Current students and recent grads
I’m hoping to learn from those of you who’ve already been through this because I honestly feel like I’m missing something.
I’m 36, a single mom to a 7-year-old, and after spending years working in healthcare, I finally decided to stop talking myself out of nursing and go for it. I was recently accepted into a private graduate-entry nursing program, and while I’m beyond grateful, now comes the part that’s honestly keeping me up at night—figuring out how to pay for it.
Before anyone says “just take out federal loans” or “use Grad PLUS,” I’ve already explored those options.
I’ve completed my FAFSA, appealed my financial aid package, and accepted every bit of federal aid available to me. Because I already have previous degrees and existing federal student loans, I’ve reached the federal borrowing limits I’m eligible for. So I’m really trying to learn about everything beyond the standard advice.
I’m hoping those of you who have been through nursing school can help point me toward opportunities I may not even know exist.
I’d love to hear about things like:
• Nursing scholarships that were actually worth applying for.
• Institutional grants or scholarships your school offered after you were admitted.
• HRSA, Nurse Corps, state workforce grants, or loan repayment programs.
• Hospital sponsorships or employer tuition assistance.
• Foundations or organizations that specifically support nursing students.
• Creative ways you covered living expenses while in school if you couldn’t work much.
• Anything you wish someone had told you before you started.
If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to know:
• What type of nursing program were you in? (ADN, BSN, ABSN, Direct Entry MSN/MEPN, etc.)
• Public or private school?
• What funding source made the biggest difference?
• Approximately how much did scholarships or grants cover?
• If you could go back, what would you apply for sooner?
I’m not looking for donations or asking anyone to solve this for me. I’m fully prepared to invest in my education—I just want to make sure I understand every legitimate funding opportunity before taking on additional debt.
And if you’re still in the application phase or are a pre-nursing student, I’d love to hear from you too. If you’ve come across scholarships, funding resources, or advice during your research that you think more applicants should know about, please share it. Sometimes the best information comes from someone who’s deep in the search right now.
I know I can’t be the only adult student, parent, or career changer trying to make this work. My hope is that this thread becomes a resource for anyone else searching Reddit months from now, wondering how people actually paid for nursing school.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I truly appreciate any advice, experiences, or resources you’re willing to share.