University of South Florida - College of Nursing

About this program

The Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship program, at the University of South Florida’s College of Nursing, is a Second Degree  program awarding financial assistance to selected Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are pursuing an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and professional licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).  All Coverdell Fellows will complete internships in underserved communities in the Tampa Bay Area, while working under the supervision of faculty.  Concurrently, Fellows can fulfill the Peace Corps’ Third Goal: To promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

• Year partnership began: 2019
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 3

Application requirements

Application for admission to the USF College of Nursing Accelerated Second Degree program consists of a two-part application process: (1) application to the University of South Florida as an undergraduate degree-seeking student and (2) application to the USF College of Nursing for the Accelerated Second Degree program. Admission is competitive and based on overall academic success (cumulative GPA); academic success in the first-attempt of prerequisite courses (GPA calculated on specific courses); and an interview with College of Nursing faculty. Please see our website for detailed instructions on and steps to the application process. 

Admissions process

Please be sure to indicate on your NursingCAS application that you are applying to the Coverdell program. There will be an option to select Coverdell from a list of statuses. When we inform you of your admission status, we will also inform you of your acceptance as a Coverdell Fellow.

Degrees awarded

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $16,180

Cost savings details

The College of Nursing will provide tuition waiver to out-of-state students equivalent to the in-state tuition rate (64% savings) plus $2,000/year scholarship; In-state students $2,000/year scholarship.  Scholarships are paid through University Scholarships & Financial Aid Services.

Internship

Coverdell Fellows will have the opportunity to provide health care services to members of the community through the Mo-Bull Nurse Medical Clinic. Complete with two exam rooms, a bathroom, a freezer, and a pop-up awning, the Mo-Bull clinic is staffed with two advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), a patient care coordinator, faculty preceptor, and serves as a clinical training site for undergraduate nursing students. Fellows spend 80 hours in the community with the Mo-Bull Clinic every semester. Fellows will focus on developing skills related to health education, health promotion and delivering care to underserved communities.

Other opportunities

As a participant in the Coverdell Fellows program, students will have access to the multitude of opportunities provided by the USF College of Nursing, including global nursing experiences, student tutoring and mentorship (both as a participant and as a peer leader), clinical placements in acute care and community-based settings, and leadership and career development programs. Second-year Coverdell Fellowship students may apply to be student tutors and will receive a stipend of $800 per semester. 

Jobs for alumni

Alumni of the USF College of Nursing’s Accelerated Second Degree program are highly sought for employment and graduate study. Our alumni are successful in all areas of nursing practice and education and have gained admission to MSN, DNP and PhD programs in the state and across the country. Many of our graduates (about 86%) choose to stay and work in the state of Florida because of the multitude of career opportunities within the state. 

Nontraditional options