College grants for nursing in Massachusetts fall into three broad types: federal, state and private/institutional. Each are awarded by different sources: federal aid by the federal government or a department of the federal government, state aid by the Massachusetts state government and private/institutional aid by private scholarship donors or the nursing school itself. Each source also has its own application process and regulations to follow.
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has several scholarship programs specifically for residents of Massachusetts. As of 2010, Massachusetts targets the Gilbert Matching Student Grant Program toward nursing students with financial need. The grant provides $200 to $2500 per academic year for nursing students enrolled full-time who have not yet earned a first degree in nursing. Depending on their level of financial need, nursing students may also be eligible for MASSGrants or Massachusetts Cash Grants.
Most colleges, universities and nursing schools award incoming or current students grants and scholarships. The institutions base the aid on a variety of factors, including financial need, merit or a combination of both. The process for applying for grants varies widely from school to school, but generally begins at the school's financial aid office. Students should check with their intended school to see if they are eligible for any grants or scholarships. Several nursing organizations also offer scholarships and grants through established scholarship programs. For example, the National Black Nurses Association awards nearly a dozen grants and scholarships each year to members of the NBNA enrolled in nursing school.
Nursing students may be eligible to receive federal financial aid for college. The federal government awards all aid, including grants and scholarships, based on the information the students provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (see Resources). The federal government may award students Pell Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, depending on their level of financial need as determined by the information on the FAFSA.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration offers students enrolled in a Registered Nurse Program full tuition grants through the Nursing Scholarship Program. RN Students receive free tuition as well as grants for required fees, other reasonable costs, such as books or clinical equipment, and a small monthly stipend. After graduation, students are required to serve two years at a health care facility with a critical nursing shortage. Selection for the scholarship program is competitive, and most students selected will have extreme financial need and be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program.
Before accepting any kind of scholarship or grant, students should make sure about the conditions attached to the scholarship or grant, and that they can easily meet the conditions. Some grants, such as federal financial aid, require an annual submission of the FAFSA by a certain deadline in order to retain the grant. Private scholarships may have deadlines, GPA requirements or service commitments after acceptance.