New scholarships up to $40,000 available for Bethel nurse-midwifery students

Bethel University is excited to announce a major new federal grant opportunity that provides substantial need-based financial support for students pursuing a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery. Awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the HRSA-SDS Nurse-Midwifery Scholarship program provides $650,000 in first-year funding to help cover tuition and fees for nurse-midwifery students with demonstrated financial need.

Part of a five-year federal initiative running through 2031, the HRSA Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) grant provides recipients with funding covering at least half of their tuition and fees—up to $40,000 per academic year. Part of the standard Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, the funding aims to expand and diversify the women’s healthcare workforce by removing economic barriers for graduate students from—and who may eventually serve in—rural, tribal, and medically under-resourced areas nationwide.

Confronting the maternal healthcare crisis in America

This grant comes at a crossroads for maternal and child health in the United States. According to public health data compiled by Harvard Health and the March of Dimes, American women face a maternal mortality rate that has risen substantially over recent decades, with severe disparities impacting Black and Native American mothers who face mortality risks three to four times higher than white women. National studies also show that nearly one in three U.S. counties is now classified as a "maternity care desert"—lacking a single hospital with obstetric care or a certified birth clinician.

Pregnant women are forced to travel increasingly long driving distances for routine and emergency care. Hospitals aren’t as common in remote areas, and the farther a woman lives from a maternity hospital, the higher the risk of adverse maternal outcomes, ICU admissions, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays.

Nurse-midwives play a transformative role in reversing these trends. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) provide comprehensive, compassionate healthcare across a woman's lifespan—including prenatal, birth, postpartum, gynecologic, and primary care—and have a proven record of significantly lowering maternal and infant mortality rates. By training clinicians who are rooted in underserved communities, federal investment in nurse-midwifery directly addresses care gaps and improves health outcomes for mothers and infants.

Removing economic barriers for community-minded clinicians

For many graduate nursing students, the financial demands of advanced education are a big hurdle. Bethel’s nurse-midwifery program is structured so that students complete rigorous online coursework while remaining in their local communities, but required clinical rotations often require travel away from family and jobs.

"Nurse-midwifery students are constantly balancing a rigorous online program with work and family obligations," says Julie Ann Vingers, program director of Bethel’s nurse-midwifery program. "Most of our students must travel for clinical rotations, creating further financial strain. These HRSA-SDS scholarships address an urgent need for our students. Furthermore, the grant’s focus on increasing providers in rural, tribal, and underserved communities is not only central to Bethel University’s mission, but it sits at the very heart of our nurse-midwifery program."

Vingers notes that the primary goal of this funding is to equip clinicians who understand the unique needs of vulnerable populations. "Many American women live in care deserts—the goal of this funding is to remove barriers that keep prospective students from underserved and rural communities from considering and being successful in master’s-level programs that equip them to go back and make a difference in those communities," Vingers adds. "People who live and work in those communities understand the complexities at play and can, simply, serve more effectively."

To date, 14 Bethel nurse-midwifery students have already been awarded HRSA scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year, with four receiving the maximum $40,000 award. The university expects to support a group of qualified students annually over the next five years.

Clinical excellence grounded in faith

Securing this award highlights Bethel’s commitment to affordability and expanding Christ-guided health sciences education within new markets. Pam Buchanan, director of government, corporate, and foundation relations, highlights the strategic impact of federal support for student aid.

"To expand funding and keep education within reach, Bethel regularly identifies new strategic opportunities, and HRSA grants stand out as an ideal fit," Buchanan explains. "By securing dedicated federal support for healthcare education, we can advance key programs while preserving general aid for students across all majors. It’s a winsome strategy that strengthens our academic offerings and deepens our commitment to student affordability."

The grant also reinforces Bethel’s position as a national leader in healthcare preparation. Bethel is one of only three faith-based midwifery programs nationwide, and the only online nurse-midwifery program based in the Midwest. Bethel nurse-midwifery graduates achieve a 97% first-time pass rate on national board certification examinations and a 100% all-time pass rate within a year of graduation.

University Provost Robin Rylaarsdam emphasizes that the program aligns with Bethel's Christian calling to care for others. "The HRSA grant opens doors for even more students to consider Bethel's nurse-midwifery program, reducing the financial barriers for highly qualified students to enroll in the only CCCU midwifery program in the country," says Rylaarsdam. "As geographical regions with healthcare shortages expand, Bethel is expanding our healthcare programs so that even more professionals can serve and care for people in their most vulnerable moments of life."

Sarah Westberg, dean of the Anderson Family College of Health Sciences, agrees. "We are committed to preparing healthcare professionals grounded in clinical excellence and compassionate service,” she says. “Bethel’s nurse-midwifery program has a proven track record of graduating exceptional clinicians who fill critical maternal healthcare gaps nationwide. This grant provides vital financial support, creating intentional pathways for more students to discover Bethel and pursue nurse-midwifery."

This $650,000 award builds on strong institutional momentum following the 2024 launch and naming of the Anderson Family College of Health Sciences through a historic $20 million donor gift, as well as the 2025 establishment of the John and Joan Wories Center for Speech-Language Pathology.

Application details

The HRSA-SDS Nurse-Midwifery Scholarship is open to students admitted to Bethel’s Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery program who demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA and meet federal guidelines for economically or environmentally disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Scholarship award: At least half of tuition and fees, up to $40,000 per academic year, based on demonstrated financial need.
• Academic requirements: Recipients must be enrolled full-time (at least 6 credits per semester) in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Application window: The scholarship application for the 2027–2028 academic year will be open January 1-June 30, 2027.

This program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided financial support for this program. The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $650,000. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Become a Bethel nurse-midwife

At Bethel, you'll learn from practicing experts—clinicians, researchers, and educators who are advancing women's healthcare while preparing students to do the same. Through rigorous academics, hands-on clinical experiences, and Christ-centered mentorship, Bethel's nurse-midwifery program equips graduates to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for women and families at every stage of life.

Learn more