On this page you’ll find information about:

• OHSU nursing scholarships
• Outside nursing scholarships
• Loans
• Loan forgiveness and repayment program

OHSU scholarships for nursing students

• Award amount: $1,000 to $8,500
• Who is considered: Current and incoming nursing students for the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Deadline: The priority deadline for all current and incoming students who are starting summer 2026 is April 1, 2026. For incoming students starting fall 2026 or later, the priority deadline is June 1, 2026. Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered for second priority and awarded if funding allows.
• Application link 

OHSU President's Fund Scholarship

• Award amount: Full tuition and fees throughout the length of your program.
• Who is considered: Students entering specific degree programs in health care.
• How to apply: All applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship. You don’t need to apply.

Qualifying programs:

• B.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Ph.D. in Nursing

OHSU Provost Excellence Scholarship

• Award amount: Half of your tuition and fees for the length of your program.
• Who is considered: Students entering specific degree programs in health care.
• How to apply: All applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship. You don’t need to apply.

Qualifying programs:

• B.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Ph.D. in Nursing

OHSU Provost Workforce Development Scholarships

All new students in these programs qualify for these scholarships unless tuition and fees are covered by other awards. You do not need to apply. 

Students awarded the Provost Excellence Scholarship, the President’s Fund Scholarship or any other OHSU or external funds covering full tuition and fees are not eligible for these awards. Scholarship amounts will not exceed the total cost of tuition and fees in an academic term.

B.S. in nursing programs

• Accelerated B.S. in nursing (Ashland): $6,000 total toward tuition and fees for students starting in summer or fall 2027 (disbursed during the 2027-28 academic year).
• B.S. in nursing 3-year program (Ashland, Klamath Falls, La Grande or Monmouth): $6,000 total toward tuition and fees for students starting in 2027-28 (disbursed evenly over three academic years, $2,000 per year). Students at the Portland campus do not qualify.
• RN to B.S.: $2,000 total toward tuition and fees for students starting in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years. Each academic year runs from summer through spring The entire $2,000 is disbursed within the academic year the student starts.

D.N.P. programs

Students starting in summer or fall 2027 in the following programs receive $9,000 total toward tuition and fees (disbursed evenly over three academic years, $3,000 per year):

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse-Midwifery
• Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Scholars for a Healthy Oregon Initiative

• Award amount: Full tuition and fees throughout the length of your program.
• Who is considered: Students from Oregon entering specific clinical degree programs. In return, students agree to practice in a rural or underserved community for the first few years of their career.
• How to apply: Learn more about the Scholars for a Healthy Oregon Initiative
• Deadline: closed

Qualifying programs:

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) in:

• Nurse Anesthesia
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Midwifery
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Oregon Rural Nurse Scholars (ORNS) Scholarship

• Award amount: The scholarship may cover up to the full cost of tuition, depending on your financial need and other aid you receive. It also includes a $1,500 stipend for travel to rural sites during the academic year.

• To be considered, you must be:

  • Entering your second year of the B.S. in nursing program at either the La Grande or Klamath Falls campus
  • Planning on living and working in a rural setting after graduation
  • An Oregon resident
  • In good academic standing

   

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET)

• Award amount: up to $32,500
• Who is considered: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students in their third year of the D.N.P. program. Selection is based on program criteria and available placement opportunities.
• About the opportunity: Funded by HRSA, the IMPACT project expands clinical training in team-based, community-focused settings, including tele behavioral health and care for children and adolescents. Students gain hands-on experience with underserved populations while strengthening workforce readiness.
• How to apply: Applications open to eligible students in their second year. Selection occurs through a committee review process prior to the final year.
• Application timeline: Currently closed. Expected to reopen in January.

Learn more about the grant.

The Michaelson Gerontological Nursing Scholarship

• Award amount: Up to $3,000.
• Who is considered: Master of Nursing Education (MNE) or Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) students in their second year of the program who are committed to improving the health and health care of older adults.
• Application closed.

The Hearst Endowed Scholarship

• Award amount: Up to $15,000
• Who is considered: Doctor of Nursing Practice students in their final year of the program who have an interest and commitment to the care of older adults (age 65 years or above), in any setting, be it acute care, primary care, long-term care, or community-based care
• Application closed.

School of Nursing Ph.D. Student Scholarship

• Award amount: Full tuition and fees and a monthly stipend for the first four years of your program.
• Who is considered: Applicants of the Ph.D. program.
• How to apply: Ph.D. applicants will automatically be considered. You don’t need to apply.

Scholarship searches

• College Board
• Oregon Student Assistance Commission
• Johnson & Johnson
• Fastweb

Harding Loan

• Amount: $850 per term
• Interest rate: 5% fixed interest rate
• Requirements: For current students who need additional assistance beyond their existing financial aid package. Only available to students who are not fully funded.
• Deadline: Closed
• How to apply:The Harding Loan is no longer available for the 2026-2027 academic year, as all funding has been awarded. Applications are no longer accepted. Please contact the Office of Admissions  at proginfo@ohsu.edu with any questions. 

Loans come due three months after graduation. 

Emergency Loan

• Amount: Varies  
• Interest rate: 0%  
• Requirements: For undergraduate students.
• Deadline: Rolling
• Application information: Contact the financial aid office at 503-494-7800 or finaid@ohsu.edu. 

Evalee C. Schwarz Charitable Trust for Education Loan

• Amount: $5,000 to $15,000
• Interest rate: 0%  
• Requirements: Undergraduate or graduate students with strong academic performance and high financial need.
• Deadline: Visit their website for the most up-to-date deadline.
• How to apply: Evalee C. Schwarz Charitable Trust for Education application

Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)

• Amount: Partial loan cancellation (up to 85%)
• Requirements: For Ph.D., D.N.P. and M.N.E. students. Students must complete specific nursing education courses. After graduation, the NFLP cancels part of the loan for graduates who work full-time as faculty at an accredited nursing school.
• How to apply: Funding for the 2027–28 academic year has not yet been determined. If funding is available, Financial Aid will email eligible students with information about how to apply.

D.N.P. graduates will have their loans forgiven if they work in their specialty and serve as a full-time preceptor for one student per term at OHSU’s School of Nursing or another accredited nursing school. 

Primary Care Loan Forgiveness (PCLF)

• Amount: One or more years of tuition and fees
• Requirements: Students must commit to practice at an approved rural Oregon site after graduation.
• Deadline: Visit their website for the most up-to-date deadline.
• How to apply: Primary Care Loan Forgiveness application

Federal Loan Forgiveness

• Amount: Cost of eligible loans minus 120 monthly payments
• Requirements: Available only to students not fully funded through financial aid.  
• Deadline: Visit their website for the most up-to-date deadline.
• How to apply: Federal Loan Forgiveness application

Faculty Loan Repayment Program

• Visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
• How to apply: Faculty Loan Repayment Program application

National Health Service Corps

• Amount: Up to $170,000 loan repayment
• Requirements: Minimum of two years full-time commitment to work at a National Health Service Corps approved site.
• Deadline: Visit their website for the most up-to-date deadline.
• Application link: National Health Service Corps application