Other than federal aid, what other financial aid is available to nursing students?

Locate your local One-Stop Career Center. Use the link. Contact them and ask about job training programs (Workforce Investment Act, Wagner Peyser).If your hell bent to avoid federal programs, contact your local nursing school or college ,they may have other programs as well.

Contact the place you are thinking of attending nursing school at, they can give you a list of the financial help available.

If you are not employed at a hospital, then apply to a reputable facility one where you would like to be employed for an extended period of time. Most hospitals will offer tuition assistance in exchange for working in the facility for a certain length of time.

Check with your state. Most states (correction) all states have programs where financial assistance is offered in exchange for service to an under served area of the state. Some states don't really care where in the state you plan to work as long as you do.

If you plan to teach, the Federal government will forgive you loans if you plan on teaching in nursing program.

Most of the lending institutions will forgive at least half of the loan if you will send them a copy of your degree and license when you are finished.

Congratulations on deciding to enter a field with limitless possibilities!