Murray State University receives significant funding for nursing student scholarships and equipment
The funding comes from a number of sources, which was matched through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund.
Murray State University has received a total of $640,000 to fund scholarships for nursing students. The funding comes from Baptist Health Paducah, Mercy Health, and Jackson Purchase Medical Center, which was all matched by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund. The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education also gave the university more than $100,000 to purchase nursing equipment.
According to an article on Murray State University’s website, Dr. Dina Byers, who serves as the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, was quoted as saying of the funding, “The School of Nursing and Health Professions is thankful for our regional clinical partners, CPE, and the Kentucky General Assembly. This Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund will provide critical financial assistance to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Additionally, this partnership will enable students to enter the workforce and support our region's healthcare needs. Students will be able to apply for this special scholarship starting in spring 2026. Selected students must agree to work at one of the selected hospitals upon graduation. The scholarship will assist with covering tuition and fees for those students.”
Murray State University’s President Dr. Ron Patterson said, “Support for nursing scholarships is an investment in our students and in the health of our communities across the region and Commonwealth. This generous funding allows us to prepare highly skilled, compassionate nurses who will serve where they are needed most. We are grateful for this investment in our students and the communities they will serve.”
The School of Nursing and Health Professions at Murray State University is in the midst of a time of significant growth and change. In addition to this newest round of funding for nursing student scholarships, the School of Nursing and Health Professions has also recently received a USDA Health Services Grant to create a new dental hygiene program and a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to enhance nursing education. Additionally, the university is also currently building a new space for the School of Nursing and Health Professions, which is projected to open in the fall of 2026.
The Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund, which is administered by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, was established in 2023 to bolster the state’s healthcare workforce through providing workforce training scholarships and providing other incentives to award excellence in the field. The Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund matches dollar-for-dollar any donations made by healthcare providers.
For more information about Murray State University, visit the school’s website.