The Kramer School of Nursing offers several competitive scholarship opportunities -- in addition to regular academic and merit-based scholarships offered by the university -- in an effort to make a nursing education more affordable for a variety of students.
The Kramer Way Scholarship is generously provided through an anonymous donor. This competitive-based $15,000 scholarship is awarded to up to 13 pre-licensure junior students entering the program in Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.
Application deadline: 12 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2
Kramer Way Scholarship recipients will be notified through OCU email by Friday, Dec. 13. Notification of acceptance must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. After Dec. 18, alternates will be contacted and offered the scholarship.
Funding will be applied each semester when the student is enrolled full-time in nursing courses within an academic year. Students starting in spring cohorts on the accelerated schedule will have the $15,000 divided between the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Students must maintain good standing while in the nursing program to continue to receive the funds.
Criteria for Eligibility
- Accepted and enrolled in the pre-licensure BSN program in the appropriate term
- Complete the Kramer Way Scholarship Application, including providing:
- 500-word essay that clearly describes the role all three attributes of the Kramer Way (caring, kindness, and respect) have played in your life. Typed, double-spaced
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- Cumulative GPA
- Completed FASFA on file with OCU (recommended, not required)
How to Apply
Eligible students will be contacted by email to fill out the application and deadlines. If you have questions about this scholarship, please email [email protected] or [email protected].
The Saints & Stars Program is a five-year agreement between SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ City University’s Kramer School of Nursing. The partnership allows OCU students to work part-time with SSM Health while they complete their nursing degree, while also receiving a $3,500 annual scholarship from SSM Health and a $5,000 annual discount from OCU. Twenty pre-licensure junior students will be selected to participate in the program each year through the 2025-26 academic year.
In addition to employment and financial benefits, the partnership will allow OCU nursing students the opportunity to take part in clinical rotations at SSM Health; to engage in paid leadership clinical hours; to participate in a summer nurse extern program; to complete service learning hours at SSM; and to be assigned a nurse mentor.
Application Deadline: Monday, May 20th
Eligible students will be contacted by Admissions through email to fill out the application. Applicants must complete the Saints and Stars Program application and the SSM Employee application to be considered.
Please note, interviews for SSM employment will occur on Monday, June 10th or Tuesday, June 10th. SSM Health Human Resources will contact Saints and Stars finalists to set up an interview on either of these days. Interviews will occur at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ City University, Kramer School of Nursing; in-person interviews are preferred. Virtual interview options will be available for students living out of state.
Saints and Stars participants will be notified by email on Monday, June 17th. Notification of acceptance must be received by June 21st to be a part of the program. After June 21st, alternates will be contacted and offered a position in the program. SSM Health employee onboarding will occur in July with employee orientation scheduled for the week of August 8th.
Funding will be applied, once it is received, each semester the student is enrolled full-time in nursing courses within an academic year. This means the number of semesters within a student’s academic year will not change the annual amount of the scholarship initially awarded to the student. 
*Please note, due to SSM Health employment policies, LPN-BSN students selected for the Saints and Stars Program are not eligible to work outside of the 24 hours/month part-time employment requirement.
Criteria for Eligibility
To be considered for the Saints and Stars Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in the BSN degree program and have completed at least 60 credit hours of the BSN program (whether OCU or transfer students)
- Complete the Saints and Stars Program Application
- Selected by SSM Health during employment interviews
How to Apply
Eligible students will be contacted by email to fill out the application and deadlines. If you have questions about this scholarship, please email [email protected] or [email protected]
The Buchanan Scholarship was created to provide support to nurse practitioner students who intend to practice in ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ post-graduation. The scholarship offers $25,000 each fall and spring semester to second, third, or fourth-year nurse practitioner students who meet eligibility criteria. Funds will be divided equally between three students, one from each of the three BSN-DNP program tracks (FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP).
Scholarship funds are to be used for tuition and fees and will be payable to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ City University. The remaining funds, if any, may be used for books, or specified supplies. A list of eligible supplies will be provided to recipients upon acceptance of the scholarship. Receipts for specified supplies must be turned in to the financial aid office for reimbursement.
Criteria for Eligibility
To be considered for the Buchanan Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Full-time enrollment in one of the three BSN-DNP program tracks (FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP) at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ City University’s Kramer School of Nursing
- Enrolled full-time in the second, third, or fourth year of the program and in good standing (OCU cumulative GPA 3.0 or above, no academic probation)
- Agreement to release name to the scholarship donor and provide a written letter of thanks post-award
How to Apply
To complete your application, you must submit:
- A 500- to 700-word essay. The essay should include the following discussion points:
- Description of how the scholarship will assist you in the achievement of your academic and professional goals
- Description of how the DNP degree will assist you in becoming a leader in the health care community
- Description of how you will contribute to improving health outcomes in your future area of practice and your intent to practice in the state of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
- Complete the online application form .
If you have questions about this scholarship, please email Stacey Warden or Dr. Cene' Livingston.
