If you are already an LPN and you would like to become an RN you will need to consider the RN education costs that are involved. There are a number of costs, and many of them apply even if you are not already an LPN but would like to go straight for the RN qualification.
LPN To RN Education Costs
You have a number of options when moving form an LPN qualification to an RN qualification. Basically what you need to do is to get a degree that will allow you to work as an RN. There are two main types that people go for, namely:
- The Associate’s Degree in Nursing
- The Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
There are also more advanced qualifications that you can aim for if you like, but these are the two that we will focus on in this section of the article. There are a number of aspects that affect RN education costs.
State Differences
Different states have different rules and regulations when it comes to just about everything, so this can have a significant impact on how much you may have to pay for your qualification in your particular state. Each individual state is controlled by its own State Board of Nursing. This is the body that you will need to turn to in order to get a good idea of what the requirements are and what the cost is likely to be. Remember too that that the school you are interested in will probably also have some information for you in this regard. Fees can vary significantly form state to state, so be sure to be well informed.
Average Costs
There are a few average RN education costs that you should take into account when looking into which schools and at what prices you are willing to attend. There are some average figures that we can give you here, but even in this instance they vary depending on the type of institute you attend. These are very rough figures, so you will need to do more research to find out more about how much your specific school will cost before making a final decision about where you will study:
- State schools charge tuition of about $7,600 per year
- Private universities charge tuition of up to $27,000 per year
- community colleges charge tuition of only about $2,700 per year
LPN To ASN (Associate’s Degree In Nursing)
The first degree that we will consider is the LPN to ASN. This is one of the educational options that are open to you if you want to become an RN.
Often there will be a test that you will need to write before you can be accepted into the program. This may cost a fee, but often it does not. There is also a certain grade point average that you will have to achieve for acceptance. If you meet the requirements you will have to pay, on average, $2,300 if you plant o attend a community college. You will then have to take the licensing exam in order to practice as an RN. The exam costs a fee of $200.
LPN To BSN (Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing)
Your other main option is to get a Bachelor’s Degree. This is also a popular method of getting an RN qualification for a lot of nurses who want to become RNs. In this case there may also be a test that will require a fee. In addition there will be prerequisite coursework that you will need to have completed prior to your studies beginning. The average cost for this program at most community colleges is something in the region of $16,500. Again you will need to take the exam in order to get licensed. This is the NCLEX-RN exam and without it you cannot practice as an RN. The fee is about $200 and is payable to the examining body.
Additional Costs
On top of your tuition fees there are also a number of additional RN education costs that you must not forget about when looking into whether or not you can afford tuition. These are:
- Books: between $1,000 and $3,000 a year
- Uniforms, work shoes and medical equipment: between $160 and $300
- Acceptance fees: from $80 to $600
- Hospitalization insurance or proof of individual coverage: $1,600
- Nursing license: $200
In total the additional costs come to between $3040 and $5700 that you will have to pay on top of the actual cost of tuition. These are also all very necessary things that you will not be able to do without if you want to complete your qualification.
Funding
A lot of nursing students worry that they will not be able to complete their education because they cannot afford it. However there are options available. The best place to start is by going to the financial aid department at the school you are interested in attending. They will tell you what you need to do to apply for financial aid. Often you will have to fill out the FAFSA form for free so that you can find out what kind of federal aid you are eligible for. There are a number of affordable loans and grants available from the government. There are also scholarships available from various sources for those who have achieved well in the past.
Considerations
There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when discussing the RN education costs you will be responsible for. There are a number of fees that have not yet been discussed which you may have to pay in an RN program:
- Lab Fees: these may be higher at some school than others because of the specialized equipment that is used. Make sure you know these costs before going forward.
- Parking
- Housing
- Basic living expenses
The last three are all things that you will most likely have to pay yourself even if you have financial aid so do some calculations into how much you think those things are going to cost you before you apply.
How To Get Your RN Education For Free
Here are some tips about how to get your RN qualification without paying anything at all. This is not easy, but if you are able to follow these steps you could earn a qualification at a very low cost to yourself.
In his regard it helps if you are already a CNA or LPN. If you are then you will find that it is much easier to become an RN without really paying anything for the experience. If you are not you should look into becoming, at the very least, a CNA. This can also be done for free, but that is anther discussion reserved for another time.
Assuming that you already have a basic qualification of some kind, you can move on to step two of the process. The next thing to do is to approach the place where you are working as a CNA or LPN and find out if they have any tuition reimbursement or loan forgiveness programs that will allow you to study on the company’s expense. Many institutes are willing to help their nurses upgrade their qualifications because it is something that works out well for them as well. Don’t be shy to ask because the least that they can do is to say no.
You also need to look into the various federal options that are available for nurses who want to study further, such as the Pell grant and Stafford loans. Here you will have to fill out a FAFSA form and see what exactly you actually qualify for. More information about his can be found at www.fafsa.edu.gov.
Once you have the financial aid that you need you will have to choose a school. Try and choose one that fits within the amount of money that you will be given to complete your studies. Some schools are cheaper than others. If you already have an LPN qualification then you should be able to get your RN qualification online, the cheapest option of all.
Now all you need to do to become an RN for free is to keep your grades up and complete your qualification as well as you can. Don’t fall into the trap that many nurses get caught by and assume that because you’re not paying your studies are not a priority. Be aware that you have to work to become an RN.
Now you should have a far better idea of what you can expect when enrolling for RN training. The costs are reasonable, to say the least, so you should be able to find a way to afford them. Don’t forget that there are a number of structures in place that exist to help nursing students fund their education, so be sure to look into all of these options before giving up. RN education costs are affordable if you know who to ask and where to look for financial aid.