Paying cash for lpn school?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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There are several programs in my area offering LPN programs for cash. They are the same as other LPN schools only that they are cheaper. This one is offeriing LPN for $10.000 another for $12.000 and another for $8.000. They are fast to get into as well as way cheaper than other institutions that ask for $18.000-24.000. Their associates are also cheaper than the harder to get into schools that have FAFSA etc. I do not want debt after school or if I fail to complete (which happens with a lot of nursing students) at least I will be owing less than $10.000! I would like any advice from anyone who knows of such schools or who graduated from such a school. They ask for about $2000 dollars down and the rest is on a monthly basis. Student cannot sit for final exams for each subject till the monthly money is paid. Your name will be submitted to the board of nursing for NCLEX When you are paid in full. Advise me pleeeaaassse!

RN Bridge or straight Associates in 13 months?

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I went to Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pittsburgh. Tuition was like $1200 a semester then. Its about $3000 now. I was done in 13 months & had my RN Associates Degree. Once employed I started letting my employer pay for school. I get my DNP in a couple months

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I live in Tampa and work as a RN. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'd be more than welcome to chat.

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

Ask to speak to a recent alum. I would worry that there is a bunch of unexpected expenses. If they are holding your permission to test until you pay them off. You may get a surprise bill along the way. Trust me I taught very briefly for one of these "less traditional" institutions that folded when they couldn't take federal student loan money. I can't imma What they would have done to survive.

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Does your area have a lottery system in place for acceptance or is it a wait list? Sometimes impacted schools say it will take 2-3 years to get it but with a lottery you might get in on the first try.

I just graduated from my community college's LVN program (in CA) and came out with no debt. I had financial aid to help me along the way but some of my classmates paid out of pocket as it was less than 10k. My program was 18 months long, so longer than most LVN programs out there, but I now have an AS degree. I am now taking the last few classes I need to do an RN bridge while I work part time.

You should apply to the community colleges and tech schools and see what happens. Time is going to pass no matter what you're doing. I know the thought of waiting sucks but try not to be discouraged. Also, I don't know how other states are but where I am there are many job opportunities for LVNs.

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Hello,

I know you live in Tampa. However in Orlando there's a school named Orlando Tech. I did my LPN program there. It is very inexpensive. I believe $3000 in total for whole program. There's not a waiting list. if you are willing to take the drive it may be worth looking up. Accreditation is important btw. A friend of mine went to a school that did have their accreditation and the school ended up closing during her last semester. She had to start all the way over. Just something to think about. Also there's programs out there like WIA that will pay for your schooling. As far as LPN's phasing out that's been said for awhile. Some hospitals hire them while some do not. I currently work on a Med Surg floor hanging meds, IV therapy, passing meds. So you just have to find the right establishment that best fits you. Of course nursing homes will always hire LPNs.

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There is Medical Prep institute in Tampa (very established), and Suncoast College of Health in Bradenton fl (fairly established), there is another one I forgot in Orlando, there is also

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FLORIDA COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE TAMPA (newish?)

Thanks a bunch

Buyer be ware of Florida nursing schools lacking accreditation. I have known students who got royally screwed by them...and these were govt aide eligible schools too...weeks before graduation and the school shuts down. No degree, no qualifying for NCLEX...a crapload of student loan debt. The credits won't transfer anywhere....except on of those schools listed....hmmm....

Check for accreditation. It does make a difference. Galen started out as an LPN school back in the 80s it's been around forever. It's RN programs are accredited now. They've been SACS accredited longer which made their credits transferrable to places like SPC for a BSN.

NCLEX pass rates count even more. Crappy pass rates make it more likely that school will not be open by the time your ready to graduate. Again, I've seen this happen. One student had this happen twice...too many crappy for profits in Florida.

I went to PTEC back when they didn't have a school on every corner to choose from. It was PTEC for under $4K or Galen for $10k as the two options years ago for me. I went with the public school (PTEC). Did fine. Passed NCLEX first attempt.

I only did Galen for my RN because I could transfer the credits for a BSN later and they would take my really old credits (which they now have a time limit too). Otherwise I would never pay the price for private schools. I lucked out with the accreditation occurring just before graduation.

Just be careful choosing a school. Also, something I didn't know when I got my LPN first. You only get credit for fundamentals when you bridge over.

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Others have told me that LPNs are on their way out. Is that true though? That current LPNs are going to be mandated to become RNs or be relegated to working in long term care and doctor's offices etc and not hospitals or other higher level care institutions?

It will be RARE to find a hospital in the Tampa area that will hire an LPN for acute care. Most have mandated an RN by a certain year (which may have passed by now) for their current LPNs IF they didn't make the work as a tech instead.

Now, if you look on every corner, it's LTC galore. I don't think completely "phasing out" would be an option in that area. Just depends what you want to do and where you want to do it.

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Hi Cutty, I'm wondering if I could ask you what community college did you attend for LVN program? I'm looking for it too but the private school is so expensive í ½í¸­

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I went to Santa Rosa Junior College. It's about an hour or so north of SF.

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Been in nursing school almost a year now and haven't seen an LPN in any of the facilities I go to for clinical. I really don't recommend giving away $10k cash to a program. What if you end up not liking working as an LPN. It may be much better to go the RN route and look for scholarships/grants along the way to pay it. And even if you get loans, the payments are a little each month. So far my tuition and books have been paid through grants and scholarships. I just work a little each week for living expenses. I anticipate finishing the program debt free as I have a couple of state grants that automatically renew each year for up to 5 years (a real blessing).

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