Although tuition and fees at Western’s School of Nursing are considerably lower than those at most comparable institutions, students often need and are encouraged to apply for scholarships and other assistance.
WCU School of Nursing is pleased to offer several scholarships to current undergraduate and graduate Nursing students. Visit the WCU Scholarship webpage for more details.
If you are a prospective nursing student, we recommend you contact hospitals in your area and other community foundations that award scholarships. You cannot apply for our internal nursing scholarships until you are admitted to the university and enrolled in the WCU School of Nursing. We also recommend you contact the North Carolina Foundation for Nursing for information on financial aid.
Many health care providers offer scholarships for current employees or nursing students who plan to work at their facilities following graduation. Students are encouraged to inquire with employers in their area concerning these opportunities.
Nursing students planning to pursue a career with the military should contact service branch recruiters concerning scholarships and financial aid.
The Christopher Thomas Cash Scholarship was created in loving memory of Christopher Cash (1972-1994) who showed faith, courage and determination as he bravely fought a brain tumor. He was inspired by those taking care of him to become a nurse. Christopher was from Durham, North Carolina and became a WCU student in 1990. May his life be an inspiration to others to serve their patients with commitment, compassion and excellence.
Dr. Sharon Jacques is a former faculty member and Program Director for the RN to BSN Program. Dr. Jacques taught at WCU for over 36 years. The Sharon Jacques Nursing Scholarship is available for outstanding students currently enrolled in the RN to BSN Program.
Four awards will be made annually, two in the fall and two in the spring. The amount of the awards will be approximately $250 per recipient but will depend on the interest earned by the fund. Recipients are eligible to receive the award for a total of two semesters by reapplying. Students may be enrolled either part-time or full-time.
Applications will be screened by the WCU School of Nursing Graduate Student Affairs Committee for the following criteria:
The Scholarship Committee will recommend the recipients of the award for each term. Contact Sheila Price for more information: scprice@wcu.edu.
This scholarship is available to students who have graduated from a WNC High School (Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey). Preference will be given to students who graduated from a Buncombe County high school. Additional criteria include financial need and a demonstrated interest in oncology.
The College Foundation of North Carolina offers the Forgivable Education Loan for Service (FELS) Program for undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Click here to visit the CFNC website and view the criteria.
The National Health Service Corps offers loan repayment assistance to support qualified health care providers who choose to take their skills where they're most needed. Visit the NHSC Loan Repayment Program website for more details.
The Scholarship Program was established in 1997 to honor Judy Moore who was killed in a tragic accident in 1996. A resident of Macon County, Judy was an inspiration to both nurses and patients in her role as a Community Health Nurse III and as an OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner. She was dedicated to the field of nursing and to the continuation of the learning process through nursing education. Students residing in Macon County with demonstrated scholastic and leadership abilities as well as financial need and successful completion of the first semester of nursing courses are eligible to apply. To learn more, please visit the Judy Moore Memorial Scholarship Program website.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration division, offers the Nurse Corp Scholarship Program which enables students accepted or enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate or graduate nursing programs, including RN to BSN Bridge Program to receive funding for tuition, fees and other educational costs in exchange for working at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility upon graduation. Visit HRSA.gov for more information.
Many nurse specialty organizations offer scholarship opportunities to members.
Visit Discover Nursing's scholarship webpage for current scholarship opportunities.
The Graduate School offers a variety of funding sources for current and prospective graduate students. Click here to review the current Graduate School funding sources, such as fellowships, grants, awards, and graduate assistantships.
Some additional scholarships might be found at https://www.allnursingschools.com/articles/nursing-scholarships/.