HOUSTON – To address Texas’ nursing shortage, the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston is taking steps by offering a new tuition-free initiative for qualifying students in its top-ranked accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Launching in Spring 2026, the UTHealth Houston Future Nurses Fund will fully cover in-state tuition and fees for Texans earning under $100,000, removing financial barriers.
Beginning in the 2026 spring semester, UTHealth Houston will provide grants that supplement other financial aid and scholarships, ensuring a full ride for Texans enrolled in the Pacesetter accelerated BSN program.
These grants will be available to both current and newly accepted nursing students, according to a release.
“The Future Nurses Fund will help address the nursing shortage by providing needed financial assistance so students can attend Cizik School of Nursing, the No. 1 BSN program in the state,” said Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, RN, dean of the nursing school. “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.”
The Future Nurses Fund will supplement other forms of financial aid, such as scholarships and grants awarded by UTHealth Houston or state and federal government programs. Grants from the fund will be applied after other financial aid to ensure that all tuition and mandatory fees are covered for qualifying students.
The grants will be available for four consecutive semesters to full-time students who continue to meet academic requirements.
To qualify for the Future Nurses Fund, new students must:
- Be a Texas resident.
- Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Add the UTHealth Houston code (013956) to their completed FAFSA form.
- Have an annual adjusted gross income not exceeding $100,000.
- Enroll full-time in Cizik School of Nursing’s Pacesetter accelerated BSN program.
Current students receiving grants must:
- 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.
Cizik School of Nursing accepts new students to the 15-month Pacesetter accelerated BSN program each spring, fall, and summer semester.
Applications are now being accepted through Sept. 15, 2025, for the spring 2026 semester.