How to Save Money on Your Nursing Degree
Nursing is a highly rewarding and satisfying career choice with the option to make a huge difference to the lives of the people that you are working with. Working as a nurse means that you can enjoy a lot of career security with high demand for nurses around the country, generous starting salaries, and lots of opportunities for career advancement and progression. But getting a nursing degree does not always come cheap, with tuition fees costing thousands of dollars per year. Thankfully, there are some strategies to consider if you want to get your nursing degree and save money.
Accelerated Nursing Programs
If you already have a bachelor?s degree in a different major and are considering getting a BSN in order to retrain as a nurse, and ABSN program might be the cheapest option for you. Since you already have a bachelor?s degree that you may be repaying student loans for, it is a wise idea to opt for a nursing degree that will have the lowest impact on your financial situation. Accelerated BSN programs are designed to enable you to qualify as a nurse in around half the time that you would expect to spend getting a traditional BSN qualification, typically taking around two rather than four years. Learn more about how to become a nurse in Illinois with an ABSN here.
Online Study
If you don?t like the idea of working fewer hours or quitting your job to study, alongside the associated costs of studying nursing such as relocating to live closer to your chosen nursing school or regularly commuting to classes, online nursing degree programs could be the ideal choice for you. Online degree programs are very flexible and allow you to fit your studies around working full-time and other commitments. In addition, since online degree programs do not require you to be on campus for lectures and classes, you can avoid the cost of regular commuting by studying at home.
Bridging Programs
If you?re already qualified as a licensed practical nurse, a bridging program designed to enable you to become a registered nurse could be the ideal option for you. Bridging programs are designed for students who already hold a relevant qualification such as an associate?s degree in nursing, and are usually shorter than a traditional BSN program and therefore cheaper as a result. These programs will build on the knowledge and skills that you already have to help you meet your career goals.
Scholarships and Funding Options
Finally, no matter which program you choose to study to get into nursing, there are many funding opportunities and scholarship options that you might want to explore. Check with the schools, companies, and healthcare institutions in your area to see if there are any options worth applying to for financial assistance. If you are currently working in healthcare, your employer might have a program that you can take advantage of to get help with funding in your journey to becoming a nurse.
Getting a nursing degree does not come cheap, but there are several options to consider if you want to qualify on a tighter budget.
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