14 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for Pennsylvania RNs

• Pennsylvania RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• Pennsylvania tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $16,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 14 scholarships for Pennsylvania nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Known for its historical landmarks and scenic nature, Pennsylvania is home to nearly 13 million residents, 22% of which live in designated shortage or medically underserved areas. The state’s rural community has one primary care physician for every 663 residents. Pennsylvania registered nurses (RNs) can help fill the gap by returning to school to obtain an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license; however, consideration must be given to tuition costs.  

The workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, but 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), 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 Pennsylvania, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

Pennsylvania APRN Salary and Job Outlook

Nearly 9,200 NPs and 2,900 nurse anesthetists are employed in Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD region is among the Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest employment rate for both professionals.  

Pennsylvania APRNs are also well-paid. NPs and nurse anesthetists make an average yearly salary of $127,000 and $210,000, respectively – both around the national average. Pennsylvania nurse midwives, although not as popular, make an average of $121,000 per year.   

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 Pennsylvania RNs interested in these roles as well. 

Pennsylvania APRN Tuition Costs

Cost of living in Philadelphia is higher than many of Pennsylvania’s other cities. For RNs who live in this region, paying for college may be a challenge, as Pennsylvania is among the Top Five states with the highest public college tuition. The state’s tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $16,000 per year at public institutions. Should you choose to attend a public school out of state as a Pennsylvania 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 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. 

14 Scholarships for Pennsylvania RNs 

Although tuition costs can be high in Pennsylvania, APRNs are paid well and actively employed. If you’re interested in attending school in Pennsylvania (or are already enrolled) and want to save money on tuition costs, explore these 15 scholarships for Pennsylvania RNs.  

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

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarships 

• Sponsor: Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation 
• Award: $3,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Pennsylvania. Multiple awards are offered (some may require PANA membership or Pennsylvania residency). Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Russell Lynn Memorial Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Pennsylvania and New Jersey 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 Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Meland Foundation Scholarship 

• Sponsor: New York State Association of School Nurses (NYSASN) 
• Award: up to $2,000 to $5,000 
• Deadline: Applications considered on a rolling basis 
• Eligibility: For BSN-prepared RNs pursuing either a pediatric NP role (or other MSN or DNP degree with a pediatric specialty). Applicants must be from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Must submit two letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://melandfoundation.org/nursing-scholarships-2/nursing-scholarships/  

Evelyn Benson Nurse Leadership Scholarship

• Sponsor: Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania (NFP), Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) 
• Award: (amount not specified) 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For full-time students in their third or fourth year of an accredited nursing program in Pennsylvania (includes MSN and doctoral programs). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit a letter of recommendation. Also open to residents outside of Pennsylvania. Applicants must demonstrate leadership skills in pursuit of their degree. Additional consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://thenfp.org/scholarship-program/  

Florence Madden (Grady) Fasick Scholarship Endowment

• Sponsor: NFP, PSNA 
• Award: up to $1,000 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For full-time students enrolled in (or accepted into) an accredited nursing school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (includes MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. programs). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit a letter of recommendation. Also open to residents outside of Pennsylvania. Additional consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://thenfp.org/scholarship-program/   

Albert Einstein Medical Center Nursing School of Philadelphia (Former) Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment 

• Sponsor: NFP, PSNA 
• Award: (amount not specified) 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For full-time students enrolled in (or accepted into) an accredited nursing school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (includes MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. programs). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit a letter of recommendation. Also open to residents outside of Pennsylvania. Applicants must demonstrate good academic standing, leadership, and a strong involvement in the community. Additional consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://thenfp.org/scholarship-program/  

JoAnne Goss Memorial Nursing Scholarship Endowment 

• Sponsor: NFP, PSNA 
• Award: (amount not specified) 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For full-time students enrolled in (or accepted into) an accredited nursing school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (includes MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. programs). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA, submit a letter of recommendation, and reside in the West Shore area of Central Pennsylvania. Additional consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://thenfp.org/scholarship-program/  

Marjorie Farabaugh Nurse Practitioner Student Scholarship 

• Sponsor: 1889 Foundation and Laurel Highlands Nurse Practitioner Association (LHNPA) 
• Award: $1,000 to $2,000 
• Deadline: November 
• Eligibility: For applicants in an accredited NP program. Must have at least a 3.2 GPA and submit two letters of recommendation. Must be a student member of the LHNPA and a resident of Bedford, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset or Westmoreland counties. Award recipient must show a strong interest in working as an NP in the Laurel Highlands region after graduation. 
• Details: https://pacnplaurelhighlands.enpnetwork.com/nurse-practitioner-news/223158-we-are-accepting-applications-for-the-15th-annual-marjorie-farabaugh-nurse-practitioner-student-scholarship  

Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania Nursing Scholarships

• Sponsor: Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania 
• Award: $1,000 to $4,000 
• Deadline: April 
• Eligibility: For Pennsylvania residents pursuing nursing degrees at a Pennsylvania state board-approved nursing education program, including MSN (NP, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse leader) and doctoral programs (DNP, Doctor of Nursing Science, EdD). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit two letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://www.nightingaleawards.org/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/ 

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Graduate Scholarship

• Sponsor: Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) 
• Award: $1,500 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a graduate level degree program (must have completed at least one course). Must currently practice in rehabilitation nursing with at least two years of experience in this setting. Must be an involved ARN member. 
• Details: https://rehabnurse.org/membership/recognition/scholarship-opportunities 

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  

The Bottom Line

As a Pennsylvania RN, advancing your career is an excellent career 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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