Nursing Education Loan/Scholarship BSN (NELB)

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Nursing Education Loan/Scholarship BSN (NELB)

Program Overview
The primary objectives of this program are to provide education opportunities to students who wish to become nurses and address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELB awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional 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 will be a Junior or Senior student for the upcoming school year
You are a current legal resident of Mississippi
You are enrolled full-time or part-time (at least 6 hours)
You must not presently or previously have 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 NELB awards up to $4,000 per academic year not to exceed two (2) calendar years or $8,000. Those pursuing the NELB program part-time are eligible to receive a maximum of $8,000 prorated over three (3) calendar years.
All recipients must maintain a 2.5/4.0 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
Complete the online application. This online application must be completed each academic year whether you are a prior recipient or a first-time applicant.
Submit the following documents:
Signed copy of the first two pages of parent’s State Tax Return for the current tax filing year. Independent students would provide signed copy of student’s State Tax Return. Am I dependent or Independent?
Copy of valid Mississippi driver license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application
An official letter of acceptance from an accredited nursing school, showing full admission, date admitted and entering classification.

Frequently Asked Questions
THE NELB 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.

IS NELB AVAILABLE TO ME FOR SUMMER SCHOOL?
No. NELB is available during the regular academic year only.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY NELB AWARD IF I DROP CLASSES DURING THE SEMESTER?
Each semester your NELB 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.

WHY MUST I REAPPLY FOR NELB 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:

WHAT IF MY SEMESTER GRADE POINT AVERAGE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT?
If your semester/trimester gpa is less than 2.5 at the end of a semester/trimester, you will lose the NELB 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 2.5gpa requirement.

WHAT IF I AM CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE BSN 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 NELB Program.

I KNOW THAT AS A RECIPIENT UNDER THE NELB PROGRAM I HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF 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.

MAY I RECEIVE FUNDS TO PURSUE ANOTHER NURSING DEGREE PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF MY SERVICE OBLIGATION REQUIRED FOR THE PRIOR NELB FUNDED STUDY?
No. Students who receive NELB funds are required to fulfill the service obligation before becoming eligible for nursing funds for another program of study.