DNP Program

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federally guaranteed loans that all students, regardless or need, are eligible to receive. Interest begins accruing after the first initial disbursement. Students are not required to start making payments on this loan until six (6) months after they graduate or drop below half time.

For more information please see our Loan Guides on the Publications page.

The Direct PLUS Loan is a loan option for Graduate/Professional students to help pay for their educational costs. Students can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid that the student is receiving. Interest begins accruing upon first disbursements. Students are not required to start making payments on this loan until sixty (60) days after the loan is fully disbursed. Students may also defer payment if the student is enrolled at least half-time, or during the six (6) month period after graduation, or after the student drops below half-time enrollment.

For more information please see our Graduate Loan Guide on our forms and publications page, or our PLUS vs Private Loan fact sheet, for a quick comparison of the two types of loan.

Choosing how to finance your education is one of the most important decisions you will make - and the impact of that decision will follow you well beyond graduation. Once you have exhausted your eligibility for Federal, State, and University financial aid and loans, you may need to consider applying for a private educational loan, also called an alternative loan. These loans are not federal student loans. They are offered by private lenders and are used to supplement other types of financial aid. The interest rates and repayment terms on these loans may vary.

Students may refer to the UC Preferred Lender List which includes lenders that have been extensively evaluated by the University of California Office of the President and found to provide competitive rates and loan terms to students.

To find out more information regarding the terms and the application process for private loans go to our Undergraduate loan guide. You can also review our video guide comparing PLUS and Private loans

UC Code of Conduct for Preferred Lender Arrangements

List of Nursing Scholarships (Non UCLA or School of Nursing funded)

General Scholarships

• The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
• Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
• AfterCollege-AACN Scholarship FundAmerican Association of Nurse Practitioners Scholarships

Scholarships for Specific Populations

• The National Black Nurses Association, Inc. Scholarships
• The Indian Health Service Scholarship
• The American Indian Nurse Scholarship
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Scholarship

Scholarships for Specific Specializations

• Stronger Scholarship (advancement of rare or chronic diseases through research, raising awareness, patient advocacy, or community-building)
• Dr. Margaret C. Freda Graduate Nursing Scholarship (maternal-child nursing)
• Ann Olson Memorial Doctoral Scholarship (oncology)
• Recovery Village Healthcare Scholarship (mental health treatment to support lasting recovery as a viable option for anyone looking to break free from substance abuse)
• The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Scholarships
• The Society of Pediatric Nurses Scholarships

Important Notice: Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of repayment options including income-based repayment plans and loan forgiveness benefits, which other education loans are not required to provide.

• Federal student loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options including, but not limited to, income-based and income-contingent repayment plans, as well as loan forgiveness benefits that private lenders are not required to provide.
• Federal direct loans are available to most students regardless of income. Other qualification criteria do apply. For more information, please visit the Federal Student Aid Website.
• Private student loan lenders can offer variable interest rates that can increase or decrease over time, depending on market conditions.
• The interest rate on a private loan may depend on borrower's and/or cosigner's credit rating.
• Private student loans have a range of interest rates and fees and students should determine the interest rate of, and any fees associated with, the private student loan included in their financial aid award package before accepting the loan.
• Students should contact the lender of the private student loan or their UC campus' financial aid office if they have any questions about a private student loan.