Accelerated Masters Scholarships for Nursing (AiMS4Nursing) Program

The AiMS4Nursing Program is a 15-month long scholarship program that will use funding provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services to address the state’s nursing shortage. This funding will cover the cost of both in-state and out-of-state resident full tuition and fees incurred for 158 students while completing the college’s MS-MEPN program. Recipients must agree to practice nursing in Arizona for at least four years upon completion of their degree. The Arizona Department of Health Services will provide funding for this program through June 30, 2024. Funding is only available to new students in the MS-MEPN program who sign a 4-year commitment to work in the State of Arizona upon graduation. AiMS4Nursing Scholarship Funds will be awarded to first semester students in the MEPN program until funding is exhausted. Please see the MS-MEPN Learn More & Apply webpage for dates to apply to the program and other information: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/mepn-apply

Both Arizona residents and non-residents, as determined by the University of Arizona for tuition purposes, are eligible for the AiMS4Nursing scholarship program.

All students should check their Statement of Residency Classification (SORC) with the University of Arizona Registrar’s Office to ensure you are charged the correct tuition rate. Please visit this link and complete this requirement: https://www.registrar.arizona.edu/sorc/student

Tuition rates can be found here: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/costs-financial-aid  

The AiMS4Nursing fund will only pay for tuition and fees for the MS-MEPN program.

Tuition and fees for the MS-MEPN program can be found here: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/costs-financial-aid

Funds from this program will only cover tuition and fees. Funds cannot be used to cover cost of living expenses such as housing, childcare, or to purchase supplies. Funds will only be disbursed to the Bursar’s Office to cover the actual costs of tuition and fees and applied directly to the student’s tuition account. No funds will be directly distributed to the student.

Aims4Nursing funds are available to new MS-MEPN students. These funds are only offered to students upon their initial acceptance into the MS-MEPN program.

Initial eligibility requirements include:

1. RESIDENCY: You can either be an Arizona resident or non-resident as determined by the University of Arizona for tuition purposes.
2. ENROLLMENT: You must be admitted to and intend to enroll in the CON MS-MEPN program.
3. DEFAULT: You cannot be in default status or suspension with federal financial aid programs, UArizona scholarship general funds, UArizona Financial Aid, or any other academic institutions.
4. FAFSA: You must have completed and submitted my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year enrolled, and certify that, to the greatest extent practicable, you have sought and accepted all other non-loan aid for which you qualify to help support your nursing school education. If you have questions about FAFSA, please see the Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid website: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/faqs
5. SERVICE OBLIGATIONS: You are not currently subject to any service obligation that would be performed concurrently with or overlap with the 4-year commitment to work in the State of Arizona as a licensed RN after graduation.
6. STUDENT AGREEMENT: You must sign a Student Agreement and Promissory Note to accept AiMS4Nursing funds. You will receive a copy of these documents for review once you have submitted the application for funding.

Yes, you may still be eligible to receive AiMS4Nursing funding. All scholarships, financial gifts, aid, or grants (that are not considered loans) will be applied to your tuition first. AiMS4Nursing funds would then be applied to the balance of your tuition account, in an amount not to exceed the actual cost of tuition and fees.

Yes, you can accept financial aid or student loans, in addition to AiMS4Nursing funds. AiMS4Nursing funds can only be used for tuition and fees, whereas student loans can be used to cover cost of living expenses.

If you are concerned about adjustments to your COA or accidentally receiving an over-award, and cannot find the answer on the summer financial aid office FAQ page, please contact the Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/contact

Example:

Your budget is $25,050. That is the maximum amount of financial aid you can receive. You currently have enough aid (including loans) to cover the whole $25,050. If you borrow all your available loans and later get an AiMS award for $15,000, AiMS award will be applied to tuition charges and the loans reduced by $15,000. There will be no additional refund because total awards ($25,050) cannot exceed the cost of attendance (COA).

OSFA has a live chat feature on their website in addition to an email to submit financial aid questions. They would be able to provide specific information regarding your student account and actual award amounts.

If you would like to be offered the remaining amount of your loan, you can contact the Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid (OSFA) to request to be reviewed for your academic year eligibility. If you are still eligible, OSFA will reoffer the rest of the loan for you to accept. (This Q&A was taken directly from the OSFA FAQ page: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/faqs#loans).

