14 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for New York RNs

• New York RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• New York tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $8,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 15 scholarships for New York nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

New York – home of the Big Apple – is full of bustling career opportunities. This especially rings true for the nursing industry, as the state has the second largest number of licensed RNs in the nation – more than 490,000 active licenses. For New York nurses who want to return to school, financial assistance is only an application away. 

Yes, your workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, but why stop there? Many organizations offer scholarships to registered nurses (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 Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) salary and job outlook in New York, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

New York APRN Salary and Job Outlook 

New York APRNs have some of the highest salaries in the nation. As a nurse practitioner (NP) in New York, you can make an average annual salary of $143,000. Nurse anesthetists in the state can make up to $256,000 per year. Both of these salaries are higher than the national average. 

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 New York RNs interested in these roles as well. 

New York APRN Tuition Costs

Living in New York is already costly, as the state ranks fourth out of 50 for the most expensive states to live in. Adding tuition costs can be a barrier for many RNs returning to the classroom. New York tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $8,000 per year at public institutions.  

Should you choose to attend a public school out of state as a New York 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 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. 

15 Scholarships for New York RNs

The number of NPs licensed in New York is growing by the year. The state handed out around 4,100 new NP licenses just in 2023 – a jump from 2,600 five years prior. Nurse midwives are popular as well. New York ranks second out of 50 for states with the highest employed nurse midwives, just after California. 

If you’re enrolled (or interested) in becoming an NP, nurse midwife, or other graduate nursing professional and want to save money on tuition costs, explore these 15 scholarships for New York RNs. Visit each sponsor’s website to confirm deadlines, eligibility, and monetary awards. Most scholarships are offered annually, so mark your calendars! 

Meland Foundation Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Meland Foundation 
• Award: Between $2,000 and $5,000 
• Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis 
• Eligibility: For BSN-prepared RNs pursuing a nurse practitioner role (or other MSN or DNP roles) with a pediatric specialty. Applicants must be from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania. Must submit a resume with two references, an essay describing your vision for providing excellent care, and your most recent transcript. 
• Details: https://melandfoundation.org/nursing-scholarships-2/nursing-scholarships/  

St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Nurse Educator Scholarships 

• Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation 
• Award: $4,000 (two) 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in an accredited graduate nursing program as a full- or part-time student. Must be a New York resident, have at least a 3.5 GPA, and agree to teach as a nurse educator in an accredited nursing program in New York after graduation.  
• Details: https://www.cfnny.org/scholarships-and-grants/  

New York State Nurses Association Secor Scholarship 

• Sponsor: New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) 
• Award: $5,000 
• Deadline: July 
• Eligibility: For NYSNA members enrolled in (or accepted into) a nursing program (includes graduate programs). Must have a 3.4 GPA and submit two letters of recommendation.  
• Details: https://www.nysna.org/nursing-practice/nysna-secor-scholarship  

Grace and Daniel Connelly Family Scholarship  

• Sponsor: (AANA) Foundation 
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in New York or New Jersey. Must demonstrate financial need. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Charlotte Grace Educational Scholarship 

• Sponsor: New York State Association of School Nurses (NYSASN) 
• Award: $2,500 
• Deadline: September 
• Eligibility: For school nurses enrolled in a graduate nursing program who have completed at least 15 credits. Must be a current NYSASN member (for the last three years). 
• Details: https://nysasn.nursingnetwork.com/page/99462-charlotte-grace-educational-scholarship  

Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship 

• Sponsor: New York State Home Care Providers 
• Award: up to $6,200 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For RNs furthering their education to advance their career in home and community-based care. Must reside in New York. 
• Details: https://www.nyshcp.org/foundation/edna-lauterbach-sponsorship/  

Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship 

• Sponsor: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation 
• Award: up to $20,000 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in a graduate nursing program that leads to a nurse educator role. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA (if applicant has already completed a semester of the graduate program). Must reside in New York and work as a nursing faculty member in New York for at least four years after graduation. 
• Details: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/find-aid/nys-grants-scholarships/senator-patricia-k-mcgee-nursing-faculty-scholarship/  

Nurse Practitioner Association Region 2 Scholarship for Nurse Practitioner Students 

• Sponsor: Nurse Practitioner Association New York State 
• Award: up to $1,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: April 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a nurse practitioner program. Must have a 3.0 GPA. Must live or attend school in the following New York counties: Seneca, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Cortland, or Tompkins. Must submit two letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://www.thenpa.org/page/Region2ScholarshipforNPStudents2024 

Scrubin Uniforms/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Scholarship 

• Sponsor: AACN 
• Award: $2,500 
• Deadline: September, December, and March 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a nursing program (includes master’s and doctoral program) at an AACN member school with a formal affiliation agreement with Scrubin Uniforms (list of schools on site).  
• Details: https://www.aacnnursing.org/foundation/scholarships/scrubin-uniforms-scholarship/  

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  

Charlotte McGuire Scholarship 

• Sponsor: American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) 
• Award: $1,000 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a graduate nursing program dedicated to holistic nursing. Must be a current AHNA member (for at least one year). Must demonstrate a commitment to holistic nursing. 
• Details: https://www.ahna.org/Home/Resources/Scholarships-and-Awards  

National CPR Association 

• Sponsor: National CPR Association 
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in health-related degree program (includes graduate nursing programs). Must write a compelling essay. 
• Details: https://www.nationalcprassociation.com/scholarship/  

Nurses Educational Funds Scholarships 

• Sponsor: Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. 
• Award: (unspecified amount) (multiple) 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in master’s and doctoral nursing programs who have completed at least 12 to 45 credits of schooling and have at least two semesters of study left. Must have at least a 3.6 GPA and submit three references. 
• Details: https://www.n-e-f.org/about-us/nef-scholarships.html  

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 recommendations. 
• Details: https://nacns.org/career-education/awards/  

The Bottom Line

For New York RNs, advancing your career is an excellent move, as the nursing industry is expansive and 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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