Huge Nursing School Debt!

[Shortigirl]

So, I am planning on enrolling in nursing school this Fall and the program is perfect for me and it is at a well-respected school. There's only one problem: I am an out of state student so my tuition will be three times what it would be for an in-state person. I figured out the costs and it is around $75,000 for the entire program (two full years and two summers). I know I will probably have to take out more than that amount in loans because i will need a way to make ends meet even with a part time job which I plan to have.

I just want to know if anyone else is going through a similar situation? What do you think I should do? I even considered waiting a year and living in the state where the school is so i could have resident status and just enroll the next year. I really want to get my career going though, so this is a tough decision. Thanks!

[caliotter3]

I would wait the year and enroll when I could get instate tuition.

[caliotter3]

While you are waiting the year, to be productive, take as many of the prerequisite and corequisite courses that you are allowed to transfer in. You will save yourself a lot of money and some time, and you will be getting something done toward your degree. You know, Freshman English is Freshman English, no matter where you take it.

[OnMyWay2MSN]

Are you getting a Masters? My program is about that much but we are getting a MSN...look at joining the military reserves (I'm in the Navy)...the Reserve GI Bill for a 6 year commitment is $4000 a year and pay is another $3000 or so, not much but is something or the Army has ROTC programs where you get paid while you are in, they cover almost all your tuition as well...but obviously you'll owe them time after

Just an idea

[swissdarkchocolate]

I cannot wait, but to answer this message from my personal perspective. I have struggled to answer the same question/issue all last year after talking to many people, instructors, nurses, doctors, people who are not even in this field, fathers, mothers, random friends. I have read posts here over and over again aka nurses who graduated from community colleges, state schools, cheap schools arguing that it is not worth to go to school that expansive, that they get the same education... people who graduated from private schools complaining about their check to banks every month.

To me, same thing can be discussed in terms of undergraduate studies too. Why bother taking basic general ed classes at a very expansive private college while you can take it at community college? why bother taking loans..? Right.

here is why. nursing is very much skill based job. if you are only going to work at hospitals your entire life, your skills are going to talk pretty much more than your knowledge. your experience is going to matter more than specific school you went to. while for certain positions, things are going to get more competitive (like any field in life!) Managerial positions, high academic positions, high public policy positions, even though many people are not going to agree to my position for various reasons, are going to select people with titles and good education background. I personally would prefer my nursing instructor to be that way-- who can do/has done further complicated nursing research than how yoga helps pregnant women, is knowledge with global health, can go deep discussions into pathophysiology and has mastered patient care not only physical but scientific means.

In addition,how long you want to finish your schooling? While it will take you 2 years just to get aa, if it takes you 1 year to get bsn on top of your undergraduate degree, you can spend another year to get more experience. although it will take away 865 dolars of your check, you can estimate if you wait extra year and then 2 more years, you can actually make good amount of that money plus you would have more experience.

all it comes down to what is your future goal. Just how this trend goes, degree is going to matter more in the future. school matters in the long run if you want to be that shaker. Just look at people around you-- that if you are very passionate about something and of course if you can by financial means, you will take that loan.

whatever your decision, don't let anything control your happiness. Your attitude and mental energy is all that matters.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

If you are sure this is where you want to go, then move there now so you will not have to pay as an out of state student. However, the other question I have is what is your financial status currently and have you looked into applying for grant money? When I went to college I was on my own and only had the income of from my father's social security as support (he died when I was 9) and I could draw his SS until age 21. Because that income was so low I qualified for federal grant money and my entire five years of college were funded by grant money and one small loan. I owed $800 when I graduated from college. There is grant money out there but you have to get in line early to get it.