Hello shutterflyD50,
Assuming from your username that you have a Nikon D50, it would make sense to buy another Nikon that will take compatible lenses. I'm not familiar with the Nikon system so cannot advise of specific models that meet this criteria.
The main factor to consider for the photography class would be to get a model that offers full manual exposure mode - as a minimum. Certainly photography classes here in the UK insist on the students using cameras which have manual exposure control. The good news is, the vast, vast majority of 35mm SLRs will have this feature.
Having just had a look on ebay, there's plenty of choice for your $200 budget as there's plenty of people off-loading their film gear as they switch to digital.
Something to look for/ask the seller is about the condition of the light seals around the rear door and around the viewfinder screen. On older film cameras the foam seals used to keep light out can sometimes perish and go sticky or even crumble away. It will probably not be a problem, but it's worth checking.
Hope this helps and someone more familiar with the Nikon system can come along and offer more specific model advice later.
Regards,
Duncan
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