WCU-Miami
Scholarships and Grants

Eligible students who meet the stated Grant requirements will be advised of the grant amount they have been awarded and the terms, no application is necessary.

Eligible students meet the following criteria:

1. New students enrolled to begin school in the October 2024 or Jan 2025 terms in WCU’s on ground BSN or LVN/LPN to BSN programs (“Eligible Programs”)
2. Have met all the WCU program admissions requirements for full enrollment in one of the Eligible Programs at the Texas or Florida campus.
3. Achieved a minimum score on the HESI of 83 or TEASV of 66 entrance exams on their first recorded attempt to test.
4. Have a documented gap in funding.
   1. Defined as an unfunded tuition and fee balance in their initial academic year after all other forms of student aid have been applied.
   2. Student aid refers to federal, state or agency student aid only and does not include Parent PLUS loans or private loans.
   3. The gap in funding must be confirmed by the WCU Student Financial Services Department.

Students are not eligible for a Grant award if any of the following applies:

1. Student is conditionally enrolled.
2. Student is a re-entry, continuing student or student returning from LOA.
3. A student who was awarded a grant but transfers to a non-BSN or non LVN/LPN to BSN program would forfeit future eligibility for this grant.

Grant Awards:

Awards may be given to students who have met all of the criteria, referred to as Qualified Recipients.

Award amounts are designed to match the amount of the gap in funding applicable to the individual Qualified Recipient. The award is allocated over the total enrollment in the program based on ongoing eligibility criteria being met. The award will not exceed the direct education costs remaining after all other forms of aid are applied to the tuition and fee charges. At no time will a student receive a stipend or payout as a result grant funding. If at any time the amount of the grant exceeds the unfunded tuition and fee balance the grant amount will be reduced. The maximum award for students attending in Texas is $9,500 per academic year. The maximum awards for students attending in Florida is $6,500 per academic year. These awards are not prorated based on enrollment status and will be adjusted as needed based on student specific gap balances each term of the academic year.  Awards will be adjusted as needed based on student specific gap balances each term of the academic year.

Awards may vary in amount from one student to another and/or from one year to another. The amount of the award is determined at the sole discretion of WCU based on evaluation and consideration of the eligibility criteria.

Students will be notified of any award that has been awarded in their Financial Aid Offer Notification. Awards are applied to a student’s account at the beginning of each semester covered by the award.   Qualified Recipients will also be provided with a Grant notification letter, which they are required to sign and accept in order for the award to be processed and applied to their gap in funding.

Ongoing Eligibility:

To qualify for ongoing eligibility for this grant award, students must:

• Complete their repackaging appointment prior to the beginning of a new term.
• Have a documented unfunded gap balance for the tuition and fees owed to West Coast University for the academic year in which they are applying confirmed by the WCU Student Financial Services Department.
• Have maintained at least a 3.0 CGPA at West Coast University since the prior award was made.
• When evaluating CGPA students must have completed at least three of the four modules (terms) in the current academic year before they can be repackaged for the next academic year and be considered eligible for renewal of the grant.

Terms and Conditions:

The grant award is not transferable to another program of study.

Grant awards are made at the sole discretion of WCU using the criteria outlined above as the threshold criteria for eligibility. Grant awards are not subject to appeal.

There is no cash value to this grant award. The award may not result in a credit balance to the student.

If a student withdraws, the grant will be pro-rated based on the tuition and fee charges earned for the semester. Students who withdraw will forfeit future awards and ongoing eligibility for the Grant.

The terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for the Grant are subject to change, and the program may be discontinued at any time.

The New Student Achievement Grant may not be combined with any other WCU scholarships or grants.

WCU has established the Bright Futures Matching Scholarship in support of students who qualify to receive a Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) or Florida Merit Scholars (FMS) awards from the Florida Office of Student Assistance.  This matching scholarship would be offered to students enrolled in West Coast University’s Miami campus, upon confirmation of Bright Futures eligibility by the campus Financial Aid Office. The matching scholarship would be offered each academic year that the student receives the FAS or FMS from the state.  Offer amounts vary, but will not $6,500 per academic year ($3,250 per semester) for full-time FAS awardees or $4,500 per academic year ($2,250 per semester) for full-time FMS awardees.

In 2011, West Coast University honored alumnus Greg Jarvis with the presentation of its first-ever “Distinguished Alumnus Award”. Following the presentation of this prestigious award, WCU announced the “Greg Jarvis Scholarship”, to be given to students who had outstanding achievements in simulation education. Mr. Jarvis was a Detroit, Michigan native who served in the Air Force, and was awarded a Masters Degree in Management Science from West Coast University.  In early 1986, Mr. Jarvis was chosen by NASA to join the crew of the Challenger space shuttle.  The nation watched in horror as the spacecraft exploded shortly after launch, killing all members aboard. Subsequently, Mr. Jarvis was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

This scholarship appropriately honors Greg Jarvis’ memory, for his professional life, his contributions to technological advancements, and the use of simulation technology in preparation for manned space flight.

The WCU Greg Jarvis Simulation Scholarship offers $1,000 to one student recipient per term (5 total), per campus, and is applied against tuition charges for the following term. The scholarship is applied toward tuition and fees only.  Applicants must complete and submit the application with all required documents prior to the end of NURS 481L in week 9 of the term.  For more information concerning eligibility requirements and required documentation, please see the Financial Aid department.

