[beachbum3]

SO helped, private student loan, and family's help. Its definitely been a group effort!!

[lolitochka]

I just calculated the total amount of tuition + living expenses for the whole MSN program, and I feel a bit confused and scared...

[WitchyRN]

I worked full-time while in school and used tuition reimbursement. Felt good to not owe anyone a dime for my nursing degree, even though while I was in school, I had a pretty big caffeine addiction going!

[2ndcareerRNmaybe]

Look into WIA (workforce investment act) in your area. It's a federal program but every state/county handles the money a little differently. In my area it is a 5k lifetime grant that can be spread out over several semesters and can also be used for books if needed. It's not a huge amount of money but hey, every little bit helps!

[dreamon]

I will only be doing pre-reqs come fall, so I have a little ways away to save up. But I plan to use my GI Bill wisely. (I signed up for a 30K bonus).

I wasn't worried too much about it before, but now as a recently divorced single mom out of the service- I need to be very careful allocating that money.

I hope I will qualify for some scholarships or grants along the way.

Also, I have a part-time job that pays more like a full-time one (cocktail waitressing) so when the curriculum gets thick, I can work 2 days and have enough to put towards my bills.

[jelorde37]

i work on the weekends as an LVN so i can pay for tuition for my adn, gas, bills, food. then i plan to work as an RN for two years while getting my BSN/CNOR/CRNFA. after that, i plan on going to PA school so i can prescribe and render better patient care in the surgical setting.

[Graduate2010]

How am I paying for LPN/LVN school? I am lucky enough to work for a local hospital that offers a $10,000 scholarship program and we also have tuition assistance/promissory note. Had I not waited I would have had to either get a private loan and fill out hundreds of scholarships.

**Money is out there you just have to look.**

Good luck to you!

Stephanie

[ChristineN]

I go to a private, hospital based program that allows you to go to school for free as long as you agree to work for that hospital (or any the other hospitals in the same system) following graduation for two years. Upon graduating, I'll have my RN diploma. They say it's a $14,000 value.

[dextera]

I've been quite good at saving money for the past 5 years, so I'm using that savings to pay for school. I'm also working (as a waitress) about 20 hours per week to cover basic living expenses. If and when school gets to be really intense, I will either cut back my work hours, or stop working altogether. At that point, I'll continue to live off of my savings, or take out a loan if I need to.

[angelz_kissus]

I am using scholarships from my state. When I left my husband I was on state assitance and they told me that the program I was interested in made me eligible for the state to pay. so I get the federal grants, the scholarships(to help me pay for my housing expenses and childcare), and then the state picks up the rest.but only the difference I don't get any left over monies.

I am no longer on state assistance and still as long as I turn in my class schedule and maintain a 2.0 GPA they will pay for everything including my books, lab fees, equipment, and uniforms. Go to your unemploment office or to your local community college they usually have the neccessary info. If you need more info let me know I have some links I can send to you too. ***** one note of caution .I used federal to pay for my basics and then the state to cover my clinicals and nursing so far It has only cost me $50 for the cost of the ACT because mine was so long ago