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Graduate Scholarship (GRD) 101
GRD is one of three pathways to high-demand careers in Washington State offered by WSOS. This program aims to increase the number of nurse practitioners providing health care in medically underserved areas of the state. Funding can be used for eligible Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs at one of five nursing schools in Washington state for students who are pursuing a specialty in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP- primary care), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP) or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP – primary care).
The scholarship provides up to $25,000, up to Cost of Attendance (COA), and after other financial aid has been applied, over three years and can cover tuition, fees, housing, transportation, and more. Recipients can also receive a travel stipend when training at a remote site. The scholarship is divided evenly across the remaining academic terms, starting with the fall term after a Scholar is selected. Funding does not exceed $6,250 per term.
Deadlines
WSOS accepts GRD applications once each academic year.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | March 17, 2026 |
| Application deadline | May 12, 2026 |
| FAFSA/WASFA processed* | May 12, 2026 |
| Recommendation Form submitted | May 14, 2026 |
| Selection notification | June 2026 |
*Please submit your FAFSA or WASFA as early as possible to ensure it is processed before the deadline.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants for the scholarship must meet all the following criteria:
Residency:
- Be a Washington state resident. In most cases, a Washington state resident lives in the state for one year immediately before starting a college program. Note that WSOS accepts undocumented applicants.
- If you have additional questions about residency, please email graduate@waopportunityscholarship.org.
- Learn more about WSOS residency requirements.
Financial need:
- Submit and have your FAFSA or WASFA processed by the GRD application deadline.
- Apply for Federal Education Tax Credits if eligible.
- Either have a family income at or below 125% of Washington state median family income (MFI) based on family size -OR- have a family income at or below 155% MFI and provide information on the application about current and expected student loan debt, past reliance on income-based programs, and current financial situation.
Education plan:
- Currently pursuing a specialty in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP- primary care), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP), or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP – primary care) in a DNP or MSN program at one of the following eligible universities:
- Gonzaga University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle University, UW Seattle, or Washington State University (WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, WSU Vancouver, or WSU Yakima).
- Must have completed at least one semester or two quarters in your DNP or MSN program.
- Must have at least 75% of your program’s required clinical hours left to complete.
- Be enrolled full-time as defined by your DNP program or part-time as defined by your MSN program.
- Be in good academic standing as defined by your DNP or MSN program.
Post-degree plan:
- Intend to practice in a Washington state MUA or HPSA for at least two years after program completion.
- Commit to sharing job attainment data post-degree completion with WSOS.
Stipends
To help Scholars serve Washington’s Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), WSOS provides two stipends. We ask Scholars to complete at least half of their clinical credit hours in a Washington State MUA or HPSA. Recipients can receive a travel stipend of $500 per term if training at a remote MUA or HPSA. Practicum sites in MUA or HPSAs can also receive a stipend of $3,600 per 120 clinical hours if they host a GRD Scholar. Learn about the preceptor site stipends.
How do I apply?
- Meet the eligibility requirements.
- Complete all sections of the application and complete the following materials by the deadline:
- Two essay questions
- A recent unofficial transcript from your DNP or MSN degree program
- Current course progression plan
- Submit and have your FAFSA or WASFA processed by the GRD application deadline.
- Have one recommendation form submitted from a professional or academic reference who can speak to your commitment to working in a Washington MUA or HPSA. View our recommender selection guide.
Application tools
- Essay question guide: Review some guiding tips on how to prepare for this section of the application.
- Recommendation form guide: Information sheet that you can send to reference about the GRD Scholarship and what to include in the Recommendation Form. Please also view our recommender selection guide.
Application tips
- There is no “submit button.” Once you have completed every part of the application, you will receive a confirmation email. Check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away.
- The application takes about 30 minutes to complete if you have your essays prepared, your unofficial transcript, and your individual course progression plan ready to upload.
- You can start the application, save progress, and return to complete it later up until the application deadline.
- Confirm you’ve entered your recommender’s email correctly and check in with them regularly until they’ve submitted your recommendation.
Washington Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
Medically Underserved Areas and Health Professional Shortage Areas are located across the state of Washington. See below for maps provided by the Washington State Department of Health.
Selection & notification
The Board of Directors determines the criteria for selecting recipients, which vary year to year. The Board values applicants who demonstrate a commitment to practicing in Washington state, studying in an eligible program, and having financial need.
Applicants will be notified about the selection decision by the end of June via the email address you provided on the application.
Make sure to carefully enter your email and add graduate@waopportunityscholarship.org to your list of trusted senders.
Contact us
Still have questions? We’re here to help. Email us at graduate@waopportunityscholarship.org or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-899-5002 and we’ll get back to you.