States that offer free nursing education in exchange for working with them

Published

I guess I'll go straight to the point. Here's the deal: I'm from Las Vegas and I go to UNLV as a nursing major. I decided to stay as an in-state student because it was cheaper for my family. My millenium scholarship and pell grants have, so far, covered at least all my tuition fees and classes for the first two years of my college (pre-nursing). This is why I decided to not even bother applying to other states as a transfer student since I thought that my tuition fees and classes were at least covered. The good news: I got into the nursing program with A's and B's (I know, not very impressive) and we start on Sept. 7. The bad news: I just realized that my scholarship and grants are not enough to cover my tuition fees and classes (it's fallen short by a couple of hundred bucks) and my parents don't have enough money to pay for all other requirements, which should be completed by August 24th (if it's not complete by then you're dropped from the program). I feel like it's not fair if I'm dropped from the program just because I don't have enough money. What I'm hoping for: other states, universities, or whatever is out there who's willing to take me in as a student (for free in exchange for working for their company when I graduate, or at least have my tuition fees and classes waived, or whatever kind of financial aid they can offer that is more than what I'm receiving right now, I know this is a lot to ask) and I promise to work my hardest, meet/exceed their standards, and forever be grateful. My student background: unfortunately, I'm just a regular student. I don't think my SAT's are impressive (I have a total of 1600, I'm sure other kids have higher), I'm an A and B student and GPA 3.64 (I think) and I've never taken the ACT test. I wasn't involved in any extra curricular activities (because again of the out-of-pocket expenses) but I did at least 100 hours of community service at the local library and elementary school. Though I get A's on my essays most of the time, I personally don't think they're that impressive (I've read way more impressive essays on the internet). I'm shy but I'm willing to go out of my comfort zone and even away from my family if it means getting a better education for less. Btw, I'm an immigrant and my family makes less than $50,000/year. (I don't know if this info can increase my chances, most of the really good scholarships I saw were geared towards U.S. citizens which is understandable since the U.S. is supposed to cater to it's citizens first before everyone else.)

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Specializes in student; help!.

If you're just short a few hundred bucks, can't you get a job until school starts?

how the rest of us pay for school. Loans. A lot of us aren't gifted scholarships/grants. You can take out federal loans that will pay interest if you qualify. As far as states that will pay for your education in exchange for you working for them, i'm not sure it exists? I think some hospitals have a program that exist only after you have graduated and if you commit a certain number of years to them, they'll help you pay off your loans.

A few hundred bucks???? After government loans and my scholarships my bill totals $2,500 in out of pocket expenses not including books and supplies :(

short of a hundred bucks in tuition fees only.. I'm actually short of $4000

If you're just short a few hundred bucks, can't you get a job until school starts?

in tuition fees only, i'm short of $4000. I need the money before august 24th or else they drop me from the program since they want us to buy a lot of things before august 24th. my biggest problem is that I don't have insurance. That's the one that's very expensive and is needed by august 24th.

I don't think there's a job that is willing to give you $4000 in two weeks right? And I have applied over summer to different jobs here in Las Vegas and got no reply, not even one phone call. =(

Specializes in Hemodialysis.

are you going for a BSN? If you consider other types of programs, there are hospital affiliated schools that give you loans up front to pay for schooling in exchange for your working for them after you graduate. You are not guaranteed a position with them, in which case you must pay back the loans after you graduate, or after you leave the program, but they're out there. I chose that route instead of going direct for the BSN. I can worry about the BSN (and the associated costs) after I graduate and start working. I already have federal student loans I'd like to pay for before worrying about a BSN which doesn't get you any more money where I live anyway.

Yeah I'm going for the BSN. Honestly, I'm seriously thinking of taking out a loan since I'd be the one paying for it anyway once I graduate and not my parents so the pressure is on me. It's just that my parents won't let me and tells me to keep looking for scholarship/grants or whatever is out there, since my aunt was able to go to school for free (she even finished her masters in nursing), but that was years ago..

Just wondering are you hispanic? because if you are there are a huge amount of hispanic scholarships out there but you have to be in financial need i'm not sure if it's too late to apply for them.

Yeah I'm going for the BSN. Honestly, I'm seriously thinking of taking out a loan since I'd be the one paying for it anyway once I graduate and not my parents so the pressure is on me. It's just that my parents won't let me and tells me to keep looking for scholarship/grants or whatever is out there, since my aunt was able to go to school for free (she even finished her masters in nursing), but that was years ago..

It's your life, not your parents life. Do what you want.

Your parents need a reality check. Many places are not going to pay for your education to work for them because they have plenty of nurses to fill their slots.

I don't see whats so bad about taking out a loan. If you get a job as an RN, then a $4000 loan will not be that big of a deal. You've taken scholarships and grants as far as you can, now you have a relatively small loan amount.

+ Join the Discussion