ABSN Debt! Help!

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I currently have my bachelor's and have about 17k debt from Federal loans. My degree was in Exercise Science and there are NO jobs in my surrounding area pertaining to that field or education. (No personal training for me please.) I have always been interested in doing nursing and I'm in a place in my life I can go back to school but only for a short period of time. I am looking to the the accelerated BSN program with Xavier which will be 16 months long but cost 53k. How realistic is it for me to not be struggling with this debt after I graduate? I live with my boyfriend who makes good money but I do not want to rely on him after I have my nursing license. Anyone know of any nursing CORP hospital programs around the Cincinnati area or any advice with nurses who have that similar amount of debt? Such as how much payments might be?! I'm open to all options!

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I don't know what COPR is, but $53K for 16 months sounds a bit unreasonable. However, you'll be in a good position to get work in cardiopulmonary rehab or a related field, if you've a mind to, with an ES degree and a BSN. Sweet work-- M-F, days, no holidays, weekends, shifts...

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Yes that was my ideal goal since I worked in a rehab unit before and I only made $12 and nurses made almost triple that! I have heard corp is working for a hospital in need for nurses and they agree to pay back some of your loans. What really makes me not look elsewhere is I already have all the prereqs and every other accelerated program requires 3 or 4 more which is an extra semester which I'm trying to avoid. Would the money be worth the time? I'm about to turn 24 and really want to be in the nursing field for a few years before settling down! Marriage, kids, etc..

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Don't reply on getting funding from the CORP repayment plan. First, only 30% of eligible funds are allocated to RNs. Second, you must find and be offered a job at an approved facility and commit to at least 2 years of work. You also can't have a baby during this time without risking losing your repayment. Third, the number of applicants is far greater than available funds, which are allocated both according to the shortage in the facility and your debt to salary ratio and preference is given to those with ratios over 100%. So if the average base salary in your area is more than the amount you would take in loans for the program, you may not even be considered.

54K for an ABSN program is high, but not unheard of, but there are definitely cheaper options out there. Only you can decide if the money is worth being finished sooner. You may qualify for some financial aid, grants, etc. If you finance the entire amount with an interest rate of 7% and repay over 10 years, you're looking at a monthly payment of about $630, on top of what you already pay for the $17K. Financing 30K with the same terms makes the payment about $350 monthly.

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Thank you for the information about CORP they certainly do not tell you that stuff when you google information about it. Also thank you for the breakdown. I'm thinking about doing traveling when possible to help pay down the debt.

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