Why can't you get Financial Aid with a Bachelors Degree?

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Hi there! I just received a Bachelors Degrees of Science in Health Care Administration, and now I am wanting to go for the Associate Degree of Nursing and become an RN at the local Technical College with a great nursing program. I visited the financial aid office today and she stated that since I have a Bachelors Degree I do not qualify for Federal assistance, as I had in the past with the Pell grant and the Stafford loan. She stated my options now are, private loans, such as Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo. Is there any other financial assistance that anybody else knows of that I missed? If it helps I live in Georgia. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

The piggybank is getting empty. Factor into it that the federal loans used to be issued by private banks and guaranteed by the government to the department of education issuing all Perkins and Stafford loans themselves. Before the private baks didn't care to enforce the rule as long as they were covered by the government.

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I find myself in the same boat.

I already have a BA (that was paid for w/out any federal aid)...and now what i want to get my ADN for Nursing the school told me that i dont qualify for aid...well they said i qualify for the minimum amount of $9,500 only...nothing more because of my degree. They also said that they dont authorize Sallie Mae/Discover private loans for Nursing because it's not considered a 'high cost program'. All i know is that i cant live on $9k, and if they dont allow private loans, i'm at a loss and may not be able to attend.

How did you make it happen? Didnt the credit card 'loans' kill you with the heavy interest rate?

Thanks!

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Specializes in ER.

Yeah. I know. I think it sucks, especially as some people may need to change careers later on. I am getting financial aid from my work to help pay for my bachelors because of the cost and lack of funding.

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Specializes in critical care.
I find myself in the same boat. I already have a BA (that was paid for w/out any federal aid)...and now what i want to get my ADN for Nursing the school told me that i dont qualify for aid...well they said i qualify for the minimum amount of $9500 only...nothing more because of my degree. They also said that they dont authorize Sallie Mae/Discover private loans for Nursing because it's not considered a 'high cost program'. All i know is that i cant live on $9k, and if they dont allow private loans, i'm at a loss and may not be able to attend. How did you make it happen? Didnt the credit card 'loans' kill you with the heavy interest rate? Thanks![/quote']

Love, I wonder of you might have better luck financially going the BSN route? Sounds odd to say it, but I wonder if the increased tuition rate might qualify you. The idea of more debt sucks, but at the same time, if you're able to live off the money while going to school, at least you have a shot. Additionally many universities offer accelerated programs for those getting a second degree. The one at my school is only 3 semesters, vs. the ADN at the community college which lasts a full two years. Keep researching your options. You may be selling yourself short going ADN, depending on what is available to you.

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You can't get the pell grant because you have a bachelors but that doesn't exempt you from stafford loans, what probably exempts you is you maxed it out getting your bachelors. I have my BS and am just finishing my ADN. I've had to get private loans to subsidize the federal loans, but the federal loans have covered 90%

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Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

My BSN is my first degree. I wanted to go to a private school and there was not enough financial aide money to pay for it and I did not want to take out huge loans. I picked a school that offered me TONS of scholarships and worked to get my grades high enough that would enable me to get anything offered. It worked and I have very minimal loans at the moment.

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Well perhaps, they would prefer to give another person a chance to pursue their dream. Our government (read 'taxpayers") does not have the money to continue to repeatedly help finance degrees. And no one owes it to you to finance your educational choices. I received NO financial aid for my degrees. (donning my flameproof scrubs in preparation for responses to unpopular comment[/quote']

Yes, I agree. Some students have this sense of entitlement and it simply isn't deserved.

How about working and paying for one's own education?

How about a loan?

It's unfair to see how families struggle and work hard only to see a large percentage of their money taken away for these people with a sense of entitlement.

I know it may sound harsh, but I've seen many many students receiving financial aid, who simply don't even care about their education.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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I think after the "Great Recession" the restrictions affecting people trying to retrain into another field are obscene. It's penalizes anyone trying to remain competitive in the workforce without taking into account how many people have been screwed because of layoffs and cutbacks!!

The very least that should happen is an expansion to the Stafford Loan program to at least make returning to school somewhat feasible. No Pell Grant, No Perkins Loan, no way most people can afford to retrain, which makes for very few future options.

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I am an "older worker" who received a bachelors as well. Never did use though. I recently got my CNA license and planning on doing an ADN program. It's heart breaking that I can't get anything but a loan. CNAs don't make that much to begin with. So, not only do I have the bachelors loan still looming, I have to take on more debt to go back to school. I think the system is broken. I tried to get some assistance through the Workforce Investment Act where I live. They said in order to help me, I couldn't make more than $11,000.00 per year. Really? You have to been on your last leg to get help!

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I am an "older worker" who received a bachelors as well. Never did use though. I recently got my CNA license and planning on doing an ADN program. It's heart breaking that I can't get anything but a loan. CNAs don't make that much to begin with. So, not only do I have the bachelors loan still looming, I have to take on more debt to go back to school. I think the system is broken. I tried to get some assistance through the Workforce Investment Act where I live. They said in order to help me, I couldn't make more than $11,000.00 per year. Really? You have to been on your last leg to get help!

Sorry, but I rather have some kid receive free education monies over an individual with a previous opportunity to succeed. Price of education is already inflated with dwindling funds. This doesn't apply to all situations but in the end what's to be done to fix it? We are not a socialist country, and we can't complain when it would make it more convenient. I'm all for free education and Healthcare, I'm all for going social. But it's not the case, grab a box of kleenex. If I could go to school forever and get free money to provide some aspects of daily living I'd do that til the day I drop. The system isn't the most efficient, but given what we have there aren't really any fixes. I especially do not pity those who get a psych or sociology degree and complain not too far down the road.

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I am paying my prerequisites out of pocket. For the moment if I can come out with B's or higher my employer pays for the class up to $2,500 for part timers and $5,000 for full time student's so can see why I want full time ha. Any who my hospital for internal nursing candidate's is "strongly recommended have a BSN" in nurse job openings.

So my state has a boat load of accelerated program's three to four. One direct entry MSN program, but it's at Yale I am broke I cannot fathom paying for the program.

I haven't contacted my alma mater West Conn, but think I am nill in getting financial aid.

I was thinking of cashing out my 401K pay off any debts I have, get my car fixed up, and put the rest in an emergency savings just before I start school.

Then debate if I'll do the associate's or accelerated program. I feel can get enough loans out to cover the associate's program. However, if I do the accelerated program it's another additional year of school, mostly prerequisites. The prerequisites for the BSN/MSN in my state can knock out during the summer of your ADN program.

If I do go the ABSN or BSN have to figure out cost for taking loans out to support myself and family.

I know job market is kind of blah for ADN/ASN I figure can complete my BSN going the ADN/ASN route while being a nurse at the same time. Hope to be done by 34. Figure can look into the Navy, Airforce, or a government nursing corps maybe help fund me through a RN to BSN/MSN program. Always wanted to.going the military.

It's just dang if you do and dang if you don't. One coin not a great job market less debt the other coin job market improves larger debt.

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I know job market is kind of blah for ADN/ASN I figure can complete my BSN going the ADN/ASN route while being a nurse at the same time. Hope to be done by 34. Figure can look into the Navy, Airforce, or a government nursing corps maybe help fund me through a RN to BSN/MSN program. Always wanted to.going the military.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (I'm certainly no expert on this), but doesn't the US military require a BSN for nurses?

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