The Nurse Education Scholarship Program (NESP) provides grants based on financial need to students pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associates degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing at participating schools.

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[110 ILCS 975

23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CH. XIX, SEC. 2749 The administration of NESP is being transitioned from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ISAC during the 2022-23 academic year.

To increase the number of nurses and nurse educators in Illinois by offering scholarships to overcome financial barriers to education.

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Individuals;

A qualified applicant shall: 1) Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non citizen or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE Act; 2) Be an Illinois resident for at least one year prior to the date of application; 3) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment to a nursing program in Illinois that is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or the Illinois Board of Higher Education; 4) Demonstrate financial need; 5) Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by your college; 6) Establish satisfactory repayment arrangements if you are in default on any federal student loan; and 7) Sign an Application/Promissory Note/Grant Agreement promising to fulfill the employment commitment or repay funds received plus interest. An applicant who receives monies from other scholarship or loan funds requiring service commitments that would prevent the applicant from meeting the nursing employment obligation or nurse educator employment requirements is ineligible for this scholarship.

Individual

Direct Payments for Specific Use

Education

In addition to the application, applicants shall submit the following documents: 1) A copy of the applicant's acceptance letter to an approved institution's nursing program in Illinois. This letter is not required if the applicant's official transcripts demonstrate the applicant is taking nursing courses at an approved institution in Illinois; 2) A copy of the applicant's Illinois driver's license or State-issued identification card documenting that the applicant has been an Illinois resident at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship; 3) A copy of the applicant's: birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or permanent resident card; 4) A copy of the applicant's SAR; 5) The applicant's official transcripts. If the applicant has a GED, the applicant shall furnish the GED certificate and GED passing score; 6) A copy of any previously earned nursing degree; 7) A copy of the applicant's Illinois nursing license (if applicable); and 8) A statement that the applicant has not defaulted on an educational loan.

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The NESP application period each year starts on March 1 and continues through April 30. Only one application for this program may be submitted per academic year.

Nursing scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following: 1) Recipients continuing with their nursing education (for the same nursing degree sought) from the previous academic year will receive preference over other applicants; 2) If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the following factors will be considered in granting priority in awarding scholarships: A) Financial need, as shown on a current SAR, of students who will pursue their education on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already have a certificate in practical nursing, a diploma in nursing, or an associate degree in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree; B) A student's merit, as shown through the student's grade point average, class rank, and other academic and extracurricular activities, including, but not limited to: i) A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; or ii) Class rank in the 50th percentile or higher. C) In the event of a tie, applicants having the fewest number of credit hours remaining to complete the certificate, diploma or degree will be awarded scholarships. b) Nurse educator scholarship recipients will be selected based on the following: 1) Recipients continuing with their nursing education (for the same nursing degree sought) from the previous academic year will receive preference over other applicants; 2) If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the following factors will be considered in granting priority in awarding scholarships: A) Financial need, as shown on a current SAR, of students who will pursue their education on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already have a baccalaureate degree in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree. B) A student's status as a registered nurse who is pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment in an approved institution that educates licensed practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. C) A student's merit, as shown through the student's grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse, including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in the United States military, and other academic and extracurricular activities, including, but not limited to: i) A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; or ii) Class rank in the 50th percentile or higher. D) In the event of a tie, applicants having the fewest number of credit hours remaining to complete the degree will be awarded scholarships.

The scholarship pays for coursework within the nursing curriculum, but does not pay for pre-requisite coursework. The number of years for which you may receive funding from this program is based on the certificate, diploma, or degree being pursued. Certificate in Practical Nursing - One Academic Year Associate Degree in Nursing - Two Academic Years Hospital-Based Diploma in Nursing - Three Academic Years Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing - Four Academic Years Graduate Degree in Nursing - Five Academic Years Graduate Degree in Nursing to become a Nurse Educator - Three Academic Years The scholarship pays for coursework within the nursing curriculum, but does not pay for pre-requisite coursework. Full-time students may receive a stipend (part-time students are not eligible for a stipend). 1) At least 40% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in nursing; 2) At least 30% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing associate degrees in nursing or a hospital-based diploma in nursing; 3) At least 20% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing a graduate degree in nursing; and 4) At least 10% of the scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing.

April 30 of each year.

Within 30 days of receipt of application.

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Applicants must apply annually. The number of years for which you may receive funding from this program is based on the certificate, diploma, or degree being pursued. Certificate in Practical Nursing - One Academic Year Associate Degree in Nursing - Two Academic Years Hospital-Based Diploma in Nursing - Three Academic Years Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing - Four Academic Years Graduate Degree in Nursing - Five Academic Years Graduate Degree in Nursing to become a Nurse Educator - Three Academic Years

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Tuition and mandatory fees for approved programs. A recipient must begin full- or part-time employment as a licensed practical or registered nurse in Illinois within six months of graduating, and remain employed for a period equivalent to the educational time supported by the scholarship. If the recipient terminates studies, or fails to become employed, they will be required to repay the full scholarship amount, plus seven-percent interest per year.

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1) Awards for students at approved private institutions shall not exceed the tuition and fee charges at community colleges and universities statewide and the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted Monetary Award Program (MAP) budget for the academic year in which the scholarship is made. 2) Scholarship amounts for students pursuing an associate degree in nursing or a hospital-based diploma in nursing at an Illinois community college shall include 75% of the weighted tuition and fees charged by community colleges in Illinois shall be added to the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted MAP budget to determine the full-time scholarship amount. 3) Scholarship amounts for students pursuing associate, baccalaureate or graduate degrees in nursing at a college or university shall include 75% of the weighted tuition and fees charged by public universities in Illinois plus the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted MAP budget. 4) Scholarship amounts for students in practical nursing programs shall include 75% of the average tuition and fee charges at all practical nursing programs plus the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted MAP budget. 5) Part-time awards shall be determined by applying the proportion represented by the part-time enrollment to full-time enrollment ratio to the average per term scholarship amount for a student in the same nursing degree category.

The goal of the Nursing Education Scholarship Program is to increase the number of nurses and nurse educators available for employment in Illinois by offering scholarships to overcome financial barriers to education.

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500 West Monroe, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62704

1755 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015

https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/nursing-education-scholarship-program.html

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FY 2023 : $4,000,000