3 Underserved Industries Offering Scholarships and Grants to Career Changers

A new career might be easier to achieve if you look to industries that are experiencing worker shortages.

Here are three to consider:

Health Information Technology

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, created a need for health information technology professionals. Consequently, scholarships are available to students preparing to enter this field. For more information, visit the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology website, and look through the list of colleges and universities offering financial assistance.

Nursing

The nursing shortage has resulted in several scholarships and grants. One of note is the U.S. government’s Nursing Scholarship Program. In exchange for a scholarship, students are required to work in facilities with a primary care or mental health shortage (called a critical shortage facility) for two years. In addition, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website lists a number of nursing scholarships.

Teaching

Those wishing to enter the teaching field can benefit from programs such as Teach for America. Participants are eligible to receive an education reward up to $11,100, and loan
forbearance and paid interest up to two years. For more information, visit the Teach for America website.