How do you afford /pay for school?

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 15, 2012

LVN Program : Cash and a stafford loan.

Some units a private school : Cash (from working full time as an LVN along with school fulltime) and a small stafford loan.

Some units a community college : Got a fee waiver so nothing. Much better option.

CRNBSN18 · Jul 15, 2012

Pell grants and student loans. I'm a stay at home mom, so it sucks having to put my kiddos in daycare/preschool. I'm also having to pay for daycare with loans. Plus gas. I live an hour or so away from school. It's all ridiculously expensive. I will also try applying for any scholarships that I can. I currently have a high gpa (and pray to God I keep it up!). I was also offered a CNA job at my local hospital but had to turn down. The DON told me to contact her whenever I feel that I can do both school and that because she loves to employ locally. so I may decide to do that if I can handle school, kids, the house, and a job. But that's a pretty hefty plate. I don't think they do tuition reimbursement though.

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2012

While I was waiting to get into nursing school I took my nurses aid certificate and now I work as a care aid in a nursing home as a casual. It's great bc the pay is good (21.95$ per hr), bc I learn a lot that's relevant to my schooling, I don't have a permanent position so ican just not take shifts if I get stressed out during exams.

Wow! That pay is great! Where do you live?? I'm in Indiana and $10.00/hr is about the normal for aids in nursing homes around here. I I could make that amount I would jump on it!

alovelymother · Jul 15, 2012

My husband and I utilize my schools no interest payment plan. Each semester is paid off before the next one starts.

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 16, 2012

My husband is paying for my school. We have budgeted for it & set up an account for my tuition payments. Thank God for him.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jul 16, 2012

I've attended community college and been able to receive a fee waiver so tuition has always been free. Books and supplies cost 100-500/semester though. When I was married and working, it was affordable. Since I've been single and unemployed, affordng books has been difficult. Now that I've been separated from my husband for nearly a year, I earned my certification as a nursing assistant and work on-call.

I sell my books back on Amazon and use the money to pay for more books. I borrow books from friends and the CALWORKS office on campus.

I wish I could get some loans for school but since I have 100 credits, I'm not eligible for loans as long as I'm at the community college. My pell grant eligibility is used up, as well.

I'm going to apply for the WIA grant and look for another job to supplement my income so that I can finish my prereqs (just 1 more semester) and apply to nursing school.