How much do you really make?

canigraduate · Dec 20, 2015

That is a really bad plan.

CA has a high cost of living and a poor new grad hiring rate, and that's for citizens with BSNs. If you absolutely believe you are going to be here to stay, get your citizenship, then get your much cheaper education. 100K in debt is not doable for most people, unless you have a backup source of funds. I still owe from my original degree 20 years ago and I only took out $40K. TWENTY YEARS of student debt. Ugh.

If you are not absolutely sure you are going to stay in CA, I would look more into other educational options.

You are going to be broke for the rest of your life unless you make some major changes to your plan or you make a ton of huge sacrifices. Get ready to live on someone's couch and eat PB&J.

AnnaK12 · Dec 20, 2015

To be honest now looking at it I really went over my mind that I ever had that idea to study in the US. I live in a small village in the alpine region and there are not any opportunities for us. Honestly I wanted to do better and so something with my life. I didn't like the thought of just being a "ski bum" for the rest of my life. Now I am here and just completed my 4th semester of prereqs and I am actually ready to transfer soon. I am proud to say that I, as an international student, have a GPA of 3.85 (unfortunately I got a C in my English class my very first semester, but my English improved since then a lot!). But now looking at the Universities and how much they actually charge. I don't know if it is even worth.

to answer all your questions:

I thought about overstaying, but the problem is if I have to leave for a bit and go back in the country i might have trouble to get back in the US. I have relatives here and i found great friends. So i do not want to risk that. Doing anything "illegal" isnt my intention.

If i have to take at student loan out, I have to work in the US. When I work in Europe I will never be able to pay it back.

And since I don't know where I wanna live for the rest of my life... its not a good idea idea.

Omg i need to find a sponsor that I can work also in the US then... you are all right. I didn't think this all enough through!!

nurseypants123 mentioned about looking into an Accelerated Program?.For that I have to have a BA/BS degree first that I am eligible to apply, right? can it be in any field? Which means I would get any Bachelor degree at the community college and then apply to an accelerated nursing program. right?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2015

To be honest now looking at it I really went over my mind that I ever had that idea to study in the US. I live in a small village in the alpine region and there are not any opportunities for us. Honestly I wanted to do better and so something with my life. I didn't like the thought of just being a "ski bum" for the rest of my life. Now I am here and just completed my 4th semester of prereqs and I am actually ready to transfer soon. I am proud to say that I, as an international student, have a GPA of 3.85 (unfortunately I got a C in my English class my very first semester, but my English improved since then a lot!). But now looking at the Universities and how much they actually charge. I don't know if it is even worth.
to answer all your questions:
I thought about overstaying, but the problem is if I have to leave for a bit and go back in the country i might have trouble to get back in the US. I have relatives here and i found great friends. So i do not want to risk that. Doing anything "illegal" isnt my intention.
If i have to take at student loan out, I have to work in the US. When I work in Europe I will never be able to pay it back.
And since I don't know where I wanna live for the rest of my life... its not a good idea idea.
Omg i need to find a sponsor that I can work also in the US then... you are all right. I didn't think this all enough through!!
nurseypants123 mentioned about looking into an Accelerated Program?.For that I have to have a BA/BS degree first that I am eligible to apply, right? can it be in any field? Which means I would get any Bachelor degree at the community college and then apply to an accelerated nursing program. right?

Rarely do community colleges offer bachelor's degrees. Those are typically 2 year schools/associates programs. You need a previous bachelor's to apply for an accelerated BSN program.

NurseDiane · Dec 20, 2015

No. It is not worth it. Since you are probably bilingual (or multilingual) you are a commodity in business and you'll make a heck of a lot more money doing that. Nursing is not worth it.

AnnaK12 · Dec 20, 2015

Yes I do speak 3 languages fluent (Italian, German, English). trying to get the hang of spanish :) Do you think business would really make that much more money? How much would i be looking at? I am sorry that I sound I am money greedy, but i just wanna make the best of my situation for now and be able to buy my debts back. The past 2 years of Community college were about 20 K (i know its insane, what I did!). Will it be easier to get a job in business as a newly graduate? would a business administration degree do? Or any other field? thank you!!

ThatBigGuy · Dec 20, 2015

Here's some math.

The average student loan repayment period is 15 years or 180 months. The average interest rate is 6%.

If you take out $100,000 in loans, you'll be paying ~$850 per month until you are nearly 50(!!!!) years old if you consider the extra few years it takes to get into a BSN program in California.

Over that time, considering interest, you'll have paid a total of ~$150,000 for your BSN education.

The average RN salary in California (from indeed.com) is ~$72,000. As a new grad, IF you get a job after graduation, you'll be closer to $65,000 per year.

When you take into account all the state and federal taxes (about 40% in CA), you'll only take home about $40,000 per year, or about $3,300 per month. Subtract your student loan payment and you have ~$2,400 per month to spend on rent/mortgage, utilities, food, entertainment, transportation, Christmas gifts, date nights, vacations, etc.

All this math ends with this question: Can you live on $29,000 a year in California?

