Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Kansas Board of Regents
Overview
The Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship supports students enrolled in LPN or RN programs who commit to practicing nursing in Kansas after graduation. Award recipients execute a promissory note with the State of Kansas obligating them to work in the state for one year for each year of scholarship funding received. Applicants who obtain a sponsor in a USDA Rural Opportunity Zone may receive a larger award; sponsorship is optional.
Who is eligible
- Applicants must be accepted into a Kansas nursing program (pre-nursing applicants are not eligible for funding).
- Students already holding a degree but who have not yet obtained RN licensure may apply.
- Full-time enrollment is required: students must carry at least 12 credit hours each semester.
Application requirements (NEW and RENEWAL)
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov.
- Complete the State of Kansas Student Aid Application at sfa.kansasregents.gov.
- Be admitted to and enrolled in a Kansas nursing program (note: pre-nursing programs are excluded).
New vs. renewal applicants
- NEW awardees must sign an agreement/promissory note with the State of Kansas to accept the scholarship. Instructions for executing the promissory note will be sent after award selection.
- RENEWAL applicants are those who received the scholarship the previous year; renewal recipients are not required to sign a new promissory note.
Sponsor information and higher award amounts
- Students who secure an eligible sponsor located in a USDA Rural Opportunity Zone are eligible for higher scholarship payments. Securing a sponsor is not mandatory, but doing so increases the award. If a recipient accepts the scholarship tied to a sponsor, the recipient must work for that sponsoring facility after graduation.
- Eligible sponsors include adult care homes, psychiatric hospitals, mental health or treatment facilities, medical care facilities, home health agencies, local health departments, and state agencies that employ LPNs or RNs and are licensed in Kansas.
- Sponsors cannot be located in these counties: Butler, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, or Wyandotte. Preference is given to applicants sponsored by mental health facilities.
Selection priority
If qualified applicants outnumber available funds, preference will be given to renewal applicants and to applicants demonstrating the greatest financial need.
Award amounts
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) full-time students: $4,000 per academic year. With an eligible sponsor, LPN recipients receive $5,000 per year.
- Registered Nurse (RN) full-time students: $5,000 per academic year. With an eligible sponsor, RN recipients receive $6,250 per year.
Service obligation and repayment
- Recipients must complete their program, obtain nursing licensure, and then work full-time as an LPN or RN in Kansas for one year for every year of scholarship assistance received. If the recipient accepted a sponsored award, they are required to work for that sponsoring facility.
- Failure to meet the service obligation will trigger repayment of the full scholarship amount. Interest will accrue on the outstanding balance at a 5% rate.