Nursing Tuition off the Chain!! Need Help!!

JoI8815 · Jun 2, 2009

I was typing really quickly so forgive the typo errors

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2009

thank you sooo much....all of your posts express exactly how i feel about education. i think that some people are responding from their emotions and not logic. nobody is saying that a nurse with a bsn is better than a nurse with an adn degree or what not. its just that some people have different ambitions and they are looking for something more than just being able to pass the nclex and becoming a nurse...[i will express this more after i respond to a certain person....]

actually, it is your views that i would say come from emtions and not logic. i have used specific questions and answer to demonstrate that in the career world, those who graduate from a less expensive program are at no disadvantage compared to those who went to a pricey school. i do see a distinct advantage over having a much smaller debt load coming out of school since both grads will (assumably) be competing for the same this is not a discussion pertaining to adn vs. bsn, because many, many institutions offer bsns for the fraction of a cost as some high profile schools.

those that insist that you will gain something extra from a pricey program have yet to give real specifics and facts as to how a bsn that cost 3,4 5x the amount will enrich you further (with the exception of one poster). i see a lot of ideas, and vague suggestions about the experience and additional education, but if this doesn't translate into additional success after school, well logically the math isn't adding up. of course, your own pesonal defination of success will vary and could make the difference.

here's a logical analysis of where some of us are possibly coming from, so you don't assume we are all reacting with our emtions b/c we couldn't go to a big prestigious school:

graduate with a bsn for $80,000, 10 yr loan at 6.8%:

monthly loan payment: $920.64

graduate with a bsn for $15,000, 10 yr loan at 6.8%:

monthly loan payment: $172.62

lets see, thats an extra $748.02 a month that the person with the smaller loan is enjoying. that's practically a mortgage payment. in 6 months that enough money to go on a vacation to other countries and see the world! its money that could be put aside for a nice, extremely comfy retirement or your kids' college education. its attending cultural events every weekend if you so choose or a trip to disney every year with the family. you can do a lot of things with the extra $700+ a month that will lead to many fun, educational and cultural experiences. sounds like a deal to me....

sorry if these affends those who have choosen to attend expensive schools, because thats not how it's meant. i do grow tired of the side remarks that suggest those who will only spend so much for a degree are somehow only concerned with passing an exam or being average nurses. that if someone wants to excel in their career thent s/he would obviously see the value of a pricey education.

CuriousMe · Jun 3, 2009

Graduate with a BSN for $80,000, 10 yr loan at 6.8%:
Monthly loan payment: $920.64
Graduate with a BSN for $15,000, 10 yr loan at 6.8%:
Monthly loan payment: $172.62

The assumption being of course that someone would for some reason finance their entire education via student loans? I said I value education enough to spend more when warranted, not that I thought taking $80K of loans is wise. I don't believe anyone said that. I think where we differ is your solution for not taking $80K in loans is to change your school, mine is to find support.

And just to be clear...I was never offended, just surprised that anyone would be against getting as much and the best education one could manage.

And the comments I made re: wanting to be educated for more than an exam or job came from the explanations that XYZ CC does just as good a job, and that we should just look at the NCLEX pass rates; with the implication that anything past that is unnecessary and anyone considering it is wastefull. The snarkyness has definitely gone both ways.

Amaka87 · Jun 3, 2009

I think 100,000 is rather overboard for a BSN...not to say that an BSN is not an adequate degree...it's just that if you were going for your masters or doctorate that price MIGHT be acceptable.

Adams_Mommy_07 · Jun 3, 2009

Ok ok ok...

As I have stated in many of my posts in the past I already have a B.A. from a state university in North Carolina. I could've gone to Chapel Hill, I could've gone to Duke. Now as a post-baccalaureate student pursuing nursing I am having to do the ADN-BSN-MSN-DNP (community college, state university, state university, DUKE university) route because I am no longer eligible to receive financial aid at the undergraduate level.

