If you think high costs will hold you back from pursuing your nursing dreams, think again. There’s absolutely nothing that can prevent you from fulfilling your life-long dream to be a nurse, including finances (or lack thereof). Yes, online nursing school is expensive. We all know that. But no one’s asking you to pay for it out of pocket. Unless your last name is “Trump,” paying for nursing school out of pocket is impossible! That’s why we have financial aid programs – and they’re not exclusive to low-income nursing students.

Today, financial aid is available to virtually anyone — especially after you consider our economy’s dire condition. The economy is in such a mess, not being able to qualify for financial aid in fact, would be highly surprising. The plain and simple truth is that online nursing school and financial aid go hand in hand, so there’s no need to worry about costs and/or postpone your plans any further. You literally have your choice among thousands of available nursing scholarship, nursing grant, and loan programs. And if the word, “loan,” scares you, take a deep breath and relax. If you agree to work within a critical-need area, your school loan could be forgiven… up to 100%!

Let’s look at this opportunity a little closer.

• Financial Aid from the Job. Before heading off to fill out a mountain of financial aid forms, employed nurses should make a quick pit stop at their current place of employment first and inquire about tuition assistance plans. A lot of health care jobs provide tuition reimbursement, tuition loans, or tuition repayment programs to current employees and they’re often available in exchange for a much needed skill of some sort. With tuition reimbursement plans, employers pay a certain amount of tuition and fees per school year.

  To qualify, nursing students must maintain a specified grade average and study a subject conducive to the student’s current nursing job. With tuition loan plans, loans are interest free and absolved in exchange for an agreed-upon commitment to the employer. With student loan repayment plans, nursing students need only have recently graduated and made a commitment to the employer honoring the repayment plan.

• Nursing Scholarships and Fellowships. Unattached from any particular nursing job or nursing school are nursing scholarships and fellowships. These resources come from government or private entities instead, and they’re available for just about any need. The trick is to ‘qualify’ for the right one – a feat that might not be difficult at all. Some nursing students win scholarships just for being a lefty, or having unusually large feet.
• Federal Student Aid. Federal student aid provides funds via federal programs, state financial aid, school financial aid programs, and scholarships. The appropriate applications can be located online or at your nursing school of choice. Unlike with employer tuition reimbursement, tuition loans, or tuition repayment, Federal student aid isn’t contingent upon a career choice or commitment to a particular employer.

  However, some of the programs — which may require repayment — forgive a debt or portion of a debt should a nursing student pursue and work in a specified career. Here are the most common federal student aid programs.

  Federal Pell Grants are awarded to any nursing student who can demonstrate a financial need. Both part-time and full-time nursing students may apply.

  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants work like Federal Pell Grants and are to nursing students who can demonstrate a financial need as well.

  Perkins Loans are available to nursing students who can demonstrate a financial need, but unlike grants, Perkins loans must be repaid and the first payment is due nine months after a student leaves nursing school or reduces the number of class hours to less than what a half-time student would take.

  Federal Stafford Loans provide funds from through (1) FFEL- participating financial institutions or (2) the federal government.

  Federal PLUS Loans helps nursing students living with their parents by loaning funds to parents from (1) FFEL-participating financial institutions or (2) the federal government.

  The Federal Work Study program provides funds in exchange for part-time work on and off campus. Funds made available are based on need, availability, and aid already received.

• State Student Aid Programs. In addition to work, private, and government resources, states provide financial aid programs as well. What’s interesting about state financial aid is that it can help individuals who don’t qualify federal student aid programs. Information about state student aid programs can be found through a state’s Higher Education Agency.
• Private Loans. Let’s not forget the trusty loan. Often used as a last resort, private loans can certainly pay for nursing school. Just know that private loans can be costly because of all the interest attached to them.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can fund your nursing education, so no more talk about nursing school being too expensive. In many cases, you can get your education for free or by working becoming a certain type of nurse.