Graduate
All school based financial aid is determined by several factors including information provided in your application, financial need and merit criteria.
Graduate & DNP Financial Aid
Your first step in applying for Federal Financial aid or alternative loans, is to submit a FAFSA. This will show your eligibility for federal loans (for both full- and part-time tracks).
All full-time students may also be eligible to receive an endowed scholarship or Penn Nursing grant. Our Scholarships and Grants section outlines scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, as well as partnerships and external scholarship opportunities.
We suggest reviewing the resources in the Graduate Student section of the Student Financial Services site as well as looking at our Understanding Your Aid section below for answers to common concerns.
Scholarships and Grants
Eligibility for Penn Nursing grants and endowed scholarships is determined based on merit and need as determined through your admissions application and FAFSA documentation.
This endowed program provides financial aid for exemplary undergraduate and graduate nursing students, supplementing their education with tailored learning to become nurse leaders who deliver exceptional evidence-based care, design research, inform policy, spark innovation, and advocate for social justice, world-wide.
Applicants who are eligible will be notified to apply. Visit this page to learn more.
Full-time graduate students who are US Citizens (or permanent residents) may be eligible to receive a Penn Nursing grant and/or a Donor-Named Endowed Scholarship. Students must be enrolled in 3 CU’s each semester to be eligible for school-based grants and scholarships, and awardees are selected by a scholarship committee based on information provided in their application, financial need, and merit. Please note that if your status changes to part-time, you’ll no longer qualify.
The Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program is dedicated to building a nurse practitioner workforce committed to working in and with underserved communities, both rural and urban, and will recruit and prepare students ready to lead in providing high-quality primary care access for all.
What Makes a Fellow?
For students to become a Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Fellow, they must already be full-time admitted students in Penn Nursing’s primary care programs with a demonstrated commitment to nursing and promoting health equity by working in underserved communities.
The program will cover tuition and fees to all who are selected to become Fellows, plus a stipend for students with greater financial need. Upon graduation, Fellows will be expected to practice or provide service in underserved communities, and Penn Nursing will offer resources and guidance in finding practice sites that fulfill that goal. Learn more on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Eligible MSN programs:
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health / Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner
Interested in applying to become a Leonard A. Lauder Fellow?
Fill out our interest form and we’ll alert you when information sessions have been added.
RPCVs are considered for a one-time scholarship of up to $8,000 if selected as RPCV Awardees. To be considered for this award, students must be enrolled as full-time students in one of the five eligible MSN programs listed. You must also notify the Global Health Affairs Office that you are a RPCV at the same time that you are completing your application or planning to return from leave. Providing this information any later means that funds are less likely to be available to you. RPCV students are also in an excellent position to seek external support via CURF, including the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. Penn Nursing’s application fee is waived for RPCVs.
Eligible MSN Programs:
Our graduate students have the opportunity to apply for a variety of scholarships and loan forgiveness programs, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 for an academic year. Please note that our policy for receiving one of the merit-based scholarships is such that your need-based eligibility for Nursing Grant or Endowed Scholarship funding will be reduced, allowing the school to fund additional students and expand enrollment.
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Kass Scholarship in Gerontology
A $30,000 scholarship and loan forgiveness program that involves committing to a year of work at the NewCourtland Center. -
Nurse Faculty Loan Program
Available to MSN, Post-Master’s, and PhD students who are interested in pursuing a career as a nursing educator, this loan forgiveness program is funded by HRSA – up to 85% forgivable. Awards may vary and can be awarded as high as $35,500, and require a 4-year work commitment as a full-time faculty member at any school of nursing. -
George and Estelle Sands Nursing Scholars Program
An exciting scholarship opportunity to offer students in the Psychiatric Mental Health APN Program offering a $32,500 Scholarship/loan forgiveness program in exchange for a for two year work commitment to work at the Princeton Medical Center post-graduation. -
Independence Blue Cross Nurses for Tomorrow Scholarship
This is available to graduate students enrolled in their final year of a master’s degree in an advanced practice nursing program and pursuing a career as a Nurse Educator or an Advanced Practice Nurse. Recipients will be chosen by committee and awards may vary, minimum award amount will be $2500. To qualify, you must be able to provide proof of residency (RN license, driver’s license, car registration, or voter registration) in one of the following areas:
- Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester or Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania
- New Castle County in Delaware
- Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Mercer Counties in New Jersey
Understanding Your Aid
Your program costs will depend on how many course units (CU) you take per semester. The average course offered at Penn is worth 1 CU, and it is equal to 4 semester hours. Individual academic program pages outline estimated costs for each program.
Full-time students’ financial aid packages are comprised of loan eligibility and potentially merit-based awards. Full-time students will automatically be evaluated for endowed nursing scholarship funding. Penn Nursing endowed scholarships are merit-based and determined by your admissions application data.
Part-time students may qualify for other scholarships at the School of Nursing, such as the Academic Practice Partnership Scholarship (PNAPP).
It is important to note that students cannot receive both the PNAPP Scholarship and endowed nursing scholarship funding. However, students will always receive the award that is the most financially beneficial to them.
All loan eligibility requires a FAFSA. Federal loan eligibility is based on registration. Taking 2 or more CUs makes you eligible for federal aid. If you qualify for federal loans, you can borrow up to your total cost of attendance (total cost of attendance in any semester is tuition, fees, and living expenses). If you are registered for less than 2 CUs in any given term, you will not qualify for federal support.
Graduate Direct Loan and Graduate Direct PLUS Loans are available for students who are attending at least half time (2 CUs in any given term). Students are eligible for $20,500 of unsubsidized Direct Loan funds each academic year. Grad PLUS Loans can be used to cover your expected contribution and any difference between your Direct Loan eligibility and total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, and living expenses).
For any students who do not want to borrow, or do not qualify to borrow, federal loans, private education loans options are available. There are alternative loans available for students who are registered less than half time or who are unable to submit a FAFSA.
Federal Direct Loans have an aggregate loan limit of $138,500. However, Federal Graduate PLUS Loans have no aggregate limit. Therefore, your current student loan debt has no bearing on your ability to obtain federal education loans (in the form of Grad PLUS) as long as you have not defaulted on a previous loan. Those who have previously defaulted on an educational loan should begin Defaulted Loans Rehabilitation, which involves contacting your loan servicer and starting to make payments. We suggest that you should try to make at least 12 consecutive payments.
Follow the instructions on the Penn Student Financial Services website to report an outside scholarship.
Both the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offer tuition benefits. Get in touch with their respective Human Resources Offices for specifics and eligibility.
There is also additional information about an available Academic Practice Partner Scholarship on this section of the main Financial Aid page.
Students who are using the GI Bill® to fund their schooling can find some general information on the yellow ribbon program on the Veterans at Penn page.
“GI Bill” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Student Financial Services (SFS) website is a wealth of information. Here, you can find information about federal loans and tips on Financial Wellness.
At Path@Penn, you can register for classes and accept federal loan funding.
We are here to help
Most general questions can be answered by our FAQ sheet.
Still don’t see what you need?
Please get in touch with any specific questions you have about your financial situation.
