HOW NURSING STUDENTS FINANCE THEIR EDUCATION: A SURVEY OF THE FINANCES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA (FINANCIAL AID, BACCALAUREATE)

This study investigates how baccalaureate nursing students finance their college education. The study examines the degree to which students receive or utilize loans, grants, scholarships, college work study, parental or spouse support, personal income, and institutional support. The degree of student indebtedness also is examined. Additionally, the study investigates the way in which returning registered nurses and generic nursing students differ in their financial aid profile. The study employed a cross-sectional, survey research design to address the research questions. A portion of the research effort consisted of refining and adapting the questionnaire for use in this study. The questionnaire was mailed to 200 junior nursing students attending NLN accredited baccalaureate schools of nursing in Pennsylvania. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analyzed utilizing non-parametric descriptive statistics. Study findings show that generic students receive significantly more monies from parental aid and that their degree of indebtedness is greater. RN returnees receive significantly more monies from job earnings and have greater costs other than tuition. No differences were noted between groups in monies received from loans and grants and scholarships. Additionally, 39 percent of all full time respondents did not receive sufficient support from College Work Study, grants and scholarships, or loans to meet their needs