Nursing schools, associations, and organizations in California provide scholarships to its residents who wish to pursue a career in nursing. The aim of the scholarship is to increase the number of practicing nurses in the state by removing financial barriers that may hinder them. Let’s go ahead to see the nursing scholarships in California and how you can apply for them.
California is one of the best places in the US to become a Registered Nurse. The nursing schools there are top-tier ranking among the nation’s best, and employment is in abundance with great pay. According to Forbes, California is the best state in the US for nurses and also with the highest number of employed nurses.
Before you start thinking that there will be less employment for future nurses in California since it has the highest number of employed nurses, a survey from Projections Central has shown that 21,200 projected positions for nurses will appear in California between 2020 and 2030. As for the salary structure, RNs in California earn an average wage of $133,340 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
I am putting all these data out there to help you make better-informed decisions on where to study and work as a nurse in the US.
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How to Become a Nurse in California
To become a nurse in California, you can begin by earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) which takes 2 years, or a diploma in practical nursing which takes 2 years. Any of these qualifications can prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam, earn your licensure, and work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
Another route is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree offered by many private and state colleges and universities in California. You can enroll into a BSN degree program after high school and it takes 4 years to complete after which you will take the NCLEX and earn your license from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) then begin practicing as a Registered Nurse (RN). You can also earn your BSN as an LPN or LVN and it will take a shorter time.
According to the UC San Francisco Health Workforce Research Center on Long-Term Care, California faces a shortage of about 36,000 licensed nurses which makes it one of the states with the highest demand for registered nurses. If you are considering nursing as a career, I think you now have all the answers you need to go ahead with the career and it would be best if you decide to study and work in California as a nurse.
The shortage of nurses in California is being dealt with through the provision of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid by varieties of donors in a bid to eradicate financial barriers limiting or restricting students from earning a nursing degree. This way, more people will be encouraged to get into nursing school without worrying about the expensive cost because nursing schools in California are expensive but they offer world-class nursing education.
In this blog post, I have provided concrete information on the nursing scholarships in California for those who wish to study and work in California as nurses. The scholarships are from different sources and thus have varying requirements. While some are only for residents of California, others are for both residents and non-residents as long as you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States you qualify to apply. Review their specific requirements carefully.
Before we get into the list, there are also other nursing scholarships published on our blog that are not location-specific that you can apply for to assist with the cost of your nursing education in California. You can apply for healthcare graduate scholarships and direct the fund towards your MSN or DNP degree but if you are just fresh out of high school then apply for healthcare scholarships for high school seniors then direct the award towards your ADN or BSN program.
Having said that, let’s dive into the main topic.
Top Nursing Scholarships in California
- The Joseph Brandlin Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Kaiser Permanente Deloras Jones RN Scholarship Program
- ACNL Scholarship Opportunities
- CSU East Bay School of Nursing Pioneer Scholarships
- California Nurses Foundation Scholarships
- Tauro University, California Nursing Scholarships
- California State University Chico School of Nursing Scholarships
- Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing Scholarships and Discounts
- LASC Scholarships & Financial Aid for Nursing Students
- USF School of Nursing and Health Professions Scholarships
- UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing Endowments & Scholarships
- Fresno State College of Health and Human Services
1. The Joseph Brandlin Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship, the Joseph Brandlin Memorial Scholarship Fund, is one of the best nursing scholarships in California offering $250K every year to support students in healthcare programs. The scholarship aims to increase the number of healthcare professionals working in underserved communities. The scholarship is managed by QueensCare, a charity dedicated to providing free and low-cost healthcare to low-income residents of Los Angeles County.
The Fund awards one 4-year scholarship to undergraduate or graduate students residing in and attending colleges and universities in California for up to 4 years and up to $10,000 per year based on financial need and academic performance. To be eligible, applicants must be in good academic standing. A minimum of 2.5 GPA is required for a community college student, 3.0 GPA for undergraduates, and 3.25 for graduates.
