Financial Aid

Financing an education can be a seemingly overwhelming task. The Duke University School of Nursing participates in several financial aid programs that can help pay for education expenses via scholarships, federal loans, employment programs, and other resources. The Duke University School of Nursing Office of Financial Aid is available to assist students by guiding them through the financial aid process, including funding options, applications, and deadlines.

The average amount awarded to individuals by any given funding source may vary considerably from year to year, dependent on availability of funding. Prospective students are therefore encouraged to periodically visit the websites of financial aid programs that support nursing education to assure they are accessing the most current information.

The Duke University School of Nursing Office of Financial Aid provides financial aid counseling and resources for all prospective and matriculated students of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, Master of Science in Nursing Program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Program as well as those wishing to pursue post graduate and other certificate options.

Unless otherwise specified, the financial aid options below apply to all students seeking admission to or currently in any of the School of Nursing programs.

Duke University School of Nursing Scholarships

The Duke University School of Nursing awards need-based and merit scholarships for students in the ABSN Program, MSN Program, and DNP Program. School of Nursing scholarships are not awarded to certificate and nondegree students. The School of Nursing receives scholarship funds from a variety of sources and benefactors. Students need not apply for a specific scholarship fund. Instead, if students are awarded a need-based or merit scholarship they will be notified of the award.

• ABSN Need-Based Scholarship provides ABSN students who demonstrate greatest financial need with a grant of up to 100% of tuition. All new ABSN students must have submitted a CSS Profile and required federal tax documents, in addition to the FAFSA, by the posted deadlines to be considered for need-based scholarship funding.

• ABSN Merit Scholarship provides one new ABSN student per cohort with a merit scholarship of $40,000. All new degree-seeking students are considered for the merit scholarship as part of the admissions application process.

• Graduate Scholarships provide new MSN, DNP, and Nurse Anesthesia students with a scholarship toward tuition. All new degree-seeking graduate students are considered for the scholarship as part of the admissions application process.

  • Seven new MSN students per cohort are awarded $30,000 scholarships.

  • Two new post-Master’s DNP students per cohort are awarded $25,000 scholarships.

  • Two new Nurse Anesthesia students per cohort are awarded $45,000 scholarships.

• MSN Merit Scholarship provides one new MSN student per cohort with a merit scholarship of $36,000. All new degree-seeking students are considered for the merit scholarship as part of the admissions application process.

• (MSN, DNP only) Federal HRSA Traineeships (if awarded to the Duke University School of Nursing) may provide significant funding for students who intend to work in a rural or underserved area after graduation and meet degree-seeking requirements.

• (DNP only) Doctor of Nursing Practice Merit Scholarships provide one new post-master’s DNP student per cohort with a merit scholarship of $29,000. All new degree-seeking students are considered for the merit scholarship as part of the admissions application process.

• Nurse Anesthesia Merit Scholarship provides one new Nurse Anesthesia student per cohort with a merit scholarship of $68,400. All new degree-seeking students are considered for the merit scholarship as part of the admissions application process.

Duke University Scholars Program

• Duke University Scholars Program provides 100 percent tuition funding and is awarded to one student from the School of Nursing selected through a competitive process.

Duke University Health System Employee Benefit Programs

• Registered Nurse Tuition Assistance Program (RNTAP) funds up to 90 percent of tuition before taxes for up to 5 credit hours per semester for registered nurses within the Duke University Health System who are enrolled in the MSN or DNP Program and meet RNTAP employment eligibility requirements, in return for a continued employment commitment. Application materials and deadlines may be found on the DUHS intranet.

• Duke Employee Tuition Assistance Program provides up to $5,250 per calendar year in reimbursement of tuition for classes taken at Duke and other higher education institutions located within North Carolina. Application materials and deadlines may be found on the Duke Human Resources website.

Military Benefits

• For eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents, Duke University School of Nursing is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which the federal government adopted in 2008. Scholarships will be provided annually for a select number of students as part of the Yellow Ribbon initiative.

