Should my 22-year-old nursing student file FAFSA independently after undergrad? Worth it?

Your daughter doesn't automatically qualify as an independent student just because she's 22. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, she needs to be 24 by January 1, 2025 to be considered independent based on age alone. However, there ARE other ways she could qualify as independent: - Is she married? - Does she have dependents who receive more than half their support from her? - Is she a veteran or active duty military? - Is she in a master's or doctoral program? If the nursing program is a second bachelor's, she's still considered undergraduate for FAFSA purposes. If it's a master's-level nursing program, she would automatically be considered independent regardless of age. Also worth noting: the new FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the old EFC, and the formula has changed. You might qualify for different aid now even with similar financial circumstances.

Is she working at all? My daughter did her accelerated nursing program after her first degree and we found that some hospitals have tuition assistance programs specifically for nursing students who commit to working there after graduation. She got $15,000 per year through that program which was way more than FAFSA ever gave us. Worth looking into hospital partnerships with her school!

Even if you haven't received aid before, you should ABSOLUTELY still complete the FAFSA!! Two reasons: 1. The FAFSA formula has completely changed for 2025-2026 with the new SAI (Student Aid Index). Families who got nothing before might qualify now. 2. Many nursing-specific scholarships and grants require a completed FAFSA on file even if you don't qualify for federal aid. Also, accelerated nursing programs are often eligible for different types of aid than traditional undergrad. Many schools have specific funds just for second-degree nursing students because of the nursing shortage. Make sure she talks to the financial aid office specifically about accelerated BSN resources!

my daughter tried filinng independent for her nursing program at 23 and got REJECTED cause she wasn't 24 yet. what a joke!! they didn't care that she lived on her own and paid her own rent. the whole system is rigged against middle class familys!!!!

One important thing to consider: Even if you haven't qualified for need-based aid before, the new FAFSA makes your daughter eligible for unsubsidized Direct Loans (up to $7,500/year for dependent students) regardless of financial need. These loans don't require financial need, and for a nursing student, they could be a good investment. Also, accelerated nursing programs often qualify for higher loan limits under the Additional Unsubsidized Loan provision. If she's considered a 5th year undergraduate due to the accelerated program, she might qualify for up to $12,500 in Direct Loans instead of the standard $7,500. Definitely speak with her specific nursing program's financial aid office about this - they'll know the exact loan limits for her program type.

Has anyone here tried using Claimyr to get through to the Federal Student Aid agents? I spent WEEKS trying to get specific answers about my son's similar situation (second degree, nursing program) and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I finally used claimyr.com and got through in 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with explained that nursing students often have access to the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program after graduation which can pay up to 85% of student loans if they work in high-need areas. That made us much more comfortable with her taking federal loans for her program.

One more thing - if your daughter will be attending a program that's particularly expensive, look into the Grad PLUS loan program. Even though she's technically still an undergraduate student, some accelerated nursing programs are classified differently for financial aid purposes, especially if she already has a bachelor's degree. The Grad PLUS loan allows borrowing up to the full cost of attendance minus other financial aid received. It requires a credit check, but has more flexible repayment options than private loans. The financial aid rules around second-degree nursing programs can be confusing because they don't fit neatly into traditional categories. Definitely have her meet with a financial aid counselor at her specific school.

I just went through this exact situation with my son's accelerated nursing program! Here's what we learned: 1. He didn't qualify as independent at 23, but we still found aid 2. His nursing school had program-specific scholarships we found only after submitting FAFSA 3. Local hospitals offered $5,000-$10,000 tuition assistance with 1-year work commitments 4. His school had a special HRSA grant specifically for accelerated nursing students that didn't exist for regular undergrads Don't give up! Nursing students have unique opportunities because of the nationwide shortage. Also check with state nursing associations - many have scholarships specifically for second-degree students.

Don't give up on the FAFSA! I work in financial aid at a nursing school, and I see families in your exact situation all the time. A few things to keep in mind: 1. The new FAFSA for 2025-26 has significantly changed the formula - families who never qualified before are now getting aid 2. Your daughter will still be considered dependent since she's under 24 and doesn't meet other independence criteria, BUT that doesn't mean no aid 3. Accelerated BSN programs often have access to additional federal funding streams that regular undergrad programs don't 4. Many nursing schools set aside institutional grants specifically for second-degree students because of workforce needs I'd also recommend having her apply for the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program - it's incredibly competitive but covers full tuition plus a monthly stipend in exchange for working in underserved areas after graduation. The application usually opens in spring. Even if you don't get grants, federal loans for nursing students often have better terms and forgiveness options than private loans. The investment is usually worth it given nursing salaries and job security!

