Duke Nursing, how do I pay for it !!!

cje1015 · Mar 7, 2015

Thanks everyone for the reply. I just got accepted into Unc so no worries anymore. Thanks for all the help.

TexMex22 · Mar 7, 2015

Set up a "boo hoo poor me" account on GoFundMe or one of those other pathetic, whiner websites. If your story is pathetic enough, you are bound to get some donations.

Otherwise, start using common sense now. Just because you've been accepted doesn't mean you should go there. The loan burden would be ridiculous, even with some aid. Unless you are getting a free ride, use common sense. Go to school where you can afford it.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

There are limited amount of schools in this area. And i have a family so not able to move away, plus all the kids that attend duke, find a way somehow so theres always hope. Thanks anyways

All the kids that attend Duke likely don't have a previous Bachelor's degree as you do, so qualify for a lot more financial aid/grants.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

I just looked up the approximate yearly cost to attend Duke, and if I read that correctly that is 60,000.00 a year.
To put this in financial terms and if you have to take loans out for the entire amount every year that equates to 240,000.00 (That could be your first house instead).

ABSN programs generally only last 1-2 years max. That's still hella expensive, but it won't be $240K

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

I applied and got into Duke for nursing and got in but couldn't justify the $60k pricetag. I couldn't get enough scholarships to cover the tuition, and my parents are only paying $10k/year for my schooling ($5k/semester). So now I'm going to Watts (7k/semester but my scholarships cover a big amount after my parents pay their part). It's a diploma program based out of Duke's system but even paying for that program and an RN-BSN degree it will STILL have been cheaper than Duke.

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 7, 2015

The finding a way somehow usually means having wealthy relatives, begging perfect strangers for money on the Internet, or taking out horrendous amounts of student loans. I would personally say it's not worth it to go to Duke. For one, you may get a job at Duke Hospital afterwards - and they have some of the lowest pay in the state as far as reputable hospitals go. As a nurse with a year of experience, they tried to offer me $20.74/hr when I was getting offers for at least $22-$23 other places in NC. So, it's not like you're going to pay off Duke's student loans by working at Duke, where the pay is a joke compared to other area hospitals, and they even make you pay for parking as an employee...
Just remember student loans don't ever go away, maybe not even if you file bankruptcy. I would sit down with a repayment calculator for the amount of money you're going to take out, the term of your loan, and really look at what you're going to make as a nurse and determine if you'd be able to pay your student loans before you really decide that Duke's the place you need to go.

No, not even in bankruptcy.

DoGoodThenGo · Mar 8, 2015

Have not seen this mentioned but depending upon the source student loans can be forgiven if you take part in Obama administration's income based payment plan schemes. Then there are also schemes for nurses who work in public service for a certain period of time as well.

imenid37 · Mar 8, 2015

I have to laugh a little. In another thread, a person posted that they were accepted to Hopkins and couldn't afford it. Many posters were like oooh ahhh Hopkins for BSN, rack up the debt and do it. Cranky ole me said do the state school and work at Hopkins to get the tuition bene from them for grad school! Honestly, I say again if you are gonna be paying for it when eligible for AARP, don't do it! Great nurses graduate every May and December from state schools and cheaper private schools.

cje1015 · Mar 8, 2015

Thanks everyone for the advice. Guess i will try duke for grad school perhaps.

TiffanyMonroeRN · Mar 8, 2015

I'm thankful that I received enough scholarship money to help me cover my full tuition. If I didn't, I don't think I would've went to nursing school. The thought of student loans makes me sick.

CarpeDiem'15 · Mar 8, 2015

I am in a similar situation as you - in fact, I'm the poster that imenid37 refers to in her comment. I was accepted into Hopkins for their 2015 ABSN cohort, and was trying to determine whether it was worth it for me to spend ~$70K for the degree from Hopkins vs. a much cheaper (albeit longer) state school. In the end, I chose to go to Hopkins. It all came down to several factors. First, what do you ultimately want to do with your degree? If you want to stay just a bedside nurse, or perhaps make it to head nurse, than by all means don't go the Duke route. However, if you want to make it into a top notch grad program later on (like Duke's or Hopkin's), or get a management position at prestigious hospitals, or if you live in an area that is saturated with BSN's, than going to Duke for your ABSN will make all the difference. It will give you that edge that your competitors may not have. Personally, I live near Baltimore and competition in this area for new-grad positions at major hospitals is FIERCE. I need all the edge I can get to beat out other BSNs, and I know that Hopkins will give me that. Also, I know that I don't want to be a bedside nurse. I want my DNP, although I'm not sure yet as to which speciality. I am sure that if I do well at Hopkins, and excel at my job afterwards in a world-reknowned hospital like Hopkins, the world will be my oyster. I believe the same would apply for you. As one poster on my thread stated, $60K to get a degree from Duke is a bargain. Your opportunity to train in a high acuity area and the professional relationships you could make are priceless. And contrary to what many posters on this site say, there IS a difference in the education you get from different schools. At a school like Duke, you have faculty who are the national and international leaders in their field; you have a wide range of opportunities to work with top clinicians in the clinical placements, you just have a much richer and more stimulating academic environment with significantly higher standards, and that is something that, apart from anyone recognizing the name of the school, will serve you well throughout your career. Where there's a will, there's always a way. Sometimes you have to let go of the pragmatist to fly high with your dreams. Good luck with whichever path your nursing dreams take you!

the healer's art · Mar 8, 2015

Yikes! I did Duke's ABSN program, yes it's expensive and yes it was worth it (actually they changed the curriculum so I don't know how it is now but it seems like they made good changes). I had several job offers before graduation. I actually got a job offer at every job I interviewed for (children's hospitals in PICUs and pediatric oncology). I got the opportunity to study abroad and I learned how to be a GREAT nurse. Not just bare minimum. As far as I know everyone in my cohort passed the NCLEX on the first try and I had great personal relationships with my professors. My largest clinical group was 6 students and I had over 1,000 clinical hours. It was worth it.

I have a pretty good paying job now and I'm definitely going to pay off my loans in like 5-10 years. I actually do want to continue on to get an MSN at another prestigious school so I'll probably pay it off quicker.

Just to be another voice in this thread. For some people it is worth it. And by the way, they definitely overestimate how much money you'll need for cost of living so you don't have to take out the full amount they suggest.