Why you should consider 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.

Benefits for Coverdell Fellows

	Tuition/fees for Complete Program	Value of Coverdell Fellowship	Net cost *
In state	$ 24,157	$ 4,000	$ 20,157
Out of state	$ 55,417	$ 35,260	$ 20,157

* 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 the first point below for more details.

Where the cost savings value of the Coverdell Fellowship comes from

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.

Fellowships awarded per year (average)

2

Other benefits or 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. 

Annual cost of living (estimated)

$ 16,180

Application fee waived?

No

Internship

Coverdell Fellows will have the opportunity to undertake an internship with a local not-for-profit organization called Pinellas Hope. Pinellas Hope provides safe and temporary shelter for the homeless in Pinellas County – giving them a helping hand during a difficult time. The program also offers education services, food, clothing and medical services. Fellows spend 80 hours at the homeless shelter every semester. Fellows will focus on developing skills related to health education, health promotion and health.

Jobs for program 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. 

Other details

Program length

16 months

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 College of Nursing SOAR 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. 

Program begins

Early January

Year Coverdell Fellows partnership started

2019

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Contact

Barbara Smith, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACSM, Senior Advisor on Global Engagement and Coverdell