Alternative loans/financing education?

[GodIs082010, ASN, RN]

Do you have to pay out of pocket or take out loans to finance education? Just wondering what's everyones experiences. Thanks

God Is Mighty

[Curiously_Inspired]

I took out student loans to pay..I wish I could qualify for even a small grant but unfortunately I do not..

[Glycerine82, LPN]

Loans all the way. As a family of 2, we don't make enough combined to qualify for grants and certainly not enough to pay anything out of pocket. I have to use the loan money to live as it is.

[WahineMakai]

Paying out of pocket. We will do everything we can to make sure we never, ever have to take out a loan to pay for my nursing education. My first college experience (16 years ago) involved loans, and I refuse to do that again.

[Stephalump]

Scholarships to pay for the program, out of pocket for everything else. We're debt adverse.

[Katie71275]

I had to take out loans. For this upcoming school year, I also am receiving 2 nursing scholarships for about 2200 total that I applied for!

I already have a Bachelors degree or I would have qualified for grants :) My plan is to hopefully get hired on where there is a loan repayment program though so I'm hopeful.

[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I currently get grants and have loans to make up the difference. I'm unemployed so the loans definitely help us in a big way. I'm lucky that I'm going to a community college so we haven't had to take out an exorbitant amount and it will be an affordable payment when I graduate in May.

[FinallyMine]

I started my 3 year program expecting to take out loans for all of my tuition and expenses. I am a single mom without any support in an accelerated program, so I am unable to maintain employment.

Fortunately I have been offered the HRSA scholarship for the full 3 years of my program. Otherwise it would have been loans all the way!