Graduate Scholarship 101
Our Graduate (GRD) Scholarship provides up to $25,000 to fund Nurse Practitioner students from one of Washington’s six graduate nursing schools. The scholarship can be used toward four primary care and behavioral health-focused DNP or MSN program tracks. These programs lead to jobs that Washington State’s medically underserved communities need most.
The Graduate Program is more than a scholarship! WSOS (Washington State Opportunity Scholarship) is here to support you EVERY step on your pathway to a career in a high-demand field. The scholarship is just one piece. We hope you will take FULL advantage of all the opportunities to build your network and connect with other Scholars and professionals. We are here to be your community of support. We hope you will participate in the way that helps you the most!
Congratulations to the newest cohort of Graduate Scholars!
Scholar Portal Information
Access information about your scholarship
Looking for information about your scholarship? Before looking anywhere else, visit the Scholar Portal to view key details and submit forms to update your account, including:
- All scholarship funding and disbursement information
- Important deadlines for your scholarship
- Contact information, including adding your student ID number so WSOS can send your disbursement to the correct student account
- Submit practicum site information
- Fill out the GRD travel stipend application
- Update your college information
If you’re a new Opportunity Scholar, you will receive instructions on how to access the Scholar Portal.
- For optimal user experience, do not use Apple Safari web browser to log in
- View a video tutorial or PDF manual on how to navigate the Scholar Portal.
How much funding do I receive?
GRD recipients will receive up to $25,000 in scholarship funding to be divided over their remaining program terms. The funds start being disbursed in the fall term following scholarship selection and cannot exceed $6,250 per term.
Travel Stipend
In addition to $25,000 in scholarship funding, GRD Scholars are eligible for a travel stipend when training at a remote practicum site.
If you’re completing your clinical practicum 50 miles or more from where you live, apply for a $500 per term travel stipend. This travel stipend is available to WSOS GRD scholarship awardees only when training in a designated Medically Underserved Area (MUA) or Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). The application is available through the Scholar Portal.
Preceptor Stipend
WSOS offers a $3,600 per 120 clinical hours Preceptor Stipend to eligible MUA or HPSA practicum sites that host a GRD scholar. Sites may use these funds however they see fit. Eligible sites include preceptor sites located within a Washington state MUA or HPSA that are hosting a WSOS Graduate Scholar for a clinical practicum course of 60 hours or more. We hope all eligible sites take advantage of these funds. Please share the information about the Preceptor Stipend with all of your eligible practicum sites.
When do I receive funding?
Disbursements are sent directly to the financial aid office of the Scholars’ college two weeks prior to the start of each term.
| Semester Schools | Disbursement Date |
| 2024 Fall Semester | July 29, 2024 |
| 2025 Spring Semester | December 9, 2024 |
| 2025 Summer Semester | April 14, 2025 |
| Quarter Schools | Disbursement Date |
| 2024 Fall Quarter | August 26, 2024 |
| 2025 Winter Quarter | December 17, 2024 |
| 2025 Spring Quarter | March 10, 2025 |
| 2025 Summer Quarter | June 16, 2025 |
What happens if the scholarship disbursement date takes place after my college’s tuition deadline?
- In these instances, the college can place a hold on your account so that you will not be dropped from your courses and no additional charges will be accrued.
- If you need a hold placed on your account, please reach out to your college’s financial aid office and notify them of your pending GRD award.
How do I confirm when funds were sent to my school?
- Log in to the Scholar Portal.
- If an actual disbursement is reflected in the Scholar Portal and you do not yet see funds in your account, it is likely due to processing time.
- Colleges take a few weeks to apply scholarship funds after they receive them.
- Contact your college’s financial aid office if you have any concerns about your award after it is shown as an “actual disbursement” in the Scholar Portal.
How do I remain eligible for the scholarship?
Students must:
- Remain on a full-time schedule as defined by their DNP program to continue receiving funding.
- Gonzaga MSN students must remain on the standard nine-semester part-time schedule to continue to receive funding.
- Complete the FAFSA/WASFA every year. Reminders will be sent each spring with your deadline to have your financial aid forms complete.
Deferment
Scholars are eligible to defer their scholarship for up to 1 year. If a Scholar is approved for a deferment, the scholarship funds will be deferred until the scholar is enrolled back in school.
How long will I receive the scholarship?
All Scholars’ awards will have a “Maximum Award” and “Scholarship Expiration Date,” both of which can be found in the Scholar Portal and will be set within the first term of enrollment. The maximum award amount is $25,000 and the scholarship expiration date is three years from the first disbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if I decide to attend a different school than what’s in my Scholar Portal? Or change my program?
Email graduate@waopportunityscholarship.org regarding changes to your school or program.
If you change to another eligible program track at an eligible WA graduate nursing school, AGNP-Primary Care, FNP, PNP, or PMHNP, you can retain the scholarship. All other program tracks are not eligible for the scholarship.
Why don’t I see my scholarship in my financial aid award letter?
Your scholarship may not show up in your financial aid award letter from your school before the start of the academic year because WSOS sends fall term funds later in the summer.
When do I start receiving my WSOS scholarship?
Graduate Scholarship funding will begin being disbursed (sent to your school) in the fall term after you are selected for the scholarship.
The funds will be sent to your school’s financial aid office a few weeks before the start of the term.
How are Graduate (GRD) Scholarship disbursements determined?
The $25,000 Graduate Scholarship is divided evenly over your remaining terms in your program. The maximum disbursement you can receive is $6,250 per term.
Why did I receive less than the planned disbursement amount?
- WSOS can be used to cover up to your Cost of Attendance (COA). COA = tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living expenses for one academic year.
- If you receive other forms of financial aid or other scholarships, you may receive partial WSOS funding.
- When you don’t receive the total WSOS amount, it could mean your COA is met for that term or academic year by other sources of your financial aid package.
Are the Graduate (GRD) stipends part of my scholarship?
- The stipends are separate from the $25,000 academic scholarship disbursed (sent) to your financial aid office.
- The $500 travel stipend is available to Scholars when training at a remote practicum site, and the application is available in your Scholar Portal.
- The Preceptor Site Stipend is available to clinics that host a WSOS Graduate Scholar for a clinical practicum.
Contact us
Email is the primary way we communicate with you. Make sure to check your spam settings to make sure you are receiving WSOS emails. While you have the right to unsubscribe from WSOS emails, this will result in missing important information and deadline reminders.
Contact graduate@waopportunityscholarship.org or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-899-5002, and we’ll get back to you.