Single Parent Help...

Trish,
I hope I can offer some helpful advice. As others stated, visit the the counselors and financial aid office of the university that you wish to attend. While you're planning your future, plan big. Have you thought about working on a BSN?
I finished my Bachelor's (not in nursing) as a single mother while working full time. I also received financial aid. I found it was easier to continue taking classes without stopping. As a single parent, you should qualify for grants that will pay for most of your tuition, books, etc. Loans should cover a lot of your living expenses.
If you have joint bank accounts, go open your own immediately. Either of you can withdraw from or close a joint account, don't let him me the one to do so.
Also, if he wants the divorce, make sure that he has to pay for all attorney and court fees.
It is easy to concentrate on the hurt feelings and not the business side of a divorce. Do not let him exit this marriage without a solid alimony/child support agreement.
Also, not to stir the pot, but do you have any suspicion that a third party might be influencing his decision? If so, I wouldn't agree to the typical "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the divorce.
Good luck to you and your little one!

It's been a long time since my husband and I went to college, but back then, grants and loans were based on household income, so IF you've been filing your taxes jointly with your husband, you may not be eligible for much financial aid. I agree with the first post that said you need to talk to the financial aid office at the school you'd like to attend to find out your options.

I know when my son was considering college in 2004 we looked into financial aid and they told us our income would count against his qualifying until he filed his taxes separately AND was not considered our dependent any longer for at least one full year.

When my husband applied for financial aid, he was living with his mother, but he had been filing his taxes on his own (not as a dependent) for a few years before he decided to go to college and he ended up qualifying for a couple of grants that covered all his classes, his books and a little extra for living expenses.

Good luck!

You need to set up an appointment with a financial aid counselor at the school you are thinking of attending. There are lots of grants and loans out there for you and a counselor can help point you in the right direction. Since you are not a first year student (you already have completed credits) you should qualify for the higher student loan amounts. And yes, if I'm not mistaken these can help cover your living expenses as well as books and tuition. I would hope that you would get some sort of alimony until you get on your feet and he should pay child support. Good luck.

I am sorry that you are going through this. There are so many grants and loans you can get out there. I would definitely talk to a school counselor, google SAHM grants, and I'm pretty sure that you can get state funds for your child since he has special needs, but 100% sure about that. It would be temporary, just until you got on your feet.
And I know this is going to sound mean, but you need to make sure that you and your child are taken care of. Don't let your husband off easy with the child support. I have seen too many single moms get the short end of the stick when it comes to that. Be prepared to fight if he doesn't give so willingly. I don't want to worry you, but you have a lot on your plate right now and things like that sometimes get overlooked.