Please Help with HUGE Decision

The differences between NP and PA are far more than just finances. You need to determine if you would be content working as a NP or would you rather work as a PA. Once you know this, then you can decide if the cost is worth going for your PA rather than "settling" for NP school.

NPs can have independent practice in about ?22 states, not sure Pas have that. If you search you will see discussions about salary, IMO they are approximately same. You can google and get a variety of figures, depending on the location vs. cost of living, don't just look at base salary, you have to look at the whole package in a contract as far as CME money/days to attend conferences, DEA/NP license being paid by employer, sick leave/PTO, being on call, will you be rounding in hospital or based in clinic setting.

^

$60K more for PA is a ton of money, not sure you will recoup this in the long run.

PA vs NP the opinion all depends on who you speak with...

I have known a couple of RNs who went on to PA but the majority go to NP school. I do not know much about the PA programs but I have been told they have more contact hours than a typical NP program. They did recently change the recertification to every 10 years (I think). A PA must always work under some sort of supervising provider where NPs can be free of the supervision in many states.

An NP has a terminal point of DNP and not sure what or where a PA can go - as in what options after the PA.

Depends on where you want to work. Inpatient tends to be PA (with exceptions like myself) and outpatient tends to be NPs. Salary shouldn't be a factor as we make about the same.

As far as contacts hours the PA students and PAs I worked with needed 2000 while my program as an FNP only need a measly 175. You will by far get a better inpatient education in PA school if this is what you're after..

PA school is expensive. not really worth the cost compared to NP. better education but if you go to a GOOD np school usually that will be more monetary satisfying. If I'm gonna dump 100k i don't wanna to have the word assistant in my name.

What made you apply for each in the first place? I'm sure you chose to also apply to PA school for a reason, otherwise you would've only applied for multiple NP programs. What was your original deciding factor to apply to PA? That might make your decision easier.