How are you paying for your MSN?

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Oct 20, 2008

I am taking my MSN/NNP part-time (6-8 cr/sem), and paying for it myself, with the help of tuition reimbursement and working FT. Since that is not your situation, I would recommend looking into getting some private loans like TERI. Or see if you can tighten your belt and just pay for one class at a time out of pocket.

UVA Grad Nursing · Oct 20, 2008

Talk to the financial aid people at your School. Different schools have different resources. At my program, I award over $1 million/year in graduate nursing scholarships, and I have various "pots" of money for different students, programs, backgrounds, goals/aspirations, and demographics. Definitely check with your employer to see if there are tuition benefits for employees.

Well over 1/2 of the 300 students in our graduate program are not paying anything out-of-pocket for their MSN or doctoral degrees.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2008

i am seeking a graduate degree in something other than nursing ( will eventually get my masters in nursing. will be rn in spring). i have some questions...i am concerned about trying to take on a full load of graduate courses because i know they are more complex and require more dedication. do people take 12 hours of graduate studies like they would if they were working on a undergrad degree. i was going to just take one course at a time until i got the level of complexity down and felt more comfortable. i see that 6 hours is typically required for fa and was wondering if taking 6 hours or so would be like the equivalent to 12 as a undergrad. i will graduate with my undergrad in december i have been overwhelmed with school work since i started working on my bachelors. i promised myself that i would take my masters slow and just enjoy the experience. any advise....

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Oct 20, 2008

Loans - DePaul offers GradPLUS loans, which are Federally-backed loans that go above and beyond the Stanford loans, which are rather paltry when compared to any grad-school tuition.

RN007 · Oct 20, 2008

Talk to the financial aid people at your School. Different schools have different resources. At my program, I award over $1 million/year in graduate nursing scholarships, and I have various "pots" of money for different students, programs, backgrounds, goals/aspirations, and demographics. Definitely check with your employer to see if there are tuition benefits for employees.
Well over 1/2 of the 300 students in our graduate program are not paying anything out-of-pocket for their MSN or doctoral degrees.

I need to leave my job and family and go to U Va! I have been told by my program that "there is very little money for graduate students." I am planning to attend classes part time and pay for it with tuition reimbursement. No way I can afford another loan -- borrowed enough for the RN to buy a luxury car! :eek:

AWanderingMinstral · Oct 20, 2008

I'm accepted! Now how do I pay for this? Do most of you use financial aid?
I work part time and husband works but all our $ goes to the bills. I get a very small amount of tuition reimbursement ... realized it covers less than one course per YEAR.
I was also hoping for some financial aid but it looks like most loans only reimburse if you go two or more classes per semester? I was only planning on going one course at a time. So if I go one at a time I have to pay? Either that, or I get a loan but have to take two at a time, making it twice as hard for me each semester than I planned? Please let me know what all of you are doing!

If I opt to attend an expensive graduate school, I will probably join the US Public Health Service and take a position with an agency that will repay my loans.

allnurses Guide · Oct 20, 2008

I am classed as "out of state" because I haven't been resident in PA for over a year yet. In addition, I'm not eligible for federal aid because I'm on a work visa and not a permanent resident. My employer pays $3500/yr tuition assistance. My MSN classes are around $960/credit hr. I am taking 9 credits this semester and so paid the remainder out of pocket. Next term, I'm only taking one class so the fees will be less.

I do have the potential to sign a contract promising 2 years of work once I graduate as an NP and getting my classes paid, but I'm still considering this.

Edit: I am working fulltime as well.

Farmer Jane · Oct 21, 2008

I am SO tired of loans, so I'll be paying cash and it's going to take forever.

Jen2002 · Oct 23, 2008

Loans! I have no tuition reimbursement. I am going to apply for as many scholarships as I can to help out though.

psychonaut · Oct 27, 2008

My school offers a stipend and tuition discount for taking a research assistant role. Very tempting, with a few PRN shifts thrown in, ought to make it very doable from a financial standpoint.

Compared to the PA program I've been considering, 58K + two years of no work, hard to justify on that count. Decisions, decisions...

tryingtohaveitall · Oct 27, 2008

I started out trying to skimp and not pay off my credit card so I could pay cash for my grad classes. Finally I wised up and got a Stafford subsidized loan. I really wasn't crazy about doing it, but there seemed no other way. I'm working PT, taking ~ 4 hrs/quarter, and homeschooling 3 of my 5 kids. Right now, this is the best I've been able to figure out.