Denial of financial aid for previous associates degree

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Hello everyone, I have worked my tail off to be accepted (and i was!!!) into the Practical Nursing program at a community college where i am from. I got a letter in the mail yesterday which is 16 days from the start of the class saying that I am ineligible for financial aid due to already having an Associates degree which is in an entirely different field. I cannot find anything saying that i should be ineligible. I will be calling and talking to them tommorrow but i wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem and if they appealed and won. I really want to be able to do this. Thanks for any input you guys have.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Loans are often available if you meet the financial requirements, and are making "satisfactory academic progress" however you are likely not eligible for Perkins loans or subsidized loans. But an unsubsidized federal loan still have the same protections as subsidized and less cost/risk than private loans.

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Specializes in hospice.

Well, I'll keep that option on the back burner and concentrate on maximizing my employer's tuition reimbursement.

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Just throwing it out there--if you have an associates to begin with, OP, is there a reason that you can not find out from your financial aid person at the school as well as your academic advisor what you would need to take to get your ADN? Once you get an RN, then you would be able to go many routes for a BSN should that be a goal.

Unless there is a huge market for LPN's in your area, just be sure that you are not spending money on something that won't land you a job at the end of it.....

Look on the FAFSA website. There is so much information on there it is amazing.

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Specializes in LTC & home care.

My experience is similar to Jasonat6034's. I had a previous BA with about $20K in subsidized and unsubsidized loans - it's a music degree, so of course hardly anything transfers to health care. I went back for my LPN license and was able to get loans after I filed an appeal to extend the limit on credits; I had taken several computer science courses for work after the BA and needed to write a short explanation for why I was exceeding 150% of the credits. It was approved, I got my LPN, and then started an LPN-BSN program. I was able to get loans for that program as well; the only warning I received was that it would take me close to the $50-something-K limit for federal loans, but not over the limit. Your school's financial aid office should be able to help you navigate these issues. I hope you can get everything worked out!

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Specializes in ER.

It is hit and miss. Some schools are lenient and some are strict. Eventually it catches up to you.

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Specializes in ICU.
It is hit and miss. Some schools are lenient and some are strict. Eventually it catches up to you.

It is not the school, it's federal laws. Our financial aid guy explained it to is the other day, but I only half listened because I'm not getting financial aid. If the college is a CC and only offers certificates and degrees and you already have an associates it's an issue. If she was going to a 4 year college and was going for a BSN, it would not be a problem. Financial aid rules have changed a lot and she needs to speak to someone at her school to explain it. But the PP have hit the nail on the head.

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They make special exceptions for people in 'high unit' degrees such as ADN. That's even if you already have another AA. To my knowledge, the only thing that makes you ineligible is a previous Bachelor's degree.

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I spoke with financial aid people today and it is a school policy not for federal reasons. They said it happens alot with nursing program students. But we have to go through the appeal process but most of them are approved. It is just a formality. Now i just have to wait them to get the stuff pushed through. SO after speaking to the financial aid people i do feel a little better.

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Specializes in ER.
It is not the school, it's federal laws. Our financial aid guy explained it to is the other day, but I only half listened because I'm not getting financial aid. If the college is a CC and only offers certificates and degrees and you already have an associates it's an issue. If she was going to a 4 year college and was going for a BSN, it would not be a problem. Financial aid rules have changed a lot and she needs to speak to someone at her school to explain it. But the PP have hit the nail on the head.

It's hit and miss how lenient schools are with SAP waivers. Some are super strict and some are lenient. Most of the time they are lenient with the exception of a lifetime limit.

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Thanks! I'm terrified but hopeful..studying like a madwoman! When I was given the extension, it paid for my classes with some left over for books (I also had a scholarship that helped). At my school, once you're given the extension, you can get the max amount of financial aid allowed by your FAFSA and the government (within the boundries of your lifetime limit). I'm not sure how it is anywhere else though. Good luck with your appeal!

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Specializes in MED-Surg; IMCU; PACU.

I was laid off in 2011 and decided to attempt nursing school. I am currently a 2nd semester nursing student going through the appeal process now. Actually, I just requested to appear at the next appeal committee meeting in person, which will be my final Hail Mary before I am rejected for financial aid forever. I obtained a certification for CPhT in 2005 which contributes to my excessive attempted hours. I've had two recent deaths in my immediate family (cancer) and a divorce that contributes to my "gap in attendance" (semesters off). I am a single mother of 2 taking 12 hours of nursing courses in a 12 week time frame (it's normally a 16 week time frame). My GPA for my first semester of nursing was a 3.5 and this semester should result with a slight increase. I'm eligible for government food assistance but not financial aid for college. I have attempted to apply for personal student loans. They require a cosigner and I have nobody to depend on but myself. I have been asking friends and former employers to write letters of recommendations in order to apply for grants and scholarships.

I am extremely frustrated at all the obstacles I have encountered thus far to reach my goal. I don't understand how the federal government sees me as "not qualified/inadequate proof of eligibility".

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I was laid off in 2011 and decided to attempt nursing school. I am currently a 2nd semester nursing student going through the appeal process now. Actually, I just requested to appear at the next appeal committee meeting in person, which will be my final Hail Mary before I am rejected for financial aid forever. I obtained a certification for CPhT in 2005 which contributes to my excessive attempted hours. I've had two recent deaths in my immediate family (cancer) and a divorce that contributes to my "gap in attendance" (semesters off). I am a single mother of 2 taking 12 hours of nursing courses in a 12 week time frame (it's normally a 16 week time frame). My GPA for my first semester of nursing was a 3.5 and this semester should result with a slight increase. I'm eligible for government food assistance but not financial aid for college. I have attempted to apply for personal student loans. They require a cosigner and I have nobody to depend on but myself. I have been asking friends and former employers to write letters of recommendations in order to apply for grants and scholarships.

I am extremely frustrated at all the obstacles I have encountered thus far to reach my goal. I don't understand how the federal government sees me as "not qualified/inadequate proof of eligibility".

If you are eligible for food stamps you are likely eligible for WIA grants, if funds are still available in your area. The maximum income for WIA grants is a little higher than for food stamps. The caveat is that you must complete the educational training in 12-18months. If your first semester is done, it sounds like you are in the home stretch. Which office/agency administers WIA varies by state/county. But it's something to look into

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