Financial Aid & Scholarships
The Dean’s Excellence in Nursing Leadership Graduate Scholarships
This scholarship is designed to support current and future nurses committed to improving healthcare outcomes, as well as improving their leadership and management skills through the pursuit of the MSN-COM degree.
Award Amount: up to $8,500
Eligibility: All applicants apply to the ELMSN or MSN program are eligible for these scholarships.
Terms of the Award: These scholarships are awarded for one year and a portion of it can be renewed for a second year by maintaining full-time student status, good standing in the program including a 3.0 or better in all courses, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
Application Procedure:
Scholarship will only be considered for those who have submitted a complete application for the MSN program. To apply for the scholarship, please:
- Submit admission application for the MSN program via NursingCAS by the priority deadline dates.
- Respond to the scholarship questions when you fill out the admission application on NursingCAS.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
(When complete the FAFSA, be sure to indicate that you want the results of your analysis sent to PLU, school code 003785. Be sure to print out your confirmation page and include your email address so the FAFSA generated Student Aid Report can be emailed to you.)
PLU Alumni Discount*
The PLU Grant provides a 10% discount on tuition for PLU graduates who enroll in a PLU master’s degree. Restrictions apply to those students who are also PLU employees. The discount begins immediately upon admission.
Federal Nursing Loans
These loans are available at a lower rate than the typical unsubsidized Stafford Loans offered to graduate students. Our Office of Financial aid has detailed information about the conditions and how to apply: https://www.plu.edu/financial-aid/types-aid/loans/nursing-loan
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Direct Loans)
Although payments are deferred while you are enrolled at least half-time, unsubsidized loans accumulate interest while you are in school. If you can, it is recommended that you try to pay the interest on these loans while you are in school.
Loan amount: LOAN of $20,500 per year
Deadline: Applicants are considered for this loan when their FAFSA application is being processed. The loan is processed by PLU and disbursed to pay your tuition.
Number of awards: n/a
Criteria: You do not need to demonstrate need to qualify for these loans. Detailed information is available at the Federal student aid website.
Terms of the loan: This loan accumulates interest while you are in school, and when you are in your forbearance “grace period.” It is a loan, so it must be paid back with interest. When you fill out the FAFSA, there is a tool that estimates what your student loan repayment amounts will look like. Detailed information, including current interest rates, is available at the Federal student aid website.
How to apply:
- Fill out the Free Application For Student Aid – Please note, the FAFSA must be filled out each year that you are enrolled.
- Once you receive your PLU award notification, you must log onto PLU’s Secure Area of Banner Web, Financial Aid Services, to Accept or Decline the loan.
- If you choose to accept the loan, you must also “Sign In” to studentloans.gov to complete the required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.
PLUS Loan (Direct Loans)
Although payments are deferred while you are enrolled at least half-time, unsubsidized loans accumulate interest while you are in school. If you can, it is recommended that you try to pay the interest on these loans while you are in school. These loans differ from Unsubsidized Stafford Loans in that they have a higher interest rate and require a credit check.
Loan amount: LOAN to meet any unmet need up to the total estimated cost of attendance for the program.
Deadline: Applicants are considered for this loan when their FAFSA application is being processed. The loan is processed by PLU and disbursed to pay your tuition.
Number of awards: n/a
Criteria: You do not need to demonstrate need to qualify for these loans. Unlike the Stafford loan, borrowers must pass a credit check. Detailed information is available at the Federal student aid website.
Terms of the loan: This loan accumulates interest while you are in school, and when you are in your forbearance “grace period.” It is a loan, so it must be paid back with interest. When you fill out the FAFSA, there is a tool that estimates what your student loan repayment amounts will look like. Detailed information, including current interest rates, is available at the Federal student aid website.
How to apply:
- Fill out the Free Application For Student Aid – Please note, the FAFSA must be filled out each year that you are enrolled.
- Once you receive your PLU award notification, you must log onto PLU’s Secure Area of Banner Web, Financial Aid Services, to Accept or Decline the loan.
- If you choose to accept the loan, you must also “Sign In” to studentloans.gov to complete the required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Visit the AACN website for information about graduate scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for nursing students.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program
Minimum of two years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area of greatest need.
The next Scholarship Program application is scheduled to open in early 2018. Visit the National Health Service Corps website for information.
Watch the NHSC Scholarship Application Recorded Webinar to learn more about the NHSC Scholarship Program and application process.
NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
Nursing students are eligible to receive funding for their training in exchange for working at least two-years at an eligible NURSE Corps facility upon graduation. Visit the NURSE Corps Scholarship website for information.
The application cycle for the 2017 NURSE Corps Scholarship program is closed. Sign up to be notified when the next application cycle opens.
What are the similarities—and differences—between the NHSC and NURSE Corps scholarship programs?
Download the scholarships guide (PDF)
NursingJournal.org
Visit NurseJournal.org to view a list of more than 50 scholarships and grants for nursing students.
National Health Services Corp loan repayment
The program is open to licensed primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health providers. Awardees receive up to $50,000 in exchange for two-years of service if they practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) of 14 and above (Tier I). There are many NHSC loan repayment sites in the Puget Sound area.
More details are available on the National Health Services Corp website.
Nurse Corps loan repayment
NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program sets registered nurses (including advanced practice registered nurses and nursing faculty) on a rewarding career path while paying off 60 percent of their unpaid nursing student loans in just 2 years – and an additional 25 percent of the original balance for an optional third year.
In return, NURSE Corps members fulfilling a service obligation at one of the thousands of eligible nonprofit hospitals, clinics, nursing schools and other facilities located in designated mental health or primary medical care Health Professional Shortage Areas across the U.S.
More details are available on the Nurse Corps website.
Washington State Health Professional Loan Repayment Program
The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program encourages licensed primary care health professionals to serve in critical shortage areas in Washington State. The program provides financial assistance through either conditional scholarships or loan repayment. The loan repayment portion of the program provides educational repayment assistance to licensed primary care health professionals. Applicants agree to provide primary care health care in rural or underserved urban areas with designated shortages.
More details are available on the Washington Student Achievement Council.
Yellow Ribbon Program
Pacific Lutheran University is proud to partner with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to offer an unlimited number of full-tuition Yellow Ribbon Scholarships to qualified veterans or their dependents.
For detailed information about this benefit and eligibility, see the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program FAQ.
For more information about using your post 9/11 GI benefits at PLU, please contact PLU’s Veterans Benefits Coordinator Neshell Henkel Chabot at 800-678-3243, 253-535-7161, or henkelnd@plu.edu.
Vocational Rehab & Other Benefits
At PLU, we are committed to assisting you with getting the most from your benefits. If you qualify for Vocational Rehab, or any other benefits, our dedicated Veterans Benefits Coordinator will work with you to help you fill out the paperwork you need for the VA. Please contact Neshell Henkel Chabot at 800-678-3243, 253-535-7161, or henkelnd@plu.edu.