I would ask you to look at some neighboring states such as Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico to find smaller, less sexy universities that will cost much less. Always keep in mind the general rule of thumb for student loan debt: Only take out as much loans as you can reasonably expect to make in your first year's work.

I know you said you have family in California, but CA is incredibly difficult to earn a BSN and find a job in, by far the toughest state to do so in the US. Any other state (except maybe Hawaii) will offer many more options, and many of those will be a fraction of the cost.

Please don't pay $150,000 for a BSN. Consider a move to any place not named Hawaii or New York City. If you are willing to work in smaller metro areas in the Southwest, South, or Midwest, you should also consider an ADN initially with future plans to bridge to a BSN.

db2xs · Dec 20, 2015

Yes I do speak 3 languages fluent (Italian, German, English). trying to get the hang of spanish :) Do you think business would really make that much more money? How much would i be looking at? I am sorry that I sound I am money greedy, but i just wanna make the best of my situation for now and be able to buy my debts back. The past 2 years of Community college were about 20 K (i know its insane, what I did!). Will it be easier to get a job in business as a newly graduate? would a business administration degree do? Or any other field? thank you!!

If you intend to stay in the United States, especially Southern California, really, Spanish is your best bet, with perhaps Mandarin being a second good choice. I work in a hospital in the Los Angeles area and I have never had an Italian- or German-speaking patient. We have a ton of Spanish-speaking patients who can't speak English. Anyway, most Italian- and German-speaking people usually speak English better than native North Americans!

Education in the United States is ridiculously expensive, no matter what you study, so you will be in debt regardless. Nursing is my second career and it took me a while to pay off my first degree even with a job and being a citizen, so I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be for you as an international student.

Regarding whether you should study business or business administration, I would invite you to ask yourself, "Am I really interested in doing that? Really?" There must be a reason why you are studying nursing.

What is the reason that you don't want to finish your prerequisites in Europe? I recently read an article about how American university students are actually traveling to Europe to get their education because it is significantly cheaper. An American education does not necessarily equate a better education, unless you go to one of the top-tiered schools. I can understand the thrill of being in a different country, meeting new people, and learning new cultural things, but when you don't have a job and the prospect of a mounting debt is so palpable, is it worth it?

To address your original question, it is possible to make more than net gross $100,000 as a Registered Nurse in California. As a single person, taxes are approximately 35%, so after taxes, that would be approximately $65,000 you'd be taking home. I don't openly talk about how much I make to other people, but I know of nurses who started off--as new grads--in California with hourly salaries ranging from $35 to $60.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Dec 20, 2015

Well I'm not a new grad, but with the overtime I work, and I don't have kids, I have made about 100K every year for the last 3 years. If I don't work overtime, my base would be about 70-80K USD. But I have 10 years experience. So definitely less for a new grad.

NurseDiane · Dec 20, 2015

You're far more valuable in a business setting than you are in nursing or any healthcare for that matter. Multilingual people are a tremendous asset in banking, legal work, government/CIA/FBI work.............

I'd totally get a business administration degree or accounting degree. You'd be able to jump into either banking right out of college with a decent salary. Then, with experience, a CPA certification and some time at a major firm, you'll be making fat stack cash within 5 years. One of my friend's daughter did this----she started her first job out of college at Morgan Stanley about 10 years ago and now she's pulling in about $250K per year in a VP position. Nurses don't make that, and they take a whole lot of aggravation and beating than what the job is worth.

Healthcare is not the place to be anymore. If I knew back then what I know now, I never would have become a nurse. 25 years ago, no one could ever fathom that a nurse wouldn't be able to find a job. Now, there are millions of nurses working as waitresses, cashiers and bartenders because they can't find jobs.

wanderlust99 · Dec 20, 2015

I disagree with becoming an LPN or getting your ADN. Why get your associates when you have to have your bachelors at the majority of hospitals? Try schools outside of CA, then move back to CA once you find a job.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Dec 20, 2015

I disagree with becoming an LPN or getting your ADN. Why get your associates when you have to have your bachelors at the majority of hospitals? Try schools outside of CA, then move back to CA once you find a job.

Plus LPN won't qualify for a work visa.

The OP is on a student visa and must pay international tuition rates (2-3x out of state rates). She cannot get any student loans or financial aid since a condition of the F1 visa is she must have enough money to pay all tuition, fees & living expenses up front. In addition not all schools will accept F1 visa visiting international students. She isn't likely to find a sponsor for a work visa in CA as a new grad nurse regardless of her degree. The majority of work visas are a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

SteelGrey · Dec 20, 2015

Saddling up with debts, high cost of living, and no job guarantee would be a bad idea. Visa issues are a huge headache. It sounds like nurses make good money , but once you factor in cost of living, and debt, you really aren't living any different of a circumstance than in Europe. Unless you really love the USA and want to pursue citizenship, I would advise against it. I'd like to suggest staying in europe and taking advantage of the extremely affordable ( if not "free") education you can receive. Why not pursue a higher degree in health care or another field of interest in Austria?