Georgia needs more nurses—21% more, to be exact. With the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicting one of the nation’s largest nursing shortages by 2035, Kennesaw State University and Wellstar Health System are stepping up in a big way. Over the last five years, they’ve doubled the number of students at KSU’s Wellstar School of Nursing, making a tangible impact on the state’s healthcare future.
“Our partnership with Wellstar not only enhances the educational opportunities for our students but also makes a significant impact on the future of healthcare in Georgia,” KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig said. “Together, we are ensuring that more nurses are entering the workforce, highly trained and dedicated to providing essential care and support.”
In 2020, Wellstar committed nearly $9 million over five years to help KSU grow its Bachelor of Science in Nursing enrollment, fund nursing scholarships, and hire new nursing faculty and staff. The investment is already paying off:
“At Wellstar, we have a responsibility to create pathways for our communities’ future healthcare workers,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “By working closely with Kennesaw State, we’re helping more students pursue medical careers through scholarships and the additional faculty to teach them. This collaboration is critical to help meet Georgia’s need for more healthcare workers.”
The Wellstar scholarships at KSU don’t just open doors—they keep them open. These funds can be combined with the state-provided and merit-based HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships, as well as other tuition assistance programs, making nursing education more accessible for thousands of Georgia students. Wellstar also offers tuition reimbursement for its nurses and other clinical team members pursuing ongoing education at KSU.
“Wellstar Health System’s generous support directly addresses the critical nursing workforce need,” said Monica Swahn, dean of KSU’s Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. “Our commitment to excellence has remained steadfast, and as we look to the future, we will continue to lead and innovate in shaping the next generation of nurses.”
It’s a promising path, too. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nurses in metro Atlanta earn an average of $45 an hour, or $95,000 annually plus benefits, depending on their area of specialty.
The longstanding KSU-Wellstar partnership is a cornerstone of community health in Georgia, outlined in the 2024 Wellstar School of Nursing annual report.
For decades, Kennesaw State has been collaborating with Wellstar. The largest healthcare system in Georgia currently manages the University’s on-campus student health clinics and is the named donor of the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services and Wellstar School of Nursing.
On top of its previous $18 million in contributions to KSU, Wellstar recently committed $25 million to expand the relationship, including support for a new state-of-the-art training and conditioning complex for KSU student-athletes. Pending approval by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, it will complement a new Center for Research on Human Sport Performance and Wellbeing.
Beginning July 1, 2026, Wellstar will serve as the exclusive orthopedics and sports medicine provider, partner, and sponsor of the KSU Athletics Association, providing key services for Kennesaw State student-athletes.
Together, KSU and Wellstar are helping to meet community needs—building a pipeline of skilled, compassionate nurses who will make their way into medical offices, hospitals, and patient rooms, ensuring a healthier Georgia.
