Want to Join Military need tuition

lifeafter40 · Aug 13, 2008

I am not aware of any programs for the Af/Army that will pay your tuition upfront, unless you go through the ROTC program, and they have age limitations. The NCP offers a $10,000.00 bonus and $1000/Month stipend (for the months you are in school).

As I understand it, the Navy has programs that work a little differently, but i do not know details.

Have you considered going to an accelerated BSN program that is less expensive? Duke is great, but the military really doesn't give any preference for the school, as long as it is properly accredited... just a suggestion.

CMD1 · Aug 13, 2008

Thanks for the Info. The problem is Duke is really my only choice b/c of pre req's / location.

Lets say I take out the loans to go to Duke these would be Private Loans would the army repay those loans?

Supposing the Army would not repay private loans: would I get enough from a sign on bonus to repay those loans (about $70,000)?

scout2505 · Aug 13, 2008

As far as I have been told, some private loans qualify. As long as the loan states that it is a student loan and is federally backed, it should qualify for repayment. I have one such loan through BoA and is being repayed. With the amount of money the Army is offering to repay for loans. I don't see how anyone could accumulate that much just by financial aid and no private loans. (doesen't seem possible)

CMD1 · Aug 14, 2008

thanks everyone you all have been quite helpful thus far. Here is the deal

with my situation thus far though.

I will be 29 this december

I owe 90,000 in college loans.

I want to become a nurse but would be willing to join up 1st and wait a few years if I could get it paid for

I want to join the military soon, so as to have as many years as possible to gain rank.

I know thats a lot of stuff to ask for and perhaps I am grasping at straws but does anybody know about the following options:

I join the National Gaurd. Will they pay for my nursing? Could I eventually transfer to the regular military branch?

I join the Reserves. Will they pay for my nursing? Could I eventually transfer to the regular military branch?

Any thoughts would be greaty appreciated

lifeafter40 · Aug 14, 2008

I am not certain of what you are hoping for here, but if you were to enlist, I do not think that the GI Bill will pay off existing student loans. I am also not sure how it would work with a second degree... Can GI Bill be used if you already have a degree? Reserves/Guard have what is called a STRAP program that will pay for existing RNs to go to school for up to 24 months to get their BSN, at that point you could go active duty (I speak from Army perspective, not sure about other services) But you have to already be an Associate/diploma Rn to get commissioned as an officer in the reserves. If you were to take out loans and wait to get a direct commission, the loan repayment program will pay back qualified student loans up to about $114,000.00 last I heard (with optional $10.000 bonus, again Army) but only for your BSN, not a prior degree. If you are just looking for the bonus, last I checked the Army was offering $30,000 bonus for direct commission Nurses. Not sure any of those options will work for you or not, you should probably contact an Health care recruiter for the program that best fits your situation... I am sure there is no scenario that they have not dealt with before.

Hope this helps,

S

scout2505 · Aug 14, 2008

Just to add to what lifeafter40 stated. If you're wanting to join the Army as a nurse. They will only pay off student loans that were used to obtain your BSN. I'm sure there are other programs out there that pay off existing student loans for all ready obtaining a degree, but not sure what the job specialty is or would be?