While at my university, I was a pre-law student, took the LSAT and scored high enough to get into law schools in Tier one (but outside the top 10--so no to Harvard, Yale, Stanford--yes to Vandy, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, Boston University, Notre Dame (this is where my heart was... etc. And let me tell you when it comes to the legal profession where you went to school is EVERYTHING. Tier 4 schools will only land you a public defender IF you're lucky. A tier 1 or high tier 2 school though, you've got options. Lower tier 2 or tier 3 you're stuck in the state you graduated from pretty much. The prestige of your undergrad institution only matters to professional and graduate schools, period. The best strategy for people who have to budget their money is to get their *prestigious* itch scratched at the highest level they plan on graduating from. If you plan on doing any post-baccalaureate work (i.e. MSN, DNP, PhD) you should SERIOUSLY rethink your strategy. Otherwise you will be compounding debt upon debt, and believe you me it is a slap in the prestigious itch's face to go from a top tier school and then having to step down because you've maxed out your financial aid...just as it is to go from a university where you were a TOP student to a community college.

malenurse122879, MSN, RN · Jun 3, 2009

Google HRSA nursing scholarship. I used it my last year of nursing school. Pretty good deal. Have you considered maybe a local nursing school that isnt as pricey? that would make a big difference.

JoI8815 · Jun 3, 2009

actually, it is your views that i would say come from emtions and not logic. i have used specific questions and answer to demonstrate that in the career world, those who graduate from a less expensive program are at no disadvantage compared to those who went to a pricey school. i do see a distinct advantage over having a much smaller debt load coming out of school since both grads will (assumably) be competing for the same this is not a discussion pertaining to adn vs. bsn, because many, many institutions offer bsns for the fraction of a cost as some high profile schools.

i know that wasn't the discussion but someone brought it up. you are absolutely right - the logic is that an expensive education often times does not give you a huge advantage in the career world and i do understand that. that's why i asked for advice and i'm def. thinking twice about it. but i was really referring to the people/persons who turned the discussion into a bsn vs adn discussion. to state that a [bsn] degree from a really good school - which will most likely be expensive - is in no way beneficial is absolutely untrue. i'm not talking about the cost, because the logic is, the payments/debt that i will be in after school will indeed be very painful especially if i want to go to graduate school. but i considered it and is still considering it because i do want a top education. sorry if that's so....stupid to some of you all but its just me. i'm not rich like the other rich folks who send their children to expensive schools, but i'm here to say that they do it for a reason, and its not just because they have the funds to do it but because there are considerable advantages in going to a good school whether some of you like it or not...but i def get what you're saying...

RossayRN · Jun 3, 2009

There is no doubt in there being some advantages but the question is in the grand scheme of things, are the advantages significant enough to be worth that price tag?

JoI8815 · Jun 3, 2009

Google HRSA nursing scholarship. I used it my last year of nursing school. Pretty good deal. Have you considered maybe a local nursing school that isnt as pricey? that would make a big difference.

O definitely...To be honest, the very first program I tried was the one at my local community college. Even though its a community college, they are in the top 10 ranking for their nursing program. So to all those who think its just about going to an expensive school for me, its really not. Its about getting the best education for me and yes I am picky about the school I go to. Community College's program is EXTREMELTY hard to get into tho. They go by points. You lose points for things like withdrawing from a class which is indicated on your transcript and I withdrew from two classes before so I didn't make the 7 point mark that is needed to get into the program. I applied to other schools like Temple University a little late and ended up on their waiting list. I'm now considering Holy Family University which is also a private school but is waaaaaaayyyy cheaper...However, I'm not crazy about their program so I guess I'm just settling:scrying:. I'll def check out that scholarship program you mentioned. Thanks;)

KarmaRene · Jun 3, 2009

Preemiemama,

What do you mean by state grants? How do you go about finding grants for school or nursing school period....???

PackersFan · Jun 3, 2009

Just my :twocents: , one of my good friends went to a private university in Kansas. She just graduated with her BSN last month and is strapped with $50,000 in student loan debt.

I graduated last year with my BS in Health Care Administration from a public university in California. I have just been accepted into an ADN program & will be starting the fall. I am not planning on taking out any loans for the ADN program (and if I do, it will be strictly for books.) All together, I will be graduating with about $20,000 in student loan debt.

In the grand scheme of things, I'm pretty sure that her BSN degree isn't going to earn her any more money than my BS & ADN degrees. (I'm not factoring in locations...I know that I will be making more money in CA, as opposed to KS.)

Oh, and the NCLEX pass rates are 78% for that school in KS. My ADN program's NCLEX pass rate is 96%. :up:

nseducator · Jun 3, 2009

I would begin by applying for a Pell Grant first, since obtaining the BSN will be the last degree that you can apply for a grant.