Rush > News > Scholarships Available for Diverse and Underrepresented Students in Nursing

The Rush University College of Nursing has dedicated financial need and merit scholarships for diverse and underrepresented students in nursing. These scholarships come from a number of different sources, but represent a focused effort on the part of the College of Nursing to provide dedicated dollars to increase the diversity of our student body. The college understands the importance of preparing nurse clinicians who reflect the populations for which we care and the need to provide financial assistance to help our students meet their goals.

We encourage diverse applicants to simply apply for financial aid. If there is an available scholarship for which you qualify, you will be automatically considered. If you have questions about the financial aid process, please refer to the Office of Financial Aid Web site.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) created the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing, a scholarship program to help alleviate the nursing shortage and increase the diversity of nursing professionals. Through grants to schools of nursing, the program provides scholarships to college graduates without nursing degrees who have been admitted into accelerated baccalaureate and master's nursing programs.

In May 2012, Rush University College of Nursing was awarded a $120,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation toward scholarships for the pre-licensure generalist entry master's (GEM) program. Lisa Rosenberg, PhD, RN is the director for this new grant. For the Fall 2012 and Spring and Summer 2013 cohorts, Rush will offer a limited number of $10,000 RWJF scholarships to newly enrolled qualified GEM students from underrepresented or financially disadvantaged backgrounds. The College of Nursing will provide a $10,000 grant to an additional number of qualified students who meet the RWJF criteria. "We believe these scholarships will make a significant impact in reducing student debt, while increasing the opportunity for diverse or disadvantaged students to receive a graduate education in nursing," said Lisa Rosenberg, associate dean for admissions and recruitment, associate professor in the Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing.

Students will be eligible for the Robert Wood Johnson GEM scholarships if they are African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, specific Asian populations or male (groups underrepresented in nursing) or from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. An individual from a financially disadvantaged background is defined as one who comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, adjusted annually for changes in the consumer price index (CPI), and adjusted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for use in health professions and nursing programs. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid if they are interested in applying for this award.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.