20 Graduate Nursing Scholarships for California RNs

• California RNs interested in (or actively working toward) a graduate nursing degree, might meet the qualifications for several scholarships without even realizing it. 
• California tuition for an advanced nursing degree can cost up to $32,000 at public institutions. 
• Check out these 20 scholarships for California nurses who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. 

California has the largest number of licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) in the nation – roughly 540,000 active licenses. How many do you think are aware of the many scholarships available to them just for living in California?

Your workplace might offer a tuition assistance program, but why stop there? Many organizations offer scholarships to RNs pursuing graduate degrees. This applies to nurses with an Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing who want to go back for an MSN, DNP, Ph.D., or other nursing-related degree.

If you’re an RN pursuing an advanced degree, learn about Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) salaries and job outlooks in California, tuition costs, and scholarships. 

California APRN Salary and Job Outlook

Obtaining a graduate nursing degree can expand your professional opportunities and job satisfaction. The Nurse Practitioner (NP) role in particular is growing in popularity among California RNs returning to school – an increase of 33% from 2017 to 2023 – and many California NPs report high levels of satisfaction in their careers with no intent to leave their roles.

APRN salaries in the U.S. are, on average, $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.

But 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 also are available to California RNs interested in those roles.

California APRN Tuition Costs

College tuition can be an added burden for many California RNs, as the state’s cost of living ranks No. 2 of 50 for the most expensive states to live. California tuition for graduate nursing programs can cost up to $32,000 per year at public institutions. 

California residents who choose to attend an out-of-state public school can see tuitions costs more than double the in-state rate. These numbers neither reflect tuition costs at private institutions nor include costs for books, uniforms, and equipment for clinical training.

While these numbers can be intimidating, scholarships can cover some, if not all, costs of returning to school, especially if you apply for multiple awards. Some scholarship sponsors might require you to be a nursing organization member before applying. Fortunately, some membership dues are as low as $150 per year, and you’ll have access to other membership benefits like free continuing education credits, job boards, and retailer discounts.

20 Scholarships for Registered Nurses in California

While many scholarships are available to RNs across states, some organizations exclusively assist nurses who serve California residents, often those who are disadvantaged.

If you’re interested (or already enrolled) in a nursing graduate program and want to save money on tuition costs for the rest of your academic enrollment, explore these 20 scholarships for California RNs. Visit each sponsor’s website to confirm deadlines, eligibility, and monetary awards. Most scholarships are offered annually.

Deloras Jones Scholarship

• Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente 
• Award: $1,000 to $3,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For students pursuing any nursing degree (including graduate degrees) at a nursing school in California. The scholarship promotes diversity among nursing students and is awarded based on merit and financial need. 
• Details: https://community.kp.org/about/program/deloras-jones-nursing-scholarship 

California HCAI Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program

• Sponsor: California Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI) 
• Award: up to $25,000 
• Deadline: December  
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in an MSN or DNP program with role options as an NP, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or certified RN anesthetist. Must be a California resident with at least a 2.0 GPA. Requires a 12-month work commitment (32 hours a week or more) in a medically underserved community within six months of graduation. 
• Details: https://hcai.ca.gov/workforce/financial-assistance/scholarships/ 

Daniel Kelleher Scholarship

• Sponsor: California Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: September 
• Eligibility: For RNs pursuing a graduate degree. Must be an ENA member and submit two recommendation letters (highly recommended to obtain one from an ENA member). Must commit to emergency nursing. 
• Details: https://californiaena.org/scholarship-application/ 

California Nurses Associatoin (CNA) Gannon Scholarship

• Sponsor: California Nurses Foundation 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For CNA members pursuing a nursing degree. Available to applicants in the Los Angeles County area. 
• Details: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/cnf-scholarships

CNA Alameda County Scholarship

• Sponsor: California Nurses Foundation 
• Award: (unspecified amount) 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For CNA members pursuing a nursing degree. Available to applicants from Alameda County. 
• Details: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/cnf-scholarships 

