Benifits for paying more at Duke vs MUSC

[MonTif]

i am sending off my applications to duke and musc for the fall 2012. i have heard great things about both schools staff and program. i think i have a pretty good shot for acceptance with my gpa and rn work experience over the past 15 years, but duke's tuition is twice that of musc.

do graduates from duke make more as a np? will i see a return in my future salary as a np from paying so much more for tuition? does the name of the university influence a np's salary? i know for a mba it sure does.

any thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks

mark

[79Tango]

Not over here in the Govt Contractor world.. We dont care if your from Duke or Crapstan Univ.. What matters is being board certified, clean license/background, certifications like DEA, ACLS & PALS.

Its funny you mention Duke as I often use them as an example of what not to do. I have had a few Duke people talk themselves out of a jobs by announcing they are from Duke 10times during thier interview.

[nursetim, NP]

I hope it does open some doors, both academically and vocationally. Is MUSC instate for you? Naw, it does not matter, just go with MUSC.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I went to Duke, obviously, lol. When I was hired into my first NP job they told me they only reason they took a chance on a new grad NP is because I was a Duke new grad. However, no, I didn't make more money than I otherwise would have. Starting salary is the starting salary, period. I just would not have been given the opportunity at all were I not a Duke grad. I am sure I would have gotten a job, but I feel very lucky indeed to have had some extraordinary opportunities.

Other than job interviewing and during NCAA March Madness, my alma mater never comes up. I have no inkling where my colleagues went to school. Their schools presumably have lousy basketball teams, because they never have mentioned it and I assume they are ashamed. I certainly am not interested enough to inquire. It is a non-issue in the real world, as is the whole distance vs B&M debate. The only people who care are those with chips on their shoulders or inferiority complexes (or both).

That said, I received an outstanding education at Duke and the contacts and networking enabled by that opportunity have been invaluable. I would not make any other choice.

If I were you I would spend a few days on both campuses speaking to as many people as possible before determining the right fit. I really would not let money factor in too heavily.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

[MonTif]

very helpful. thank you for your comments. i haven't visited the campuses, but i won't be spending much time there anyway with both being online.

[MonTif]

i have both my applications submitted. graduate from an rn to bsn online program next month. my gpa is such that i didn't have to take the gre for either of them, which is really cool. now i am just waiting to hear back. i am not letting the cost of tuition influence my decision because i plan on taking advantage of what nhsc has to offer. i was able to find a grant paying 100% tuition with stipend (or 100% reimbursement post graduation for 3- 4 years of service) for working in a 2012 nhsc loan repayment program. of course, i can't apply until i am accepted. :) i have heard great things about both programs and will feel privileged to be accepted into either university.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

Even as a distance student you will have a great deal of interaction (more perhaps) with your faculty and I think it is invaluable to meet several of them and be assured that your values and interests are a good fit. I did active research as a (distance) grad student, and so this was critical to me, and why I chose Duke. There are several faculty there who are world renowned in their area of expertise, and the chance to work with them was not an opportunity to be missed. I loved it.

Good luck wherever you land!