All recipients of AiMS4Nursing funding will be required to start working in Arizona within 6-months of graduation. During this time, you are expected to pass the NCLEX, receive an unencumbered Arizona RN license, and begin employment.  Students have 6 years to complete the 4-year service obligation and must work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

If you are unable to fulfill the entire 4-year service commitment, 100% of the AiMS4Nursing funding you received will convert to a loan that you are personally responsible to pay back. Terms of repayment are outlined in the AiMS4Nursing Promissory Note.

Credit will not be given for part time work towards the service commitment or for partial completion of the 4-years.

Example: If you work for only 2 years of the 4-year service commitment, you will still be required to pay back 100% of AiMS funding. The amount owed, will not be reduced or pro-rated.

If you receive additional scholarships for funding that reduces the amount of AiMS funding you receive, it will still requires you to complete the 4-year service commitment at 30 hrs. per week. It does not reduce the amount of time or hours you are required to work as an RN in Arizona.

No, so long as you are working as a licensed RN, in the State of Arizona.

You will receive an email with instructions and a link to the AiMS4Nursing application within one week of the deadline to submit your letter of intent to enroll in the MS-MEPN program.

If you have not received this link, please email AiMS4Nursing@arizona.edu.

Applications will be reviewed and offered to students who are willing to sign a 4-year commitment to work in the State of Arizona as an RN after graduation. You will be sent an email, with the official Student Agreement for your electronic signature. Signing and returning this document confirms your acceptance of AiMS4Nursing funding.

Once we receive your signed Student Agreement, funds will be posted to your UAccess Account. Next you will be sent the official Promissory Note from ECSI Heartland for electronic signature. Upon receipt of your signed promissory note, AiMS4Nursing funds will be dispersed to your tuition account to pay for the current semester’s tuition and fees. Each semester you will receive a new promissory note to sign from the ECSI Heartland. Once signed and submitted, that semester’s tuition and fees will be paid using AiMS4Nursing funds.

No, you do not need to apply each semester for AiMS4Nursing funds.

Students must maintain the academic standards set forth in the MS-MEPN Student Handbook to maintain eligibility for the AiMS4Nursing Scholarship Program: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/resources/bsn-mepn-handbooks-guides

You may request a deferment (i.e., postponement) of your Service Obligation to complete further nursing training or education (“postgraduate training”) approved by the Progress Committee. Postgraduate training cannot exceed 18 months in length. After completing postgraduate training, you must commence employment in a Qualified Registered Nurse Position consistent with the deadlines and requirements outlined in the AiMS4Nursing Student Agreement.

To gain approval from the Progress Committee for a deferral for postgraduate training, you must submit a written request for deferment of your Service Obligation, a copy of your acceptance letter for postgraduate training and a detailed description of the postgraduate training program to the Progress Committee. The Progress Committee will review the deferral request and either approve or disapprove the request. All requests should be sent via email to AiMS4Nursing@arizona.edu.

All requests or updates should be sent via email to AiMS4Nursing@arizona.edu. Include your full name and phone number with all requests and updates, in case we need to contact you with questions.

Suspensions and Extensions of Service Obligation Deadlines.  You are expected to complete your Service Obligation without excessive absences or significant interruptions in employment.  However, when certain circumstances occur that may result in interruptions in full-time employment towards your Service Obligation, the AiMS4Nursing Progress Committee may temporarily suspend your Service Obligation and extend your Service Obligation deadline. A suspension and extension of your Service Obligation may be granted if compliance with the Service Obligation: (i) is temporarily impossible, or (ii) would involve a temporary extreme hardship such that enforcement of the Service Obligation would be unconscionable. Periods of approved suspension of service will extend your Service Obligation deadline, but not excuse your requirement to complete the Service Obligation. All requests should be sent via email to AiMS4Nursing@arizona.edu.

Yes, you can take vacations while employed. Vacation leave for full time employees, whether paid or unpaid, is determined by your employer.

The AiMS4Nursing student agreement allows 6 years to complete the 4-year service obligation. This should accommodate brief periods of unemployment. In the event you find yourself in an extended period of unemployment or if you need to take an official leave of absence from work, contact us via email at AiMS4Nursing@arizona.edu to discuss your options.

International students are not eligible for AiMS4Nursing funding at this time.

In general, a student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) reflects the maximum amount of aid a student can receive, depending on the type of aid offered. In addition to the COA, financial need reflects the maximum amount of need-based aid a student can receive. Need-based aid includes all “free-money” including scholarships and grants and also the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan. For additional information regarding your COA, please contact the Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/contact. Many questions can be answered on the OSFA FAQ page.