Hidden/Unexpected/Extra Cost of Grad School

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · May 26, 2006

I wasn't sure which word I wanted to use (hidden, unexpected, extra) but I am talking about the costs that are not a part of the regular tuition/fees/living expenses that we plan for. I just realized how much I have spent simply preparing for grad school, and was a little shocked by the number! Some of the costs were expected, but it's when I added them all up that I realized just how much I wasn't prepared to pay for and it's eating into my savings of tuition/fees/living!
Application fees
Acceptance fees
Interviewing costs
Housing deposit
Immunization
Airfare to move/moving costs in general
Mailing costs
The total *so far* is right around $3,000 for me...
Was anyone else suprised by how much it is and how quickly it added up?

Yes I know what you mean. I just started classes two weeks ago & while I didn't have to move, I am finding that so much of my money is going for extra books-like ones that are not required or even on the recommended list, but are still necessary-like a better bigger medical dictionary, review books, reference materials, and of course I just bought a lap top with new software....all this plus my 5 required/recommended books....just for one class. But at least the ref. books, software and lap top are for my entire program. It is so expensive!!!! :uhoh3:

Trauma Columnist · May 26, 2006

Hang onto your hats guys! I just finished and am getting my ANCC application together - $370 for the test, $500 for study materials! Yikes! And....what if I don't pass?

lovingpecola · May 26, 2006

omgosh!

well, congratualtions to you though!

thanks for this heads up! i bet it will be even more expensive by the time we get to graduation! lol

llg, PhD, RN · May 26, 2006

After spending 5.5 years getting my PhD (after 4 years BSN and 2 years MSN), I had graduated at last. ... But my diploma never came in the mail. I called the graduate school office and they told me I needed to spend 5 more dollars to pay for the mailing costs. That killed me -- but I paid it. It seemed a fitting end to my formal academic education.

llg

lilboboxox · May 27, 2006

llg,

that's unbelievable! so typical of schools (not just nursing schools) to get money from you last minute. i just graduated from my bsn program 2 a week ago (whoa, has it been a week already?) and i'm completely broke.

$200 nclex

$195 application nursing license fee for one state

$35 license endorsement fee for another state (my grad school requires students to have licenses in two states for easier clinical placement purposes)

$80 sigma theta tau induction fee

$60 cap and gowns i'll never wear again!

$10 honor cord (rip off)

$50 senior dinner dance

i don't even want to go into how much money i've already spent on preparing for grad school.

lyela · May 27, 2006

One of the biggest hidden costs to a student can be the Financial Aid

departments. Some schools are very pro-active in finding monies for students they don't have to be paid back, while other schools don't even apply for government grants that are given almost automatically. I know someone who got a great speech by a person from financial aid during an informational visit to a campus, but after committing to this school found out all they could offer was loans, just like all other schools. Other school list many grants just for their students. Best to ask about that ahead of time and not take someones word for it. It can make a real difference on what school you attend and what kind of financial shape you are in when you graduate.

birthmamaew · May 28, 2006

My personal favorite is the $500 "matriculation fee" that I paid as a deposit when entering my program last year. Supposedly it was to be applied to tuition, but I haven't seen any evidence of that. Other students have not seen it either. I don't expect we will see it back!

lovingpecola · May 30, 2006

Postage for the mailing of degree. That one got to me. That's just sad.

I also agree with the honor cord thing...I had to buy two for undergrad, but since one of them was black-and our gowns were black- you couldn't even see it, not even in pictures!

And I'm with you on the matriculation fee, ours was $600! The students have done anything? Ie: talk to tthe school's director? I need that money to be applied, it won't be nice if it isn't! LOL

Some of the grants and scholarships I've wanted weren't applicable to my school because they dont have X number of low-income or minority students, which eliminated them from consideration, backwards if you ask me-especially if the goal is to diversify the student body...

CEG · Jun 4, 2006

I had to fly across the country three times for interviews/house hunting/ finding childcare, etc.

Those application fess kill you, too. And paying for the GRE. And extra score reports. And transcripts... I'm getting stressed again just thinking about it.

Once you start, don't forget uniforms, kits for clinical (we were all required to have the same stuff), nursing shoes, books (mine have cost around $1500 so far- two semesters in), a laptop if it's required, and I'm sure a million more things I haven't thought of yet.

But nurses make great money for all that they do so it will totally make up for it :lol2:

lovingpecola · Jun 5, 2006

In our financial aid packet, they only alotted a little over $1000 for books fo the YEAR (3 semesters) -- that seems really low to me, I wonder what's the deal with that???

beckinben, CNM · Jun 5, 2006

Hang onto your hats guys! I just finished and am getting my ANCC application together - $370 for the test, $500 for study materials! Yikes! And....what if I don't pass?

Oh, that's cheap. The AMCB exam is $750. Plus $225 to the state to register as an advanced practice nurse and get rx authority. I asked for money for graduation.

:biggringi

Becki