What resources help minorities become nurses?
Several national associations, federal workforce-diversity programs and school-based scholarships support minority and first-generation nursing students. Start with the association for your community and the financial aid office at the school you choose.
Professional associations
These groups offer mentoring, networking, conferences and in many cases scholarships: the National Black Nurses Association, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association, the Philippine Nurses Association of America, the American Indian and Alaska Native nursing community through the Indian Health Service, and the American Association for Men in Nursing. Check each group’s website for current scholarships and eligibility.
Federal programs
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Nursing Workforce Diversity program funds schools to recruit and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Indian Health Service runs scholarship programs for American Indian and Alaska Native students in health professions. Rules and funding change each year, so check the agency pages. See how to pay for nursing school.
Schools
Many schools have pipeline and support programs: summer bridge courses, tutoring and cohort mentoring. Ask the admissions office for retention and graduation rates, and ask whether the school’s faculty and clinical sites reflect the community you want to serve. Compare programs with how to choose a nursing school.
Why it matters for the profession
Patients are more comfortable with clinicians who understand their language and culture. The 2024 workforce study found a median RN age of 50, and nearly four in ten RNs plan to leave within five years, so the profession is recruiting widely. Pay is the same regardless of background: the median RN earned $97,550 in May 2025.
First steps
Choose an accredited program, see accredited programs by state, apply for scholarships early, and see scholarships for nursing students. Contact the association chapter near you: members often know which local schools support their students best.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.