College SearchCompare CollegesCollege ProfilesScholarship FinderDegree FinderCareer MoviesCalendar

FINANCIAL AID

STEP 3 - APPLY FOR STATE AID

Nursing Education Loan/Scholarship Masters (NELM)

Program Overview
The primary objectives of this program are to provide education opportunities to students who wish to continue their education in nursing and address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELM awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a master’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing or teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.

Important Dates
Application dates: January 1 – March 31
Document deadline: March 31, except for the Letter of Acceptance, this may be submitted through July 31. 
The dates are important as the number of awards and recipients are dependent upon available funds.

Eligibility
You are eligible if all the following apply: 

  • You must have earned a BSN degree prior to applying (applicants pursuing certificates are not eligible.
  • You are a current legal resident of Mississippi
  • You hold a current Mississippi nursing license
  • You are enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Must not presently be in default or previously defaulted on an educational loan
  • You have been fully admitted to an eligible accredited School of Nursing

Click here for a complete listing of eligibility requirements.

Award Amount

  • The NELM awards up to $4,000 per academic year not to exceed two (2) calendar years or $8,000.  Those pursuing the NELM program part-time are eligible to receive a maximum of $8,000 prorated over three (3) calendar years.
  • All recipients must maintain a 3.0/4.0 or higher grade point average each semester/trimester in order to continue to receive funds under the renewal process.

Service Obligation
The loan to service obligation can be discharged on the basis of one academic year of full-time teaching in an accredited school of nursing in Mississippi for one year of loan received, or one year's service (12 months) in professional nursing in the interest of public health in Mississippi for one year of loan received. For those that received prorated funding over three (3) calendar years, the time of service required shall be two (2) years. The minimum service obligation is one (1) year, after graduation.

Awarding priorities
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid will make awards on a first-come first-served based upon our level of funding. However, priority is given to renewal applicants who complete the renewal process by the deadlines.

To Apply

  1. Complete the online application. This online application must be completed each academic year whether you are a prior recipient or a first-time applicant.
  2. Submit the following supporting documents:
  • Signed copy of the first two pages of student’s State Tax Return for the current year. 
  • Copy of valid Mississippi driver license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application
  • Copy of current Mississippi nursing license
  • An official letter of acceptance from an accredited nursing school, showing full admission, date admitted and entering classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. THE NELM PROGRAM REQUIRES A COPY OF MY LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE TO A MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF NURSING AND WHILE I HAVE APPLIED TO A SCHOOL OF NURSING, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE SCHOOL THAT NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO ME UNTIL AFTER YOUR MARCH 31st DEADLINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
    The only exception to the submission of documents is the letter of acceptance which may be submitted after the deadline but must be submitted by July 31st. 
  2. IS NELM AVAILABLE TO ME FOR SUMMER SCHOOL?
    No. NELM is available during the regular academic year only. 
  3. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY NELM AWARD IF I DROP CLASSES DURING THE SEMESTER?
    Each semester your NELM award is calculated based on your enrollment status at the time of registration. If your award is paid based on full-time status and you drop below full-time during the semester, then your award for the following semester will be prorated.
  4. WHY MUST I REAPPLY FOR NELM EVERY YEAR?
    Current legislation requires "...the board shall create a renewal application for each student who received the award for one or more terms during the immediately preceding academic year." At a minimum, a student must file an on-line application no later than the close of business on the deadline date of March 31st:
  5. WHAT IF MY SEMESTER GRADE POINT AVERAGE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT?
    If your semester/trimester gpa is less than 3.0 at the end of a semester/trimester, you will lose the NELM for the next semester/trimester of enrollment during a normal academic year. In order to regain eligibility your semester/trimester gpa must meet the minimum 3.0 gpa requirement.  
  6. WHAT IF I AM CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE MSN NURSING PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, WILL MY GRADES BE CHECKED BEFORE I AM ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD?
    Yes, If your semester/trimester gpa is less than 3.0 at the end of the semester/trimester, you will not be eligible for the NELM Program.
  7. I KNOW THAT AS A RECIPIENT UNDER THE NELM PROGRAM I HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF NURSING OR TEACHING NURSING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO FIND A JOB IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING MY DEGREE?
    Upon completion of the degree program and at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, all recipients are eligible for a one year grace period while seeking employment. 
  8. MAY I RECEIVE FUNDS TO PURSUE ANOTHER NURSING DEGREE PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF MY SERVICE OBLIGATION REQUIRED FOR THE PRIOR NELM FUNDED STUDY?
    No. Students who receive NELM funds are required to fulfill the service obligation before becoming eligible for nursing funds for another program of study.