2. Kaiser Permanente Deloras Jones RN Scholarship Program
This is one of the scholarships in California designed to support the education of students who want to practice as RNs in California. The eligibility and amount of the award are determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by the evaluation team of Scholarship America.
3. ACNL Scholarship Opportunities
The Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) offers a wide range of scholarships to support nursing students pursuing higher education to assist them in advancing their nursing knowledge and completing pre-licensure requirements. There are three scholarships namely; ACNL Scholarships, Pre-Licensure Scholarships for Student Nurses, and Nurses’ Float Scholarship.
Each of these scholarships has a separate application, different eligibility criteria, and different application requirements. Follow the link below to get more information and proceed to apply.
4. CSU East Bay School of Nursing Pioneer Scholarships
California State University (CSU) East Bay School of Nursing provides a wide range of internal and external scholarships for current and new students enrolled in the nursing program. There are four Pioneer Scholarships namely; Parry Family Nursing Scholarship, Isabel Chenoweth MT Diablo Foundation, The Elsie Sanderson Scholarship, and the Alameda/Contra Costa County Medical Association Scholarship. Each of these scholarships has varying requirements, so contact the school to get all the details.
5. California Nurses Foundation Scholarships
This foundation offers several scholarships to nursing students and CAN/NNOC members enrolled in an ADN program. The awards are annually and Californian residents are eligible to apply.
6. Tauro University, California Nursing Scholarships
If you are a resident or non-resident of California, you may want to consider applying for the nursing program at Touro University to be eligible for financial assistance that will fund your nursing degree at Touro. Aside from its internal scholarships, the institution also provides resources to external sources of funding that students can find helpful.
7. California State University Chico School of Nursing Scholarships
CSU Chico offers a reputable nursing program in California and if you are considering going there for a nursing degree, you will be eligible for several funding to support the cost of your education. You cannot apply for the scholarship separately, rather you will be automatically considered when you apply for admission into a nursing program.
8. Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing Scholarships and Discounts
Are you a RN who wants to pursue a higher education like MSN or DNP? Then consider applying for a graduate nursing program at Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing and qualify for scholarships, grants, or fellowships to support the cost of your graduate program so that you will graduate with little to no student debt.
9. LASC Scholarships & Financial Aid for Nursing Students
At LASC, nursing students may qualify for financial aid, tuition-fee waiver, and work-study funding to enable them to afford the cost of nursing. The institution also provides external resources that students can look into to get more funding through scholarships and grants.
10. USF School of Nursing and Health Professions Scholarships
The nursing school at the University of San Francisco (USF) – School of Nursing and Health Professions – offers a BSN program and two different scholarships to assist students with the tuition fee. The scholarships are for those in California who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
In addition, you must have an overall GPA of 2.9 or higher, submit an essay and unofficial transcript, and interview for the award. Current and incoming students are eligible to apply. The scholarship amount is $2,500 per semester.
11. UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing Endowments & Scholarships
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) offers free funding in the form of scholarships and endowments to nursing students across all programs. The scholarships are different but you cannot apply for them rather you will be automatically considered with your application for admission into the nursing program.
However, this remains one of the best nursing scholarships in California and can go a long way to cover the cost of your tuition.
12. Fresno State College of Health and Human Services
The College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State offers 120 scholarships annually to incoming and current students and since nursing is one of the programs under the college nursing students also qualify. Regardless of accomplishments, interests, background, or GPA, all students are encouraged to apply for scholarships they are eligible for.
Conclusion
California is facing a severe shortage of nurses, to solve that, colleges and universities with nursing programs, nursing, and health organizations, hospitals, and many others are offering scholarships to interested individuals who would like to study and work in California as nurses. This is a good opportunity for those considering becoming nurses because you will not just get funding to cover all or part of your education but work in California, the top state in the US for paying nurses high salaries.
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