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Scholarships & Financial Aid

With one of the lowest tuition rates in the country, the University of South Florida is driven by a commitment to value. In fact, according to U.S. News, USF has been ranked as the “best value” institution among all public universities in the state of Florida (2025).

At the USF College of Nursing, scholarships and financial aid are available to assist nursing students in achieving their academic goals. In 2024–2025, the College of Nursing awarded over 380 foundation scholarships, distributing $730,000 in private funding alone.

The following topics will assist you in getting started with funding your nursing education here at USF and beyond. For any questions or concerns, please visit our Student Resources page or email nursingscholarship@usf.edu.

Financial Aid & Cost of Attendence

USF Tuition & Fees

As you make financial plans to attend college, there are several factors to consider. The USF tuition rates are assessed per credit hour by course level, and costs will vary based on your residency status and course type (online, clinical, etc.). The current undergraduate tuition rates can be found on the University Controller's Office website.

USF Health Financial Aid

To begin understanding and managing your college finances, be sure to take advantage of the services offered by the Office of Financial Aid. With the helpful "Get Started" option, you can choose from step-by-step guides, search for scholarships, and learn more about the types of financial aid.

The College of Nursing offers scholarships and other awards depending on your program. See the complete details provided below under Types of Financial Assistance.

Note: Once you are an admitted student, you may also contact USF Health Office of Financial Aid for assistance with navigating the financial aid process. This office works in conjunction with the college and the University Office of Financial Aid.

College of Nursing Expenses

If you are admitted to the USF College of Nursing, there will be additional fees to cover CPR training, criminal background check, drug screening, textbooks, course software, clinical uniforms, equipment (for pre-licensure students) and other expenses depending on your program.

Note: An estimated list of expenses (usually $1,000-$2,500 per year) will be provided to you as an admitted student.

Types of Financial Assistance

Determining how to finance your education is not a one-step process. It takes a commitment to learning about the different types of aid, exploring eligibility to find scholarships that align with your background and interests, applying early, and tailoring your application to highlight your strengths and goals.

Once you are an admitted nursing student, contact the USF Health Office of Financial Aid for assistance in navigating the financial aid process. That office can also help with securing adequate funding, debt management counseling, and financial planning.

Note: No matter what type of funding you are applying for, start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for most types of financial assistance at USF.

  • USF offers a variety of scholarships designed to help you and your family pay for college. To apply for these scholarships, you will need to complete a USF AwardSpring questionnaire here during the designated application period (December to May). This questionnaire will match you with scholarships you may be eligible to receive.

    The College of Nursing offers more than 50 scholarship opportunities through USF AwardSpring. In the USF AwardSpring Database, use the keyword “nursing” to search and view the current scholarships for nursing students. Scholarships can be awarded based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, special talents, or demographics.

    To apply for scholarships through AwardSpring, you must first be admitted to USF. If you're applying to the College of Nursing but haven’t been admitted to USF yet, we encourage you to complete your university application as soon as possible.

    Once you're admitted to USF and activate your Net ID, you'll gain access to AwardSpring, regardless of whether you've been admitted to the College of Nursing. For helpful tips and instructions, including a Student Scholarship Application Guide, please visit the resources available through the USF Foundation here.

  • Second Degree Nursing Success Scholarship - Funded by the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust Scholarship Program, this scholarship supports Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Nursing students in the first semester of the program. The program provides 400 scholarships of $5,000 each, over three years, with preference for those with demonstrated financial need. More information can be found here.

    Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship - The Helene Fuld Health Trust is the nation’s largest funder devoted exclusively to nursing students and nursing education. This scholarship provides select Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Nursing students with a one-time $4,000 award to cover tuition and fees for their first semester. During the admissions process, complete applicants for our three instructional campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee will receive more information directly.

    Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) – The LINE Fund is a state grant available to Florida educational institutions to expand nursing education opportunities. This funding enables the USF Health College of Nursing to support students through various avenues, including scholarships to satisfy unmet financial needs, pay for application costs for early licensure and certifications, provide additional clinical opportunities, student success coaching, and more.

    Scholarships and other funding opportunities made available through LINE will be communicated to eligible students directly during their program.

    USF AwardSpring - Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Nursing students will qualify for several opportunities through USF AwardSpring. We encourage all eligible students to apply during the designated application period from December to May of each year.

  • Employer-Related Scholarships - Hospitals and other healthcare organizations, such as Moffitt, HCA, and Pam Health, may offer funds to cover the cost of tuition and additional funding in exchange for a work commitment post-graduation. Applications for these specific opportunities will be provided upon admission to the undergraduate nursing program.

    Nurse Candidate Program (NCP) Nurse Corps – A financial assistance program for students enrolled in a BSN program. Upon completion of degree requirements, the student must accept a commission as a Nurse Corps (NC) Officer. More information about financial/educational incentives and requirements can be found here.

    Florida Navy Nurse Corps Association Scholarship - The Florida Navy Nurse Corps Association Scholarship Committee has established a fund to award scholarships to deserving nursing students and/or Registered Nurses to continue their studies for a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing. Application information will be distributed each Fall term and can also be found here.

    Below students can also find links to scholarship and loan repayment opportunities available to nurses receiving education and/or licensed in the state of Florida:

    The Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA) Scholarships – A nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting nursing education and advancing the nursing profession. Through its annual scholarship program, the FNSNA provides financial assistance to nursing students across the country, helping them pursue their academic and professional goals. Scholarships may cover tuition, fees, and books. More information about these offerings and the application process can be found here.

