How are/did you pay for school?

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RN and Mommy

401 Posts

Specializes in Ortho/Neuro.

Student loans, working, and husband's income.

land64shark

367 Posts

I'm still trying to figure it out. :confused: I don't qualify for grants or subsidized loans because my dh has a decent income. So how come we don't have any extra money??? It's must be those danged 3 kids...expensive habits. Anyway, I'm waiting on the processing of my unsubsidized loan. I honestly don't know how much they will give me. I've had some doozies of unexpected expenses lately too. I just had to replace my AC unit and air handler to the tune of $4800 last month. I've also got a bunch of medical bills about to hit me. Oh, and then there's the Christmas bills...

Fortunately, we don't have a lot of debt and our house is paid for. If worse comes to worse, I could just put it on the credit card, but I hate doing that. DH won't even consider a home equity loan, though I'm not sure why.

This past year (in school taking pre-req's) is the first year in a long time that I haven't worked at all. We're feeling it now. :scrying:

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.

I'll have about $30k in Stafford loans by the time I graduate this spring. It sucks but Dh makes 'too much money' for grants and I'm not eligible for most scholarships because I have a previous degree. More of my loan money has gone to gas money (very long commute) and child care (3 kids) than tuition - tuition has probably been about $10k for my public university BSN program (junior and senior years).

We have had a big increase in the price of houses recently in my area, but instead of selling to get the money we'd make on it, we refinanced with extra cash and dh is buying a small business (I'm ok with that, it is a 10 year loan & the business will be pretty fruitful when it's paid off). And still have a fair amount of equity in the house on top of that with the price boom (maybe $100k).

I still hate the idea of this loan looming over my head, but my dh was not for me going to nursing school so it was the only way I was going to go. I think our area qualifies for the state to pay back some of loans because we are in a critical need area, so I am going to look more into that. Some hospitals pay some too but I'm not sure if I want to do that, I would have to feel very secure about the details and have a position I wanted to consider it. I am lucky that dh's salary supports us so even if I don't get help paying it back I'm hoping to basically put most of my paychecks toward the loan until it's gone.

cad4296

181 Posts

Out of my poor ragged pockets. :rolleyes: I work a normal M-F 8-5 job makings $30k a year. Pretty good job for my age (21) but I worked my butt off to get it. I got grants my first year but as soon as I figured out a girl's gotta eat and started working I "made too much" and that was the year I made $9k! :uhoh3: I haven't even tried because I know I make too much now and with my fiance and I getting married combined income will be waaayyyyyyyy too much to qualify. So every semester I shell out $3k for classes and then more for books. I'm at a CC but out of district so I'm paying almost as much as the university! But I'd rather pay now and not have to worry about student loans later!

lcbradley

149 Posts

I just found out yesterday that I received a full scholarship for nursing school from one of the local hospitals in exchange for a work commitment. This is such a blessing. I did not know how I would pay the tuition this semester or purchase books. God is good!

felixfelix

167 Posts

I just found out yesterday that I received a full scholarship for nursing school from one of the local hospitals in exchange for a work commitment. This is such a blessing. I did not know how I would pay the tuition this semester or purchase books. God is good!

didn't anyone tell you? God's a nurse...:p

lcbradley

149 Posts

didn't anyone tell you? God's a nurse...:p

Hey...you know, you're right!

moosicle

73 Posts

mitchsmom,

I am in the same boat; huge amount of loans. But, if you work in facilities the federal gov't considers critical shortage, they will pay back 60-85% of your loans.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm

edit to add: but your loans must make a substanial amount of your income.

Lisa CCU RN, RN

1,531 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
mitchsmom,

I am in the same boat; huge amount of loans. But, if you work in facilities the federal gov't considers critical shortage, they will pay back 60-85% of your loans.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm

edit to add: but your loans must make a substanial amount of your income.

Where is a list of these facilities?

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.
Where is a list of these facilities?

Thanks, Ruex for the link.

CRNA... this page has more of the details and it looks like you need to ask at the facility you are interested in about their status as one of the eligible hospitals (when you apply for the program the hospital has to sign papers stating that they are one).

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanreguidance.htm#facilities

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