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

[cje1015]

So recently got accepted into absn at duke. I have not been able to find a lot of information on how to pay for duke. I am still waiting for my financial aid package but I am curious as to see how people find money for the school or to get an idea of what type of aid packages you get. It seems almost impossible for me to come up with that kind of money. I know i qualify for the need based grant from duke but apart from that i have no idea. Please help with suggestions, tricks, tips and other info. thanks.

[Jules A, MSN]

I contacted JHU UMSON, and Towson (only nursing schools feasible for me due to personal circumstances) before embarking on this adventure, and asked them what percentage of their BSN graduates from 2014 had jobs upon graduation. JHU had the highest at 80%, followed by UMSON and then Towson. The national average percentage of BSN grads with jobs at graduation is 59% (New AACN data on BSN-prepared hiring*|*The American Nurse). Those asking for stats and citations showing the power of the "brand" on job marketability: these percentages show that graduating from top nursing schools does have a positive influence on ability to land jobs at graduation. And if this doesn't quite do it for you, I propose that you make three lists: Top 5, middle 5, and bottom 5 ranked nursing schools. Call each one, ask them what percentage of their BSN graduates get jobs at graduation, and I suspect you'll see a trend where the percentage is the greatest at the top and lowest at the bottom.

Thanks for the reply. What were the figures you were quoted from UM and TU? I'm surprised this is something they are able to provide verbally especially because I usually can't even get the correct extension for the library when I call, lol, and I'm not familiar with those being published anywhere. None of my schools ever contacted me asking if I was employed after I graduated so I'm curious how they came up with their stats and I graduated from one of them. :)

Also keep in mind that even if the percentages you were quoted are accurate they are only a very brief snapshot in time and no study worth its salt would take one year stats as evidence that one is better than another.

In any event you will no doubt get what you are seeking out of this experience so thats the most important thing. Again I personally would not consider paying so much for an education nor working for peanuts in the hopes of sounding important on resume but thats just me. Seriously best to you it sounds like you have a big, bright future ahead.