Paying for college

[Nurse Guy Mike, BSN, RN]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an adult with terrible credit and previous federal student loan (not in default) and I anticipate starting a private nursing program in the Spring of 2018 and tuition is super EXPENSIVE. For this program, I'd have to resign from my current job which helps pay the bills (rent, car note, insurance, phone, utilities, gas, food).

I'm writing to ask some advice or where to look to for assistance or what others have done who have had a similar experience entering a nursing program. I've put off school for the longest time thinking I could save up to pay tuition, but life kept throwing me financial curve balls.

I'm just ready to accrue this debt and pay it off with my career :-P

[SapphireKitten, CNA]

I'm assuming that you mean you plan on paying for school with newly taken-out student loans. Before you get any further, make sure that you're allowed to take out more student loans while still paying your previous ones. I know from personally using student loans myself this past semester that you are limited in how much federal student loans you can take out in your lifetime.

If you're going to quit your job, how will you pay bills, buy food, etc.? I feel like any type of available assistance, scholarships, or anything still wouldn't be enough to cover all living expenses. Unless you still live with your parents or are married, and your spouse plans on working to cover bills, I don't see how you're going to actually live aside from school.

I have a husband who works, receive pell grants for school, and student loans and still work full time while in school. Trust me, we're nowhere near rich either. I'm not trying to crush your dreams, just saying to be practical about how you approach this!

[elkpark]

Maybe one idea would be to find a less expensive nursing program. They are not all "super EXPENSIVE." What is it that's so attractive to you about this particular program?

There are also lots of people who work at least part-time while in nursing school to offset costs.

Best wishes for your journey!

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Please contact the school's financial aid office right away to get more information. They should be able to help you.

If you are going full-time, the financial aid includes money for you to live on, but you will have to be very thrifty. You can also work part time, but I advise no more than 20 hours per week. Good luck

[MrsPA]

I am in a similar situation right now. I am paying off my federal loans from my first bachelors, will be starting an accelerated nursing program in August and have an "average" credit score. To pay for a nursing degree you will likely have to combine the following:

Federal Aid which is determined by FAFSA

Nursing loan (usually $4k)

Maybe your school scholarship (not whole a lot)

Maybe your school private loan

And other private loans.

I explored a lot of options to get a private student loan. Unfortunately all of them require pretty good credit score. I was lucky enough to find a close friend who was a co-signer for my application. Try to look around for someone who knows you are responsible and willing to work hard to pay this money back.

Good luck!!!

[ChristineT]

Oh my gosh - scholarship scholarship scholarship. Google them - there are some really weird and obscure ones you might qualify for. Like as I recall there's one for tall people. There are scholarships for folks of pretty much every ethnic heritage, too.

Consider all of your financial options, and I mean every single one of them. As in, can you sell stuff online? Can you do some at-home freelancing to pay a few bills (if you can write, can you blog for $$? If you can draw or use art programs, can you make logos?)? Can you get a roommate (or two)? Can you cut your food bills by cooking, cutting out expensive stuff (nobody needs Starbucks, for example)? Can you keep the car going another year? Can you refurbish found or inexpensive items and sell them for a profit?

I realize a lot of this seems time-consuming, and that's because it is! So you might also do well to put off the program for six months to a year and make some cash before you start. Starting at an off time (like a January, or in June) might make it easier to get scholarships and loans, by the way.

Best of luck to you!

[llg, PhD, RN]

If you are an "adult with terrible credit" and have other loans to pay off ... you really can't afford to make a big financial mistake that puts you further into a deep hole of debt. Also, no one really needs to go to a "super expensive, private school" to be a nurse. You need to take a cheaper route.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

If you have existing student loans AND no job, you can't afford the "super EXPENSIVE" private school program. You need to get a job and find a cheaper program (community colleges, state U's etc.)