The School of Nursing has several scholarships to support nursing students enrolled at the Seattle campus. Generous donations by SoN alumni and friends make these scholarships possible. The donors also set criteria for most scholarships. Some of the criteria are very broad, but others are very specific, so we recommend that every student apply.
Funding types
Undergraduate students will be considered for tuition scholarships. These scholarships are applied to student accounts and may pay a combination of tuition, fees, and books/supplies expenses.
Graduate students will be considered for tuition scholarships, stipends, and health insurance. Tuition scholarships are applied to student accounts and may pay a combination of tuition, fees, and books/supplies expenses. Stipends are processed like paychecks and are paid twice per month. Students who receive stipends may also receive GAIP health insurance benefits. Additionally, stipends for non-WA residents may reduce their tuition amounts to the WA-resident rate.
When to apply
| Program | Application Opens | Priority Consideration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn start students | May | June |
| ABSN Spring start students | December | Mid-January |
Application process
Applications will be reviewed once per quarter, and awards are limited to available funding.
Autumn Start students apply here, during the application window above.
Incoming Accelerated BSN students apply here, during the application window above.
- Complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) if eligible. Complete this every year you are enrolled in your program of study. The priority filing deadline for UW is February 28, but applications can be submitted at any time, and it is highly encouraged that you apply early.
- Apply for UW Financial Aid if eligible.
Award amount
Scholarship awardees generally receive between $500 – $2,500 per quarter, depending on available funds, eligibility, and funding criteria.
Eligibility — who should apply?
Applicants must be accepted into one of the UW Seattle SoN programs, including ABSN, BSN, DNP, or PhD To receive funding, students must be registered in classes within these programs.
UW Seattle SoN students who need assistance with educational expenses (tuition, fees, books, supplies, living expenses, etc.) during the next academic year are highly encouraged to apply. Although SoN scholarships are limited, we are able to help many of our students who have high unmet need or loan debt.
Unmet need is the amount of financial need that is not covered by financial aid (scholarships, grants, loans, or work study). It is determined from the Cost of Attendance (CoA) minus student/parent contribution and minus financial aid; what is left is called “unmet need.” For those who are eligible, this figure is determined by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid (UW OSFA).
Funding priorities
Priority consideration will be given to applicants who:
- have high unmet financial need or high loan debt;
- do not have other funding support (such as traineeships, employer- or union-sponsored tuition benefits, etc.)
- meet donor criteria for specific scholarships
Funding opportunities by degree program
- de Tornyay Center: Learn more about our research and travel scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
- SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW Multi-Employer Training Fund: The Training Fund’s unified labor-management partnership builds a diverse & empowered healthcare workforce through leadership, education, stewardship, innovation, and advocacy.
- Scholarships for Degrees in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing: If you’re at the point where you’re looking at scholarships for degrees that will lead you into advanced clinical practice, administration or other advanced roles, then you already understand it’s a good long-term career investment. Strong demand, independence, better paychecks… what’s not to like about being an advanced clinician or administrator?
Center for Human Rights at the UW scholarships
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- Dr. Lisa Sable Brown Endowed Fund for Human Rights: The Dr. Lisa Sable Brown Fund provides financial resources to benefit graduate students to study and/or conduct research about human rights. The committee may combine this fellowship with the Mack and Mayerfeld fellowship to make a more substantial award. Priority will be given to graduate student research that identifies acts of oppression of an individual’s human rights and advocates abolishing such practices that may be viewed as a form of “slavery.” In 2024, they had approximately $10,000 available to distribute; the entire amount may be issued in a single award or split between multiple awardees. The number of awards and amounts will vary depending on the number and quality of applications.
- Peter Mack and Jamie Mayerfeld Fund: The Peter Mack and Jamie Mayerfeld Fund provides financial resources to benefit graduate students to study and/or conduct research about human rights. In 2024, they had approximately $10,000 to distribute. Available funds may be issued in a single award or split between multiple awardees. The number of awards and amounts will vary depending on the number and quality of applications.
- Byron Hanke Fellowship: The Foundation for Community Association Research (FCAR) awards its Byron Hanke Fellowship to selected graduate students to implement research projects related to the development, management, and governance of common interest communities and their community associations. Applicants must be enrolled, at the time of application and through the research period, in a graduate-level program (master’s, doctoral, or legal) at an accredited higher education institution in the United States or Canada. Students from any relevant discipline may apply for the Hanke Fellowship, provided their research project relates to community associations and/or common interest communities.
Nurse Technician employment opportunities
Current ABSN and BSN students in good standing (all nursing courses must receive a 2.0 grade or better and receive credit for clinical courses) may apply for Nurse Technician licensure after completing NCLIN 301 and 306.
Your undergraduate student adviser (absnadvising@uw.edu, bsnadvising@uw.edu) in the Office of Student and Academic Affairs will verify your enrollment in good standing and projected graduation date on the application:
Download the Nurse Technician Registration Education Verification (for SoN)
Download the Nurse Technician Registration Employer Verification (for future/current employer)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licensure
ABSN and BSN students who have completed NCLIN 302 and 306 are also eligible to sit for the CNA licensure exam. Some hospitals prefer to hire Certified Nursing Assistants over Nurse Technicians.
Advanced Nursing Education Workforce – Washington (ANEW-WA)
Current DNP students in primary care tracks interested in serving rural and medically underserved communities are invited to apply for a 2-quarter, HRSA-funded ANEW-WA training opportunity. Scholars receive financial support, clinical placements in R/MU sites, and didactic seminars on topics such as telehealth, behavioral health, and health equity—preparing them to deliver high-quality, community-based care.
The mission of ANEW-WA is to:
- Expand access to primary care by supporting advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students in rural and underserved areas, and
- Strengthen Washington’s nursing workforce through financial support, innovative training, and academic-practice partnerships.
PhD applicants are considered for scholarships at the time admissions decisions are made. No additional action is needed. Some PhD admissions offers will include scholarship support. The number and amount of awards vary annually.
Hester McLaws Nursing Dissertation Scholarship
The Hester McLaws Nursing Dissertation Scholarship provides funding up to $5,000 for dissertation-related expenses. This is available to any PhD student who has passed their General Exam. Applications may be submitted at any time.
de Tornyay Center for Health Aging
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging supports nursing students through scholarships, conference travel awards, and recognition programs that advance research and projects in healthy aging.
Pre- and Post-doctoral training program in Biology to Society (B2S)
The Biology to Society (B2S) provides funded pre-doctoral traineeships and postdoctoral fellowships through a National Institute of Nursing Research T32 grant, offering rigorous interdisciplinary training in omics, systems science, data science, and multilevel approaches to health within a socio-ecological framework, supported by specialized coursework, seminars, and hands-on mentorship from active faculty researchers.
Pre- and Post-Doctoral Training: Research in Nursing & Global Health (RiNGH)
The Research in Nursing & Global Health (RiNGH) program, funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, provides pre-doctoral traineeships and postdoctoral fellowships that support education, mentorship, and career development to prepare junior scientists for interdisciplinary research advancing global health equity.
Last updated: September 2025