15 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for Washington RNs

• Washington RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• Washington tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $12,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 15 scholarships for Washington nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Known for its agriculture and beautiful forests, mountains, and lakes, Washington is home to 7.8 million residents. Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) (termed APRNs in other states) are highly valuable in maintaining the health of the state’s residents. However not all Washington ARNPs practice within the state. 

In a recent nursing survey, about 20% of Washington-licensed ARNPs reported they practiced out of state. Going back to school to become an ARNP in Washington can help fill the gap, and many scholarships are available to help.

Yes, your workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, but why stop there? Many organizations offer scholarships to RNs pursuing graduate degrees. This applies to registered nurses (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 ARNP salary and job outlook in Washington, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

Washington ARNP Salary and Job Outlook 

In Washington, ARNPs include NPs, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists, and these professionals are highly paid. For example, Washington ranks three out of 50 for states with the highest salary for NPs ($145,000 per year) – almost $20,000 more per year 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 ARNP degree. ARNPs 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 ARNPs. Scholarships are available to Washington RNs interested in these roles as well. 

Washington ARNP Tuition Costs

Washington is among the Top 10 most expensive states to live in and tuition costs are just above the national average. Washington 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 Washington 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 $150 per year, and you’ll have access to other benefits like free continuing education credits, job boards, retailer discounts, and more. 

15 Scholarships for Washington RNs 

While you don’t necessarily have to attend an institution in Washington, the state offers a fair share of specialty programs through its 14 board-approved nursing schools offering graduate degrees. Some include: 

• Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Midwife
• Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
• Nursing Leadership in Healthcare
• Population Health Systems Leader
• Clinical Nurse Leader
• Nurse Executive DNP
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Global/Community/Public Health

If you’re interested in attending graduate school in Washington (or are already enrolled) and want to save on tuition, explore these 15 scholarships for Washington RNs. Visit each sponsor’s website to confirm deadlines, eligibility, and monetary awards. Most scholarships are offered annually, so mark your calendar. 

Frank T. Maziarski, MS, CRNA Scholarship 

• Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation  
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Washington. Most award recipients are selected based on merit and financial need. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Florence Golda Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Rainier Olympic Nurses Association (RONA) 
• Award: $1,500 to $2,000 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For RNs seeking to advance their nursing careers. Must reside or attend school in the following Washington counties: Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Mason, Clallam, or Jefferson. Must be a RONA member, show proof of employment in the healthcare field, and submit two letters of recommendation.  
• Details: https://rainierolympicnurses.org/scholarships/  

Central Washington Region Nurses Association 

• Sponsor: Washington State Nurses Foundation 
• Award: a minimum of $1,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in a graduate nursing program at Washington State University or Heritage University. Must be a member of the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) and have at least a 3.0 GPA. 
• Details: https://www.wanursesfoundation.org/scholarships  

Judy Huntington Scholarship Award 

• Sponsor: Washington State Nurses Foundation 
• Award: a minimum of $1,500 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For Washington-licensed RNs enrolled in a graduate nursing program with a focus on leadership, health policy and/or governmental affairs. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to RNs who live in Washington. Must be a WSNA member. 
• Details: https://www.wanursesfoundation.org/scholarships  

Larry Lysne Leadership Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists, (AANA) Foundation 
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program in Washington. Also available to Washington residents enrolled in a nurse anesthesia program outside of Washington. Additional scholarships are available.  
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship  

Valerie Weiss, ARNP, MN, MA, Memorial Scholarship Award  

• Sponsor: King County Nurses Association (KCNA) 
• Award: $4,500 
• Deadline: March 
• Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in a graduate program in nursing (master’s, DNP, Ph.D.) or a related field with at least a 3.0 GPA. This scholarship is open to the public, but applicants must live or attend school in King County (exception: KCNA members who do not live in King County may apply). Candidates are chosen based on commitment to social justice, the King County community, and the nursing profession through extracurricular professional activities. 
• Details: https://www.kcnurses.org/scholarships/info-application  

Inland Empire Nurses Association Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Inland Empire Nurses Association (IENA) 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For Washington-licensed RNs enrolled in a nursing or health-related program (includes master’s, DNP, and PhD) and have completed at least one year of the program. Must be a member of both the IENA and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA). Applicants must live in the Inland Empire region of Washington, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and submit two letters of recommendation. 
• Details: https://ienanurses.org/scholarships/  

Northwest Region Nurses Association Scholarship  

• Sponsor: Northwest Region Nurses Association (NWRNA) 
• Award: $2,500 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For NWRNA members enrolled in (or accepted into) a graduate program in nursing or a related field. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants do not have to be a Washington resident but must have a permanent address in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, or Whatcom counties (or attend a school in these counties). 
• Details: https://nwrna.org/financial-assistance/scholarships/  

Washington State Opportunity Graduate Scholarship  

• Sponsor: Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) 
• Award: $25,000 over three years 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For Washington residents enrolled in an NP program (MSN or DNP) at either Gonzaga University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, University of Washington – Seattle, or Washington State University. At least half of the program’s required clinical hours must be completed in a Washington state Medically Underserved Area or Health Professional Shortage Area and the applicant must commit to working in one of these areas for at least two years after graduation. Must demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://waopportunityscholarship.org/applicants/grd/  

National CPR Association 

• Sponsor: National CPR Association 
• Award: $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in a 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 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/  

Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 

• Sponsor: American Heart Association (AHA) 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: April 
• Eligibility: For ANA members enrolled in either an accredited graduate program or medical school where research training in cardiovascular disease and stroke is available. Must engage in research on either cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease/stroke, or cardiovascular surgery/anesthesia. Applicants may be eligible for research grants during their studies. 
• Details: https://professional.heart.org/en/professional-membership/awards-and-lectures/student-scholarships  

National League for Nursing Education Scholarship Award 

• Sponsor: National League for Nursing (NLN) 
• Award: up to $8,000 (multiple awards) 
• Deadline: annually in May 
• Eligibility: For NLN members pursuing a graduate degree who have completed at least one year of study at time of application. Must send in two letters of recommendation. Must work full-time as a nurse educator after graduation.  
• Details: https://www.nln.org/nln-foundation/foundationoverview/nursing-education-scholarship-awards  

The Bottom Line

For Washington 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. 

Read More