Keiser University Nursing program

U.S.A. Florida

Published

I'm currently going to PBSC (PBCC) getting my pre reqs for the nursing program when i was approached my Keiser University about their program (West Palm Beach campus). My question is, is it worth it to go to Keiser, because from what i have been told it is very expensive. And also, exactly how expensive is it? I am scheduled to take the TEA's test next week and i am wondering if it is even worth it.

Angelito1981

5 Posts

I am about to take the TEAS exam for Keiser and when I went to inquire, I was told it will be close to $40 grand. But this was an assumption from the advisor and nothing was shown to me as far as documentation.

bellafsu89

99 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

I was in a similar situation. I did my pre-req's while I was doing my undergrad already. I took the TEAS and I'm set to start the core/clinical portion of the program. I don't think its 40k if you've already taken you pre-req's. When are you guys thinking of starting the core? I'm set for August of 2010.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN

3,445 Posts

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Keiser is WAY too expensive for such a nursing program. In your shoes, I would keep trying for a program at a public institution. Keiser, Everest, Sanford-Brown, Concorde: these schools are all private overpriced colleges that basically entice people who are desperate to start a program now, and there isn't even a guarantee that your credits would transfer if you do want to go elsewhere OR whether your degree would be recognized as legit if you intend on getting a higher degree. I am pretty sure none of these programs are even accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC.

bellafsu89

99 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

I'll tell you what, I've gone back and forth about this decision. I have a bachelors degree from FSU in Exercise Physiology and have still decided to go back to school for nursing at Keiser. Its close to home and its also within my time frame. I have done my research. In actuality, Keiser is accredited by the same organizations that Florida State University is accredited by for their nursing program. If it wasn't for that, my decision might be different. No nursing credits are "transferrable" per say. If you start a program at one school you can't transfer your credits to another. It doesn't work like that. I attended LIU (Brooklyn) for a semester and suddenly had to return to FL due to a family emergency and my credits did not transfer. This was not because of the school not being legit but the fact that nursing credits just can't be transferred to another school. Thats something that allows programs to be selective.

As far as the price, I think its a small price to pay for me to finally get to do what I have really wanted to do as a career. If you have the desire to do something, you'd be amazed by what you will do to achieve that outcome. I'll tell you what, I never thought I'd attend Keiser U. I snubbed my nose at it. Once I did the research, I realized how silly I was being. Its the same thing, just more expensive. I feel like that would be the only deterrant, but for me, its worth it to reach my dream.

labrador4122, RN

1,921 Posts

Specializes in Tele.
Keiser is WAY too expensive for such a nursing program. In your shoes, I would keep trying for a program at a public institution. Keiser, Everest, Sanford-Brown, Concorde: these schools are all private overpriced colleges that basically entice people who are desperate to start a program now, and there isn't even a guarantee that your credits would transfer if you do want to go elsewhere OR whether your degree would be recognized as legit if you intend on getting a higher degree. I am pretty sure none of these programs are even accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC.

I totally agree. I've met two people so far that have gone to keiser, and they had a hard time getting into FIU RN-BSN program because some credits from keiser did not transfer in and they had to go back and redo a bunch of credits.

but guess what, keiser takes them in right away to their RN-BSN program.

how legit is that??

$40K for an associate's degree is a total rip off.

I would definitely keep trying for public university or college

Angelito1981

5 Posts

I know it is expensive but I think the faster results attracts a lot of people. I am in that boat right now. I applied twice at BCC/BC before and didn't even get a reply. It sucks because when I asked them, the said,"There is no guarantee in time, availability". I rather pay now that wait longer which I see it as wasting more time. I am making descent money right now in my job but it got to the point that I need to move on and pursue my goals/dreams.

Preeps

194 Posts

I'll tell you what, I've gone back and forth about this decision. I have a bachelors degree from FSU in Exercise Physiology and have still decided to go back to school for nursing at Keiser..

