13 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for Ohio RNs

• Ohio RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• Ohio tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $12,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 13 scholarships for Ohio nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Ohio – home of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame – is known for its sports teams and major cities. However, many of its geographical regions are suffering healthwise. Half of all counties in Ohio are designated as rural/non-urban, medically underserved areas. Ohio RNs who wish to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) may help fill the provider shortage in these areas by returning to school.

While the workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, many organizations offer scholarships to RNs pursuing graduate degrees. This applies to RNs with an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) who want to go back for a Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (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 Ohio, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

Ohio APRN Salary and Job Outlook 

APRNs in Ohio are paid slightly less than the national average. Ohio Nurse Practitioners (NPs), of which there are about 12,000 employed, make an average salary of $122,900 per year. Although the pay isn’t as high as the average NP in the U.S., job security may be more likely in some areas. The Northeastern nonmetropolitan area of Ohio ranks among the Top 5 U.S. nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employed NPs.  

Nurse anesthetists in Ohio aren’t as common (only 3,200 employed), but they’re paid on average $210,800 per year. Ohio nurse midwives are paid around $124,000 per year, but less than 200 are employed in the state.  

Nationally, APRN salaries include $126,000 for NPs, $130,000 for nurse midwives, 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. 

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 Ohio RNs interested in these roles as well. 

Ohio APRN Tuition Costs

While Ohio ranks 21 out of 50 for the most affordable states to live, the state’s tuition ranks 15 out of 50 for states with the highest costs. Ohio’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 Ohio resident, tuition costs can be even higher.  

These numbers do not reflect tuition costs at private institutions. Neither do they 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 multiple 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 $80 per year, and you’ll have access to other membership benefits like free continuing education credits, job boards, discounts on retailers, and more. 

13 Scholarships for Ohio RNs 

The state of Ohio offers four APRN licenses: NP, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and clinical nurse specialist. If you’re enrolled in an APRN program (or any graduate nursing program) and want to save money on tuition costs for the rest of your academic enrollment, explore these 13 scholarships for Ohio RNs.  

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

Ohio Nurses Foundation Scholarship

• Sponsor: Ohio Nurses Foundation (ONF) 
• Award: Unspecified 
• Deadline: January 
• Eligibility: For RNs pursuing an MSN or doctoral degree in nursing. May require ONF membership. 
• Details: https://ohionursesfoundation.org/scholarships-and-grants-3/  

Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarships

• Sponsor: Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation 
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Ohio. Applicants must be in the final 12 months of the program. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

MaryAnn Rosencrans Mental Health Scholarship

• Sponsor: National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNP) – Ohio 
• Award: $500 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For pediatric APRNs who focus on the care of children and adolescents with emotional or behavioral health problems. Must be a current member of the Ohio Chapter of the NAPNP (for at least two years).  
• Details: https://ohionapnap.org/awards/  

Ohio Health Care Association Educational Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Ohio Health Care Association 
• Award: $2,000 to $12,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For applicants employed full-time (at least 30 hours a week) at an Ohio Health Association facility (or family members of an employee) (see list of facilities on website). Must be enrolled in (or accepted into) a full-time college degree program required for a career in long-term healthcare (includes graduate degrees). 
• Details: https://www.ohca.org/scholarships  

Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN) Scholarship 

• Sponsor: OAAPN 
• Award: $1,500 
• Deadline: July 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an approved APRN program in Ohio or an online program for RNs working in Ohio (must have completed at least 12 semester hours in the program). Must be an OAAPN member (may apply for membership at time of application), have at least a 3.2 GPA, submit one letter of recommendation (from a faculty member for APRN preceptor), and commit to working as an APRN in Ohio for at least one year after graduation. 
• Details: https://oaapn.org/education/scholarships/  

Patricia M. Baum Educational Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Ohio Association of School Nurses (OASN) 
• Award: (amount not specified) 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For school nurses seeking to advance their education through post-graduate or graduate level coursework. Must have a desire to advance and improve the practice of school nursing. Must be an active OASN member (and for the past two years). 
• Details: https://www.oasn.org/membership/scholarshipaward  

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 Ohio VA or any other VA location in the U.S. 
• Details: https://vacareers.va.gov/job-news-advice/apply-influential-va-scholarship-programs/  

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  

Margaret Comerford Freda March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarship 

• Sponsor: March of Dimes & Pampers Diapers 
• Award: $10,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For RNs currently enrolled in a graduate program in maternal-child nursing at the master’s or doctoral level.  
• Details: https://www.marchofdimes.org/about/news/march-dimes-awards-scholarships-to-exceptional-nursing-students-committed-to-improving  

American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Basic Midwifery Student Scholarships 

• Sponsor: ACNM Foundation  
• Award: Varied amount (multiple awards) 
• Deadline: August – September 
• Eligibility: For ACNM members enrolled in an accredited midwifery program. Must have completed at least one semester or course. Award recipients are selected based on academic performance, professional excellence, plans to promote health equity, leadership potential, and financial need. 
• Details: https://acnmf.org/scholarships-%26-awards  

American Nephrology Nurses Association Scholarships

• Sponsor: American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) 
• Award: $1,000 to $4,375 (multiple) 
• Deadline: November 
• Eligibility: For ANNA members enrolled in a graduate nursing program. Must be actively involved in nephrology nursing and have been an ANNA member for at least one year. Must submit three letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://www.annanurse.org/resources/members-only/grants-scholarships  

Advanced Nurse Leadership in Post-Acute Care Scholarship 

• Sponsor: American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) 
• Award: $5,000 
• Deadline: October 
• Eligibility: For RNs pursuing a higher degree. Must currently work in post-acute care and submit a recommendation letter from a director of nursing, facility administrator, or similar supervisor.  
• Details: https://www.aapacn.org/foundation/advancing-nurse-leadership-scholarship/  

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Scholarships

• Sponsors: National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) and the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Institute 
• Award: up to $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For NACNS members enrolled in either a CNS graduate program or a critical care CNS graduate program. Applicants enrolled in a CNS program must have a passion for quality, safety, and clinical excellence. Applicants enrolled in a critical care CNS program must have a background in critical care, preferably holding critical care RN (CCRN) certification. Must submit two letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://nacns.org/career-education/awards/  

The Bottom Line

For Ohio 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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