The fall 2025 semester at Rutgers School of Nursing begins with exciting news: the school has been awarded a $700,000 grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust to support students in its Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. The funding will provide both immediate scholarships and long-term support through an endowment.

The School of Nursing already offers scholarships for students enrolled in its traditional four-year bachelor’s program that are funded by the Helene Fuld Health Trust, the nation’s largest charitable trust devoted exclusively to nursing students and nursing education. With this new award, the school expands opportunities for students enrolled in its accelerated, second-degree program, designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and wish to fast-track into nursing.

Offered on the Newark campus, the 14-month, intensive program attracts students from diverse professional and academic backgrounds—from health sciences and business to publishing, fine and performing arts, and beyond. These students bring unique perspectives and skills to the nursing profession, enriching both classroom learning and clinical practice.

“This generous grant will have a lasting impact by making nursing education more accessible for second-degree students preparing to meet urgent health care needs,” said Angela Starkweather (PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN), dean and professor. “We are deeply grateful to the Helene Fuld Health Trust for its continued commitment to advancing nursing education.

The new scholarship program, launching this fall, will distribute $300,000 directly to students as scholarships, while $400,000 will be placed in an endowment fund to ensure sustained support for future generations.

Rutgers School of Nursing—ranked No. 1 in New Jersey for nursing bachelor’s programs by U.S. News & World Report: Best Colleges 2024—offers multiple pathways to a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In addition to the second-degree and traditional four-year programs, offerings include its “2+2” pre-nursing to-bachelor’s program on Camden County College’s Blackwood campus and its RN-to-BS program for nurses with a diploma or associate degree. Additionally, its Pathways and school-to-school transfer programs provide avenues for Rutgers students to transition to bachelor’s degree study at the School of Nursing.