IUP Gets $1.98M Grant to Train Rural Nurses
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant funds a program that recruits working health professionals into nursing careers in rural communities.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Indiana University of Pennsylvania received a $1.98 million federal grant over four years to train nurses for rural communities through its Roads to RN program. The program will enroll allied health professionals in IUP's bachelor's of nursing degree.
Why it matters
The project targets the rural nursing shortage in Pennsylvania, where state officials project a shortage of 22,000 nurses by 2028. Recruiting existing health workers aims to bring trained nurses into underserved areas across the state.
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration is providing $1.98 million over four years, with each student receiving a $7,994 annual stipend. The program enrolls 28 students in total, starting with four in spring 2027, while statewide hospital nurse vacancy rates currently range from 15% to 19%.
The players
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
A public university in Indiana, Pennsylvania, that received the federal grant and will run the Roads to RN program.
Health Resources and Services Administration
A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that funds workforce programs in underserved areas.
The details
Students will progress through the same nursing courses together and participate in shared clinical rotations when possible, including a rural community preceptorship. IUP will also purchase a mobile health outreach van to travel to underserved areas around Indiana County, which is expected to begin service next year.
Timeline
Spring 2027: First group of four students begins the program.
2028: Projected statewide shortage of 22,000 nurses.
Roadmap
Federal workforce grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration have increasingly funded programs that bring existing health workers into nursing roles. The IUP project applies that model to rural Pennsylvania, where nursing vacancies remain high.
Residents in rural Pennsylvania may see more nurses trained locally as the program adds 28 students over several cohorts. Students in the program receive a $7,994 annual stipend while they train.
The takeaway
Workers in allied health roles may find a funded path into nursing through programs like Roads to RN, especially if they live or work in rural Pennsylvania. Check with IUP for enrollment details.
What happens next
The mobile health outreach van is expected to begin service next year, and the first cohort of four students starts in spring 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Nursing Jobs to see how rural and underserved hospital roles are filling in Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
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