Paying for Nursing School

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 1, 2015

Very few hospitals sponsor now in the PA metro area, less for ABSN and rarely for non-employees. Military is overstaffed. Did you try your school financial aid for school based grants/scholarships?

Can you defer admission to seek financial alternatives? Perhaps work OT and/or a 2nd job to build up a nest egg? Perhaps you can find scholarships/grants for next semester (it's very late for the current semester). You can see if your school has a payment plan to defer your tuition payments. Hopefully tuition and fees don't exceed your expected income as a new grad nurse in a highly competitive area for nursing employment.

tellio015 · Sep 1, 2015

Hi,

I can't receive any grants or scholarship through the school since it's a second degree. I've deferred once before and that was the limit (not for financial reasons) the payment plan offered is still too much unfortunately.

Very few hospitals sponsor now in the PA metro area, less for ABSN and rarely for non-employees. Military is overstaffed. Did you try your school financial aid for school based grants/scholarships?
Can you defer admission to seek financial alternatives? Perhaps work OT and/or a 2nd job to build up a nest egg? Perhaps you can find scholarships/grants for next semester (it's very late for the current semester). You can see if your school has a payment plan to defer your tuition payments. Hopefully tuition and fees don't exceed your expected income as a new grad nurse in a highly competitive area for nursing employment.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 1, 2015

Then though you may not want to hear it you likely have chosen a program where the cost outweighs the benefit. You are entering a highly competitive market. Is it really worthwhile if you cannot afford your tuition and fees for an ABSN program.

See if an entry level matters program is more affordable as sometimes there are graduate grants & scholarships or even GA/TA work at the school for reduced tuition.

You do not need to incur any more debt. There is no east or west coast nursing shortage. The PA metro area is highly competitive and you may have difficulty securing your first job post graduation especially when competing against traditional BSN students who had 3+ years of clinical rotations in local facilities to make a positive impression and develop connections for later potential employment. In a competitive area ABSN & ELM candidates are often at a disadvantage for reduced clinical exposure. One ELM program in my area is on probation with the BoN for low NCLEX pass rates as is one ABSN programs. ABSN programs can change post bac/graduate tuition rates which are 2-3x that of undergrad rates for similar coursework.

Only you can make the decision but if you cannot afford it, perhaps work for a year and create a near egg so you can afford a tuition payment plan.

mrsboots87 · Sep 1, 2015

My question is why would you apply to a school you can't afford? Apply to other more affordable schools. You can go back to a community college for a fraction of the cost and probably make enough money to pay for it in monthly installments. I CC tuition costs me $187 a month for 5 months. Thats not too bad.

Also, still go to the FA office. Their entire job is to try and find funding for you. You can still apply for loans for a second bacc degree. it would just be unsubsidized and you cant have already borrowed over the loan limit. If you have already borrowed over the limit, then I woudl say to DEFINITELY NOT borrow anymore. It will be tough to pay that back and still make a livable wage when you get a job after graduation. Not worth it.

tellio015 · Sep 1, 2015

Thanks. I was originally going to start in the spring and that time tuition was more than half of what it is now. I've borrowed the max. And you're right it's not worth it. I just feel like it took me so long to get accepted to a school that I don't want to lose it (im afraid I won't get accepted anywhere else). I am so ready to start school it kills me to take off again.

My question is why would you apply to a school you can't afford? Apply to other more affordable schools. You can go back to a community college for a fraction of the cost and probably make enough money to pay for it in monthly installments. I CC tuition costs me $187 a month for 5 months. Thats not too bad.
Also, still go to the FA office. Their entire job is to try and find funding for you. You can still apply for loans for a second bacc degree. it would just be unsubsidized and you cant have already borrowed over the loan limit. If you have already borrowed over the limit, then I woudl say to DEFINITELY NOT borrow anymore. It will be tough to pay that back and still make a livable wage when you get a job after graduation. Not worth it.

tellio015 · Sep 1, 2015

I guess you're right. What is the entry level program? My understanding is this program is entry level. And what is GA/TA (sorry I'm unfamiliar with these abbreviations) I see what you're saying about the clinical experience as well. I could have gone the traditional route but it would be another 2 years as a transfer which is the same 4 semesters as the accelerated program just less breaks. Also what are ELM programs? And if your don't mind me asking what area are you in? If I don't go to this school I would like to stay in NYC or CT.

Sorry for all the questions but your help is very appreciated.

Then though you may not want to hear it you likely have chosen a program where the cost outweighs the benefit. You are entering a highly competitive market. Is it really worthwhile if you cannot afford your tuition and fees for an ABSN program.
See if an entry level matters program is more affordable as sometimes there are graduate grants & scholarships or even GA/TA work at the school for reduced tuition.
You do not need to incur any more debt. There is no east or west coast nursing shortage. The PA metro area is highly competitive and you may have difficulty securing your first job post graduation especially when competing against traditional BSN students who had 3+ years of clinical rotations in local facilities to make a positive impression and develop connections for later potential employment. In a competitive area ABSN & ELM candidates are often at a disadvantage for reduced clinical exposure. One ELM program in my area is on probation with the BoN for low NCLEX pass rates as is one ABSN programs. ABSN programs can change post bac/graduate tuition rates which are 2-3x that of undergrad rates for similar coursework.
Only you can make the decision but if you cannot afford it, perhaps work for a year and create a near egg so you can afford a tuition payment plan.

HisKonstantine · Sep 1, 2015

Have you looked into community college concurrent programs? My program is an ADN/BSN concurrent program. You do your BSN coursework as you're working on your ADN. Once you graduate with your ADN, you have one more semester and then you graduate with your BSN. It's only two years and then you're done.

tellio015 · Sep 1, 2015

Have you looked into community college concurrent programs? My program is an ADN/BSN concurrent program. You do your BSN coursework as you're working on your ADN. Once you graduate with your ADN, you have one more semester and then you graduate with your BSN. It's only two years and then you're done.

Wow no I haven't heard of those programs. What's the name of the school?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 1, 2015

Has/TA masters candidate working as a graduate assistant/teaching assistant or residence manager. ELM I believe UPenn, Jefferson and a few other schools have ELM. Seton Hall in NJ. Expensive but eligible for graduate level aide. It's generic entry to practice MSN that gives eligibility to take NCLEX.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2015

I got stafford loans that cover most, not all, of my absn, in South Jersey. If that didn't happen for me, my plan B was to do an ADN program, which you could do for about 3500 per semester. You might have to take some stupid classes like World Civ or whatever, but I think it is fully worth it to look into it. You could get a job with the ADN and then do an RN-BSN bridge online when you're making some money. There's more than one way to do this. Good luck

HisKonstantine · Sep 4, 2015

Wow no I haven't heard of those programs. What's the name of the school?

I go to Seminole State College in Florida. There's also Valencia Stage College here that does it as well.