How much do you owe in student loans?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been going to school on and off since I graduated high school in 2005. I finally finished all of my pre-req classes this last December at the community college. I also got my LPN in 2011. At the moment I am looking to get into an LPN to RN bridge program.

I work for the veterans affairs and I know that they help with student loans after you've been working there for a year. I was just counting up how much I owe...which is over 43,000. I laughed to myself...but this was the only way I could make it to where I am today. I'll apply for some aid from work after my 1 year point but it just has me thinking....

How much do you guys owe in student loans? What is the average?

Specializes in Pedi.

I had around $90K in debt when I graduated 6 years ago. I have about $45K left.

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$20k after my BSN. My bf went to the same school, different major and has over 85k (and this is after paying off about 15 already). It makes me nauseous to think about it.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

0. I made the hospital that hired me pay for it.

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Specializes in ED.

For my ADN, I was able to get through with nothing owed. Used the Montgomery GI bill (thank you ARMY) and Pell Grant.

I'm now in a RN-BSN program, looking at around $3000 a semester in federal loans with $2000 in a scholarship taken off and still have some small help with the Pell Grant.

I also work for the VA, and am kicking myself I didn't apply for the tuition assistance when I was able because I was going for the bigger program that was offered and then denied. Oh well, I'll just have to re-apply in the fall. I'm hoping to come out of this with something like $5000 after I'm done with this program owed.

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Specializes in ICU.

$80000 for a bsn and MSN. Graduate in May found out I likely am making more at the bedside and will drop a few dollars in pay but hope to soon make it back up in a few years. Not sure how I will pay it back cause I'm living paycheck to paycheck now and hubby can't find a decent paying job. He's striking out in. New business as a DJ which takes a lot to start up.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Nothing. My father paid for my undergrad and even offered to pay for medical school if I would follow in his footsteps.

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I think by time I'm all done I'll be looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $100K for the completion of a MSN. Same boat as a previous poster, I have two small kids and am a single mom, I can't work FT and go to full time nursing school, so I'm going to take out a loan and cross my fingers and pray. My plan is to end with a CNM, and thankfully, currently, the salary for that in my area is comparable and it should be okay. At least I'll be happy and not stuck in a dead end job where I'm miserable. Even halving my future income in half to pay loans will still net me more take home than I currently have, so I see it as a win and good investment.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
How much do you guys owe in student loans?

Associate degree RN, graduated May, 2011. I owe $21,246.13 in school loans. Truth be told, there is probably another $3,000-$4,000 on my credit card related to school expenses.

In better news, I have so far made $114,347.23 working as an RN.

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Specializes in Community & Mental Health, Sp Ed nursing.

It is indeed more possible than you think. In CA there are state programs for nurses working in rural and poor areas that contribute to paying off loans. And there are plans in the works if you pay for ten years the balance will be forgiven. If you are concerned, I suggest you get involved and write your lawmakers and professional organizations to influence change in this area.

References:

OSHPD - Foundation - Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment Program

Who Qualifies for Obama's 10% Student Loan Payment Cap? - Daniel Indiviglio - The Atlantic.

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For my BSN, I ended up with about $11,000 in student loans and I was able to pay it all off within 5 months of graduating! I wanted to make sure that I paid it off before interest kicked in. I worked part time all through college and got a good amount of scholarships, so that really helped. I did my 2 years of prereqs at a university and got the full college experience (and met my future husband!) and and then went to nursing school to complete the last 2 years of my degree also at a local university. If could do it over, I wouldn't :cat:

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My first degree was a BA in psychology, took 5 years, I did it without loans by working full-time and taking class full-time.

My second degree (working on it currently) is a BSN and by the time I'm done I'll have about $20k in loans. I'm not TOO concerned as I'll be working in a highly-populated Canadian city (and in Canada, all nurses are unionized so we do okay in the wage department).

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I owe nothing on my Associate degree. I graduated in 2008 and had it paid off by early 2009. It was less than 5k. This is why I'm hesitant to go back for a BSN.

Be scared if you do. BUt if you DO, be sure to get federal, NOT private loans- so they will be on the income based repayment plan,,,,

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