A Nursing Degree That Doesn’t Break the Bank

Financial Aid Is Possible When You Return to School for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Shenandoah University

September 25, 2024

Did you know that you can still qualify for financial aid if you decide to earn a second bachelor’s degree?

For example, students in Shenandoah University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program have a host of options available to them to keep costs low as they study for 15 months at a nursing school with one of the top BSN programs in Virginia.

FAFSA
To begin with, some students will still have loan eligibility through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Shenandoah University’s Office of Financial Aid can assess whether aid through FAFSA is still available, said Stephanie Presson, one of the university’s assistant directors of financial aid.

Scholarships & Loans
In addition, ABSN students can receive transfer scholarships and be considered for need-based scholarships, Presson said. Other possible aid includes assistance through the Federal Nursing Loan program and private loans. For the federal program, students can contact Shenandoah financial aid at finaid@su.edu to see if they’re eligible. As for private loans, “Our school offers a resource to the most commonly used private lenders at https://choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/373700,” Presson said.

Employer Assistance
Some employers may cover some tuition costs as well as a benefit; a company’s human resources office should be able to provide detailed information about that, Presson added. Students can also divide tuition payments into four or five installments per semester to make payment more manageable.

Additional Aid and Loan Forgiveness
If an ABSN student is still a dependent, their parent may also apply for a parent PLUS Loan on their behalf at https://studentaid.gov.

And, Virginia residents who earned their first bachelor’s degree at a Virginia public college or university or at an out-of-state school may be able to apply for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant for private college students.

Also, following graduation, some nurses may qualify for state or federal loan forgiveness programs, Presson noted. More information about the federal program is available online at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-employment.