130k Student debt for Entry MSN worth it?

[ns90]

I would like to practice one day and this would put me a year of schooling away from that, but I also think I would be happy being an ED nurse going through community college and taking an online bachelors for MUCH less.

I am stressing about this terribly to the point of considering dropping my seat before the quarter starts.

I know there are many nurses out there with similar amounts of debt.

How did you find peace with 100k+ debt!?

Thanks

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Why, why, WHY, do people even consider this kind of rip-off "education".

Ignorance? Greed? Impatience?

Now where is that thread of the the new grad who was super stressed and posted that it was waaaay too late for her to NOT choose a crushing debt load because when she made the decision she just didn't know how life changing that debt would be.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Topic is closed but it sure is a wake up call.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/student-loans-killing-1161705.html

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

No, you will never find peace with that much debt.

I was impatient like you and I went to West Coast University. I got quoted 90 thousand. I was stressed out week after week. After a few weeks, i made the best decision of my life and dropped out. I didn't get into another nursing program for a year but it was totally worth it. I went to a community college and I graduated debt free a week ago...well not entirely, I owe west coast about 2k.

Nursing school is an investment but so is a house. Nurses make good money but you will work overtime with no vacations trying to pay off that loan. Not worth it...also what if you fail a semester? you will be paying more than 130k and you may or may not have the option to transfer your credits.

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

many employers look iffy at you when they see you have MSN but zero clinical experience.

This is exactly why I opted to NOT do a direct entry MSN program.

Like every one else here as advised, don't do it, save yourself some grief later on down the line.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

No, no, no! And again, no! Not worth it. Don't do that to yourself. Please, run the numbers: FinAid | Calculators | Loan Calculator

[caliotter3]

If this is what you want to spend $130,000 and years of peace of mind on, that is your prerogative. I would prefer to spend that money on a home for myself and my family.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

No, you will never find peace with that much debt.

I was impatient like you and I went to West Coast University. I got quoted 90 thousand. I was stressed out week after week. After a few weeks, i made the best decision of my life and dropped out. I didn't get into another nursing program for a year but it was totally worth it. I went to a community college and I graduated debt free a week ago...well not entirely, I owe west coast about 2k.

Nursing school is an investment but so is a house. Nurses make good money but you will work overtime with no vacations trying to pay off that loan. Not worth it...also what if you fail a semester? you will be paying more than 130k and you may or may not have the option to transfer your credits.

Please continue to post this Neo Soldier on every single thread like this- your experience (and your wise decision) needs to be held up as an example to the impatient and the naive. Thanks for sharing!

[ProperlySeasoned]

My husband left medical school over 200,000 it debt. The only reason this six figure debt is doable is because he is a trauma surgeon. We have almost paid it off. The earning potenital of a new grad NP is not even close. You will have this debt for a long, long time. Imagine how those monthly payments will hinder the other goals in your life. Is it worth it to "save" a year or two?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

My husband left medical school over 200,000 it debt. The only reason this six figure debt is doable is because he is a trauma surgeon. We have almost paid it off. The earning potenital of a new grad NP is not even close. You will have this debt for a long, long time. Imagine how those monthly payments will hinder the other goals in your life. Is it worth it to "save" a year or two?

I was also comparing this amounts to my husband's medical school bills in my mind. He has some loans from undergrad and from medical school, but his medical school education has been largely funded by his GI Bill, so his debt will be less than the typical. Still some to pay off, and much "easier" to do that on a physician's salary than a nurse's.

[broughden]

Why, why, WHY, do people even consider this kind of rip-off "education".

I dont know but you see it ALL the time on here. Like the veteran who could not be convinced that spending $45k for an ADN in a private for profit program was not a good idea.

$45k for an associates. I just shook my head and wished them luck.

[stockmanjr, BSN]

Why, why, WHY, do people even consider this kind of rip-off "education".

Ignorance? Greed? Impatience?

Now where is that thread of the the new grad who was super stressed and posted that it was waaaay too late for her to NOT choose a crushing debt load because when she made the decision she just didn't know how life changing that debt would be.

It's also the crowd who wants to go directly to being an NP. This is especially seen with Columbia's MDE program which makes applicants choose what kind of NP they want to be before a single day of Nursing School. I just don't get it at all get an education and work before going onto an advanced degree. These MDE programs should be shut down as they are a complete disservice to the student.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

These MDE programs should be shut down as they are a complete disservice to the student.

They are also a disservice to future patients who expect a NP to have some prior bedside experience