Healthcare Scholarship: Nurse Corps Scholarship (NCS)
Overview of Scholarship
The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program is offered through the US Department of Health and Human Services: Health Resources and Services Administration. This program is specifically designed to place well-trained, committed nurses in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) throughout the US. In exchange for receiving the NURSE Corps Scholarship, recipients agree to work at a HPSA for at least 2 years.
Students enrolled in any nursing program are eligible, including diploma, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate programs. This includes RN to BSN Bridge Program participants. Preference will be given to applicants enrolled in or accepted to an undergraduate program or a nurse practitioner Master’s program, with the greatest financial need.
Scholarship Requirements
Recipients of the scholarship have requirements to fulfill after graduation. These include:
•A minimum 2-year service commitment for up to 2 years of scholarship support as a full time student.
•An additional 1 year service commitment per scholarship year for full time students needing more than 2 years of scholarship support (4 years maximum support).
•Full time status is considered a minimum of 32 hours per week, at least 45 weeks out of the year.
•Provide 26 hours of clinical services to patients.
•Service to be completed in a defined Critical Shortage Facility such as a Hospice Program, Indian Health Services Health Centers, State or Local Public Health or Human Services Departments, Nursing Homes, Rural Health Clinics, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers. These facilities, and others, are only considered Critical Shortage Facilities if they are designated as a primary mental health or medical care HPSA.
Scholarship Eligibility
•US citizen or permanent resident.
•Scheduled to begin classes no later than September 30.
•Free from Federal judgments or liens.
•Enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a nursing program at an accredited school in the US.
•Able to fulfill service requirements.
•No overdue Federal debt.
Scholarship Deadline
Application process is set to open again in March or April of 2015.
Amount and Benefits
Scholarship support includes the following (up to 4 years):
•Tuition
•Fees
•Educational costs such as clinical supplies/materials, uniforms, and textbooks
•Monthly stipend of $1,302 (for 2014-2015 academic year)
