Education and Professional Growth

15 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for Minnesota RNs

  • Minnesota RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
  • Minnesota tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $13,000 per year at public institutions. 
  • Check out these 15 scholarships for Minnesota nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Charmaine Robinson

MSN-Ed, BSN, RN

May 07, 2025
Simmons University

Known as the “land of 10,000 lakes,” Minnesota has about 135,000 licensed RNs to care for its 5.7 million residents – that’s one RN for every 42 people. The gap is even wider for APRNs. Many Minnesota RNs are returning to school for APRN degrees; however, tuition costs can get pretty high. 

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 APRN salary and job outlook in Minnesota, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

Minnesota RNs

Minnesota APRN Salary and Job Outlook 

Becoming an APRN in Minnesota might be a great career move as employment is thriving in certain regions. For example, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metroplex is among the Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest number of nurse midwives. Pay can also be a driving factor as Minnesota NPs earn a higher-than-average salary of $135,000 per year – almost $10,000 more 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 Minnesota RNs interested in these roles as well. 

Minnesota APRN Tuition Costs

Minnesota may be a fairly affordable place to live compared to other U.S. states, but the cost associated with returning to school are actually higher. Minnesota tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $13,000 per year at public institutions. 

Should you choose to attend a public school out of state as a Minnesota 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 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, retailer discounts, and more. 

Minnesota RNs

15 Scholarships for Minnesota RNs 

The Minnesota Board of Nursing offers APRNs one of four licenses: NP, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse anesthetist. While 70% of Minnesota APRNs hold a master’s degree, many are also earning doctoral degrees. If you’re interested in joining the team of APRNs in Minnesota (or are already in pursuit) and want to save on tuition costs, explore these 15 scholarships for Minnesota RNs.  

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

Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) Foundation 
  • Award: (unspecified amount) 
  • Deadline: Quarterly deadlines 
  • Eligibility: For MNA members enrolled in (or accepted into) an accredited nursing program. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA.  
  • Details: https://mnnurses.org/resources/mnaf/  

Kathryn Waud White, Student Leadership Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA), American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation 
  • Award: $3,000 
  • Deadline: (unspecified) 
  • Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Minnesota. Must be a full-time student who has professional involvement in the AANA, MANA, or a similar organization. Must submit one letter of recommendation or support from a MANA member. Additional scholarships are available. 
  • Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Minnesota Directors of Nursing Administration Educational Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: Minnesota Directors of Nursing Administration (MN-DONA) 
  • Award: $500 (multiple) 
  • Deadline: August 
  • Eligibility: For applicants seeking to further their education by taking coursework that will benefit long-term care in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Five scholarships are available (four public, one for MN-DONA members). Available to applicants seeking certifications as well (i.e., wound care, hospice, etc.). 
  • Details: https://mndona.associationsonline.com/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=11635  

Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN) 
  • Award: $1,000 to $1,500 
  • Deadline: September 
  • Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a nursing program (including master’s and doctoral programs) with at least a 3.0 GPA. Must be a current MOLN (for at least six months) and submit two letters of recommendation (one from a MOLN member). 
  • Details: https://www.moln.org/moln-scholarships/  

Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarship 

Sandra J. Kilde, EdD, CRNA Scholarship 

American Association of Nurse Practitioners Scholarship Program 

  • Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Practitioners 
  • Award: $2,500 to $5,000 
  • Deadline: annually in March 
  • Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in an accredited NP program pursuing an MSN, DNP, or Ph.D. in nursing or a related field. Must have completed at least one semester of schooling at time of application. Must submit two recommendation letters. 
  • Details: https://www.aanp.org/education/professional-funding-support/scholarships  

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  

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/  

National League for Nursing Education Scholarship Award 

Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Health Informatics and Innovation Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: National League for Nursing (NLN) 
  • Award: up to $5,000 
  • Deadline: annually in May 
  • Eligibility: For nurses and nurse educators enrolled in an accredited graduate program focused on health informatics and innovation in research in nursing education. This scholarship is public, but preference will be given to NLN members. Preference will also be given to members of marginalized communities interested in transitioning from clinical practice to full-time teaching.  
  • Details: https://www.nln.org/nln-foundation/foundationoverview/nursing-education-scholarship-awards  

Uniform Advantage – American Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 
  • Award: $2,500 to $5,000 (multiple) 
  • Deadline: September, December, and March 
  • Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Open to Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) members. 
  • Details: https://www.aacnnursing.org/foundation/scholarships/uniform-advantage  

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 

  • 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  

Nurse I Am Scholarship 

  • Sponsor: Cherokee Uniforms 
  • Award: $3,000 (multiple) 
  • Deadline: April 
  • Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a nursing program (including graduate programs).  
  • Details: https://www.anurseiam.com/ 

Oncology Nursing Foundation Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships 

 

Minnesota RNs

The Bottom Line

For Minnesota 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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