<p>Other than UW-Madison, there are 3 publics.
<p>I believe filing as a displaced worker depends on whether your industry/company is shutting down, but they should be able to tell him where he files his claims for unemployment.
$35,000 is not much over what was the national cuttoff for families of four living in poverty in 2012. ($24,000)
Since your dad is on unemployment, it may be a while before he knows what his new income will be and how much he can afford to help, if at all.
I would not take out any loans more than a direct Stafford or maybe a Perkins loan.
Certainly would not suggest you take out private loans for a nursing degree.
Howabout a CNA to LPN to BSN program?</p>
<p>WI students can also receive reciprocity with MN colleges from what I understand from prior years. Niece did this in nursing, graduated from Winona State in MN - she did last two years of clinical in Rochester MN. My DDs just visited their cousin (now a RN) and were quite impressed with the medical complexes in Rochester (Mayo etc).</p>
<p>I googled and see that WI has nursing programs in 42 schools. There are LPN, ADN, BSN, and higher degrees. LPN to RN, RN to BSN, listings of entry programs (LPN, AD, BSN).</p>
<p>Students and parents may like the traditional 4 year BSN program, but if finances are tight, there are many options to save if a BSN program/school is not in commuter range. I saw several listing of ADN, ACEN accredited; schools provide pass rates of licensing. I even saw at a glance even at least one on-line.</p>
<p>Not sure how much the WI Board of Nursing is if you have specific questions - if they also can give some insight to help in student/parent decisions.</p>
<p>Some may find community colleges also have scholarship opportunities.</p>
<p>As mom2ck has said, some scholarship dates may have passed already. </p>
<p>I don’t think a low income student should bother applying to Minn schools because she won’t get the WI state aid that she needs. Reciprocity works well for families who would be paying either way. But, when aid is needed, and state aid will help, then applying to instate publics is the way to go for an average student. </p>
<p>The student should apply to Oshkosh, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire…but look into those collaborative programs to make sure school aid will work. </p>
<p>^This is true. For an OOS student with EFC 0 the UMN NPC gives only Pell and loans, no state grant aid at all.</p>
<p>I just ran the NPC on a Wisconsin public’s NPC with a 0 EFC.</p>
<p>An instate low income student would get about $12k in grants (about half state and half fed grants). plus fed loans. </p>
<p>All of the state grant money would disappear if the student went OOS, even to a Minn school. </p>
<p>This student needs to apply to all the Wisconsin publics that have nursing.</p>
<p>@heyoimsam Did you find out if you signed up for Wisconsin Covenant in 8th grade?</p>
Oops sorry @madison85 - no I did not sign up for it.
I agree with you, OP. For nursing, esp. with your stats, I’d avoid community colleges. Don’t get me wrong. I love them, but probably not the best choice for you. When you look at the programs, the ADN looks like a 2 year program. It’s really not. Candidates will generally spend a year doing prereqs before they can start taking nursing classes, making the program 3 years long. RN to BSN programs often advertise that they’re a year in length, but generally not. You’ll need to go take chemistry, for example, before you can start. People will argue that you can get to work faster with the ADN and then be earning an income while finishing the BSN. True, but hospitals are moving away from hiring ADNs, so you’re looking at a job in LTC.
If you need cc as a back-up, look to one that has an articulation agreement with one of your instate publics that offers a BSN. Check out the liklihood of transferring in, and the take your pre-reqs at the cc.
I think, though, your best bet is to follow the great advice you’ve been given. Fill out your FAFSA now using estimated numbers, and get your apps in to every in-state public offering a BSN.
Loans, if you keep to the federal maximums, are not evil. You should be able to pay them off easily on even a starting salary for a nurse.
Oh darn - you could have received up to $2500 per year for 4 years through the Wisconsin Covenant program. It was all over the TV, radio, newspaper in ads/commercials interviews/press releases - reminding anyone who watches TV, listens to the radio or reads the newspaper to sign up their child in 8th grade.