Advice pay the high tuition or bust? Dominican University

[mswtruth]

I am trying to make a decision about accepting my Spring 2014 acceptance to Dominican University or not. My tuition is due 4/1. I applied to a few other ADN programs that are lottery (waiting to hear from them in mid to late April) and CSUEB.

I did accept my admission and pay the $250 deposit. I'm required to enroll in a 1 unit course that costs $1800 until i can start my clinicals which start next Spring 2015 (they are impacted and clinicals are delayed). The tuition is $35,000 a year. I did receive a merit scholarship from the school that knocks it down a bit to $28,000 a year. Still it's a 3 year program and will likely cost me $90,000+.

I am married, 38 with two small children. This is my second career. My question is should I even hold my spot at Dominican if none of the other options come through? If I don't hold it I will have to reapply at Dominican and wait a whole year more for clinical courses to start.

Is it worth it paying that kind of money for your BSN or is it better to keep applying to state schools and lotto based ADN's with bridge BSN programs?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Given the 47% unemployment rate in California for new grads- it hardly makes ANY economic sense to pay that kind of $$ for a program (and the resulting student loan debt). I'd wait for a more economical choice to open up. You're only 38- a couple more years will not hurt you, where as a decade or more of crushing debt WILL.

[mswtruth]

Thanks for the perspective. I just got a letter in the mail from the school notifying me a tuition increase to 41,000 a year now...wow

[zzbxdo]

Nope. Very likely you'll have to move for your first job. Plus a debt of 2 home down payments? I'd invest the money and time elsewhere especially if your current career is holding. Unless you have strong connections, the bay area is the toughest market to get into.

[RunBabyRN]

Holy crap, no way. Even if you have to wait another cycle or two, what you'd save in tuition is more than you'd make working for that time. Unless you can *easily* pay that kind of money, which I doubt, I would wait until you hear from other schools. If somehow you don't get in anywhere this semester, consider casting a wider net. Anywhere you'd consider attending. Sounds like you applied to some ADN programs, so that's good. What about SFSU or Sonoma State? I know at SSU, we have one commuting from Vacaville, one from Ukiah, and one from San Anselmo (several from all over Marin).

Also, I spoke with a Dominican student a couple of weeks ago in clinicals. She's about our age (mid/late 30s), and she's the ONLY one that's that age or that has kids. She can't relate to any of her classmates. Frankly, I think that sucks! At least 1/3 of our class are parents, and half are 30+.

[fancyeyes, BSN, RN]

wow that's the price of med school...where you're a doctor that can actually pay that loan back, I'd say NO WAY! The ADN waitlist I was on went quicker than I thought.