Nursing degree program

Question:
Are there any benefits to attending a prestigious school for nursing (as opposed to an average school)? Will the school become a factor in hiring decisions?

Would I be better off going to a cheap, state school for nursing?

Also, does anyone here know about getting financial aid for nursing schools? Do the fin-aid packages consist of loans only? No grants?

More importantly, will I struggle to repay all those debts after I get out of nursing school? Can you give me a rough idea of what to expect?
What salary range should I expect for each nursing specialties?

Last question. Can anyone here give me a rough idea as to how competitive a typical nursing program is? I'll be applying to around
4. Is that enough? Should I apply to more places?

Answer:
Would I be better off going to a cheap, state school for nursing?

Never had it come up. Perhaps an advanced degree from Harvard might be helpful if you were looking to go into academics, but I doubt it would come about other than that.

Also, does anyone here know about getting financial aid for nursing?
Schools? Do the fin-aid packages consist of loans only? No grants?

With the exception of the normal Pell grants, etc., that is probably pretty much a variable from school to school. There are Fed programs (possibly some state, too) that will forgive your loans if you spend a couple years in an under-served area (often rural sometimes inner city). Of course, the Armed
Forces might put you through school and pay tuition.