How much was your student loan total after graduating CRNA school?

qusp · Mar 8, 2017

This is a great question, and I would be interested in knowing as well.

I heard the tuition costs are the lowest in Texas, so I plan to apply to DNP programs there in the future.

Does anyone know what kind of scholarships applicants can try for? Which schools offer the best scholarships (if any)?

cocoa_puff · Mar 9, 2017

I'd recommend Franciscan Healthcare School of Anesthesia in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Total tuition for the entire program is about $15,000 for residents, $33,000 for non-residents. Total cost of the textbooks is $500 for the entire program. It is still a masters program as far as I can tell, but they seem to have an excellent curriculum and reputation. When I was thinking about becoming a CRNA, this was the program I was strongly considering. I would then probably do a MS-DNP bridge program afterwards while working as a CRNA. I think this would be a great way to avoid an enormous amount of debt and get to working as a CRNA sooner.

offlabel · Mar 9, 2017

17,000....wife worked 3/4 time. I got a stipend that paid for rent. Modest savings. Didn't go to a school that cost 100k

Bluebolt · Mar 9, 2017

Now that everything is transitioning to doctorate I think you'll find some of the really cheap CRNA programs that come in below $50,000 (tuition only) will be increasing in costs. When I interviewed at The Mayo Clinic for their DNP CRNA program they were stating they were one of the cheapest options and the tuition alone was over $60,000.

Remember that tuition is probably only going to be about half your student loan amount when you're done with CRNA school. You won't be working to support yourself so it's safe to bet you'll need $30,000 a year in loans just for rent, food, gas, health insurance, car maintenance, etc. Unless you have kids then it could be much more per year. Now add that up over 3 years and factor in the tuition and then all the extra copious fees and charges they didn't tell you about along with the tuition. Then add in compounding interest that begins accruing day 1 of CRNA school.

Now if you're married and they make a great income this can be offset some but that's an outlying factor for most students. I have a few classmates that are married. One of them has a spouse that had to reduce their work hours to be with the kids more because the other spouse is so tied up with school and clinical. Another classmate said her husband makes a decent income but because they live 2 hours from campus she had to get an apt near campus and his income is hindered by maintaining two homes now. My point is, life is complicated and it's rare that it works out that someone else easily foots your bill for CRNA school.

My tuition listed was only $80,000 for a Doctorate. Sounds pretty good on paper right, especially for a good program you like. My projected debt will be around $170,000 when I finish school with interest factored in. That's with the government Stafford loans, what's considered low rate interest.

The good news is I've never met a CRNA who said the student loan debt was impossible to pay back or that they ever regretted doing it.

NeoMurse · Mar 14, 2017

58 credit hours at $950/credit hour

Clinical Fees, books, malpractice insurance, Medical Insurance

Dinners, Transportation, The occasional trip to a bar,

Living expenses

Unexpected expenses

Ballsy Trips when you couldn't handle the rigors of school anymore

160K after 2.5 years.

Save up if you can afford it, marry someone who has a decent income, find a sugar mom/dad.

Whatever you do... do not fail out towards of your CRNA career. :no:

Inbox me if you have specific questions.