Paying for CRNA school?

Nursing Students SRNA

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For those of you already in the program, how are you managing financially? I am ready for that next step in my career, CRNA and NP being my options. With NP, I can at least still work full time during the didactic portion. With CRNA, the program seems to be so rigorous that I don't think I would be able to work at all. Do your loans cover living expenses as well as your tuition? My husband and I both make about the same, so taking my income out of the equation would be a huge hit for us, and I just don't think we could manage even if we cut back all our expenses.

My other issue is, I could definitely get federal loans, but not sure what private loans I would be able to get because of a recent foreclosure on a rental property.

Thanks in advance

Nichole

Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

Stafford loans are not based on credit rating and neither health care professional loans (may be wrong on this one). The grad plus loans and private loans will require a decent (but not perfect) credit score, however, you have the option of using a co-signer for these. Cost of living is included in your total cost of attendance estimate, which is used to calculate how much money you will need.

Specializes in ICU.

I am in a simliar boat. I hurt my neck and that has almost drained my savings. Now that my neck is better I am applying and hoping to get in. I have come to the conclusion I would have to live entirely off of student loans. I would defer another year but I am not getting any younger at 38 and don't want to put it off any longer. Do you have any suggestions on how to get started a few months early in the planning stage?

Specializes in Critical Care.

I just started CRNA school in September and I am using student loans to pay for my tuition, cost of living, etc for the next 2-3 years. Depending on what program you attend, you may be able to work part-time or per-diem before clinicals or during semester breaks. I decided to quit working full-time before school started, but several people in my class are still working since we are not yet in clinical. I chose the Federal Stafford loan & GradPLUS loan and borrowed up to the maximum amount I could. Private loans are also a good option, but it is credit-based and the interest rates are variable.

Some things that helped me before I started school was I paid off my debt and eliminated my credit-card bills. I also worked A LOT of overtime in the last few months before I quit and that definitely helped me save more money. So I would take a good look and see where you are financially and if it would be possible to make it work. Remember it will be a financial hit, but hope the sacrifice will be worth it in the end. Good luck!

Specializes in Cardiac nursing.

military???

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