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

msdee69 · Jul 21, 2015

No I have not considered the direct entry MSN RN-NP program. That would be another option to consider since I have ready have a degree. Thanks!!!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

$30,000 is still an outrageous figure for an adn degree. I didn't realize there were private schools for associate degrees. Sounds more like a for profit school

greenerpastures · Jul 21, 2015

I had a master's when I went back for an ADN. Federal financial aid wasn't a problem.

Tumbler · Jul 21, 2015

I was looking into some more undergrad Ed. Here's what I learned:

Fin aid rules changed around 2011. It's pretty tough to get any federal aid for undergrad work once you have a degree. Federal loans may be possible if you haven't already borrowed the max (amount varies depending on whether FAFSA, not the IRS, considers you dependent) and you don't have too many credits already. Pell grants would be next to impossible.

State, institutional, and private money all have their own rules.

delawaremalenurse · Jul 21, 2015

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.

You might want to rethink the cost...that's a lot of money just for an ADN...with the cost of private loans it will be hard to recoup the investment

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

I think some posters are misunderstanding. She will not be eligible for any Pell grants. Those are not available once someone has completed a Bachelor's degree. A person could be eligible for loans, but that depends on if she maxed out her federal loans with the other degrees. That number is different for everyone on here as everyone goes to a different school and had previous differing majors. With having several differing degrees, I highly doubt she has any of that money available. Just because one get a federal loan does not mean another can. The upside to getting federal loans, is the interest rate is lower and they don't look at credit as heavily as private loans do. I hope that can clear up for some other posters on here. Random people are not just awarded loans or grants if you already have degrees.

To the OP, I am glad your company is going to pay for it. $30k sounds like an awful lot still to pay for an ADN program that will not get you the job you desire once you graduate. Please look at whether or not this school is nationally and regionally accredited, first and foremost. And I am not talking about some shady health alliance accreditation. That just means some other equally shady schools, got together and accredited each other. I understand you are looking for a part time night program, and that is hard when trying to get your associate's, but look at part time LPN programs then transition to getting your ADN so you can become a RN. Many schools have part time evening and weekend programs.

These for profit schools try to suck people in, and don't give them the full details about their school. They will outright lie and tell you they are accredited, when in fact they are not. Your credits will not transfer should you decide to get a BSN at some point, and your hospital may not accept you with a degree from there. They may not pay for it. You also need to look at NCLEX pass rates. 90 or above is a decent school, I looked at 95 or above and my school has a 100%.

On top of that, many of these schools close all of the sudden, with a note on their doors saying they are closed. That is how these people find out. They get, go to class one day, only to find they are out of luck, out of a degree, and out money. I could not imagine, especially if I was a few weeks from graduation. All of that hard work for nothing. It just happened again with 4-D college. And these schools have one parent company but operate under many others. I think last year it was Corinthian and Everest.

They have excellent sales people to pose as their admissions people and advisors. Just thoroughly research every option you have available to you.

SweetPotatoes · Jul 22, 2015

I have a bachelor's degree and am allowed 12.5k per year for my BSN degree, because I only took out $2,000 in fed loans for the first bachelor's.

But, if your company will pay for it in full--moot point? Good for you! If they're willing to pay that much for an ADN I would still consider the BSN at a state school since much of the market demands it.

Awesomocity0 · Jul 24, 2015

My BSN cost me about $65k (including boarding and an extra year and a half spent jumping around different majors before I landed on nursing), $25k of which was covered with scholarships. the other $40k of which was covered with loans I'm currently paying back. So I went to school for 5.5 years and owe $40k. So... to owe that much for an ADN with a direct path is craaaaaazy.

As for other degrees, I do have some experience there. I'm working on a BS in Biology, and I can tell you that you are not eligible for anything except loans. In my case, I was offered about $12k/year in unsubsidized loans. Yes, I have the nursing degree and am going for another now, but that's irrelevant. In terms of getting the second degree, it's the same. No grants and no scholarships (at least school-sponsored ones). Which I actually think is very fair. They subsidize your degree once. Why WOULD they give you free money for a second degree, when there are kids who need it for their first one? And I could actually pay for my tuition now out of pocket, although I'm glad I don't have to, since I want to pay back my higher interest rate loans first.

ladybugsmama · Jul 24, 2015

Depends on the school. I have a bs and an Mba and in school for an RN. I've gotten 2 grants two seperate semesters due to my gpa being good. However, I'm sure if there were other students that needed the funds I would not have even been considered because I was not need based. I had planned to pay for the degree out of pocket anyway so anything I got was truly appreciated.

AllieLVN2016 · Jul 25, 2015

I also have a graduate degree and I am starting nursing school next month!! I cant get financial aid because my loans were maxed. : (

I do qualify for scholarships through the school because I am now unemployed and my EFC was changed to 0.

paratroopa · Jul 29, 2015

I have an MBA and a MSF and received aid for my rn to bsn but only paid 9k out of pocket for my ADN...

Also, employers didn't care about my graduate degrees or my PCT and EMT experience they only wanted that almighty BSN