What Kinds of Financial Aid are Available to Nurse Practitioner Students?

What Kinds of Financial Aid are Available to Nurse Practitioner Students?

Nurse Practitioner Students

If you are considering going back to school to advance your nursing education, the decision will be costly. While a graduate degree will allow to you become a nurse practitioner substantially increasing your earning potential, nurse practitioner programs can be expensive. Financial aid should be an important consideration in your decision-making process.

As you begin the NP program application process, concurrently look into your financial aid options. The sooner you start looking at ways to fund your education, the better. What options are available to prospective NP students looking for assistance financing their education?

Scholarships are essentially “free money” awarded by a company, organization, or even schools themselves. Scholarships are based on various criteria that reflect the values and purposes of the awarding party and do not need to be repaid. Often, but not always, scholarships are merit-based. Look at application criteria closely to make sure you are a qualified candidate meeting all criteria before applying.

Are You Ready to Thrive?

Subsidized federal loans are the most desirable form of federal aid because the government covers the cost of interest throughout the duration of your education and for a short period, usually six to nine months, after graduation. The most popular subsidized federal loans are the Stafford Loan and the Perkins Loan. With the Stafford Loan, graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year. Students payday loans direct lender Maine may borrow up to a total of $60,000 with the Perkins Loan.

Unsubsidized loans are among the least desirable forms of financial aid. Continue reading “What Kinds of Financial Aid are Available to Nurse Practitioner Students?”