Scholarship Opportunities

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, through the generosity of our donors, is fortunate to have endowed funds that provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate nursing students.  The specificity of the fund criteria varies greatly in terms of academic standing, leadership qualities, diversity, and/or financial need. Students are required to include an essay and are encouraged to provide as much information as possible about goals and long-range plans. This information, along with other pertinent information, will be used by the Scholarship committee to consider your for a broad range of awards in the school. 

Please note the deadlines below for Pitt School of Nursing scholarships:

Student Class Year Deadline
Undergraduate - newly admitted 1st year students May 15, 2024
Undergraduate - newly admitted Accelerated Second Degree students May 15, 2024
Undergraduate - all continuing BSN students  Closed
Graduate students Closed

Notifications of graduate and undergraduate Pitt School of Nursing awards will be sent to students in July 2024. 

School of Nursing Undergraduate Scholarship Application

For scholarships and awards outside of the School of Nursing, please adhere to their application deadlines and application information:

K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships for PhD Students

In 1994, the University of Pittsburgh established the K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships to enhance the academic excellence and diversity of the Pitt's graduate student body and prepare doctoral students for academic and research careers. Each year, schools select distinguished doctoral applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement to participate in this prestigious program, which provides a non-duty bearing fellowship for the student’s first year of doctoral study as well academic guidance and cohort-based mentoring throughout the student’s doctoral studies.  For additional information, please contact: Heidi Donovan at donovanh@pitt.edu

Nurse Faculty Loan Program
Graduate Students Only

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) is a loan opportunity program for graduate students who intend to take a full-time teaching position in a school of nursing immediately following graduation.  The program, from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), aims to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide.  Full-time and part-time graduate MSN, DNP and PhD students are eligible to apply. To apply please contact Cynthia Henderson, Scholarship Coordinator, Student Affairs & Alumni Relations (SAAR) at hendersn@pitt.edu .  

Outside Scholarship/Financial Aid Opportunities:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
https://aacnnursing.org/Students/Financial-Aid
For all levels of nursing students. 

American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
http://www.ahna.org/Resources/Scholarships-and-Awards
For nursing students interested in Holistic Nursing.

Bigfuture by The College Board
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
Scholarship search engine for all levels of students       

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/applicants/#programs
Scholarships awarded to high school students (over 1,400 selected annually) entering their first year in college.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
https://www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships/nursing-medical-scholarships
Scholarships awarded to high school students entering their first year in college based on financial need.

Emergency Nurse Association (ENA)
https://www.ena.org/foundation/grants/Pages/Scholarships.aspx
Scholarships for ENA members.

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
https://fafsa.ed.gov/
Application for federal financial aid, submitted annually.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/
Scholarships based on financial need for undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
https://hsf.net/
Scholarships for undergraduates and graduate students.

Johnson & Johnson -- Discover Nursing
Nursing Scholarships & Grants | Johnson & Johnson Nursing (jnj.com)
Scholarship search engine for all levels of nursing students. 

Fastweb Scholarship Search
http://www.fastweb.com/
Scholarship search engine for all levels of students.

Minority Nurse
http://minoritynurse.com/nursing-scholarships/
Scholarship Search engine for all levels of nursing students.

National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
http://www.nahnnet.org/NAHNScholarships.html
Scholarships for NAHN members.

National Black Nurses Association
http://www.nbna.org/content.asp?contentid=82
Scholarship for all levels of nursing students.

National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Scholar and Fellow Award Programs.
http://www.nhcgne.org/scholars-ofellows
Scholarships provided to increase the number of well-prepared Gerontological nursing faculty.

Ronald McDonald House Charities-U.S. Scholarships
http://www.rmhc.org/rmhc-us-scholarships
Scholarships awarded to high school students entering their first year in college.

The Pittsburgh Foundation
https://pittsburghfoundation.org/scholarship_search
Scholarship search engine for all levels of students.

The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund
http://phillips-scholarship.org/
Scholarships awarded to undergraduate students based on financial need.