GCU or ASU??

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 17, 2010

moved to az nursing programs discussion --take a look at threads in this forum.

Student4_life · Nov 17, 2010

The cost advantage goes to ASU for sure, but seeing how state schools are up to their necks in applicants it might be easier to go GCU. No matter what you need the grades...

smilinjen · Nov 17, 2010

I have been contemplating the exact same thing. I went to info sessions at both schools last week. ASU's accelerated program costs about $35,000 with books, tuition, and other expenses and is 16 months and is done in 4 semesters. GCU's accelerated tuition costs about $46,250 with books, tuition, and other expenses and is 20 months and 5 semesters.

However, GCU offers 3 scholarships for nursing students based on GPA. 3.25 = $1500/semester. 3.5 = $2500/semester. 3.7 = $3500/semester. If you have and maintain a 3.5 (which you'd have to have higher than that to get into ASU anyway, that would bring the cost of tuition pretty close. They also have multiple locations that you can take your classes at, they're not all at the main campus, which is pretty nice (especially since there's one within 5 miles of my house). But it's 4 months longer.

One more thing about ASU... as of Fall 2011, they will be implementing a weighted system for prerequisites. Your GPA for the 13/17 classes will be multiplied by 1.0-1.5 depending on the number of classes you took at ASU. So their overall scoring system to get in will be out of 8.0 points now instead of 6.0 (4.0 for GPA + 2.0 for TEAS).

Both schools require pretty much the exact same prerequisites except GCU requires a health care communications class and doesn't require one of the HCR classes.

I'm going to apply to both for May 2011 but if I'm accepted to both, I'm not sure which one I'll choose, which is the part I'm having a hard time deciding.... I don't know which has the better program, so I'm still interested in hearing responses to that!

Good luck!

Jen

inspiredRN10 · Nov 20, 2010

Hi smilinjen,

I think it is interesting how ASU has changed their prerequisites, I am graduating from ASU in May, but ironically many of my pre req classes were taken via community college since my core classes for my other major were through ASU. So I am not really interested in ASU now. But where are Grand Canyon's multiple locations?

jaysn · Aug 20, 2013

GCU is very expensive if you do not have the grades to get the scholarships. I currently pay just under 6,000 a semester for tuition. so at 5 semesters I'll be looking at about 30,000 to 35,000 at the end of the program. I have maintained a 3.5 average and have got the 2,500 scholarship each semester. Buying books at their bookstore is a scam. they will charge your around 300-800 for a semester worth of books when I get the same books for about 100 on amazon used.

Stormy_sun · Aug 21, 2013

GCU is very expensive if you do not have the grades to get the scholarships. I currently pay just under 6000 a semester for tuition. so at 5 semesters I'll be looking at about 30,000 to 35,000 at the end of the program. I have maintained a 3.5 average and have got the 2,500 scholarship each semester. Buying books at their bookstore is a scam. they will charge your around 300-800 for a semester worth of books when I get the same books for about 100 on amazon used.[/quote']
You'll find the price of text books are inflated at most college campus bookstores. This is definitely not unique to GCU. Do your homework & look around to compare prices online and you'll definitely save a lot of money. :)