Community Colleges vs. Major Universities

Penn State has a great reputation nationwide, so you actually might have an advantage during hiring. My community college has a great reputation and is one of the top 25 nursing schools nationwide (BSN or ASN) and I have heard that our graduates get hiring preference over many other area programs BSN or not. I would imagine Penn state grads would be sought after. Try to get as many scholarships as possible and find ways to keep your costs down and get the BSN. If you could due you prereqs at a CC then do the 2 years of RN education at Penn state you could save some money and still have the benefits of a BSN from a great school.

I would look at the NCLEX pass rates for the schools you are considering. THAT is actually where the truth lies. You want to be where the higher percentage of pass rate is!

Good luck in your decision!

If you can get the same degree I would go the Community college route. I am currently a pre nursing student, second semester, and our community college nurses are respected because our college has a good reputation for churning out well educated nurses and the pass rate for the RN exam is over 90% VS the very well known University pass rate is like 60%, my tuition is just over 1200 per semester not counting books, and so far my federal grants have all but paid for my books & tuition. The big University cost over 5500 for just tuition. Just because it cost more doesn't necessarily mean your getting a better education.

I did not read the other replies, so maybe this is repetitive. The advantage of community college is it is slightly cheaper and sometimes shorter. Most jobs wont care about difference between ADN or BSN in hiring , advancement it does matter. Advancement within your job, manager etc.. and advancement into Nurse Practicioner needs BSN obviously. I went the BSN route because it is just 1 semester longer and NP is a quite obtainable goal in the future. Can go part time.

I graduated 11 years ago from a CC in DE. It was a great school, with a 100% pass rate. I was able to finish school without any debt at all. I have not gone on, as I am "mature," and do not feel the need. However, if I was young, I would be pursuing everything I could through employment benefits, while earning a good salary. Yes, the BSN, and Master degrees will pay off in the end, but the ADN is a wonderful jump start, without a chain around your neck for years to come. There is a nursing shortage, for many years to come. Work is plentiful with great opportunities for nurses. Use your ADN to your best advantage, and keep your head above water at the same time. Good Luck!!!!!

I say go the BSN route. You will probably have better opportunities in the long run, resources and experience then at a CC. A lot of people say that BSN and ADN are not differentiated...Maybe not in pay, but most hospitals in NY do consider BSN ahead of the pecking order and WILL NOT hire ADN for certain positions. And if you want to go to grad school in the future, having a BSN from a well known university will help your cause especially if you do well. You will be making enough money, especially if you stay in the NE or West, to pay off those student loans.Don't let money hold you back from getting an enriched education as long as the price is right. If it is worth it, and I think it is, go for it. I am currently a nursing student now at University at Buffalo after transferring from a 2 year program. It was the best decision I made so far in college, bar none especially if you are young.This is a nursing shortage, money will be there for you and your loans.!!!! The more education the better!!!!

If I were you I'd go the BSN route, especially if you have plans to back to graduate school eventually. Better to get it and be done with it than have to go back for an RN-BSN.

I'm in an ADN program and I wish I could have went straight through and gotten my BSN. Now I have to go back and do an RN-BSN program. The only plus side to this in my opinion is that I'll be able to work some as an RN the meantime before and during getting the BSN degree.

Here's my story if anyone cares...

I had went to a small local university for the first year of my college career. I hadn't decided my major until the end of that year. I transfered to UK to do my pre-reqs, and completed the majority of my pre-reqs there, enough to get me into nursing school. But instead of going to UK's nursing school, which offers the BSN route, I decided to come back to the small university because my dad worked there and it got me free tuition, so at the time I felt like I couldn't pass that deal up. So there are pros and cons: the pros is that I get school basically for free so I don't have to worry about debt. The con is that I have to spend more time in persuit of my BSN because I'll have to transfer again at some point to get the BSN degree. Another con is that the nursing program I'm in right now is the first year of it's existance, so we feel like test subjects, and our clinical experiences have been less than desired, since they don't have their ducks all in a row just yet. Even at best the clinical experiences in my area are limiting, which had I stayed at UK, I would have had more experiences since they're in conjunciton with one of Kentucky's largest hospitals.

So weigh your pros and cons, and go with whichever offers the most pros. But like I said, go the BSN route, it's not easier, but you'd never have to worry about "going back to school" unless you were going back for your master's.

Good luck.

True....

I almost feel that in my ADN program we're a lot "closer" than some BSN program people I have heard about. If it's the same degree, I'd vote CC if it works for you. The problem you may have is with some transfer credits. Talk to an advisor to make sure classes transfer over.

The only catch is that to do the RN-BSN program, I'm sure I'll have to change jobs in 2-3 years unless I plan to do massive communting junket as I live 60 miles either way from one. I'd rather do it in a major city(chicago) vs. the university city(Champaign). Just a thought.

Sometimes I wish BSN was an option, but 4 years of school debt while waiting to take the NCLEX is not an option for me. I'd rather make some money while I'm still single, then be able to adjust accordingly.

Speaking from the perspective of someone with two degrees and who has chosen the ADN route, I think the arguments against choosing the ADN route are lacking for my situation (I do not know about yours). As many have mentioned, the ADN route is cheaper so I have been able to pay cash to attend school. As for "going back" to school, that is only relevant in one's life if one STOPS going to school.

I will graduate with my ADN and immediately work as a RN while finishing my BSN part-time. I will not STOP going to school when I graduate with my ADN so the fear of not going back does not pertain to me. However, if I do stop going to school I am not worried. I took a break after my BA degree to get my Masters; going back to school for me was no big deal. Although I had additional challenges such as family and commitments, I also had additional MOTIVATION unlike when I was single.

Furthermore, as I work as a RN with an ADN I will not lose out on opportunities that a New Grad BSN will have because more then likely others will be considered more qualified on my floor for promotions due to his/her work experience and connections not just his/her degree(s). A BSN or MSN New Grad is still just a New Grad. On the other hand, when I graduate with my BSN, I will not be considered a New Grad because I will have work experience and connections under my belt. :monkeydance:

Oh, did I mention I will be free of debts from nursing school upon graduation with both degrees???? Again, I am paying cash for my ADN and BSN co-reqs. I will have my employers pay for most (if not all) of my remaining BSN courses. Contrast to reimbursement programs, which WILL NOT PAY 100% of your nursing school debts. GL.