paying for nursing school

heatherbless · Mar 22, 2004

My daughter has been accepted to University of New England in Portland, Maine, and although we've heard of tons of money out there for nursing students, I'm having trouble locating any. We and she can take out loans and hope for a loan repayment program through a hospital once she has graduated, but we would like to finance more of her education through grants for nursing students.
Does anyone know of any and could you direct us to them?
Thanks in advance,
Susan

The best way for her to get grants/like the pell grant is to be able to qualify for financial need on her own. Unless you as her parents have financial need-your income will count against her--I would fill out the FAFSA if you have not done that ASAP and talk to the financial aid office about the numbers, etc. Usually the only people that get the grants are low income.

Best to you, hty/

lentil · Mar 22, 2004

Heatherbless,

Thanks. I suspected that was the case, but since there is such a cry for nurses out there, I had hoped for better news. It seems that the government thinks we can afford to contribure more than we think we can. I'd hate for her to start her career thousands and thousands in debt.

275Main · Mar 22, 2004

Starting out thousands in debt is the reality for an undergraduate student these days. There was an article in the village voice about that:

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0411/fkoerner.php

The good thing is that she will be able to get a job after graduation, I could not say the same after I got my first degree. If you are a resident of Maine and are thinking about having less debt than maybe your daughter could apply to USM even as an out of state resident the tuition would still be cheaper. They have a nursing program and it is also located in Portland.

I would also try http://www.discovernursing.com some schoarships are located there.

elkpark · Mar 22, 2004

A number of states have their own student loan programs to encourage people to go into nursing and other specific fields and stay in state -- would be worth checking whether your state does. I was able to borrow money to go to grad school, from a state program designed to increase the pool of healthcare professionals and math and science teachers within the state, and then work it off by working as a nurse. Didn't have to pay back a single penny of actual money.

I looked long and hard for scholarship/grant money for grad school, and found that you have to be persistent and determined about looking under every rock and behind every tree! :) Good luck with your search.