40,0000 for RN program

libnat · Apr 30, 2009

It will be almost $40,000 all total for my bsn at my state university (university of louisville). Wouldn't pay it for an adn though. My parents are covering most of my costs so don't expect that much loan debt in the end.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2009

My ADN cost me less than 4,000$ in 2003. Do not pay that amount.

Male Filipino Nurse · Apr 30, 2009

A month ago I inquired about the ADN program at West Coast University in Anaheim, California. The full tuition for this program costs exactly $67, 440 and includes books, uniform and even the Kaplan NCLEX program. Now if you add the cost of interest i'm sure it'll end up costing me around 75-80k. After speaking to several people regarding this program, the overall consensus was "Don't Do It" I realized why pay that much money for the RN program when you can basically take the same classes at a community college. People will tell you that you can pay off that tuition because you'll be an RN. The truth is that you can pay it off but that would require you to be stuck with monthly loan payments anywhere from $200 to $500 for about 10-15 years. That's like you buying yourself a brand new car! Why put yourself in that kind of debt when there are other routes to take. I fortunately found a program here at my work that I can take that basically pays for 100% of my RN school. However, i would have to take RN pre-requisite classes in order for myself to be eligible to enter the program at my work. Plus, the way the economy is right now applying for a private loan for school is almost like trying to find a needle in a haystack. (i'm sure it ain't that bad but still!)

Curious_53 · Apr 30, 2009

I failed to mention that I do get a scholarship for keeping my GPA at least a 3.3. I get 15000 a year for that, so it takes 60000 off of my over-all total (and brings my yearly down to about 25000). Granted, it's still a lot, but it was a school without a wait-list and it's a really good school with a lot of good opportunities. For instance I got to study in Spain for a month and a half last year and the extra cost was pretty minimal!

To Tiffdeandre - I do have to pay all of the tuition increases. It seems like a lot but my first year I got a lot of financial aide because my mom wasn't married yet. So that helped too.

It was a hard decision because in spite of the scholarship it is a lot of money, but other schools that I looked at cost pretty much the same, and I'm really happy here!

That said, I do know several students here who do pay the full tuition, and I'm honestly not sure what I would do if I were to lose my scholarship or something like that.

EDIT: That tuition does include room and board.

BellaLee0103 · Apr 30, 2009

Ill be about 55,000 in debt when i graduate, but im also an indenpendent student and I do not work so my loans are paying the bills right now. I have come to terms with it because if I were to get my ADN I would have to be put on a waiting list at (at least 2 years) and my time is worth more than money.

Also I went from a negative life to a very positive life and Nursing School has given me a new outlook, student loans are an investment in myself, I just look at it that way.

jenniern2be · Apr 30, 2009

My school is going to cost a bit more than that. But, I am 36 and I do not have the time to wait around a couple of years to be accepted into the community college program. My husband and I made the decision for me to go to this school and we feel good about it. My student loans do not cover all of the tuition and my monthly payment to the school is about $1,000 per month. We are making sacrifices for this to happen. We are selling our house and moving into my in-laws basement until I am done with school. Our house payment was $2,000 a month, so we will be saving that and that allows us to pay for the school. We feel like it will be worth it! Good Luck!

Jules A, MSN · Apr 30, 2009

Ill be about 55,000 in debt when i graduate, but im also an indenpendent student and I do not work so my loans are paying the bills right now. I have come to terms with it because if I were to get my ADN I would have to be put on a waiting list at (at least 2 years) and my time is worth more than money.
Also I went from a negative life to a very positive life and Nursing School has given me a new outlook, student loans are an investment in myself, I just look at it that way.

Congratulations for creating a positive life for yourself. My thoughts on this would be to consider working while in school. Having that kind of debt is stressful and if you can take some of that burden off yourself it will make life easier in the end. I always figure my time is money. :)

kjwarren · May 1, 2009

A month ago I inquired about the ADN program at West Coast University in Anaheim, California. The full tuition for this program costs exactly $67, 440 and includes books, uniform and even the Kaplan NCLEX program. Now if you add the cost of interest i'm sure it'll end up costing me around 75-80k. After speaking to several people regarding this program, the overall consensus was "Don't Do It" I realized why pay that much money for the RN program when you can basically take the same classes at a community college. People will tell you that you can pay off that tuition because you'll be an RN. The truth is that you can pay it off but that would require you to be stuck with monthly loan payments anywhere from $200 to $500 for about 10-15 years. That's like you buying yourself a brand new car! Why put yourself in that kind of debt when there are other routes to take. I fortunately found a program here at my work that I can take that basically pays for 100% of my RN school. However, i would have to take RN pre-requisite classes in order for myself to be eligible to enter the program at my work. Plus, the way the economy is right now applying for a private loan for school is almost like trying to find a needle in a haystack. (i'm sure it ain't that bad but still!)

I can tell you also, that that much debt, they will ask for more like $600/month if you don't try to lower it and extend your payments. I know someone with exactly that much debt and that is how much Sallie Mae wanted before they called and told them it would be impossible. Now they are paying about $330 a month for 2 years, and $700/month after that. The first 2 years are interest-only payments. They are hoping to have steady enough work by the time the $700 payments roll around, but no one can be sure. So, please, please think before you jump into an expensive program.

I RN A · May 1, 2009

Just try to get on a program at a State University. I have graduated in 2 years, got BSN and paid $1300 each quarter. The economy js very slow. It is extremely hard to find a job for a new grad even with BSN degree, which ranked higher on the employers list. Before you pay all these money for school, think twice.

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · May 1, 2009

You have to take in to consideration your unique circumstances.

When I went to school for my ADN, RN, I went to a private college which charged somewhere around 530.00 per credit hour. I had already completed all the LVN credits beforehand, so my tuition was greatly reduced. I only paid around 20,000.00 for my ADN degree.

When I was trying to justify paying 60.00 dollars per credit hour at a community college that would require me to take every lick of credit that I already earned all over again before I could enter the RN program (I had all of my RN pre requisites done from when I first earned my LPN), versus 530.00 per credit hour for a private college that would take me right away, I learned that I would come out about 30 thousand dollars ahead from the community college route.

My situation was; get in right away and pay more in tuition, or slug it out for about 3 years at a much lower payscale (as an LVN) and pay less in tuition.

I find it to be cheaper working on my advanced degree than my RN degree because I've taken the classes over time at my conveinience.