15 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for West Virginia RNs

• West Virginia RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree might already meet the qualifications to apply for scholarships. 
• West Virginia tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $9,000 per year at public institutions. 
• Check out these 15 scholarships for West Virginia nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is home to nearly 1.8 million residents and known for its beautiful outdoor scenery. The state has about 38,000 licensed registered nurses (RNs) and 5,800 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to care for its residents – that’s 47 residents for every RN and over 300 for each APRN.  

Many RNs are returning to graduate school to serve the residents of West Virginia in an advanced clinical capacity, but career advancement comes at a cost. 

The workplace may 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. 

West Virginia APRN Salary and Job Outlook 

Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists are the most popular APRNs in West Virginia with nearly 4,800 and 965 active licenses, respectively. NPs in the state make an average of $113,000 per year; although the salary is less than the national average, West Virginia ranks fourth out of 50 for states with the most employed NPs.  

Nurse anesthetists in West Virgnia are also highly employed, and salaries are higher than the national average ($232,000). 

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 West Virginia RNs interested in these roles as well. 

West Virginia APRN Tuition Costs

Although West Virginia ranks No. 1 as the most affordable state to live, the state’s tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $9,000 per year at public institutions. Should you choose to attend a public school out of state as a West Virginia 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. 

15 Scholarships for West Virginia RNs 

The number of West Virginia RNs with graduate degrees is on the rise; however, MSN degrees tend to be the most popular to obtain than DNPs or Ph.D.s. If you’re attending (or interested in) graduate school to obtain an MSN or higher and want to save money, explore these 15 scholarships for West Virginia RNs.  

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

Janice Michels Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Regional Affiliates 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants pursuing a college degree (includes graduate degrees). Must have at least a 3.2 GPA and reside in Doddridge County. 
• Details: https://pacfwv.com/initiatives/scholarships  

Robert Louis Storck Memorial Scholarship 

• Sponsor: Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and Regional Affiliates 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For applicants who wish to advance their education (includes those seeking graduate degrees). Must have at least a 2.5 GPA and reside in Wood County. 
• Details: https://pacfwv.com/initiatives/scholarships 

Eleanora G. Wylie for Nursing Education Scholarship 

• Sponsor: The Great Kanahaw Valley Foundation 
• Award: $1,000 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: Must have a 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to those studying nursing or gerontology and those attending a public institution in West Virginia. 
• Details: https://tgkvf.org/scholarship-information/  

Shepherd Family Scholarship 

• Sponsor: The Great Kanahaw Valley Foundation 
• Award: $2,000 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For West Virgnia residents pursuing a nursing degree (includes graduate degrees) at the University of Charleston only. Must reside in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, or Putnam County. 
• Details: https://tgkvf.org/scholarship-information/ 

Ray Singleton Scholarship

• Sponsor: The Great Kanahaw Valley Foundation 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For West Virginia residents pursuing a college degree (including graduate degrees). Must have a 3.0 GPA, attend college in West Virginia and reside in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, or Putnam County. 
• Details: https://tgkvf.org/scholarship-information/  

 West Virginia Graduate Nursing Scholarship 

• Sponsor: West Virginia Office of Nursing Education and Workforce Development 
• Award: up to $15,000 
• Deadline: June 
• Eligibility: For West Virginia residents pursuing a college degree (including graduate degrees). Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Must be employed as a nursing educator at a West Virginia school of nursing throughout graduate school, and commit to an additional two years of employment as a full-time nurse educator in West Virginia within six months of graduation. 
• Details: https://wvnursingeducation.org/wvcfn-scholarship/   

Raymond & Delsia R. Collins Scholarship

• Sponsor: The Great Kanahaw Valley Foundation 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: February 
• Eligibility: For West Virginia residents pursuing a college degree (including graduate degrees). Must demonstrate financial need. 
• Details: https://tgkvf.org/scholarship-information/  

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 

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 

• 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  

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  

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  

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/  

American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation Resident Scholarship Program  

• Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation 
• Award: $1,000 – $9,000 (multiple awards) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For students enrolled in an accredited nurse anesthesia program. Most award recipients are selected based on merit; some are based on financial need. Some awards are exclusive to mothers, veterans, and residents of certain states. 
• Details: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/education-grants-and-scholarships/foundation-scholarship/  

The Bottom Line

For West Virginia 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