I'm a nursing student who just went through this process last year! Even though I didn't qualify as independent at 22, I still ended up getting some aid that I never received during my first bachelor's degree. A few things that helped me: 1. My school's nursing department had emergency grants specifically for accelerated students - these weren't advertised widely but the financial aid office knew about them 2. I applied for every nursing scholarship I could find through the state board of nursing website - even small $500-1000 ones add up 3. The clinical sites where we do rotations sometimes offer scholarships or work-study programs that can help with expenses One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: some hospitals will hire you as a "nurse extern" or "student nurse" during your final semester, which pays more than regular part-time work and gives you great experience. It's worth asking about at the hospitals where your daughter will be doing clinicals. The accelerated program is intense but so worth it! The nursing job market is incredible right now, and many of my classmates had job offers before graduation. Don't let the financial stress discourage her - there are more resources available for nursing students than most other majors.

I'm in a similar situation with my daughter who's starting an accelerated BSN program next fall! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add based on our research - some states have specific loan forgiveness programs for nurses who work in public hospitals or underserved areas. In our state, nurses who work for the state health department or certain rural hospitals can get up to $25,000 in loan forgiveness over 3 years. Also, if your daughter is interested in specializing later (like becoming a nurse practitioner), many employers will pay for continuing education. My neighbor is a nurse and her hospital system paid for her entire master's program when she decided to become a family nurse practitioner. The financial aid landscape for nursing really is different from other fields because of the critical shortage. Even though the upfront costs seem daunting, the return on investment for nursing education is typically much better than most other degrees right now.

I'm currently going through the FAFSA process for my daughter's accelerated nursing program too, and this thread has been so informative! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to check if her nursing program qualifies for the Federal Work-Study program. Even though she's technically still a dependent student, many accelerated nursing programs have special work-study positions in campus health centers or simulation labs that pay well and provide valuable experience. Also, don't forget about the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) scholarship database. They maintain a comprehensive list of nursing-specific scholarships that gets updated regularly. Some of these are specifically for second-degree students and have much less competition than general scholarships. One last tip from our experience: if your daughter has any healthcare experience (even as a CNA, medical assistant, or even volunteer work), make sure she highlights that in any scholarship applications. Many nursing scholarships give preference to students who have already demonstrated commitment to healthcare. The fact that she's already completed one degree and is choosing to pursue nursing shows incredible dedication that scholarship committees love to see!

I'm a financial aid advisor and I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been fully addressed yet - even though your daughter will still be considered a dependent student, you should absolutely complete the FAFSA for several key reasons: 1. The new 2025-26 FAFSA uses a completely different calculation method (Student Aid Index vs. the old Expected Family Contribution). Many families who never qualified before are now eligible for aid. 2. Accelerated nursing programs often have access to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants that regular undergraduate programs don't qualify for. These require a completed FAFSA to be considered. 3. Your daughter will be eligible for unsubsidized Direct Loans regardless of financial need - up to $7,500 per year as a dependent student, and potentially more if her program qualifies for additional unsubsidized loan limits. 4. Many nursing schools receive special federal funding for workforce development that they can only distribute to students with completed FAFSAs on file. The nursing shortage has created unprecedented funding opportunities specifically for nursing students. Don't let past rejections discourage you from exploring what's available now. The landscape has changed significantly, especially for second-degree nursing students. I'd strongly recommend scheduling a meeting with her school's financial aid office to discuss nursing-specific funding opportunities.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to this question! As someone new to navigating financial aid for nursing programs, this thread has been incredibly educational. I had no idea there were so many nursing-specific funding opportunities available, or that the FAFSA formula changes could actually benefit families who never qualified before. The information about hospital tuition assistance programs, the NURSE Corps opportunities, state loan forgiveness programs, and all the nursing-specific scholarships has given me a completely new perspective on financing healthcare education. It's clear that nursing students have access to resources that just aren't available in other fields because of the workforce shortage. I'm definitely going to encourage my nephew (who's considering a similar path) to explore these options when he's ready to pursue his nursing degree. The return on investment really does seem much better than most other fields right now, especially with all these funding and loan forgiveness opportunities available. Thanks again to all the financial aid professionals, current nursing students, and parents who shared their experiences. This kind of real-world advice is so much more helpful than anything I could find on official websites!