How did you pay for your college?

[MichaelNewtonII]

Okay, I'm a senior in high school and I have been accepted to my #1 school of choice, Arizona State University to major in nursing, and I would be an out of state student. The average cost for out of state tuition for undergrads this year are shown in the picture... and this scares me, I have no idea how I am going to get this type of money to pay for my education, I will be submitting a FAFSA as soon as my mother receives her tax return so hopefully that will help but it will not cover the full cost so I don't know what I'm going to do to pay the rest of my costs.. I had talked about joining the reserves with my moms friend who is retired army and currently a reserve, so the military can pay for my education but was told (not sure 100% if this is true) that if the reserves pay for your education they'd want a commitment of 4-6 years after, which I do not want to do, so I really have no idea what to do, do you guys have any suggestions on what I can do to get the money to pay for my education? I'm really stressing about it and my mom doesn't have the experience with this because she didn't attend college. Thanks for the help

[Chimera]

Okay, I'm a senior in high school and I have been accepted to my #1 school of choice, Arizona State University to major in nursing, and I would be an out of state student. The average cost for out of state tuition for undergrads this year are shown in the picture... and this scares me, I have no idea how I am going to get this type of money to pay for my education, I will be submitting a FAFSA as soon as my mother receives her tax return so hopefully that will help but it will not cover the full cost so I don't know what I'm going to do to pay the rest of my costs.. I had talked about joining the reserves with my moms friend who is retired army and currently a reserve, so the military can pay for my education but was told (not sure 100% if this is true) that if the reserves pay for your education they'd want a commitment of 4-6 years after, which I do not want to do, so I really have no idea what to do, do you guys have any suggestions on what I can do to get the money to pay for my education? I'm really stressing about it and my mom doesn't have the experience with this because she didn't attend college. Thanks for the help

 

Not necessarily true about the commitment. It is true if you incur a lot of student debt first, THEN join the military. They will pay it off and require a commitment. It is called the Student Loan Repayment Program.

If you join first, then start school, you can use Tuition Assistance. I can't remember the exact numbers, but it pays a max of somewhere around $1500 per semester. You can use it on top of any Pell Grants or loans you may get with FAFSA.

 

 

Also note, many schools have financial aid programs specific to their schools.

[Jase]

I would not go to school out of state unless I had a scholarship.  I strongly urge you to reconsider your options.  Going to school in-state is difficult enough to pay off, especially if you're going to be a nurse and making maybe 50-60k per year at best.

 

Loans are a racket no matter how you slice them.

[Hawk]

male prostitution....it's all about your future

[PandaPancake]

I will be no help because I used my GI Bill.

But if you decide to enlist there are more than enough qualified members here that can help. I would have a year in school first before you go the military route. Then you become one of those ROTC kids I would have to help because they didn't know they couldn't swim. Being a nurse in the military is easy, they just promote you as you get older

[MichaelNewtonII]

I would not go to school out of state unless I had a scholarship. I strongly urge you to reconsider your options. Going to school in-state is difficult enough to pay off, especially if you're going to be a nurse and making maybe 50-60k per year at best.

Loans are a racket no matter how you slice them.

that's why I was considering armed forces because I have no idea at how I'm going to pay off my tuition

[Chimera]

I will be no help because I used my GI Bill.

But if you decide to enlist there are more than enough qualified members here that can help. I would have a year in school first before you go the military route. Then you become one of those ROTC kids I would have to help because they didn't know they couldn't swim. Being a nurse in the military is easy, they just promote you as you get older

 

Not really. The military doesn't recognize anything lower than a BSN, but it's so competitive most nurses need MSN to work a BSN position. You likely won't be promoted past O-3 if you're not a Practioner.

[Jase]

that's why I was considering armed forces because I have no idea at how I'm going to pay off my tuition

 

I am lucky enough that my parents were able to pay for me.  My wife wasn't so lucky.  She had $28,000 in loans at 6.9% interest rate.  We've been throwing money at it for the past 7 years and the principal barely budges.  We've paid down only about 4,000 over 7 years, it's a major burden.  We both work, and if you average what we make, it's about what an RN makes in Charlotte.

 

You're talking about at least 4 times the size of the loan... I can't even imagine.

 

Not to be a fly in the ointment, but poverty from 20 somethings due to student loans is a major problem in this country.

[Chimera]

If you're interested in being a PA, the IPAP is an excellent option. Basically you need at least 60 hours. Get 4+ years of education crammed into your head in 27 months, graduate with a Master's from U of Nebraska and have a guaranteed job.

[Happy Panther]

I did

1) Scholarship

2) Many Student Loans

3) Parents and grandparents paid for some

4) Worked all of college.

 

Also what Jase said.

[MichaelNewtonII]

Not really. The military doesn't recognize anything lower than a BSN, but it's so competitive most nurses need MSN to work a BSN position. You likely won't be promoted past O-3 if you're not a Practioner.

I am lucky enough that my parents were able to pay for me. My wife wasn't so lucky. She had $28,000 in loans at 6.9% interest rate. We've been throwing money at it for the past 7 years and the principal barely budges. We've paid down only about 4,000 over 7 years, it's a major burden. We both work, and if you average what we make, it's about what an RN makes in Charlotte.

You're talking about at least 4 times the size of the loan... I can't even imagine.

Not to be a fly in the ointment, but poverty from 20 somethings due to student loans is a major problem in this country.

I'm going for 4 year BSN degree, well if everything works out where I can pay for it. & yeah Jase I get you and don't want to be in that predicament if I can avoid it.

[MichaelNewtonII]

If you're interested in being a PA, the IPAP is an excellent option. Basically you need at least 60 hours. Get 4+ years of education crammed into your head in 27 months, graduate with a Master's from U of Nebraska and have a guaranteed job.

this is in nebraska?

[pstall]

I paid my own way. Also ASU was my first choice as well. I would have been a freshman Barry bonds Sr yr.

I would consider community college first to cover core classes. Jase is right about student loan debt. Not worth it.

[Salvo]

I went to community college first and got the GE classes out of the way. It was 20 bucks a credit hour 5 years ago in California.

 

Then I took a couple years off to join the Army and went into the National Guard soon after which I am still currently a part of. I had to sign a 6 year contract, but I get to use State and Federal tuition assistance, along with the GI Bill and Pell Grant (which just about anyone can get). Although there are new rules coming out to start clamping down on those funds.

 

Regardless, I'm double majoring in engineering and have zero debt.

 

Don't rule out going to a community college first to knock out the "fluff". And if you want to go the military route, consider the National Guard over the Reserves since you can tap into state funds as well. And you can serve your commitment as you go to school instead of commissioning and having to serve afterwards.