Interested in Applying but Unsure

Nursing Students Chamberlain College

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Hi everyone! I just graduated high school and am thinking of either Chamberlain or a community college program. I've fallen in love with Chamberlain despite the crazy cost :eek:

There's no way that I could afford $85,000 for the BSN program so if I do end up choosing this school I'll take all classes possible at my local CC. If anyone could help me with answering some questions that would be great.

1. Did you take all your classes through Chamberlain or another school?

2. What was your GPA and HESI scores when applying?

3. How are you guys planning to pay for the program - sorry if that is too personal! But cost is a serious concern for me.

4. I'm worried that a hospital won't want to hire a graduate from a private for-profit university when compared to someone who graduated from a state school. Do you think this makes a difference?

5. If anyone is in the program, do you like it?

Thanks guys I will possibly be in the Phoenix accelerated BSN program. The community college nursing program just isn't as appealing to me but it might be the only realistic option :banghead:

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I think I can help. I was an average HS student. So don't think the only good nurses have 4.0. Next, Starting at a local community college is perfect and affordable. Here is why. Financial Aid awards are low at first, so make the most of your $. You'll start with smaller classes I suggest get your math, science, and writing classes done first if you're concerned about a nursing school path. If RN is your goal then take your ADN program at the CC. Start working and use the employer tuition assistance programs. Almost all have some sort of higher education assistance. Start a BSN program as soon as you finish the ADN if you can. Avoid the repay six months deadline and apply for anymore financial aid. Look for Scholarships, incentives, and support. I enrolled in Strayer University, my "all-in" cost was around 15,000.00 add that to my CC of 15K that's a BSN for 30K. Strayer University walked me through transcripts, financial aid, what to expect and I started with a new laptop. I hope this help you. Good Luck. Cherri

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Thanks for the response! :)

I would like to join my local community college's nursing program, my concerns are that the waiting list is about 1-3 years and I'm not sure what to do with all that time. Possibly become a CNA and work to try and get a foot in the door. I'm also nervous of taking online classes, and all of the RN-BSN classes in my area are entirely online. I feel like I wouldn't focus as well as I would in a classroom environment. The cost of the community college program is amazing though. I don't have the best high school GPA so a regular direct entrance to university won't happen and getting your prerequisites done at the CC and then transferring puts you at immediate disadvantage because the colleges around here give priority to students who took the classes with them - you have to compete for any empty spots and there are no guarantees that there will be any. I feel like there's already so many hoops to jump through but it'll be worth it if I can have my dream job.

Thanks again for replying :D

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I am currently a Chamberlain student. I decided to take all the prereqs at a local college and I transferred then over to chamberlain once I felt I had completed all the one's I could. After the transfer I had a little over 2 years of nursing courses left in addition to a few other courses that they threw in with some random nursing courses. As far as finances, that is the real problem. Personally, I use my GI bill but most people just end up taking out loans. I wouldn't be concerned with getting a job. All my graduated friends passed the NCLEX and had a job almost instantly.

Hope that helps.

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Thanks for the reply!

I love the feeling of community at the school but the cost is a bitter pill to swallow. Even when doing as many classes as possible at the community college. My family is higher middle class so I don't qualify for financial aid - apparently FAFSA thinks all that money is going just to my college education :rolleyes:

I've heard different things about job placement after graduation depending on location. All the comments from people in my area made it seem like employers toss any application with Chamberlain on it into the trash while in more rural or southern areas people have had no problems.

Even just the applying process is stressful but hopefully it works out in the end, and thanks again for commenting :up:

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I would definitely recommend doing a community college RN program! Do not spend a small fortune on the BSN; Chamberlain's bridge to BSN is great and will save you lots of money if you just do the bridge. Even if you decrease your initial outlay with some transfer credits, take a realistic look at what you would owe in student loans, then use a loan repayment calculator to figure out your monthly payments. Compare that to the cost of a community college ADN followed by a bridge. Big difference!

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Thanks for your comment. I looked up the cost of the CEP program with ASU - taking nursing classes at the community college for the associates while taking RN-BSN classes online with ASU and the cost is about $40,000. It's ~$30,000 for the online courses and ~$10,000 for the community college including prerequisites. With all prerequisites taken at the community college and then transferring to Chamberlain the cost is only slightly higher. So the cost is expensive either way and I would never pay the full $85,000 at Chamberlain. It's an arm and a leg for the degree anywhere so my main concern is on the program itself, whether or not graduates are being hired and taught well. I've heard good and bad from students and outsiders.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My online BSN bridge was nowhere near $30,000 — wow, that is pricey. As a matter of fact, that is more than both of my MSNs too. But to each their own! Good luck.

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I'm sorry to hear about your local CC waiting list. Some areas are now suffering lack of professors for the number of nursing applicants making it that much harder to get in. Please don't be discouraged. I recommend making an appointment with an adviser at your local school first. You will get the correct information of what's available from that adviser. The school will also walk you through the financial aid process and offer some anxiety relief over your cost concerns. I was in your same situation after high school where my parents income worked against my efforts. Again, get the appointments to get the accurate information from them. We can only offer advice, not concrete answers. Taking everything except your nursing courses at you Community College, I can't recommend enough. Many schools offer free tutoring that will prepare you for an entrance exam if required by the nursing program. While you are working on your core courses try one online class, you may really like the flexibility. As for your BSN, please focus on the ADN short term goal with the long term in mind. You can't take RN to BSN course until you are a licensed RN first. Good Luck, I'm looking forward to hear what your college recommends.

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Specializes in ER.

How many students did the graduating class start out with vs how many graduated in the class above you or in the one that your friends were in at Chamberlain?

Just trying to see how many students are retained and make it to graduation.

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That's a good question @AlleycatLady especially because Chamberlain is so expensive. I enrolled with Strayer University for a more relevant course line-up at half the cost. I even got a free laptop from them. I'm in the process of applying for another Strayer Scholarship for MSN program. I hope to win my first 6 courses, books, and fees at no cost.

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Thanks so much! As for the RN-BSN classes, they actually do have that option where I'm from. It's called a CEP program where you take ADN classes at a community college while taking online RN-BSN classes from a partner university. I believe you graduate with a BSN a semester after you graduate with your ADN from the community college. It is a hard program to get into though. It's still a better option than waiting 2-3 years on the waiting list for the regular ADN program though. If you decide to take the CEP option it bumps you up to the front of the waiting list but is again very competitive.

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