10 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for Alabama RNs

• Alabama RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• Alabama tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $12,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 10 scholarships for Alabama nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Known for its rich culture and beautiful Gulf coast, Alabama has about 86,400 licensed RNs and 11,600 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). However, the job growth rate for Alabama APRNs is fairly low compared to national APRN jobs. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on your goal to advance your nursing degree. Going back to school as an Alabama RN might be a great move for your career depending on the type of advanced nursing degree you obtain and how willing you are to relocate for work, for example, as a travel APRN. 

Returning to the classroom can be costly and although your workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, why stop there? Many organizations offer scholarships to RNs pursuing graduate degrees. This applies to RNs with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to go back for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctorate Nurse Practitoner (DNP), Ph.D., or other nursing-related graduate degree.  

If you’re an RN pursuing an advanced degree, learn about APRN salary and job outlook in Alabama, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

Alabama APRN Salary and Job Outlook 

The average yearly salary for Alabama Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and nurse anesthetists is $110,000 and $173,000, respectively – both lower than the national average. Nationally, APRN salaries in the U.S. include $126,000 for NPs and $213,000 for nurse anesthetists.  

APRN jobs in the U.S. are expected to grow 40% by 2033, which is much faster than the average growth rate of most jobs. NP jobs in particular are projected to grow 52% nationally by 2030. However, NP jobs in Alabama are not expected to grow much within the same time frame. Alabama NPs can expect a job growth of 4% by 2030.  

This trend is also prevalent among other APRN and graduate nursing roles in the state, such as nurse anesthetists and nursing home administrators, who can expect a growth of 1% and 3%, respectively. Nurse midwife jobs in Alabama are not expected to grow at all by 2030. 

While Alabama has many licensed NPs, less than half are employed in the state. Of those working in Alabama, most work in the Birmingham-Hoover area. If you’re pursuing an APRN role and are open to traveling to another state, you don’t necessarily have to lose your Alabama residency. As of October 2024, travel NPs can make up to $144,000 per year. That’s almost $35,000 more per year than an NP employed in the state. 

Not every graduate nursing degree is an APRN degree. APRNs serve in advanced clinical roles and diagnose patients. Nurse educators, administrators, informaticists, researchers, clinical nurse leaders, and public health nurses may also hold graduate nursing degrees but are not considered APRNs. Scholarships are available to Alabama RNs interested in these roles as well. 

Alabama APRN Tuition Costs

Going back to school as an Alabama RN might be challenging, as the state’s public college tuition is higher than the national average. The great news is, Alabama is the fifth most affordable state to live. The cost of living may outweigh the high cost of tuition. Alabama’s tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $12,000 per year at public institutions. Should you choose to attend a public school out of state as an Alabama resident, tuition costs can be even higher.  

These numbers do not reflect tuition costs at private institutions. Neither does it include costs for books, uniforms, and equipment for clinical training like stethoscopes, second-hand watches, and pen lights. 

While these numbers can be intimidating, scholarships can cover some if not all costs of returning to school, especially if you apply for ones. Keep in mind that some scholarship sponsors may require you to be a member of a nursing organization before you can even apply. Fortunately, some membership dues are as low as $150 per year, and you’ll have access to other benefits like free continuing education credits, job boards, retailer discounts. and more. 

10 Scholarships for Alabama RNs 

The Alabama Board of Nursing offers four APRN licenses: NP, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse specialist. NPs are most popular (9,500 licenses), followed by nurse anesthetists (2,000 licenses). Nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists are not as popular in Alabama with just around 50 active licenses each as of 2024.  

Graduate scholarships are available for all role options (some state-based and others sponsored nationally). If you’re interested in attending graduate nursing school in Alabama (or are already enrolled) and want to save money on tuition costs for the rest of your academic enrollment, explore these 10 scholarships for Alabama RNs.  

Visit each sponsor’s website to confirm deadlines, eligibility, and monetary awards. Most scholarships are offered annually, so mark your calendars. 

