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Clara Gutman Argemí Image Written By: Clara Gutman Argemí | Edited By: Kevin Ladd | Updated: June 1, 2026

Texas Nursing Scholarships

Key takeaways

  • As the growing population of Texas ages, the state faces a projected nursing shortage.
  • Scholarships can help cover the costs of nurse training programs, from one-year LVN certificates to graduate degrees.
  • Eligibility is often determined by residence, program location, and financial need.

The United States faces a nursing shortage. According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, the current demand for Registered Nurses (RNs) outstrips supply by 8%. For Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), this deficit is 16%.

The gap is projected to widen as the healthcare needs of an aging population continue to grow, while up to one million RNs are expected to retire by 2030.

These trends are acutely felt in Texas, the country’s fastest-growing state and the second most populous, where supply of RNs is expected to fall short of demand by 7% by 2034 – and by 20% for LPNs.

Aspiring nurses in Texas can face financial barriers to obtaining the education they need in order to meet this challenge. Scholarships for nurses can help remove them.

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The 25 Best Texas Nursing Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2026

What are scholarships for nursing students in Texas?

Scholarships for nursing students are awards that can help students pay for their nursing education, potentially offsetting federal and private loans.

Texas-based scholarships may have smaller applicant pools and offer applicants a higher chance of succeeding.

For example, the state-funded Nursing Students Scholarship Program pulls from the Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) to help cover the costs of a nursing education.

Recent legislation sharply reduces the amount of federal loans you can take out if you are earning a graduate degree classified as “non-professional” by the Department of Education. This includes graduate nursing degrees required to become an advanced practice registered nurse. Borrowing caps go into effect shortly.

While many nurses do not have graduate degrees, those considering earning a graduate degree in nursing can search for graduate scholarships tailored to them.


Frequently asked questions about scholarships for Texas nurses

What qualifications do you need to work as a nurse in Texas?

There are different pathways into nursing, ranging from one-year programs to master’s and doctoral degrees. Each route provides a different qualification.

Types of nurses recognized in Texas include Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN), Registered Nurse (RN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Texas has diverse nursing needs, and the qualifications most in demand can vary by region. Determining which is best for you will depend on your background, needs, and goals.

Qualifications must be obtained from nursing education programs accredited by bodies such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

How hard is it to become a certified nurse in Texas?

The lengths of nurse training programs can range from one year for an LVN certificate to several for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Costs also vary.

To become a Licensed Practical Nurse or LPN – known in Texas (and California) as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or LVN – you need to graduate from an approved, one-year program and pass state exams.

To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you must have at least a two-year Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN); many also have four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. You must also pass state exams before you start practicing.

To become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Texas, you need a recognized advanced practice graduate degree in nursing, an ADN or BSN and 2-4 years of clinical practice, and may have to meet other requirements.

Finally, Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D in Nursing) degrees typically require master’s and doctoral-level study and can take 5 or more years. Some programs might be funded by the school where you study.

Do you need nursing experience to apply for Texas nursing scholarships?

Some Texas nursing scholarships require that candidates already be enrolled in nursing school when they apply. 

For example, to be eligible for the Cuidado Casero Foundation Nursing Scholarship, candidates must be enrolled in a nursing program in the Dallas-Fort Worth counties.

If you are an adult considering a career change but have no previous experience with nursing, some scholarships might support your transition. 

For example, the Women With Promise Scholarship supports women from North Texas who have been accepted into an accredited course of study at a college, university, or trade and vocational school and who demonstrate financial need.

Do you need a minimum GPA to apply for nursing scholarships?

GPA and other, similar requirements will vary from one scholarship to the next. Some nursing scholarships do require a minimum GPA to apply, but there are many that do not.

The Gigi and Louise Gartner Scholarship has a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 and is available to students who graduated from high schools in Dallas County, Texas. The ProCare Health Heroes Scholarship, awarded to high school students in Texas pursuing careers in healthcare, requires a minimum GPA of 3.5.

On the other hand, the TELACU College Success Program has no minimum GPA requirement; students have to study in a STEM or business field and “demonstrate a desire to give back to the community.”

Can you apply for nursing scholarships if you don’t live in Texas?

Texas nursing scholarships typically require Texas residency or enrollment in a Texas program; in some cases, applicants must have graduated from a Texas high school to be eligible and some will require both Texas residence and Texas college attendance.

If you obtained any of your nursing licenses in a state that is not Texas, check with the Texas Board of Nursing to see what you need to do in order to practice in Texas. You can also seek to obtain your next degree in the state.

Bear in mind that if you are not a Texas resident but obtain your certification at a Texas-based institution, you might be liable for out-of-state tuition, which is typically more expensive than tuition for Texas residents.