Chamberlain University awarded its inaugural Future Healthcare Hero BSN Scholarship at the Aug. 20 opening of its Cincinnati campus, covering the full cost of a Cincinnati resident's nursing degree.

The recipient, Damenika Jacobs, found out on camera. Content creator Zachery Dereniowski, known as "MD Motivator" to more than 40 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, delivered the news to her during the campus's ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Chamberlain announced three additional full-ride scholarships in the same video, with applications now open to Cincinnati-area residents on a rolling basis.

Who should apply

Executive campus director Priya Shastri wants to be clear: you don't need to be 18 with a 4.0 GPA.

"The biggest myth is that you have to be a fresh high school graduate with a straight-A science background and no major outside responsibilities," Shastri said in a statement. "In reality, life experience, empathy, and adaptability are just as critical as academic prep, and adult learners often make some of the most extraordinary nurses."

Shastri said the Cincinnati campus sees a diverse mix of recent high school graduates, career changers looking for meaningful work and healthcare workers leveling up their credentials.

She added that Chamberlain is joining a city with strong existing nursing programs and health systems. "Closing this region's nursing shortage will take every program in this market working toward the same goal, and we're committed to being a serious partner in that effort," she said.

Why this matters right now

The Cincinnati metro area posted nearly 50,000 healthcare job openings last year, according to the 2026 Covista Care Capacity Monitor. That works out to six open healthcare jobs for every healthcare graduate in the region.

"Cincinnati has no shortage of amazing talent capable of becoming extraordinary nurses," Chamberlain president Amelia Manning said at the opening. "What has been lacking is access. This scholarship and this campus are a direct response to that gap."

Manning said expanding access to nursing education is core to Chamberlain's mission and that the university intends to be a long-term partner in strengthening the region's healthcare workforce.

About Chamberlain University

Chamberlain is the largest nursing school in the United States and part of Covista, which describes itself as America's largest healthcare educator, serving 100,000 students across five accredited institutions. Unlike traditional programs that admit students once per fall semester, Chamberlain offers multiple start dates throughout the year. Students begin nursing coursework immediately rather than spending semesters on general prerequisites first.

The Cincinnati location is Chamberlain's 25th campus nationwide. It joins an existing Columbus campus as the school's second site in Ohio.

The school also announced a three-year partnership with The Health Collaborative, backed by a $150,000 donation, to bring year-long healthcare career exploration programs to Cincinnati middle and high school students at local youth centers.

Chamberlain University's Cincinnati campus, located at the Kenwood Collection in Sycamore Township, begins classes Monday, Aug. 31.

How to apply

Here's what prospective students and scholarship applicants need to know:

What the scholarship covers: The full cost of a Chamberlain University BSN degree at the Cincinnati campus.

Program length: Three years to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with flexible scheduling.

Application fee: None.

Prerequisite courses: None required.

Application deadline: There is no stated deadline. Applications are open now on a rolling basis.

Who it's for: Cincinnati-area residents. Career changers, working healthcare staff and recent graduates are all encouraged to apply.

Campus features: The Kenwood location includes a SIMCARE Center where students practice clinical skills in simulated patient-care settings before moving into clinical rotations with local partners.

First cohort: Classes begin Monday, Aug. 31.

Applications and details are at chamberlain.edu/nursing-school/ohio/cincinnati.