Got into nursing school,but can't afford to go

U.S.A. Oklahoma

Published

I found out last week that I was accepted at Oklahoma City University, but found out today that I can only get $12,500 in loans and it will cost $13,000 more than that each year. (already have a Bachelor's, so we are only talking two years here, but still!) That would be $26,00 in loans PLUS $26,000 in private loans, if I could even secure them. I can't see graduating with a second Bachelor's with $52,000 of debt!!! :banghead:

So, it was nice basking in the "I GOT IN" thing for a few days, but now I am back to reality. :o

I don't know what I am going to do now. I think I am going to apply to

Francis Tuttle for their LPN program then add the RN on later somewhere else. (UCO, OU, etc.)

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I found out last week that I was accepted at Oklahoma City University, but found out today that I can only get $12,500 in loans and it will cost $13,000 more than that each year. (already have a Bachelor's, so we are only talking two years here, but still!) That would be $26,00 in loans PLUS $26,000 in private loans, if I could even secure them. I can't see graduating with a second Bachelor's with $52,000 of debt!!! :banghead:

So, it was nice basking in the "I GOT IN" thing for a few days, but now I am back to reality. :o

I don't know what I am going to do now. I think I am going to apply to

Francis Tuttle for their LPN program then add the RN on later somewhere else. (UCO, OU, etc.)

loans stink, but this isn't something out of the question; what about going the ADN route? much cheaper; or how about an accel BSN program since you have the bachelors already; giving up too easily; if you want this you'll do what you have to

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Who said giving up? Just surveying my options here. I am applying to OU's Bachelor's to BSN program as well as all the other programs out there. ADN vs. BSN doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Heck, I don't even care at this point if I end up doing LPN to RN to BSN.

Not giving up, just frustrated!

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Who said giving up?

Although you didn't say "I give up". The fact that you are accepted to a program and won't attend because you don't want more loans is in fact giving up on this opportunity. Perhaps I should have specified.

I also gave you a few other options; I would not settle on the LVN route when you have the education, time, and obviously the qualifications to get accepted into a RN program

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Wow, I guess I really phrased this the wrong way. What I was trying to say is that, already having student loan debt from my undergrad I can't imagine going 50K MORE in debt for this program.

Maybe some would see that as "giving up", I don't know. I am married with three kids and have debt already. Adding to it seems counterproductive to getting OUT of debt.

I guess I am just saying this the wrong way. I am frustrated that the only program I can seem to get into is prohibitively expensive. I really don't think that one particular program is worth THAT MUCH MORE MONEY when, in reality, they teach pretty much the same thing. (If you compare apples to apples: OCU, UCO, SNU, OU, etc.)

I appreciate your input, but saddling my family with this much debt seems like a bad idea.

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Bolus Of Courage - Have you inquired about scholarships from a local hospital? I know here in Tulsa both St. Francis and St. John's offer scholarships to students attending nursing school in return for a 2 year contract. I know it isn't a lot but it was around 7,000. Basically it's the signing bonus and they distribute it equally over the semester.

That would take a little hunk off the total cost. Just something to think about.

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Wow, I guess I really phrased this the wrong way. What I was trying to say is that, already having student loan debt from my undergrad I can't imagine going 50K MORE in debt for this program.

Maybe some would see that as "giving up", I don't know. I am married with three kids and have debt already. Adding to it seems counterproductive to getting OUT of debt.

I guess I am just saying this the wrong way. I am frustrated that the only program I can seem to get into is prohibitively expensive. I really don't think that one particular program is worth THAT MUCH MORE MONEY when, in reality, they teach pretty much the same thing. (If you compare apples to apples: OCU, UCO, SNU, OU, etc.)

I appreciate your input, but saddling my family with this much debt seems like a bad idea.

don't sweat it; forget everything I've said up to this point; we are 2 different people with 2 different sets of circumstances; I had $20K+ debt from my first degree then a few years later returned and tripled my debt, but i didn't have a family as well at the time

all I'm saying is to go for the ADN or accel BSN and forget about the LVN--same work for the most part, fewer job opps, and the pay is less; you have everything you need for the ADN or BSN obviously, so I strongly recommend that

I can certainly appreciate your frustration...believe me; when I was accepted into the ADN program I was an out of state student so my tuition wasn't cheap at the Comm College compared to the in county folks; I knew I'd have to get loans and knew that I was limited to Stafford Loans, but also knew they wouldn't provide enough money for me to live off of so I had to get another ed. loan from a private organization that could be used for school and living expenses; problem here was that for the life of me I couldn't find a place that would allow me to not have to pay anything back until after I graduated; I didn't think I'd be able to work, which was pretty much the case in the beginning so how was I supposed to make regular payments on my loan if I didn't have money to pay it with; fortunately I found a lending institurion that deferred payments until after graduation.

anywho...I've pobably said more than you wanted to read; good luck to you with whatever you decide

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Yes, I have looked into scholarships at two area hospitals (so far!) and they pay about $2,000 per year. Nice, but at the cost of OCU it is such a drop in the bucket that we would still be on the hook for so much of it.

I'm still looking!

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Specializes in CCU.

I was in OCU's nursing program for one semester and the tuition there is mind-blowing:no:. I was excited at to get in at first but the I couldn't rationalize paying off the loan debt for another decade. I am transferring to an RN program this fall. It's so relieving to have state tuition again, so I will not have to take out loans. Last time I checked, tuition at OCU was $670 per credit hour and is increasing at least another 9% for the next school term. I would recommend getting your LPN at Francis Tuttle, then doing the lpn-bsn bridge at UCO. This route is very cost effective and you'll still get your RN without the massive amount of loans. I would have done this route if I didnt get in where a ADN state program for the Fall. OCU only gave very little in scholarships. I do recommend trying to find a hospital reimbursement program but they only pay $2,000-$2500. Also try to apply for the ADN program for the Spring semester, I hear there are less applicants than the Fall.

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Have you considered going in to the army reserves? You could do the officer plan and get money to pay for school.

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Bolus of Courage- Great name, btw! My husband graduated from OCU and we are fifty thousand dollars in debt for his student loans. We also have kids and responsibilities. I really think you are thinking smart by remembering that ns won't last forever and you have to repay that money! I am going the ADN route, just got accepted to Rose State's nursing program because I have to work during the day and no BSN program has night school around here. It stinks that you may be derailed for a semester but in the long run, I think you are making a very wise choice. Who wants to be paying off student loans with their retirement checks? Not me!:chuckle

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

I graduated from OCU in '94. Reading this conversation I realize how blessed I really was. I went to OCU right out of high school and received scholarships (ACT & Petree Science) that paid more than half of my tuition/fees for four years. I remember my fellow students that were juggling school, job, and kids...I don't know how they did it.

Bolus...I'm sure you've talked at length with the Financial Aid department as well as the School of Nursing. I wish I had a solution for you. OCU is a great school and I think you would enjoy it.

My advice would be to complete an ADN program and get your RN license if that's your goal. You can go back at anytime to do an RN-BSN if you want.

Good luck to you!! >

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