Virginia Relaunched Earn to Learn Nursing Grant Program
The state has moved $4.8 million in grant funding to a new authority to address ongoing nurse staffing shortages.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Virginia Nursing Workforce Center has officially relaunched the Earn to Learn grant program to boost nursing education and retention. The initiative provides up to $400,000 per institution to help address the state’s critical nursing labor shortage.
Why it matters
The program shift was prompted by the Health Department’s failure to utilize $10.6 million in scholarship funds, threatening the state’s ability to replace a workforce expected to see massive retirement numbers in the coming decades.
The Earn to Learn program has $4.8 million available for disbursement, with a grant cap of $400,000 per recipient. This follows a June 2026 report identifying $10.6 million in previously unused state scholarship funds.
The players
Abigail Spanberger
She serves as the current Governor of Virginia and signed the legislation to reform nursing workforce management.
Virginia Nursing Workforce Center
This state entity now maintains management authority over the Earn to Learn grant program.
Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority
This organization assumed control of 60% of health workforce incentive programs in July 2026.
The details
Institutions can now apply for the two-year grants to fund student stipends, tuition, fees, and faculty support, provided they can demonstrate success in recruiting students and retaining graduates. The program was transferred from the Health Department to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority to improve management efficiency.
Timeline
March 2026: General Assembly approved legislation to transfer program management.
April 2026: Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the legislation into law.
June 2, 2026: State report recorded $10.6 million in unused scholarship funds.
July 2026: Management of health workforce programs moved to the workforce authority.
September 30, 2026: Deadline for grant program applications.
Market Landscape
The transfer of management to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority reflects a broader trend of centralizing state human capital initiatives. This move aims to correct inefficiencies in professional development funding that previously left millions in state-allocated scholarships unspent.
Students pursuing nursing careers in Virginia may gain access to expanded scholarship and stipend opportunities through their local educational institutions. This initiative is designed to improve the availability of nursing staff at healthcare facilities across the state.
The takeaway
The state is prioritizing professional development funding to stabilize the nursing pipeline against long-term attrition. Students should contact their school's financial aid office to see if their institution is applying for these newly managed grant funds.
What happens next
Educational institutions must submit their applications for the grant program by the September 30, 2026, deadline.
Further reading
For more information on state efforts to bolster medical recruitment, explore our Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cardinal News.
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