$8,000 scholarship details for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program
A Capella-Optum Scholarship is a smart way to help pay for your education. Learn more about eligibility, disbursement and other scholarship details.
Capella-Optum Scholarships help us to support our students by recognizing the hard work it takes to earn a degree or certificate. This scholarship is not need-based – just meet these eligibility requirements and apply.
Student eligibility and enrollment requirements
- Must meet Capella university admissions requirements.
- Must be a new student, or former student reapplying to the university, accepted into and enrolled in an eligible program in the GuidedPath learning format starting by Jan. 12, 2026. Must complete and submit the scholarship application form before 11:59 p.m. Central Time the day courses begin.
- Recipients who do not remain enrolled through the first two weeks of the quarter will forfeit the award for that quarter.
- Recipients who change to an ineligible program, graduate, are dismissed from the university, or are inactive from the university for four consecutive quarters for any reason will have all future disbursements canceled.
Additional eligibility requirements for former Capella students
To be considered a former student reapplying to the university and eligible for this offer, the student must not be currently enrolled in the university and must meet one of the four following criteria.
- Graduate of a Capella certificate or a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree program in the GuidedPath or FlexPath learning format.
- Inactive from the university for at least four consecutive quarters.
- Program of prior admittance to the university has been restaged or retired.
- Applying to a program at a different degree level than program of prior admittance.
Faculty and staff of Capella University, Strategic Education, Inc., and Strategic Education, Inc.'s subsidiaries and affiliates, as well as their spouses, domestic partners and dependent children, are not eligible for the scholarship.
Refer to details below for further information regarding disbursement schedule, academic standards and impacts to program costs.
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
The Capella-Optum Scholarship can be applied only to the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner program offered only in the GuidedPath learning format. The $8,000 will be applied to your Capella account during the third week of the quarter, disbursed equally over eight consecutive quarters ($1,000 per quarter).
| Start date | Date of first disbursement | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 12, 2026 | April 2026 |
For students to continue to receive our scholarship benefits, they must remain in good academic standing. Read the details below.
- Adhere to all applicable Capella University policies, including but not limited to academic standing (3.01.04 Academic Standing) and financial aid satisfactory academic progress (3.01.05 FASAP).
- Students must successfully pass first course upon first attempt. Returning students must pass first course taken upon readmission to Capella.
How can the $8,000 scholarship impact your education costs? Here’s what you need to know.
- The Capella-Optum Scholarship is intended to address the cost of attendance, including but not limited to tuition. Books, supplies and other fees apply. Travel expenses for residencies, practicum, etc., are not covered by the scholarship.
- The Capella-Optum Scholarship may decrease the amount of funding that can be offered from other sources, such as federal financial aid.
- In some circumstances, Capella quarterly tuition may be lower than a quarterly disbursement. In other cases, recipients may complete their programs before they receive all quarterly disbursements. Under no circumstances will recipients be eligible for cash payment or other compensation for the value of unused disbursements.
- Recipients of this Capella-Optum Scholarship are not eligible for other Capella grants or scholarships, or discounts in excess of 15%, unless otherwise noted in the eligibility requirements of the additional applicable scholarship.
How to apply for the scholarship
Applying for a Capella-Optum Scholarship is simple. Follow these steps.
Apply to Capella
To take advantage of the Capella-Optum Scholarship, you need to be a new or returning Capella student and meet eligibility requirements. Complete an application and enroll as a Capella student.
Complete the scholarship application
Review the scholarship eligibility and requirements. If you believe you are eligible, apply before 11:59 p.m. Central Time the day courses begin. You can always ask your enrollment specialist if you have questions.
Enroll in your program courses
After you have enrolled and submitted your completed scholarship application, work with your enrollment specialist to enroll in your courses.