Questions

[tonicareer]

Because I have a bachelor degree in another area than nursing I am not eligible for federal/state financial aid in the form of pell grants, federal/state loans or work-study. How have other students dealt with this? I have checked with hospitals within a 100 mile radius of my home and all have capped their loans for nursing education at age 28 to 32. I am not of the eligible age to join any of the armed forces. I chose the least expensive college in my state to take classes, and have taken many of the basic and prereq classes paying for it myself. I am attempting to enter either a 2 year RN program or a 1 year LPN program. Basically this college is my only option since I must pay for school myself. How ever it is obvious the college wants full time students and is unhappy that I am a nontraditional student who is unable to get financial aid and attend full time classes. They keep trying to shove me into classes that are useless. Trying to get me to change my major to something that has no job availability. Such at child care that has no jobs and pays minimum wage. If I can't get into the nursing programs I will try for medical assistant which was my original major. But RN is where the jobs are and the money. I feel like the school doesn't want nontraditional students and cators to the young student who gets full financial aid packages. I have straight A's and perfect attendence and sure can't say that about my young fellow students. Why isn't financial aid available to returning students who have a previous degree?

[RNIAM, BSN, RN]

Good question. I would probably venture a guess that they figure that you already have one degree. I wonder if they think they shouldn't have to pay again? I am also a non-traditional student but without a previous degree so this is not an issue for me. Sorry I can't be of anymore . Good luck in your search for an answer.

[tonicareer]

They didn't pay the first time I did. So why can't I get aid now to help in the nursing shortage. Many people have degrees that are pretty worthless after 25 years. The way the world is changing some degrees just aren't worth anything after a certain period of time. I won't be surprised if 25 years from now a RN degree may be not considered worth anything either. Technology and medicine are changing so fast the degrees become obsolete.

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Indian Health Service will repay loans in exchange for service:

http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/LRP/lrpsc.asp

This website has some good links, too, including Public Health Service loans/repayment & a few others:

http://www.nursewebsearch.com/nursing_scholarships.htm

Good luck!!!

[essarge]

I'm not positive but I believe that it is against the law to discriminate against age with regards to loans etc. Find an attorney and ask for a "free" consultation, they would be better able to answer that.

Was your other major a diploma, 2 year, or 4 year degree? If it was less than four years you are eligable for student loans. If your school says "no" go directly to the U.S. Department of education and file a complaint.

Good Luck!!

[TheBrainMusher]

I agree with essarge ... I think that an age capping, something is fishy. I would imagine that you can get SOME sort of aid, especially stafford loans (which are eligible for nursing school) but pell grants/perkins aren't. DO a little more research on the FEDERAL WEBSITE ... look up SALLIE MAE or DIRECT LOANS ... I know those are two excellent providers which I will be looking to fund my education!

[memphispanda, RN]

I hvae a Bachelors already also. I wasn't elegible to get Pell grants, but I was able to get Perkins loans (subsidized and subsidized) as well as another loan called something like a Federal Nursing Loan. The schools you are dealing with may be more of an issue than the actual financial aid rules. I know here there is one school that accepts no financial aid other than grants and scholarships. I didn't go there for that reason.