paying for school....how???

momx4 · Jan 17, 2006

Have you looked into any sort of scholarship program?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

How do you not qualify for loans? I do. I have a BS, am applying to ABSN programs, and qualify for Stafford loans. I cannot get grants b/c I already have a BS. Also, there are tons of hospitals and also federal programs that will help you pay back your student loans in exchange for your working there or in a specific area for a specific length of time (yes, you make a regular salary!).

BTW, there are areas in Durham, NC (which is ironically called "The City of Medicine") that are considered underrepresented in health care, so not all of these federally designated areas are out in the middle of nowhere. Dig some more.

premedturnednursing · Jan 17, 2006

thanks, ladies! i'll keep searching

NaomieRN · Jan 17, 2006

The only way is through scholarships, which momx4 already mentioned. I am in the same boat with you, I already have a BS, I am only qualify for loans. I will try to get some types of scholarships. Good Luck!

beepeadoo · Jan 17, 2006

Make sure you look into all possibilities. Two things I'm looking at:

Kentucky has a loan forgiveness program. Twenty percent of your undergrad loans, up to a certain amount, for every year worked in public health. Not the boonies, mind you, but the city hospital where I'd like to work qualifies as "public."

The tuition at University of Louisville for the accellerated program falls well below the maximum forgiveness.

A local hospital offers a program whereby they essentially "loan" you money for your education, in exchange for agreeing to work at their hospital. No reduction in salary, just committed to being on their team. Beauty of it is, it's their entire system, which is huge and very diverse. Not just the main hospital. It's a decent amount of money too. You do have to be interviewed and accepted. But it's not the only program in town, and I'm sure there are other programs around the country.

The money is out there. Make sure you overturn every stone.

lifeLONGstudent · Jan 21, 2006

talk to your school about financial aid options. believe me, they don't get paid if you cannot pay tuition so they will work hard to find some way for you to swing it.

premed-->nsg ... don't get the cart before the horse. once you get the acceptance letter, then start stressing about how to pay for it all :-)

premedtonsg:..... and, if/when you get into our program, go to the nursing building and ask to speak to the lady on staff that "coordinates all the nursing tale gate parties and nursing dinner with the alumni".... i cannot mention names here, but if you ask the secretary about this person, she will know exactly who i am talking about. that lady sends us info about scholarships all the time. she is a wealth of info. hint: she has a very unusual first name and a very common last name and she graduated from tcu with a nursing degree.

lifelongstudent

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

one way is to get into a loan forgiveness program for nursing. the federal government has certain agencies that you commit to working for and in return they pay back up to 85% of your school loan. the indian health service of the u.s. government does this. also, check out tuition forgiveness programs for your state of residence. it is usually rural areas or health services provided to the poor and indigent that have these kinds of programs. it is a way to get school paid for.

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm - nursing education loan repayment program of the u.s. department of health and human services

http://www.ihs.gov/jobscareerdevelop/dhps/lrp/lrpsc.asp - indianhealthservice loan repayment program

https://allnurses.com/forums/f223/paying-indian-health-service-national-health-service-corps-etc-127818.html?highlight=indian+health+service

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jan 21, 2006

If a traditional BSN program was an option, you could work for a hospital and get them to pay for it. A ton of hospitals out there offer tuition reimbursement programs. You'd have to get a job either as a tech or maybe one related to your previous degree and the hospital would reimburse for school, even for part-time employees in some cases. That said, I don't think work would be much of an option in an accelerated program.

Out of curiosity... did you look into ADN programs? Sometimes it's hard for BA/BS-educated people to fathom returning for a 2 year degree, but often it's the most reasonable option. When you graduate from one of these, you're still an RN who has a bachelor's, which usually counts for something when you apply for supervisory-type positions. If you're looking at a field like NP or CRNA, some grad schools do want the BS to actually be in nursing. Otherwise, the ADN might get you virtually the same job opportunities and you could use most of that $30K for a graduation trip through Europe and a down payment on a new car.

Whatever path you take, good luck. Hope it works out!

tutusandfrogs · Jan 21, 2006

This may not work for you, but this is what I am doing.

I am putting away $800-$1000 a month NO EXCUSES. Things are a teensy tight, but they will be impossible if I don't save enough to help with bills. I applied for a later start date... and by the time I start I will have about $14 000 which will pay for school and carry me through to help pay for some bills.

MidLifeRN2012 · Jan 22, 2006

I also have a Bachelors in Accounting but am going back to school for nursing and the Accelerated program in Chicago area is 32,000. I would prefer to go the ADN route as it is far cheaper, however, there is no evening (beginning at 5:30 or 6) and weekend ADN program and I have to keep my 40 hr day job while going to school until I get my RN. I found ONE Bach to BSN progam that does operate from 5:30 to 10 in evening and 8 hour each weekend day. So I'm stuck in the more expensive route unless the community colleges in the Chicago area wake up and see that there is a need for this more flexible program for older adult students who have jobs, familes (single mom) and bills.

crr277 · Jan 22, 2006

Right now I'm working full-time, but I will need to quit my job next fall in order to attend school full-time, just to complete my pre-reqs. The local college here doesn't offer the pre-req's at night for working adults! Which is odd because this it is supposed to be a "community-centered" university. I'm taking out loans to pay for tuition (right now I live with my parents), but I'll be moving to another city to finish the pre-reqs because the school here doesn't have an accelerated program.

You should qualify for federal loans if you haven't borrowed more than $100,000 from the Fed Gov't to pay for school. Scholarships are also an option.