lvn school/debt/worth it?

U.S.A. California

Published

Specializes in alzheimers, hospice, dialysis.

hello everyone :)

there are quite a few lvn/rn/bsn programs in my area, and of course, they come with 2 or 3 year waiting lists. (i am referring to the community college programs.) I am not interested in applying to any bsn programs right now.

just wondering if attending private lvn school is worth the debt. I live in the bay, so the cost of living is indeed higher here, not quite sure what exaclty the hourly wage for an lvn is at the moment in my area. I can see myself pursuing the lvn-bsn route, or lvn-rn.

I know, it's hard to find a job, I'd most likely keep working as a cna until I found employment as a lvn.

suggestions? Ideas? Stories of what you wish you did or did not do?

thank you!!!!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I know, it's hard to find a job, I'd most likely keep working as a cna until I found employment as a lvn.

suggestions? Ideas? Stories of what you wish you did or did not do?

thank you!!!!

A private LVN program in the Bay Area is going to cost $30,000+ in tuition, and government student loans won't cover that entire cost. You might have to take out expensive private student loans to get the entire amount financed. Also, keep in mind that LVNs from the classes of 2008 and 2009 still have not yet found jobs. This year's crop of new grad LVNs is also not faring well in the Bay Area. Things might change by the time you graduate, but this is only wishful thinking.

$30,000 financed over 10 years at 6.875% interest is going to result in a payment of $346.40 per month. Can you afford to repay this with nothing more than a CNA salary for an indefinite amount of time?

I also attended a private LVN program, but this was during better economic times when the nursing job market was still robust.

Specializes in alzheimers, hospice, dialysis.

I could make the school loan payment. but it doesn't sound like it would be worth it really....

things could (or could not) be better by the time I took the nclex but I guess it sounds like it makes more sense to get on a waiting list for an rn program. do you agree? I believe it would be about 5 years from now when I would be done, and wouldn't have the 30k debt.

Consider an LVN program at a community college, then an LVN-RN bridge program also at a community college, incuring zero debt. This is what I am doing. The LVN program is 1.5 years and the bridge program is one year and should be at least easier to get into than a full RN program. With the long lotteries to get into an RN program I should finish doing it this way at about the same time or earlier...fewer pre-reqs for the LVN program and a micro class later its into the bridge program.

I couldn't imagine a debt of 30K on a job earning under $20 per hour....for a nursing program in a good economy, perhaps, but not for LVN, especially in a poor economy.

I am going to Mission College by the way which offers both programs.

Im starting college in the fall. I am choosing to do a lvn program which take a year and a half. I was wondering if it worth it. Also I took in consideration that I would become a working student to further on my education to receive my rn degree. Is it worth it?

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