Financial Aid and Scholarships for Graduate Students

Ana Vigil
amvigil@salud.unm.edu
College of Nursing Student Services
MSC09 5350
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
phone: (505) 272-0854
fax: (505) 272-3970

Download documentation related to financial aid in this section.                                                      

Cost of Attendance

Borrowing Wisely                                                               

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Disadvantaged background as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: One who comes from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school, or from a program providing education or training in an allied health profession; or comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary, HHS, for use in health professions and nursing programs. Click here to find the Poverty Guidelines for Disadvantage Status.

(http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)
The FAFSA application is used to apply for student loans. It is very important to complete this as soon as possible. The priority deadline is March 1st of each year, however, applications are accepted throughout the year. Application may be made via the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The application information is processed and results are sent to the Office of Student Financial Aid at UNM. The Financial Aid Officer for Nursing is Ana Vigil.

Health Profession Loans may be available, but a student must inform the financial aid officer of her/his interest.

College of Nursing Stipends/Scholarships

The College of Nursing has funds in the form of Advanced Nursing Traineeship stipends for full-time graduate level students and there is a possibility for some scholarship funds. This stipend is not work related. The funds are awarded to students for being a full-time graduate level student. Funds are limited so the priority deadline for applications are June 30th for fall term, November 15th for spring term, and March 30th for summer term. Students must be accepted into the College of Nursing Graduate Program. Applications are now available online at the time of the College of Nursing Admission Application Process. If you have any questions, please stop by her office, call her at 272-0854, or e-mail amvigil@salud.unm.edu.

Please contact Ana Vigil (amvigil@salud.unm.edu) for a College of Nursing Scholarship Application.

The College hires Teaching Assistants at the beginning of the semester to assist instructors with large undergraduate courses or levels. The graduate student must be taking at least 6 credit hours. Presently the contract awards up to 6 cr. hrs. of tuition and fees and pays approximately $840 a month. To apply complete the same application as for stipends noted above and attach a resume.

(http://www.unm.edu/grad/funding/funding.html)
The Office of Graduate Studies awards funds in the form of scholarships for 3-5 full-time, New Mexico Resident graduate students. The College of Nursing nominates student in the spring semester. An e-mail is sent to graduate level students requesting self-nominations. Any information regarding funds for students is typically e-mailed to the graduate students throughout the year. The Office of Graduate Studies website has information on graduate fellowships and research and travel grants.

(http://hed.state.nm.us/)
The Loan For Service Program through the New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED) is restricted to students interested in working in an underserved area of the state upon degree completion. The students must be committed to this program; penalties exist for breaking the agreement. The deadline to apply is July 1.

The Loan Repayment Program is a program that pays back all educational loans for nursing students after graduation for a service payback. The main difference from the Loan for Service Program is that the student is not obligated until after graduation. Thirty out of 33 counties are typically considered underserved. Applications are due in May.

Applications are available through the New Mexico Higher Education Department. Their website address is http://hed.state.nm.us/.

Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program Overview

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) offers registered nurses substantial assistance to repay educational loans in exchange for service in eligible facilities located in areas experiencing a shortage of nurses. Authorized by Section 846 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, the purpose of the NELRP is to assist in the recruitment and retention of professional nurses dedicated to provided health care to underserved populations. For further information, please review the website or call toll-free 1-800-221-9393, e-mail CallCenter@hrsa.gov.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship fund (800/638-0824) and the Indian Health and Public Health Services. These organizations have a competitive application process and require an agreement to pay back in service, for time spent in your educational Program. These placements can be anywhere in the United States and are not necessarily in the state of New Mexico. Please be sure that you completely understand your service obligations if you accept funding. For further information, please visit the website (http://www.nhsc.hrsa.gov).

The New Mexico Health Service Corps will pay a taxable stipend to the student while in school, and service payback would occur upon graduation in a designated underserved area of New Mexico. The New Mexico State Department of Health administers these funds. The telephone contact in the office of Rural Health is Phoebe Yazzie at (505) 841-5872; e-mail: phoebe.yazzie@doh.state.nm.us.