PATH Grant for Health Care Students
Overview
Interested in the health care field? The PATH (Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce Program)Grant offers training and aims to expand opportunities in health science programs, address workforce shortages and support career advancement.
Be part of the solution and become a nurse, EMT-paramedic, physical therapist assistant, surgical technologist and more! Illinois needs high-skill workers like you. Black Hawk College can provide stipends for current health care students’ program expenses and equipment and living expenses through this generous state grant.
Application for Spring 2026
PATH Grant applications will be accepted Jan. 12 – Feb. 13, 2026.
Announcements of PATH Grant awards will be announced no later than March 20, 2026, with disbursement no later than March 27, 2026.
Applications received after Feb. 13, 2026, may be considered if funds are still available. Crisis applications will be accepted at any time, however students must be enrolled and attending classes to receive an award.
Please note: If you have applied for the PATH Grant before, regardless of whether you received an award or not, you are welcome to apply again.
Due to decreases in total funding and changes in categories of awards, student awards will be calculated based on the total number of applications, amount of funding available for distribution and need. Individual awards may be less than awarded in the past with maximum non-crisis award of $500. Separate awards may be given for transportation costs.
Applicable Programs
To qualify for PATH Grant funds, you must be accepted into and currently enrolled in one of these health care programs:
Starting Feb. 14, 2026, applications will be assessed on an emergency basis.
- For an emergency situation, email Penny Grunder at grunderp@bhc.edu and include your name, student ID, program and the circumstances of your situation.
- To be considered an emergency, you must have experienced a sudden, unforeseen event or circumstance.
PATH Grant eligibility criteria
- Incumbent workers who are already in the workforce looking to continue their education and advance their careers in the nursing or health care pathway in Illinois, OR
- New, entering students on a nursing or health care pathway with an identified need for support, OR
- First generation or low-income or minority students or a combination of the above categories, AND
- Enrolled in one of the Black Hawk College programs listed above.
Examples of Qualifying Expenses
- Mileage reimbursement
- Background checks for clinical sites
- Emergency funds for additional support such as food, housing, transportation and/or child care.
Note: This is not an all-inclusive list of eligible requests. If you have a request that is not on this list, email path@bhc.edu to inquire about its eligibility.
PATH purpose
The intent is to create, support and expand the opportunities of individuals in the nursing pathway and select health care pathways to obtain credentials and degrees to enter and/or advance their careers in the health care industry. This program aims to address the shortage of workers in the health care industry that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
More to Explore
Grants
Health Sciences
Nursing
Contact
PATH Grant
Quad-Cities Campus
Health Sciences Center
Room 319
Penny Grunder
Health Sciences Success Coach