Are For Profit Schools really BAD?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am changing careers at the ripe old age of 40. I am working through my prerecs now but I honestly don't have years and years to work towards a) getting into a public school program, which in my area can take YEARS!

I have always thought poorly of "for Profit" education (now realizing I'm not sure why I thought that...) but as I am facing a mid-life career change I am thinking it might be the best option for me.

I am in the Denver area and could apply and likely graduate from Denver School of Nursing before I could even get accepted to my local community college ADN or AAS program (Front Range Community College)

My question is- are they really that bad? Will anyone want to hire me if I get a job from a "for profit" school?

THANKS fr your guidance!

Also find out what schools will accept the for-profit schools credits, there are many stories about folks who have decided to enhance their CV only to find the for profit schools credits were not aceptect at say a state university and they had to re-take a handful of classes.

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I actually did a Paramedic to RN program in Virginia, which got me my AD

in Nursing from a community college . Now I'm in an RN-BSN program at a public university. A lot of my friends recommend to get your BSN, when you are ready. I'm agreeing with the majority of posters-avoid the "for=profit" schools for your AD, unless its your last resort.

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For profit isn't all bad but should be proceeded with caution.

One, most are expensive-some to the point it would be crazy to go that route. Try to transfer in as many general ed from your community college.

Two, NCLEX pass rates. These are readily available online.

Three, accreditation. This is probably the most important, especially if you want to further your education later and some employers require it. The schools will throw you a bunch of alphabet soup. Look for ACEN or CCNE.

I got my LPN from a public vocational school. I did my pre-reqs at a community college. 15 years went by and the community college wanted me to retake my "A" science classes because they were over 5 years old. I transferred into an LPN to RN accredited for profit ADN program and paid about $20k total books and tuition. It's a lot, but it's what was most feasible for me.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
My mother is a college professor that has taught in various universities in their nursing program, normally BSN to MSN. She is also a hospital administrator that has many years of recruiting experience. She advised me the same way she advises many of her employees, that is to avoid for profit schools if possible. There is a thing going on with many of them right now and they are abruptly closing, and leaving students hanging. It has something to do with how the federal government allocates GI bills and government backed student loans. Basically many of the for profit schools have been cut off, has something to do with a review of unpaid student loans, success ratios of students that complete their degree and then something about the amount of money veterans are billed through their GI. The advice I was given has nothing to do with the quality of the program or how employers respond to graduates from those schools, just to know what you are getting into. Do a google search for non profit schools closing and there is something interesting going on with university of phoenix their enrolment levels are tanking, I believe because of the change of the funding listed above.

Exactly right! When ITT Tech and MedTech imploded here in Indiana- they left in their wake hundreds of students who had tens of thousands in student loan debt and ZERO transferable credits. One of the other- more reputable- for profits (Harrison) absorbed a fraction of those students and put a teach out plan together. (Which is admirable) But the rest of those students are saddled with debt and no degree.

Thus the general disdain of for profits. NOT ALL of them are such sleazeballs, but ugh! the ones that are....

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I applied and was accepted into my Nursing program when I made my first application. I was accepted to 2 programs, a diploma RN and my LPN program. I chose the LPN program because I earned a scholarship that covered 100% of everything, which I do not regret.

You CAN make yourself *more* easily acceptable by making good grades and performing well on entrance exams. I had a 4.0 and over 90 on my TEAS, 28 ACT. You have the power to do this, it just takes drive and a lot of studying.

You should want to take pre req's before applying, as an FYI, because some Nursing programs alone can be 12-16 credit hours. If you have to add an ART class or Science, it would be that much more time taken away from core Nursing.

My two cents is that Nursing is not worth going into "medical school" amounts of debt..

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Ask ICUman ... he went to a for profit. I personally wouldn't ever.

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At the expensive for-profit I went to, they emphasized strategies to get loans forgiven after graduation. They did not mention that most of these programs did not apply to SallieMae loans, which are considered private loans.

I did not like my school but needed to get started right away. I graduated, passed the NCLEX with less than 80 questions, and am now a working RN. I do wish I had a better nursing education but have been continuing my self study on an as-needed basis.

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Can you complete the pre-reqs at the community college to save money and then go to the DCN program for the nursing courses? Here in PA, there are some sign on bonuses right now. It helps the new grads a little for some with their debt. I do not know about the Denver area.

My friend's daughter finished all pre-reqs for ADN in FL. She did not get into the local community college. She kept taking gen eds. She had them all done for the BSN, but since she got mostly B's and C's, she still could not get in. Finally, she went to trade school for LPN and did the bridge program at the CC. She just finished her BSN a month or so ago.

The waiting lists are crazy. I was a top student thirty years ago. I was lucky to be right out of high school. I went to school with others who struggled for grades, but are excellent nurses. This waiting list for schools is ridiculous.

Our local community college in central PA had a point system where an A in their courses were worth the most "points" for admission. You could get an A in micro, for example from Pitt or U of Penn, but it only had the point value of a C at this community college. They had people retaking courses at the community college to get better grades while they languished on the list. This is so wrong and such a waste ofmoney at a time when education is so expensive!

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I actually did a Paramedic to RN program in Virginia, which got me my AD

in Nursing from a community college . Now I'm in an RN-BSN program at a public university. A lot of my friends recommend WGU to get your BSN, when you are ready. I'm agreeing with the majority of posters-avoid the "for=profit" schools for your AD, unless its your last resort.

I know a few people who go to . I read where if you plan to go on for higher education that all of the classes are given a "C" because they are pass/fail and not given a grade. Have wondered how this affects students who want to continue on to their masters or more.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I know a few people who go to WGU. I read where if you plan to go on for higher education that all of the classes are given a "C" because they are pass/fail and not given a grade. Have wondered how this affects students who want to continue on to their masters or more.

This is only partially accurate. It is a pass/fail system, but passed courses equate to a 3.0 on the transcript. Not a C. Many of us have gone on to get MSN, FNP and other advanced degrees. is very reputable and is accredited. :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Employers don't care where you got your degree, they just care that you passed NCLEX and your license is valid. Not all for profit schools are bad, but they are all expensive. But then so are some universities. I finished my ADN for less money at a community college than it would have cost me for only one year tuition at our local 4 year college.

If you decide to go the for profit route as a time saver only do it you can afford it. Also check the schools NCLEX pass rates no matter where you decide to go. If you can find it also look at the pass for the program. That's information that is easily found and it's a pretty fair indicator of the overall quality of the course.

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