Where did you find financial aid when you decided to go for the 2nd degree in nursing

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

Federal and private loans and personal savings and a husband who could support us while I was in school. I looked high and low for scholarships, but the ones I found I either wasn't qualified for because it was a second degree program, I qualified BUT had to apply from nursing school so missed the application cycle because the program was only a year so by the time I was in the program I was going to be done with it before the next award was given, or I didn't qualify because my EFC was too high.

There was ONE scholarship offered by a hospital in the area that required a 4 year work commitment. I opted not to apply and one of my classmates did get it. I was worried about not liking the area the scholarship was for and committing to stay in the area for 4 years. AFAIK that hospital hasn't offered it to my school since.

SPJJMommy · Feb 22, 2011

I'm in a second degree BSN program (I already hold a BS degree), and I didn't have any trouble getting pell grants and sub/unsubsidized loans. Thank goodness too... we're a family of four living on one income... I wouldn't have been able to go back to school without some financial assistance!

Sniper RN · Feb 22, 2011

Check in the Workforce Investment Act. There should be a program near you that will help with school. Locally we have one at the 'Escarosa Center' I don't know where yours would be. Try searching online. They helped a lot of people in my school with tuition, books, fuel, childcare and other things required to attend school.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

I moved to go back to school and in turn took a lesser paying job. I didn't want to pay out of pocket or interrupt my savings so I took out a loan. If you do that pay interest as you go. It won't amount to too much once I'm finished - less than a car loan would be with no interest. I figure with the way that I am I can pay it off fairly quickly since I won't have any other debt going on.

The max I believe you can get with a second degree is $12,500 per year. I only ended up needing about 60% of that for school this year so if you can get by without spending the rest of the loan and have leftovers like I did then bank that and use it to pay off the loan when you're done.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

You can't get a pell grant if you have a degree but i was able to get sub and unsub federal loans to pay for most of the program and a private loan to cover the rest. some of my classmates took out private loans to cover living expenses since were weren't suppose to work i DON"T recommend that. I took out almost 30 thousand in loans (program was 33 thousand), we lived off my spouses income and when i got a job we threw my entire check at the loans....they were paid off in less than a year. Good luck!

Tatycare · Feb 22, 2011

I'm in a second degree BSN program (I already hold a BS degree), and I didn't have any trouble getting pell grants and sub/unsubsidized loans. Thank goodness too... we're a family of four living on one income... I wouldn't have been able to go back to school without some financial assistance!

SPJJMommy, a friend of mine is applying for her second degree BSN. She already has a BS degree and was not qualified for pell grants. She has a family of four and living on one income. Could she be doing something incorrectly in the application? You are lucky to have got pell grants.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2011

SPJJMommy, a friend of mine is applying for her second degree BSN. She already has a BS degree and was not qualified for pell grants. She has a family of four and living on one income. Could she be doing something incorrectly in the application? You are lucky to have got pell grants.

You cannot get a pell grant if you have a bachelors degree. I wonder if op was referring to an assoicates?

gregsbouch0816 · Feb 22, 2011

I currently am funded through the state of Michigan. It is a grant. I do not pay it back. All supplies, books, uniforms, tuition is paid for. Not sure if the state is still doing it, but the name of the program is No Worker Left Behind. You apply for it at your local Michigan Works office.

caliotter3 · Feb 22, 2011

I didn't. The financial aid office said I didn't qualify. I worked one full time and one or two part time jobs while in school.

MrWarmHearted · Feb 22, 2011

Depends on your financial situation. If you were laid off, you may be eligible for the Worker Retraining (depending on your state) and Dislocated worker program (federal).

You can always get scholarships (or loans) - assuming you performed well on your prereqs. Of course there are much less scholarships for 2nd timers but they are out there. keep seeking, keep knocking

mee9mee9 · Feb 23, 2011

You cannot get a pell grant if you have a bachelors degree. I wonder if op was referring to an assoicates?

I was referring to an bachelor's degree. and i was thinking about applying to this program in Nashville called NSCC/Belmont partnership. You basically get your associates in science at Nashville State Community College and then you apply to Belmont to get your BSN.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

OP, what have you found so far in your search? I found this site, so it might be helpful to you.

http://www.tn.gov/CollegePays/documents/VBP%20Tuition%20Reimbursement.pdf

I also found something on the Tennessee Nurses Association website that has a link to nursing scholarships. I got most of my scholarships through the state of NC. I just had to apply, and then keep my GPA above 3.0. They offered $1500 per semester, so it covered the expenses that my tuition forgiveness plan did not cover (books, labs, generalized school expenses).