Best online Psych NP Program?

Psychcns · Dec 2, 2012

There are a lot of psych np jobs now.. Likely to continue but who knows? Yes go to the best school you can afford. Work hard, get good grades, good references. Find a first job with good supervision with time to think and ask questions of colleagues . Go to conferences. Network. Psych is great and I hope I can do it for a long time.

Psychcns · Dec 3, 2012

There are a lot of psych np jobs now.. Likely to continue but who knows? Yes go to the best school you can afford. Work hard, get good grades, good references. Find a first job with good supervision with time to think and ask questions of colleagues . Go to conferences. Network. Psych is great and I hope I can do it for a long time.

I looked at the USI curriculum. I suggest you find out more about the psych theories they teach.Ie which family theorists, which psychodynamic theorists? Cognitive behavioral theory, etc. Psych has gotten very biological but psych theory is also important, you can also learn it later--on the job or at conferences..

bellabarbiegirl · Jan 16, 2013

University of Southern Alabama has a psych np online program.

MrSensitivity · Mar 24, 2013

When looking at cost, consider the length of the program, especially if you are having to finance living expenses. Programs range in length from accelerated one-year to 18-month and even 24-month periods.

From a cashflow perspective, paying $60k and graduating six months sooner than a program that costs $30k is smart money as I see it. If both graduates take a $90k job, then the student who graduated six months sooner will recoup $45k while the student in the cheaper school is still sitting in class. Net cost over 18 months = $15k versus $30k, so the expensive school is actually cheaper if you look at that extra variable.

Then again, maybe I'm just rationalizing for my own mental health :yes:

harmonizer · Mar 24, 2013

I am very worried about the number of NP programs out there - I would love to go to Vanderbilt but the cost is just too high...I'm not sure the name recognition is worth an extra $30,000 dollars over cheaper schools.

I would go to cheaper school. Our salary is still too low to justify $30,000 more of tuition. For high-pay CRNA school, it may be worth it. The market could get worse as the number of enrollment increases and eventually salary will fall.

I would not go to online school unless they promise to provide help with finding preceptors. Since the settings are limited to psych, you might have trouble finding a preceptor or a good practice sites. It will be worse than finding FNP preceptor. That's a hugh stress!! I would not go to online school for this reason.

harmonizer · Mar 24, 2013

From a cashflow perspective, paying $60k and graduating six months sooner than a program that costs $30k is smart money as I see it. If both graduates take a $90k job, then the student who graduated six months sooner will recoup $45k while the student in the cheaper school is still sitting in class. Net cost over 18 months = $15k versus $30k, so the expensive school is actually cheaper if you look at that extra variable.
Then again, maybe I'm just rationalizing for my own mental health

wrong.

First, the salary may not be 90k. 3/4 of my ex-classmates do not get that last year. The salary and demand will probably fall sharply within the next few years since more NP will graduate esp from online school. Secondly, you did not consider tax. $45k after tax (35%) is $29. On top you these, you can work part-time as RN during those 6 months, which will make you come off ahead. Accelerated curriculum will cause you to work less due to busy schedule, resulting in lost in income. Third, think of 6.8% interest of student loan on top of these figure. I would go to cheaper school.

MrSensitivity · Mar 26, 2013

Wrong? Oh harmonizer, let's have some harmony to go with my sensitivity. I would agree with you that $2 is a bigger number than $1. But one should look the calculus and not just the arithmetic. That's the point.

Pick whatever numbers you want for program cost and graduate salary. You can even throw in taxes, interest, part-time work, market tends, and speeding ticket fines (I just mention that one because I get a lot of those). There is a point of diminishing return that must be identified, but revenue is a good thing, and it can offset tuition cost and all of those other things if you can get it sooner than later. It's not an inconsequential consideration.

Cheers

harmonizer · Mar 26, 2013

MrSensitivity, it sounds nice now but once you started working to pay off that $30,000, you will start feeling the pinch It takes months to make that money (after tax). You probably will pay even more with student loan interest. Good luck. Do not go to expensive online school.

MrSensitivity · Mar 27, 2013

I hear ya. $30k is almost the price of a new car. A daunting task indeed.

BlueEyedGuy · Apr 4, 2013

wrong.
First, the salary may not be 90k. 3/4 of my ex-classmates do not get that last year. The salary and demand will probably fall sharply within the next few years since more NP will graduate esp from online school. Secondly, you did not consider tax. $45k after tax (35%) is $29. On top you these, you can work part-time as RN during those 6 months, which will make you come off ahead. Accelerated curriculum will cause you to work less due to busy schedule, resulting in lost in income. Third, think of 6.8% interest of student loan on top of these figure. I would go to cheaper school.

That's not how tax brackets work. You don't even hit the 35% bracket if you're making under 90k. Or are you just estimating and adding in state income tax as well?

myelin · Apr 4, 2013

lol 30k is really cheap for a NP program. Not sure if people who are posting aren't familiar with higher education costs in general, but 30k for a masters (especially in a healthcare field) is cheap.

harmonizer · Apr 6, 2013

lol 30k is really cheap for a NP program. Not sure if people who are posting aren't familiar with higher education costs in general, but 30k for a masters (especially in a healthcare field) is cheap.

Did you read.. the original post stated that it is 30k MORE than the other program.. so the program costs more than 30k.. probably $50k range..