That is way too much money for a BSN. I am a nurse (ADN) and a few of my coworkers are struggling to pay for their BSN loans, one gal has $70,000 in loans, and that is crushing her. I have zero loans (paid as I went) and if I want to bridge to BSN it is only $10,000. I paid around $7,000 for the ADN. I have a friend who is in her early 50s and just completed her NP degree and she is $125,000 in debt for that. Nursing degrees can leave you with crippling debt if you aren’t careful.
Thank you everyone. I’ve decided to go with the more affordable option due to all of your advice. I’ve made my peace with the fact that i have to give up my dream school. But like you’ve all said, a dream is just a dream. I’m actually a big fan of my second option as well, so it’s really not that big of a deal. I just had to drop the idealism for what’s practical.
Congratulations in choosing the option that will ultimately lead you to a dream job rather than 20 years of crushing debt (ien, nightmare) :).
Can you say what the two schools are?
The best nurses and NP’s make fact based, analytical decisions. Congratulations to you on demonstrating the ability to do just that! I just had an experience with a surgical NP which greatly increased my profound respect and gratitude to this profession!
Good luck to you 
@MYOS1634 sure! I chose Gonzaga University over Boston College. And I genuinely do love Gonzaga as well, I took a visit not too long ago and they’ve really hooked me up with some good cash. I can definitely also see myself there. So really I just had to get over my former “dream school” feelings of BC. I feel much less stressed now.
Wow Gonzaga is an excellent school! You chose it well when oublade our list because it’s very similar to Boston College in vibe. Sure it’s not in Boston but it’s athletic, work hard/play hard, dynamic, focused, preprofessional.
Thanks for sharing your decision process.
@blossom thank you. I really do feel much better knowing that I don’t have to worry about the money in all honesty. My other option was MUCH more generous.
You are going to be so happy you went this way. “Dream schools” seldom live up to the expectations (honestly, your perspective changes so much from senior year of high school that you’ll one day wonder why Gonzaga wasn’t the dream school). You have great choices and a great proposed career track…and I love the fact that your “coaches” on this site were pretty much unanimous: avoid as much debt as you can. The “dream” is getting to pursue the life and opportunities you want because you don’t have the debt. Debt steals your choices-- for decades.
Sounds like you made a great decision to love the college that loves you back! Congrats @hemingways !