Alabama Board of Nursing Graduate Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Alabama Board of Nursing 
• Award: (amount not specified) 
• Deadline: August 
• Eligibility: For Alabama-licensed RNs admitted to a graduate nursing program. Must be an Alabama resident (for at least one year at the time of application). Applicant must commit to working as a professional nurse or nursing instructor for two years after graduation. 
• Details: https://www.abn.alabama.gov/abn-nursing-excellence/abn-loans-and-scholarships/abn-scholarships/  

Alabama Nurses Foundation Graduate Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Alabama Nurses Foundation 
• Award: $2,500 
• Deadline: December 
• Eligibility: For students enrolled in an accredited master’s or doctoral nursing program in Alabama who have completed at least one semester of the program. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicant must have an Alabama nurses license tag on their personal vehicle or have ordered one at the time of application 
• Details: https://www.alabamanursesfoundation.org/scholarshipapplication  

Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation 
• Award: $3,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Alabama. Must be a second-year student or resident with at least a 3.4 GPA. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Harry & Lula McCarn Nurses’ Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Community Foundation of South Alabama 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants pursuing a master’s degree in nursing administration or other field of nursing. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA, live in Mobile or Baldwin Counties, and demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://www.communityfoundationsa.org/apply-for-a-scholarship  

Dorothy S. Saad Nursing Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Community Foundation of South Alabama 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nursing program or advanced degree program in Mobile or Baldwin counties. Must submit an essay and recommendation letters, and demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://www.communityfoundationsa.org/apply-for-a-scholarship  

QGenda – American Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarship

• Sponsor: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 
• Award: $5,000 
• Deadline: February and October 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs with at least a 3.5 GPA. Must submit one letter of recommendation.  
• Details: https://www.aacnnursing.org/foundation/scholarships/qgenda  

Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

• Sponsor: American Heart Association (AHA) 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: April 
• Eligibility: For ANA members enrolled in either an accredited graduate program or medical school where research training in cardiovascular disease and stroke is available. Must engage in research on either cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease/stroke, or cardiovascular surgery/anesthesia. Applicants may be eligible for research grants during their studies. 
• Details: https://professional.heart.org/en/professional-membership/awards-and-lectures/student-scholarships  

Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Scholarship Program 

• Sponsor: U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) 
• Award: (full ride) 
• Deadline: September 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled or accepted into a full-time accredited academic program in nursing (certified psychiatric NP or any MSN program). Award recipients will also receive a monthly $1,300 stipend to cover living expenses. Must commit to working full-time for the VA for at least two years after graduation. May work at an Alabama VA or any other VA location in the U.S. 
• Details: https://vacareers.va.gov/job-news-advice/apply-influential-va-scholarship-programs/  

Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation/Proctor & Gamble Endowed Scholarship in Community Service 

• Sponsor: Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation 
• Award: $1,000 
• Deadline: annually in December 
• Eligibility: For NP students enrolled in a Masters, DNP or PhD program. Must have either made significant contributions in patient care or the community, or have an interest in gastroenterology. Must submit one recommendation letter. 
• Details: https://www.nphealthcarefoundation.org/scholarships-awards-fellowships/  

National Health Services Corp Scholarship Program 

• Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration 
• Award: Varied amount (multiple awards) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For full-time NP and nurse midwife students enrolled in an accredited school. NP students must specialize in adult medicine, family medicine, geriatrics, primary care pediatrics, psychiatric mental health, or women’s health. All applicants must commit to working at least two years in rural, urban, and tribal communities (those with limited access to care) after graduation. 
• Details: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/eligibility-requirements  

The Bottom Line

For Alabama RNs, advancing your career is an excellent move as the nursing industry has many areas of need. If finances are a determining factor for returning to school, consider applying for multiple scholarships. If lack of time is an issue, many nursing schools offer online, part-time programs, many of which are more affordable than traditional full-time programs.

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