The scholarship is available to undergrad students attending a ground program at the Richardson, Texas and Miami, Florida locations. This scholarship is available to students after the completion of their first semester and is based on academic standing and financial need. Applications are available in the campus Financial Aid Office and must be approved by the Financial Aid Director. To be considered for the grant, students must have a minimum 3.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average at West Coast University and have financial need as demonstrated by the fact they have exhausted all other options for gap financing or are unable to make agreed upon payments due to unforeseen financial hardship. The Financial Aid Department is responsible for evaluating the need-based components of this grant.

Scholarship funds will be applied to tuition and fees at West Coast University. Offer amounts vary but will not exceed $10,000 per academic year nor will they exceed the student’s gap after all aid and other payments have been considered. Funds are limited and not all who apply will receive a scholarship.

Norma Ford Memorial Scholarships will be renewed for subsequent years provided students meet all eligibility criteria noted above including the 3.0 GPA and financial need due to exhausting all other payment options to fund their gap or the inability to maintain their agreed upon payment plan.

Offered to qualified students attending WCU’s Miami campus who have successfully completed at least 24 credits at West Coast University (exclusive of transfer credits) in the prior academic year, have an unfunded tuition and fee balance owed to WCU after personal/external contributions of $2,000 for the academic year, and have exhausted all other options for gap financing, as confirmed by the campus Financial Aid Director.

Fund availability varies by campus and start term.  Award amounts may vary, but award amounts per full-time semester will not exceed $4,500, for a maximum of six semesters, and are applied towards WCU tuition and required fee charges.

This grant may not be combined with any other WCU scholarship or grant, except for the Centennial Merit Scholarship.  There is no cash value for this grant.  If you withdraw in the middle of the semester, the grant award will be pro-rated based on tuition and fee charges earned for the semester.  Students who withdraw during an academic year will forfeit future disbursements.

Renewal of grants for subsequent years requires re-evaluation of the unmet need and newly-documented attempts for alternative funding, as well as successful completion of at least 24 credits (exclusive of transfer credits) in the preceding academic year.

Offered to qualified students attending or requesting re-entry at WCU’s Florida campuses who are enrolled in the on-ground undergraduate programs with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. To qualify, applicants must have an unfunded tuition and fee balance owed to WCU after personal/external contributions of $200 per month, and have exhausted all other options for gap financing, as confirmed by the campus Financial Aid Director. Applicants who have attended five or more post-secondary educational institutions prior to WCU, but have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, are not eligible for this grant. Fund availability is limited.

Award amounts will vary based on demonstrated financial need, the applicants unfunded balance for a given academic year, and number of previous higher education institutions attended, but will not exceed a maximum of $3,000 per semester. Renewal of Opportunity Grants for subsequent years will require re-evaluation of the unfunded balance, newly documented attempts for alternative financing and whether the student has maintained at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

The HANA Nursing Scholarship is available to selected members of the Haitian American Nurses Association who enroll in the BSN or LVN-BSN program at West Coast University.  Two scholarships will be offered each academic year to new students who have met all admission requirements and achieved a minimum composite score of 80 on the TEAS V exam. Offer amounts will be up to $2,500 per academic year ($1,250 per semester) for a maximum of 8 semesters.  Scholarships are renewable each year for students who maintain at least a 3.0 CGPA. Interested students must apply directly to the Haitian American Nurses Association. More details are available in the Admissions Office.

The Nursing Excellence Grant is offered to select West Coast University – Miami or Texas nursing students who are employed by a clinical partner of WCU and who have demonstrated professional excellence in their healthcare careers.  A current list of clinical partners is available from the campus Admissions Office.  This scholarship is only available to on-ground students.

The grant offers up to $750 per full-time semester in Miami and up to $1,125 per full-time semester in Texas and is applied to tuition and required fees at WCU.  Offer amounts will be proportionately reduced for less-than-full-time enrollment.  Verification of employment and clinical affiliation status will be at the sole discretion of WCU.  Grants are offered on a rolling basis and satisfaction of eligibility requirements does not guarantee that a grant will be offered upon enrollment at WCU. The grant may not be combined with any other WCU grants or scholarships.  For additional information, please see the Financial Aid department.

The Nurses of Tomorrow Scholarship is available to students enrolling in WCU’s on-ground degree programs in Texas or Miami.  Students must be accepted on a regular (not conditional) basis, and must have graduated from high school within twelve months prior to beginning their program at West Coast University, and the only college credit that was earned prior to enrollment at WCU was while dual-enrolled in high school.

To receive an offer, applicants must have achieved a minimum high school GPA of 3.0. For purposes of calculating the high school GPA, applicants for the Summer (June) start may submit transcripts that include all classes taken through the first semester of the applicant’s senior year of high school.  Applicants for all other starts must submit high school transcripts including all classes attempted through their high school graduation date.

Offer amounts will vary but will not exceed $5,000 per academic year in Miami and $6,500 per academic year in Texas.  Offers will be pro-rated for less-than-full time enrollment.  Students who withdraw in the middle of a semester will have their offer reduced proportionately to the percent of tuition earned.  Applications are available in the financial aid office.  The Nurses of Tomorrow Scholarship may not be combined with any other WCU grants or scholarships.