MSN-Ed, BSN, RN
Maine has seen a rise in the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) workforce over the past several years. The highest numbers are seen in the regions of York/Cumberland and Sagadahoc/Lincoln/Knox/Waldo. For Maine registered nurses (RNs) who want to go back to school and join the APRN workforce, financial assistance is available.
The workplace might be a great place to start when seeking tuition assistance program, but why stop there? Many organizations offer scholarships to RNs pursuing graduate degrees. gram, but many nursing 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), 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 Maine, tuition costs, and scholarships.
Nurse practitioners are the most popular APRNs in Maine (1,400 employed), but at $123,000 per year, salary is lower than the national average. Maine RNs open to traveling out of state for work might consider a travel NP position to boost their pay by more than $20,000 a year. As of October 2024, travel NPs can make up to $144,000 per year.
Although nurse midwives are not as popular in Maine (less than 100 employed), these APRNs make an average of $10,000 more per year than the average nurse midwives in the U.S. Nurse anesthetists in Maine also average a higher salary than the national average – $14,000 more per year.
The average APRN salaries in the U.S. 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 Maine RNs interested in these roles as well.
Maine RNs returning to school may face financial challenges as Maine is among the Top 10 most expensive states to live. Additionally, the state’s public college tuition is higher than the national average. Maine’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 a Maine 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 multiple. Keep in mind that some scholarship sponsors may require you to be a member of a nursing organization before you can apply. Fortunately, some membership dues are as low as $80 per year, and you’ll have access to other benefits like free continuing education credits, job boards, retailer discounts, and more.
Maine APRNs include NPs, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives. Each is required to hold at least a master’s degree. A 2022 Maine nursing survey report found that most NPs surveyed, who held a master’s degree, specialized in family practice followed by nursing administration.
If you’re interested in attending an NP program or any other graduate nursing program (or are already enrolled) and want to save on tuition, explore these 14 scholarships for Maine RNs.
Visit each sponsor’s website to confirm deadlines, eligibility, and monetary awards. Most scholarships are offered annually, so mark your calendars.
For Maine 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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