Make no mistake, getting an advanced degree can be expensive. However, the benefits can make the initial expense of earning a PhD worthwhile. For example, a PhD in nursing may qualify you for higher-paying job opportunities with more responsibilities. For example, PhD in nursing degree holders can launch careers as nurse practitioners, some of whom can go on to open their own practices! But you don’t have to pay for your advanced degree entirely out of your own pocket. Grants are one of the best ways to pay for the upfront costs of college so that you can get your degree without necessarily breaking the bank.

Unlike student loans, you don’t have to repay grants after you graduate. Essentially, this is free money for school. However, just because the money is “free” doesn’t mean that you don’t have to work for it. Grant applications are typically very detailed and require you to show grant committees how you plan to use every dollar you’re given. Some grants fund specific educational projects, while others can be used as you see fit to pay for your tuition and other cost of education, such as room and board or books. In either case, be prepared for an in-depth application process.

Grants are available from three different sources: the government, organizations for nurses, and your specific school program. You can look to the government for available funds, as many departments at the state and local level have money set aside for students in medical fields. As an undergraduate, you may have applied for theÿFederal Pell Grant. Unfortunately, this money isn’t available to you at the PhD level, but there are a number of other government grants for which prospective PhD students do qualify.

Many outside organizations offer grants for nurses. Unlike scholarships, where the focus is on merit, with grants, the focus is on your financial need. Organizations, companies, and other groups offer grants to projects and students they most want to fund, so your job when applying is to convince the committee that you deserve and need the money the most. Here are some organizations that offer grants to nurses or general students pursuing a medical degree:

• AAOHN Foundation
• Alpha Tau Delta
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• American Association of University Women
• American Lung Association
• American Parkinson Disease Association
• Gerontological Society of America
• Pfizer
• Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

Lastly, you can turn to your program of choice for educational grants. Many colleges, both online and offline, have grants specifically for their students. These come in the form of general grants, which are available to all students who apply and qualify, and in the form of grants for students in a specific department. In addition, you should talk to the head of the nursing department at your school to find out about alumni and businesses that offer grants to students at your school. These grants aren’t always highly publicized, but combined with other grants and scholarships you receive, they can help significantly lower the cost of your education.