What’s happening
Beginning in spring 2026, the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston will roll out the Future Nurses Fund, which will help provide full tuition coverage for qualifying students in its Pacesetter accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, per the release.
“We anticipate that at least a third of our undergraduate students will benefit from these grants, which will open doors to higher education for many future nurses,” said Diane Santa Maria, dean of the nursing school, in the release.
According to the release, the Future Nurses Fund will supplement other forms of financial aid like scholarships and grants awarded by UTHealth Houston or state and federal government programs. The grants will be available to current and newly accepted nursing students.
Diving in deeper
By easing the financial burden, UTHealth Houston hopes to attract more students into the field and improve access to health care statewide.
“We are committed to removing financial barriers for students pursuing their dreams of becoming health professionals,” UTHealth Houston interim President LaTanya J. Love said in the release. “The Future Nurses Fund reflects our dedication to expanding access to top-tier education and addressing the critical nursing shortage in Texas.”
Per the release, to qualify for Future Nurses Fund, a new student must:
- Be a Texas resident
- Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in any field
- Add the UTHealth Houston code to their completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid form
- Have an annual adjusted gross income not exceeding $100,000
- Enroll full-time in Cizik School of Nursing’s Pacesetter accelerated BSN program
- Maintain Texas residency and a GPA of 2.5
- Remain full time and on track in the Pacesetter BSN program
- Remain in good academic standing
Applications are open through Sept. 15 for the spring 2026 semester. More information is available at www.uth.edu.
