Lower your costs. Attend a nursing program close to your home, or consider an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offered by universities such as Gonzaga University. Such online programs usually assess a lower tuition fee and allow you to study around a job schedule.
Discuss financing with your university. Most universities offer scholarships, grants--both need-based and merit-based--and finance payments plans for students pursuing a MSN. Such universities include the Yale University School of Nursing and John Hopkins University. For example, the latter offers the "School of Nursing Merit Scholarship," which covers up to 50 percent of a master's program tuition.
Get a job. Many universities offer a work-aid program, sometimes subsidized by the U.S. federal government, which gives you a chance to earn money while also working in a medical environment that bolsters your learning experience.
Apply for nursing scholarships available from outside of your university through various non-profit and private organizations. Examples include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's scholarship fund, available to all levels of nursing students, including master's and doctoral programs, and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future's "Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship."
Look into specialties. Focusing on a specific branch of nursing for your master's program can open up additional funding opportunities from the private and non-profit sector. For example, the American Cancer Society offers a $10,000 stipend for those pursing a master's nursing program in cancer nursing. Discuss potential opportunities with your master's faculty, whom can point you toward available funding for your specialty.
Get government grants, such as the Pell grant. These are not nursing-specific, but are available to all qualifying applicants who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Finance your education through a traditional loan. Educational loans can be obtained through most financial institutions. Loans should be your last resort after exhausting all other nursing scholarship, grant and work opportunities.