Nursing as a Second Career...can I get financial aid with a graduate degree.

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I have an MBA and MHA and I am considering getting an RN license. I currently work in a hospital on the administration management side and I would like to work on the clinical side. However, I am not a clinical person. I have always wanted to be a nurse but decided to go a different route. I have a strong compassion for patient care. I have looked into various bachelors and masters program for those who are considering nursing as a second career. However, they are all on a full-time basis. Therefore, I am considering an ADN program whereas I can attend part-time. I will start taking my prerequisites this Fall. My question is if I already have a graduate degree will I been able to get financial aid for ADN or will I have a pay out of pocket? Thanks for your help.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Generally, you will not be eligible for grants and scholarships. Private loans would be your option. But honestly, if you have TWO masters degrees and work in administration- why would you not be able to pay cash?

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Thanks for your response. However, I never said that I would to be able to pay cash...I just wanted to know I would be able to get financial aid. In addition, I will not be attending a community college, I will be attending a private school with with the estimated cost to be between $70k to $85k with books and all other fees. I am just trying to look at my options and to see if anyone have gone through my experience.

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nursing is my second degree, and i barely get anything. i qualified for a tiny scholarship, and the rest is savings, federal loans, and private loans. check with your job, tuition reimbursement might also help you out if they have offer it.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Thanks for your response. However, I never said that I would to be able to pay cash...I just wanted to know I would be able to get financial aid. In addition, I will not be attending a community college, I will be attending a private school with with the estimated cost to be between $70k to $85k with books and all other fees. I am just trying to look at my options and to see if anyone have gone through my experience.

That is way too much to spend on an ADN especially since many facilities are going for BSN only. It will be difficult to recoup that amount in incomes

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

There is a fair number of rather esoteric scholarships for adults and second/third degrees seekers. You need to Google, go through your professional societies, local/national women organizations. I got $5000 once for writing "the best essay" about a topic completely unrelated to nursing (as well as common sense) through of a local Women's Club.

If you bug your administration a bit and convince them that you need clinical side to somehow advance your role/bring more good/ etc., they may either pay for your education or even arrange your admission in local community college where it will be the whole way cheaper. $85000 for ADN is insane.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

You will qualify for federal student loan IF you haven't met the max from your previous degree.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

$85,000 for an ADN??? ***. I wouldn't pay that for a BSN! My ADN will cost about $6,000.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I got a Stafford unsubsidized and a Stafford subsidized with a bachelor's degree. It will cover most of my tuition.

The best thing to do is file a Fafsa and see for yourself. None of us really know. Good luck.

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Thanks for all the responses. I will seek tuition reimbursement from my job and hopefully find another program that will fix with my schedule.

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Thanks for your response. However, I never said that I would to be able to pay cash...I just wanted to know I would be able to get financial aid. In addition, I will not be attending a community college, I will be attending a private school with with the estimated cost to be between $70k to $85k with books and all other fees. I am just trying to look at my options and to see if anyone have gone through my experience.

There's absolutely no reason to do that. If your goal is to get a degree and take the NCLEX as fast as possible, go to a community college, which, it appears, you could afford out-of-pocket. $70-85K for a two-year degree when you can get an equivalent education with taxpayer support at a CC is very wasteful. It just doesn't cost that much to educate a student nurse...so who profits?

As to your original question, the answer is properly answered by the financial aid office at the college. They know all the ins and outs. However, as others above have noted, financial aid is usually reserved for people without previous degrees.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Private school for an ADN at $80,000? Sorry, but just how much business background do you have? That is an incredible amount of $. And to answer your original question, it's doubtful you'd receive FA for your nursing degree...

Thanks for your response. However, I never said that I would to be able to pay cash...I just wanted to know I would be able to get financial aid. In addition, I will not be attending a community college, I will be attending a private school with with the estimated cost to be between $70k to $85k with books and all other fees. I am just trying to look at my options and to see if anyone have gone through my experience.
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