Promise of Nursing Faculty Fellowships

• Sponsor: The Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association Foundation 
• Award: up to $1,000 to $7,500 per year 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For BSN-prepared RNs enrolled in a graduate nursing program in California. Must submit one letter of recommendation, demonstrate financial need, and commit to serve as a nurse educator after graduation. 
• Details: https://www.forevernursing.org/graduate-scholarships-promise-of-nursing-regional-faculty-fellowship.html  

Bonnie Fang Foundation Scholarship

• Sponsor: Bonnie Fang Foundation 
• Award: $5,000 
• Deadline: December 
• Eligibility: For full-time nursing students enrolled in a state-approved undergraduate or graduate nursing program in California. Must demonstrate financial need and commit to volunteer as a student ambassador for the Bonnie Fang Foundation. 
• Details: https://helphopehonor.org/scholarships/scholarship-information.html 

John Joseph Brandlin Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Sponsor: QueensCare 
• Award: up to $10,000 per year 
• Deadline: May 
• Eligibility: For undergraduate and graduate students residing in and attending institutions in California. Must have at least a 2.5 GPA for community college students, 3.0 GPA for undergraduates, or 3.25 GPA for graduate students. 
• Details: https://queenscare.org/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/ 

Kathy J. Sackman Member Scholarship

• Sponsor: United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) 
• Award: $5,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: May 
• Eligibility: For UNAC/UHCP members enrolled in a degree program in a healthcare field at an accredited school. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. 
• Details: https://scholarship.unacuhcp.org/

Sonia Moseley Family Scholarship

• Sponsor: UNAC/UHCP 
• Award: $5,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: May 
• Eligibility: For students enrolled in a degree program in a healthcare field at an accredited school. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Available to spouses, registered domestic partners, and dependent children of UNAC/UHCP members. 
• Details: https://scholarship.unacuhcp.org/ 

Delima MacDonald Community Scholarship

• Sponsor: UNAC/UHCP 
• Award: $2,000 (multiple) 
• Deadline: May 
• Eligibility: For students enrolled in degree program in a healthcare field at an accredited school. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA. This scholarship is available to the public (UNAC/UHCP membership not required). 
• Details: https://scholarship.unacuhcp.org/

COADN South Leadership Scholarship

• Sponsor: California Organization of Associate Degree Nursing Directors – South (COADN) 
• Award: $10,000 per year (multiple) 
• Deadline: April 
• Eligibility: For students enrolled in the second, third, or fourth semesters of an ADN program. Applicants must reside in southern California and have at least a 2.5 GPA. 
• Details: https://coadn.org/resources/scholarships/ 

Association of California Nurse Leaders Scholarship

• Sponsor: Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) 
• Award: (unspecified amount) (multiple) 
• Deadline: August 
• Eligibility: For RNs enrolled in an academic program pursuing a higher degree. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit two recommendation letters (one from an academic institution and the other from a supervisor). Open to the public (no ACNL membership required). 
• Details: https://www.acnl.org/scholarship-opportunities 

Nurses’ Float Scholarship Program

• Sponsor: ACNL 
• Award: $5,000 
• Deadline: (unspecified) 
• Eligibility: For RNs pursuing a BSN-to-MSN degree. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and submit one recommendation letter from a current collegial or administrative contact.  
• Details: https://www.acnl.org/scholarship-opportunities 

NurseThink® American Association of College of Nursing Scholarship

• Sponsor: American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) 
• Award: $5,000  
• Deadline: January and July 
• Eligibility: For applicants enrolled in master’s and doctoral nursing programs at AACN-approved institutions. Must want to teach as a future nursing faculty member. Available to members of the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA). 
• Details: https://www.aacnnursing.org/foundation/scholarships/nursethink-scholarship

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

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

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 members of the NLN and 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  

American Association of Nurse Practitioners Scholarship Program

• Sponsor: American Association of Nurse Practitioners 
• Award: $2,500 to $5,000 
• Deadline: 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 League for Nursing Education Scholarship Award 

• Sponsor: 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 submit 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

As a California 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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