Any Accelerated BSN programs offer aid besides loans??

EGKB · May 23, 2007

I know - it stinks!

I am also looking forward to starting an accelerated program and am running into the same problem. The only thing I can tell you that might be of help is that some hospitals will give you money while you're still in school to help with tuition, but you have to be willing to work for them for a certain number of years after you graduate in return. (Cleveland State University has an arrangement with The Cleveland Clinic, for instance.) One of the best things about it is that once you start working there you won't be paid any less than the other new RNs in your unit, so you can kind of think of the money as an early sign-on bonus. The downside may be that if you can't fulfill your commitment, you have to pay it back. The program you're applying to may be able to provide you with some information about this, if it's available.

Also, many hospitals have loan forgiveness after you've worked for them for a certain number of years.

Finally, there are government programs that offer loan forgiveness as an incentive to work in certain areas of the country after you graduate.

I hope this helps you feel a little bit better!!!! - good luck!!!!

**All Heart RN** · May 23, 2007

Hey there!

I'm in the same boat! I am a second degree bachelor seeker and because of that the amount that I can borrow through financial aid is extremely limited. In fact, after summer quarter, I will have to start going through alternative loans.

I'm not sure about the loan programs in your state, but here in Ohio the government offers loan cancellation programs for RN programs and RNs who want to become Nurse Educators. The name of the program here in Ohio is NEALP. As long as I agree to work in Ohio as a RN for 5 yrs, they will "cancel" my loan.

You should check your state's Board of Nursing website, that's how I found out about NEALP.

Good Luck

I_am_Julia · May 23, 2007

i haven't seen anything for 2nd degree programs.

im just curious, i have noticed in my research of these programs that the majority of financial aid offered is loans, no scholarships or grants:uhoh3: . no wonder everybody is in at leat 30k -100k worth of debt when they come out. why don't schools offer scholarships or grants for tuition for second degree seekers? is this type of aid only for the first time degree seekers?:uhoh21: am i wrong?? is there anybody out there that knows something about this? thanks

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 23, 2007

Well, this isn't direct financial aid, but the University of Arizona in Tucson has a sponsorship program for their accelerated BSN program. Hospitals sponsor the aBSN students and pay the roughly $28k in tuition in exchange for a two year work commitment. So that leaves the students just scrambling to support themselves during the program...but not for tuition.

Applicants fly in from all over the US to interview for this program.

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 23, 2007

The University of Cincinnati offers Graduate scholarships for folks accepted to their Accelerated Pathway BS-->MSN program. One nice thing (for those of us who screwed around in school 20 years ago & graduated with a less-than-stellar 2.6 GPA) is that the grad scholarships are based SOLELY on your GRE scores.

Megsd, BSN, RN · May 23, 2007

Hospitals sometime offer special stipends or sponsorship programs for accelerated BSN programs but federal grants are ONLY available for first-degree students. May want to ask your school if there are school-sponsored scholarships available, but you won't get anything federal aside from loans.

phillystudentforlife · May 24, 2007

Check out this site:

http://www.hrsa.gov/help/healthprofessions.htm

Specifically, the nursing scholarship part may be applicable to your situation.

I was accepted into an accelerated nursing program as well -- as for financial aid, I was awarded about $10000 in loans, with about $20000 I still have to find a way to pay. This is also my second bachelors degree. I keep debating whether to take this route or to do the 2 year community college route.

I read somewhere on this site that Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA offers some sort of agreement where you can agree to work for them after graduation in exchange for tuition payment by the university. I'm not sure if this applies to an accelerated program, specifically, or not.

I'm actually going to attend an upcoming health career fair. I'm hoping to find out more about hospitals who would allow you to sign an agreement to work for them after graduation in exchange for tuition payment.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · May 24, 2007

I know accelerated programs are expensive but remember to weigh in the opportunity costs of not working. That was the deciding factor for me as I weighed a community college ADN with a BSN. I needed to get professionally employed as soon as possible. An accelerated BSN program made that happen for me. 21 years later...no regrets.

I know Creighton University's Accelerated BSN program had tuition forgiveness programs going on with at least one Omaha hospital. These things change but it would be worth a call or two.

natrgrrl · May 25, 2007

Creighton University in Omaha has a scholarship program that is worth checking out. It might require a 3 or 4 year commitment, which seems like a long time but when you consider 100% payment of loans (which will take years) plus your salary, it's worth looking into. And Omaha is a great city to live in, even if you just stay for school and commitment time!

http://www2.creighton.edu/nursing/programs/acceleratedprogram/acceleratednursingprogramscholarshipopportunity/index.php

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 25, 2007

jeff's program's:

accelerated pathway to the msn for second-degree prelicensure students, the fact option and the accelerated pathway to the msn for second-degree rn students

$$$ to pay for these programs include work committment: scholarship and financial aid information

okeefel · Feb 12, 2010

Hi EGKB,

I was wondering if you knew if Cleveland State University still had a tuition assistance aggreement with Cleveland Clinic in place for the Accelerated BSN students? I was recently accepted to a 12 month second degree program but am very concerned about the 30,000 to complete the program. Cleveland State University's program may be an excellent solution to this problem. Additionally, do you happen to know how difficult it is to get into this program?

Thanks!