Tuition Due July 18 — Help Me Stay in Nursing School

Hey everyone — I’m Sam, and I’m a nursing student working toward graduating in August 2026. I’ve been pouring everything I have into this program, and now I’m just one year away from finally becoming a Registered Nurse. But right now, I’m facing a financial situation. And honestly, it takes a lot for me to be asking for help.

If you know me, you know I never ask for anything. I’ve always tried to handle things on my own, quietly pushing through challenges, even when it’s tough. But this situation is bigger than me, and time is running out.

Here’s the short version:

Back in 2020, I received a $99 Pell Grant (yes, just ninety-nine bucks). Due to a mistake by the U.S. Department of Education, this Pell grant was reported as a student loan and sent to collections. I was not notified about this overpayment until I saw this account on my credit report. Usually, creditors call you or send you mail to make a payment before going into collection, but I received no notifications until it was posted to my credit report January 2020, and I paid it off in full February 2020.

Because of that one error, my credit report now falsely shows a "derogatory student loan", and I am being denied the student loans I need for my tuition.

I have filed 3 disputes on TransUnion and have gotten 2 denial responses and 1 unknown response. I recently filed for a formal dispute through U.S Dept of Edu and sent it out via USPS, but it’ll take 6–8 weeks to resolve per the U.S. Dept of Edu. My first tuition payment of $17,000 is due July 18, 2025 — and if I can’t pay, I’ll be withdrawn from the program.

I’ve done everything I can, contacted the Dept. of Ed, TransUnion, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), Golden West College (who issued the Pell grant), spoke to my nursing professors who advised me to reach out to the Huntington Beach city council. The issue here is the Dept of Edu cannot make updates on a closed account. (Changing the status of a student loan to a pell grant). Now, I’m running out of time. So here I am, humbly asking for your help.

Even if you can’t donate, sharing this campaign could make all the difference or providing any type of resources you know that could help my situation.

Thank you for being here, for reading this, and for supporting me.

With gratitude, hope, and maybe a nervous laugh,

Sam