• (MSN, DNP only) DUSON Active-Duty Military Scholarship. Active-duty military students may be eligible for a special scholarship program funded by the Duke University School of Nursing. New students apply for scholarship consideration as part of the Admissions application process. For more information, visit the DUSON website.

Loan Programs

All new students interested in applying for federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online through the Department of Education. Duke University’s FAFSA school code is 002920. FAFSA applications must be renewed yearly.

• Federal Direct Loan Program is the most common student loan program for funding the education of ABSN, MSN, PGC, and DNP students who are enrolled at least half-time. This loan program provides up to $12,500 per year for ABSN students and up to $20,500 per year for MSN, PGC, and DNP students through the Department of Education.

• Federal Graduate Plus Loan is a credit-based program that allows funds to be borrowed in the name of a graduate or professional student who is enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program.

• Alternative/Private Loan Programs are loans applied for and approved by an outside lender that are designed to assist students who need additional funding to meet the gap between the cost of attendance and any other financial aid they receive.

• (MSN, DNP only) Federal HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program is funded by an HRSA grant and assists MSN Nursing Education and post-Master’s DNP students enrolled at least half-time with up to $40,000 per year in tuition expenses for post-Master’s DNP and MSN Nursing Education students. The program provides forgiveness of up to 85 percent of the loan for those who work as full-time nursing faculty for a period of time after graduation.

  Funding is awarded annually by Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and is not guaranteed.

North Carolina State Education Assistance Programs

• Forgivable Education Loans for Service provides financial assistance to qualified North Carolina residents who are committed to working in North Carolina in fields designated as critical employment shortage areas (i.e., nursing).

Federal Sponsored Scholarship and Loan Programs

• Federal HRSA NURSE Corps Scholarship Program provides significant tuition fees and monthly living allowance to selected applicants in return for service at a health care facility experiencing a critical nursing shortage.

• Federal HRSA NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program repays up to 85 percent of the student loan balance of selected applicants in exchange for two to three years of service in a nonprofit health care facility.

• (MSN and BSN-DNP only) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarships provide tuition funding plus monthly living expense payments for nurse practitioner students who agree to work for two to four years after graduation in a health professional shortage area (HPSA).

• (MSN and BSN-DNP only) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program provides nurse practitioners with up to $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years of service in a community-based site in a high-need HPSA that has applied to and been approved by the NHSC as a service site.

• (DNP only) Federal HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program repays up to $40,000 of the student loan balance of selected applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds in exchange for two years of service as faculty of an accredited health professions college or university.

PhD Program in Nursing Financial Aid

The PhD Program in Nursing is a program of the Duke University Graduate School and follows Duke University policies and requirements. Funding support for PhD students is arranged through The Graduate School and not through the School of Nursing. Consult the Graduate School website for information about this program.

All students admitted to the PhD Program in Nursing receive fellowships that pay tuition, stipend, health insurance, and fees. Full-time study is required.

The School of Nursing expects PhD students to take an active role in the funding of their education by applying for Graduate School Fellowships. They also will apply for individual National Research Service Awards (NRSA) and other applicable awards by the end of their first year or become funded on a sponsored research grant. In addition, there are certain scholarship and loan opportunities available to our PhD students. Contact the PhD Program Coordinator at SONPhDProgram@duke.edu or (919) 684-8456 for additional information about the funding support policy of the PhD Program.

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in Nursing Research (F31). This fellowship program provides predoctoral training support for students in nursing. Faculty will assist PhD students in the second semester of nursing doctoral study to develop an NRSA application that proposes an individualized research training program and dissertation research that is consistent with the scientific mission of the National Institute of Nursing Research.

• Duke University Scholarships. Duke Graduate School provides additional scholarship opportunities to all Duke University Graduate School students. For more information about Graduate School funding or federal loans, contact The Graduate School Financial Aid Office by email at grad-finaid@duke.edu or call (919) 681-3247.