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I'm starting nursing school in winter 2016. I'm really happy I got in to my first pick nursing school, but to be completely honest I'm having second thoughts due to student loans. I havnt had a good night sleep for the past few days just thinking about the debt that I will have under my name and my parents. It's funny because in reality my schools program is about $65K but my father is an employee at the school and I get 50% off tuition, and I'm still freaking out! Is this normal? Any advice on what I should do?

What type of degree will you receive when you graduate - Bachelors or Masters? That is really high tuition, in my opinion.

Specializes in ER, Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Assuming it will be a bachelors degree and with half off that's not too bad. What state are you in? Would you qualify for any federal aid? Maybe look for scholarships. My regret was not working more in college to cover some of the costs. But just consider how much you will be earning as an RN. The monthly payment on 30K will likely only be around $300-400 which will be nothing once your making good money. You will be better off getting a BSN than some other degree when you look at the job prospects. Good luck!

What type of degree will you receive when you graduate - Bachelors or Masters? That is really high tuition, in my opinion.

It's a BSN

Sorry, I misread your post. I was thinking tuition would be $65K, including the discount. If tuition is actually half of $65K, then I think that is reasonable for a BSN.

I would apply for financial aid. You might be able to qualify for scholarships through the school (depending on financial need and grades) and then there are plenty of private companies that offer scholarships as well. It indeed is a lot of money to take on when you are first starting out. Maybe work to help pay for some of that debt?

Assuming it will be a bachelors degree and with half off that's not too bad. What state are you in? Would you qualify for any federal aid? Maybe look for scholarships. My regret was not working more in college to cover some of the costs. But just consider how much you will be earning as an RN. The monthly payment on 30K will likely only be around $300-400 which will be nothing once your making good money. You will be better off getting a BSN than some other degree when you look at the job prospects. Good luck!

It is a BSN. If I decide to go I need a subsidized loan ($6,500 per year) I need a direct plus loan and I'll be receiving about $10,000 in pelgrants for the 2 years I'm in nursing school. The cost will be about $22,500 before loans (but after my discount and pelgrant.) It's a private university. (Nova southeastern university)

If you're a junior/3rd year (and I'm guessing you are since the program requires the prerequisites done before you enter), you can borrow $7500 a year as a dependent student, but only $5500 can be subsidized.

i think I've said before that my parents are academics. Check the school's policy on coordinating aid with the tuition benefit. At my parent's employer, the school would have kept any state or federal aid and applied that to tuition and used the tuition benefit to cover the rest of the institution's obligation (in other words, no additional aid for me), and I would not have been eligible for any additional institutional aid because of the tuition benefit.

If you're a junior/3rd year (and I'm guessing you are since the program requires the prerequisites done before you enter), you can borrow $7500 a year as a dependent student, but only $5500 can be subsidized.

i think I've said before that my parents are academics. Check the school's policy on coordinating aid with the tuition benefit. At my parent's employer, the school would have kept any state or federal aid and applied that to tuition and used the tuition benefit to cover the rest of the institution's obligation (in other words, no additional aid for me), and I would not have been eligible for any additional institutional aid because of the tuition benefit.

Wait I'm not sure if I completely understood that. I would not be eligible for other aid such as federal loans because of my father's tuition waiver? Or are you saying that your institution would cover the rest of your outstanding financial obligations AFTER federal loans and pelgrants were awarded?

So at my parents' employer, if the tuition benefit were 1/2 tuition (lets say full tuition is $30k) and I got a 5k Pell grant, the Pell is applied first and then the tuition benefit, which is limited to the value of half tution. So, my full aid is still 15K (5k Pell and now just 10K tuition benefit). BUT, because the tuition benefit is an employee benefit, each institution gets to set its own rules for its own employees. Your dad needs to talk to financial aid and find out how they're going to handle the coordination of the tuition benefit and the Pell. Maybe they'll award tuition benefit first and put the Pell on top of it. But maybe they'll award the Pell first. You really have to ask. I'm only putting this out there so you don't get any ugly surprises down the road.

Loans shouldn't be affected by the tuition benefit.

I would apply for financial aid. You might be able to qualify for scholarships through the school (depending on financial need and grades) and then there are plenty of private companies that offer scholarships as well. It indeed is a lot of money to take on when you are first starting out. Maybe work to help pay for some of that debt?

I am applying for aid. scholarships are available but they aren't as easy to get. its really competitive, iv'e already applied to 5 about 4 months ago, and i haven't had any answers, and my nursing program does not allow us to work through the program.

Specializes in ER, Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Do it! If you want to be a nurse take the loans and work part time during school if your very concerned about the debt. Being a nurse is awesome and you won't mind paying off the loans that helped you have such a rewarding career. I would recommend working as a CNA or some other type of medical experience. I worked as a medical assistant in nursing school.

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