    NROTC Navy Nurse Program Option – This program allows nursing students to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing while commissioning as a Navy Ensign. As midshipmen in NROTC, they participate in weekly physical fitness training, naval science courses, and Navy lab periods that develop leadership skills, military knowledge, and familiarity with Navy customs and courtesies.

    For two summers, Navy Nurse Option midshipmen complete four weeks of hands-on training at a Navy hospital and aboard a Navy ship. These experiences provide practical application of their skills and insight into the professional opportunities available after graduation and commissioning. More information about the requirements for this program can be found here.

  • BSN students, who qualify as low-income residents, can receive up to $5,000 in tuition assistance, in addition to individualized career services, coaching, and support. More information about this resource can be found here: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) - CareerSource Tampa Bay.

  • There is no need to pay a search service to find scholarships because there is a wealth of information available free of charge on numerous websites. Rather than listing individual scholarship websites, we have listed several free credible national scholarship search sites below to assist with beginning the search.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I find out about available College of Nursing scholarships?

    The USF College of Nursing offers scholarships each academic year for both undergraduate and graduate students. All scholarship applications must be submitted through AwardSpring. Updates and access details are posted on the Office of Financial Aid website. AwardSpring allows students to apply for USF scholarships by completing a brief questionnaire that shows a list of scholarship(s) they may qualify for based on responses.

    The College of Nursing may have specific supplemental scholarships opportunities available to currently enrolled students. An email will be sent to students through their USF email when funds are available. We recommend checking your USF student email account daily – this is where all official communication from the university will be sent.

    How do I apply for scholarships?

    Students can apply for scholarships directly through the AwardSpring Database during the published application cycle. AwardSpring applications typically go live in December of each year.

    For scholarships outside of AwardSpring, application details will be provided upon notification of the opportunity.

  • How will I know if I am awarded a scholarship?

    All scholarship applicants will receive an email from the College of Nursing Scholarship Committee if a scholarship has been awarded. The email will include the scholarship name, amount, and details on how to accept the scholarship award.

    All scholarship notifications are contingent upon final approval from the Office of Financial Aid. Applicants can expect to receive an email in June.

    When will funding be awarded?

    Students notified of their scholarship award who accept their terms & conditions and provide thank you notes prior to the start of a semester should expect to receive disbursement before the fee payment deadline. All scholarships will first apply to any remaining balance on tuition and fees. If there is no remaining balance, then students will receive a refund for the remainder of the award.

    Students notified of their scholarship award who accept their terms & conditions and provide thank you notes during the semester should expect to receive disbursement in approximately 3-5 business days.

    Why do I not see my scholarship award in my Student Self-Service?

    College of Nursing Scholarships are sent to the Office of Financial Aid for processing to student accounts. It can typically take up to 7-10 business days (depending on university volume) to see an award posted in Student Self-Service so that they may complete their terms & conditions and monitor their thank you note requirement.

    If both requirements are complete by the start of a semester, students should expect their scholarship disbursement the Monday following the Drop/Add period. If a student completes their award requirements for a scholarship received mid-semester, they should expect funding to disburse in the following 3-5 business days.

    Why did I not receive a refund?

    Nursing scholarships will cover any remaining balance of tuition and fees on a student's account first. If a scholarship award is less than a student’s tuition balance, then their entire scholarship award will be utilized. If a scholarship award is more than a student’s balance then they should expect to receive a refund, either by direct deposit or mailed check.

  • What can my scholarship funding be used for?

    If a specific use is not outlined in the scholarship notification, then a student’s award can cover any expense that appears on the USF tuition bill, including tuition & fees, housing, meal plans, lab fees, etc.

    If a student has excess funding for a particular term because of financial aid, Bright Futures, their CON scholarship, etc., the balance will be refunded either by direct deposit or mailed check.

  • How do I accept my terms and conditions?

    Students should complete the following steps to accept their award conditions:

    1. Log in to the myUSF portal using your USF NetID and password. 
    2. Click on “My Resources” on the top bar and select “Student Self-Service”
    3. From the main menu, select the option for “Financial Aid” 
    4. Select “Award Offer” and click "Award Year 2025-2026"
    5. Click the "Confirm" button to view the terms and conditions.
    6. Carefully review the terms.
    7. At the bottom of the page, acknowledge that you have read the terms by selecting the appropriate checkbox.
    8. Click "Accept Award" to finalize the process.

    How do I submit a thank you letter?

    Students may email their thank you note(s) as a PDF or Word Document attachment to nursingscholarship@usf.edu. Following the scholarship notification, students will receive further instruction on how to accept their award, including a “donor profile” to assist them in completing their thank you note.

  • Is my College of Nursing Scholarship automatically renewed?

    Details regarding renewability can be found in an individual scholarship’s terms & conditions. Most USF Nursing scholarships are non-renewable, which means that students should only expect to receive a one-time payment (unless their total award amount is split into two semesters). If indicated in the terms & conditions, students can receive the same award more than once should they reapply and are selected by the scholarship committee again.

    For renewable Nursing scholarships, students should be aware that they must continue to meet scholarship requirements for the award to be reoccurring (i.e., if a scholarship is need-based, students must continue to demonstrate eligibility for need-based aid through each year’s FAFSA).

Contact Us

For assistance with scholarship opportunities through the USF College of Nursing, students can connect with the scholarship team at nursingscholarship@usf.edu.

Financial Aid: Once a student is admitted, they may contact the USF Health Office of Financial Aid for assistance with navigating the financial aid process. This office works in conjunction with the college and the University Office of Financial Aid.

Veteran Education Benefit: See the Office of Veteran Success for details on how to apply for VA Education Benefits at USF. That office provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the admissions and VA benefits process.

For additional assistance, email ovs@usf.edu.