
- Rancho Cordova
- Lathrop
- Tucson
- Fairfield
- Irving
- Clearwater
- Sarasota
- St Louis Park
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Sugar Land
- Independence
- Orlando
- Aurora
- Baton Rouge
- Plantation
- Saint Paul
- Southfield
- Roseville
- San Antonio
- Clinton Township
- Diamond Bar
- San Jose
- Las Vegas
- Elk Grove
- Westminster
- Ontario
- Ann Arbor
- Reston
- St. Louis
- Saint Louis
- Fort Lauderdale
- East Lansing
- Nashville
- Arlington
- Murrieta
- Troy
- Livonia
- Spring
- Portage
- Palm Desert
Keiser University
Campus
Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
Programs:- Nursing, MS
- Medical Assisting, AS
- Fort Lauderdale
Keiser University Graduate School
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, MS (Online)
- Fort Lauderdale
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Flagstaff
- Colorado Springs
- Fort Collins
- Cheyenne
- Phoenix
- Denver
Stevens-Henager
Campus
For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.
*Check each campus for program availability.
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Education
- Master of Science in Nursing Administration
- Ogden
- Boise
- Layton
- Orem
- Lehi
- Nampa
- Logan
- Saint George
- Murray
- Idaho Falls
Sanford-Brown Institute
Campus
Get everything you need for the medical career you want. Sanford-Brown Institute's advanced programs allow you to complete your certificate or degree program in as little as 9 months. Learn more today.
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant Specialist
- Melville
- Orlando
- Monroeville
- Austin
Harrison College
Campus
Get started on your career with an education from Harrison College. We offer more than 30 degree, certificate, and diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, veterinary technology, information technology, criminal justice, and business, in addition to our culinary arts academy.
Programs:- Nursing - Associate of Science
- Medical Assistant
- Indianapolis
- Fort Wayne
- Evansville
- Lafayette
- Muncie
- Grove City
- Columbus
- Anderson
- Elkhart
- Terre Haute
Keiser University Campus
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, BS (Online Only)
- Nursing, AS
- Nursing, MS (Online Only)
- Port Saint Lucie
- Lakeland
- Fort Myers
- Tampa
- Melbourne
- Sarasota
- Tallahassee
- Jacksonville
- Orlando
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hollywood
- Daytona Beach
- West Palm Beach
Florida Career College
Campus
Train for the real-world skills that help you launch a successful technology or healthcare career with a degree, or diploma from Florida Career College.
Programs:- Associate's Degree - Nursing RN
- Diploma - Patient Care Technician
- Diploma - Medical Assistant Technician
- Boynton Beach
- Hollywood
- Miami
- Pompano Beach
- West Palm Beach
- Clearwater
Lincoln Technical Institute
Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Paramus
- Edison
- Hamden
- Mount Laurel
- Casselberry
- Shelton
- Lowell
- Somerville
- Lincoln
- Brockton
- Allentown
- Saint Petersburg
- Philadelphia
Medtech
Campus
Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.
Programs:- School of Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
Lincoln College of Technology
Campus
Our mission at Lincoln College of Technology's Marietta Campus, is to provide focused, short-term career training designed to allow graduates to enter their career field sooner while increasing their experience, marketability, and earning potential. Our career placement department works with each student individually and teaches, trains, and coaches them in all areas of the employment process, including resume writing, interviews and job selection. Graduates will have the ability to take what they learned in the classroom and either apply it on the job, increasing their individual job performance, or open themselves up to new and better job opportunities in a variety of rewarding careers related to their training.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Columbus
- Florence
- Toledo
- Cincinnati
- Franklin
Carrington College
Campus
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Programs:- Registered Nursing
- Medical Assisting
- Albuquerque
- Phoenix
- Reno
- Portland
- Boise
- Spokane
- Mesa
- Tucson
Kaplan College - KHE
Campus
Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.
Programs:- Associate of Science: Nursing
- Diploma: Practical Nursing
- Diploma: Patient Care Assistant/Technician
- Las Vegas
- Indianapolis
- San Antonio
- Corpus Christi
- Mcallen
- Clovis
- Columbus
- Arlington
- Stockton
- Midland
- Lubbock
- Beaumont
- Laredo
- Bakersfield
- Fort Worth
- Phoenix
- Dayton
- Charlotte
Kaplan University
Campus
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.
Programs:- MS in Nursing
- RN to MS in Nursing
- RN to BS in Nursing
- Fort Lauderdale