Funny, I thought about going back for an exercise physiology degree. Do you mind my asking you about this? Are there no jobs in this field? Just wondering why you get a BS in this field and then go back for a nursing degree. What did you have in mind when you went for EP? Thanks

labrador4122, RN

1,921 Posts

Specializes in Tele.
i know it is expensive but i think the faster results attracts a lot of people. i am in that boat right now. i applied twice at bcc/bc before and didn't even get a reply. it sucks because when i asked them, the said,"there is no guarantee in time, availability". i rather pay now that wait longer which i see it as wasting more time. i am making descent money right now in my job but it got to the point that i need to move on and pursue my goals/dreams.

i can see your point as well.

i wanted to be an rn more than anything back in 2002*2003 that i would of done anything to get in. back when i was applying-- which seems like forever ago now that is 2010 keiser was just starting out-- and i did not want to get in to a $20-30k debt with a school that i did not know if it was going to be accredited, and a school that was located at a strip mall (i've seen the school when i went shopping!). i knew that keiser was a technical school (i had already gone to national school of technology- for ma, so another technical school did not attract me much).

but after getting 2 and 3, and 4 rejection letters from mdc, and my aa was just about complete, i was getting desperate and i would of gone anywhere to get my rn degree. so one of the girls in my chemistry class told me she was applying to nsu in davie and a light bulb came up and i decided to apply and got in! unfortunately i did not make it at nsu-- but kind of a blessing in disguise because now i do not have a $40k debt that i would of had with nsu, and instead i went to bcc which is practically pennies compared to nsu. i got extremely lucky.

to anywone:

if your heart desires to be an rn, and you cant get into a cheap college-- then go to the private technical school for your rn. yes you will be with a $40k debt for your associate's degree--- but once you have that rn next to your name, you see your name on the florida website......... every penny you spent on loans in school will be worth it. you will be working and doing well financially, and little by little you will pay it off.

but keep applying to the public schools! you might just get lucky and get accepted!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN

3,445 Posts

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Keiser is WAY too expensive for such a nursing program. In your shoes, I would keep trying for a program at a public institution. Keiser, Everest, Sanford-Brown, Concorde: these schools are all private overpriced colleges that basically entice people who are desperate to start a program now, and there isn't even a guarantee that your credits would transfer if you do want to go elsewhere OR whether your degree would be recognized as legit if you intend on getting a higher degree. I am pretty sure none of these programs are even accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC.

OK I did my homework and noticed that Keiser is indeed accredited by NLNAC, but the other 3 schools are not. I still however stand by my statement that they are overpriced. Since I am not in a position to pay for anyone's education except for my own, not for me to say not to attend these schools but I just think it would be common sense to exhaust all possibilities of attending a public institution before resorting to these alternatives.

itsmejuli

2,188 Posts

Specializes in Home Care.

Besides accreditation you need to look at the school's NCLEX pass rate and where they do clinicals. If you're going to pay the big bucks for school then expect the curriculum should be geared towards passing the NCLEX the first time. We've read here many stories of bad nursing schools with poor curriculums.

As for clinicals, the colleges that have been around the longest and have the best reputation get the best clinical sites. I remember talking to a student at a private college, she said that they had to find their own clinical location. Another student I talked to had to drive out of the county for clinical because the college couldn't get into the local hospital.

9livesRN, BSN, RN

1,570 Posts

Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

there are pros and cons on everything, and the difference is what YOU make out of it!!!

BumbleBee certainly dislike Keiser, and I would recommend it to anyone! I am graduating next month, and yes we are fully accredited nationally and locally, I had no problems sending my RN to BSN application and have been accepted pending licensing, which is, passing the NCLEX.3

I am really comfortable with what we have learned at Keiser, our clinical experience were great...

but what works for me might not work for you!

I went to keiser because:

per say the program cost is 40K and was in and out in 2 years (that is if you do not have any general education classes done) out of this 40k you knock about 6k in scholarships (plus Keiser gives you 2k if you are a good student) then you are down to about 32k. If you have pell, or any other grants per say deduct about 4k and you are down to 28k. Get hired and apply to the loan forgiveness program, here in Orlando, FL hospital gives you 4k per year (max 2 years ) granted that you sign a 2 year contract with them. now you are down to 20k!!!

now if you had your gen eds done some were you would probably owe about 10k!!!

that 40 scares people, but in the end of the line, you can shave a lot off of it!

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