How To Pay For Nursing School 2025

You'll need to earn a nursing degree to become a registered nurse (RN) or a nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, tuition can be expensive, especially for graduate nursing programs.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can lower your tuition costs. Keep reading to learn how to pay for nursing school.

How Much Does Nursing School Cost?

Without financial aid, nursing school can range in price from $8,000 to over $100,000, according to Forbes. Several things can impact the cost of nursing school, including:

• the type of nursing degree you're earning: an Associate Degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in nursing (MSN), or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• if your school is public or private
• if you're attending a public school, whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student
• the state your school is in

For example, your cost will be lower than someone earning a DNP at a private nursing school if you're a nursing student earning an associate degree at a public college or university in your state.

Tips for Paying for Nursing School

Although nursing school can be expensive, students can lower their tuition or pay for their nursing program in several ways. We've listed some tips for paying for nursing school below.

1. Complete the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a document that assesses your financial situation and ability to pay for college. It's an eligibility requirement for most types of financial aid.

FAFSA will automatically check to see if you're eligible for federal or state financial aid programs, like the Pell Grant offered by the federal government. As a result, all students should complete the FAFSA, regardless of what they think they may qualify for.

To fill out the FAFSA, you'll create an account on StudentAid.gov. Then you'll need to gather your financial information, such as the financial information of your parents, if you're a dependant, or your spouse if you're married. The application process takes about an hour to complete.

2. Explore Nursing Scholarship Programs

Scholarships are financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships are usually merit-based, meaning they're offered for academic success, extracurricular activities, or your major.

There are several scholarship programs offered specifically to nursing students. We've broken down a few below.

Scrubin Uniforms - AACN Scholarship

The Scrubin Uniforms Scholarship is offered through a partnership between Scrubin Uniforms and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It provides financial aid to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing students at schools that are members of the AACN.

This scholarship offers $7,500 per year to students, distributed in three payments of $2,500 throughout the year. Students can apply online through the AACN website.

Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurses Leader Scholarship

The AACN also offers the Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurses Leader Scholarship, which helps graduate nursing students pay for their nursing education. Recipients are given a total of $3,500; $2,000 for educational expenses and $1,500 to attend an AACN conference.

Students must be in a graduate nursing degree program through an AACN member school and hold a free Graduate Nursing Students Academy membership. To apply, they'll need to submit an essay and resume.

NurseThink - AACN Scholarship

Another AACN scholarship for graduate nursing students is the NurseThink Scholarship. This scholarship provides $5,000 twice a year to those who want to teach nursing. To qualify, students must be members of the Graduate Nursing Student Academy. The application requires an essay outlining the student's plans to teach after graduation.

3. Look Into Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Most students prefer not to take out loans, but sometimes they aren't eligible for financial assistance to completely cover the cost of their degree. In that case, loans are often the only option to pay their tuition. Loan forgiveness programs help students pay off their student loan debt. Here are some excellent student loan forgiveness options for nurses.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration, a government agency, offers the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. It pays off up to 85% of nursing school student loan debt.

Registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty are eligible for this award. Those who receive the award must agree to a two-year service commitment in a critical shortage facility or as a faculty member at an eligible nursing school.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Nurses working for the government or nonprofit organizations may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It helps students pay off their Direct Loans. To be eligible, applicants must work full-time for a government or nonprofit organization and have made at least 120 qualifying monthly payments.

4. Discover Eligible Grants

Grants are similar to loans, in that they are a type of financial aid that does not need to be paid back. However, they are usually need-based rather than merit-based. One of the most common grants is the Pell Grant, a federal grant offered to students in varying amounts depending on their financial needs. However, some grants are specifically for nursing students.

American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) Research Grants

The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) offers a $5,000 research grant to students conducting nursing research that demonstrates advancing holistic nursing practices. It's for doctoral students only, and those pursuing an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree do not qualify.

Students must be active members of the AHNA for at least one year before they can apply. The application includes submitting a research proposal and proposal budget.

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Grant

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners grant offers $5,000 to nurse practitioners conducting evidence-based research in a graduate setting. The grant is meant solely to fund research and does not cover other expenses, like living expenses. In addition to being a nurse practitioner conducting research in a graduate program, applicants must also be U.S. citizens and members of the AANP. They'll need to provide a full overview of their research project.

AANA General Research Grant

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology offers a general research grant to nurse anesthesiologists. The research must focus on nurse anesthesia, and cannot be used for other types of nursing practice, like family practice or mental health. To qualify, applicants must be members of the AANA. They must submit a research proposal, and the research must apply to an approved field of nurse anesthesia.

5. Consider a Work-Study Program

Many colleges and universities offer work-study programs to help students pay for their education. Students work a job on campus or through a partnership with a local business, and the money they earn goes toward their tuition costs. You may be able to find a work-study job related to your nursing career. For example, you could work in your school's healthcare office or a local healthcare facility.

6. Attend a Community College

Community college is a great, low-cost option for students pursuing various health professions, including nursing. They offer ADNs, which can lead to registered nursing licensure. Many students earn their ADN at a community college, obtain their RN license, and then return to school through an RN-to-BSN program. These programs often allow students to earn their BSN quickly and for less money.