Financial Help with Nursing School

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2014

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that there are many resources beyond those that you have already covered. Many people are in your same shoes and scholarships are hard to come by.

Perhaps your goal should turn to alternative ways of obtaining your education? I have heard that Chamberlain is a very expensive private program. Any chance of transferring to a less expensive community college?

SoontobeaRN · Feb 20, 2014

Thank you, for your response most of the schools in my local area I would need to take additional classes in order to even be accepted into their school or I would need a higher GPA, because they are very competitive. I was denied at the local colleges here, but I am going to try again. Unfortunately, I can't apply until May and I will not find out until Oct or December, even if I was in. So I would need to keep going to Chamberlain so that I could possibly transfer what I have already taken so that maybe if I am accepted that I could start off where I left.

roser13, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2014

Please look at your circumstances realistically. Read threads here on AN.com about new grads in deep debt but without jobs.

Make sure that Chamberlain will really be worth it.

EmilyEmily · Feb 21, 2014

Sallie Mae? or Federal Perkins loans? have you tried that route?

RunBabyRN · Feb 21, 2014

Please look at your circumstances realistically. Read threads here on AN.com about new grads in deep debt but without jobs.
Make sure that Chamberlain will really be worth it.

THIS.

It might be worth it to save money and spend a bit more time knocking out a few more classes to get into another, less expensive program. It's not work using 50% or more of your paychecks to pay student loans for years. The rule of thumb is to not take out more in student loans than you can realistically expect to make in your first year. Don't bury yourself in (more) debt if you can avoid it.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2014

What about private loans? That's what I took out when I started school years ago and then paid them back. I think Sallie Mae is one. Also, I would look at a community college. Chamberlain is a very expensive for profit school. A nonprofit community college is probably the best way to go if money is an issue.

SoontobeaRN · Feb 21, 2014

Thank you all for your comments, I do appreciate the responses. I currently work as a Certified Surgical Technologist at a local hospital, in which I have been there for over 10 years. The job part I pretty much have in my back pocket for when I do get out of nursing school. I am aware that I will have student loan debt, and I have tried at private loans but no help there. Any school that I attend I will have to pay out of pocket due to me not having any federal funding, but yes it would be cheaper at the local college here. I plan on applying at the one local college here, because my hospital is pretty much not hiring any more ADN nurses so I would definitely need to obtain my BSN. I just was wondering if anyone knew of any known grants or scholarship websites that someone may have personally knew that someone has received? Or if there are any websites that anyone can recommend. Thanks

EmilyEmily · Feb 21, 2014

Federal Perkins loans are for students who have exhausted all of their pell grant, etc. Some schools participate in this. I would contact the financial aid department to see if they do

SoontobeaRN · Feb 21, 2014

Thank you, I will check into that.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 21, 2014

Perkins loans are for those with exceptional financial need not just those who exhaust other loans and/or Pell Grants. Not all schools participate and there isn't always sufficient funds for all eligible students. Max for undergrad is $5500

http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/perkins#am-i-eligible