Nursing Scholarships

2026 Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship

Scholarship Application open from now until March 1, 2026.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation's Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship is available to students and healthcare workers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties  who plan to pursue, or are currently pursuing, a career in nursing and intend to practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This competitive nursing scholarship program aims to support the growth and development of the nursing workforce in NEPA.

Scholarships are available to those who are:

• Students entering or progressing through an ASN or LPN program.
• Currently employed in the healthcare field and looking to advance to an LPN, RN/BSN, or Master's level program
• Students entering their third or fourth year of a four-year nursing degree
• ‘Nontraditional’ students or those looking to go back to school to obtain any nursing certification or degree

If awarded a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, the funds MUST  be used for the 2026 academic year (July 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027). Students graduating in Spring 2026 are NOT eligible to receive this award.

To qualify for a Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship, individuals must show they have had a permanent address in Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming County for the last three years and must commit to remaining in NEPA.

Get Started Here

Click the link below to create an account for our online scholarship portal. After creating your account, select the application titled “Eligibility – Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Careers in Care Scholarship” to begin. All 2026 scholarship applications must be submitted through the online portal by March 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Scholarship decisions will be announced in June 2026.

Please Note:   this scholarship opportunity is NOT intended for graduating high school seniors.

These scholarships come at a critical time for the regional healthcare workforce, particularly in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties.

“These scholarships provide crucial financial support, allowing students to focus on their education,” said Dr. Theresa Tulaney of Marywood University.

The Careers in Care Nursing Scholarship was launched in 2020 as a part of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation’s $1.5 million Careers in Care initiative. To date, over $1,000,000 has been distributed for Careers in Care Nursing Scholarships.

“The demand for nurses is high, and supply can't meet it,” noted Laura Ducceschi of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, which administers the NEPA Health Care Foundation.

Additionally, the Foundation continues its $3.2 million commitment to the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, providing full-tuition scholarships for local students committed to practicing in Northeastern PA.

Questions about applying for a scholarship? Contact us at grants@safdn.org.