I started researching various RN to BSN options while I was going through my associate program to reach the NCLEX-RN. My research included two local universities and several online options. My goal was to find a university that would allow me to finish my RN to BSN in under twelve months. While one of the local options was economical (approximately $10,000 not counting books), neither of the two local options could be completed in twelve months while working 0.8 FTE to 1.0 FTE (the one university could be achieved in twelve months if all you did was go to their classes and not work).
Online university program layout fell into three distinct categories: discussion groups with APA-based research papers, a hybrid of exams and APA-based research papers, and just APA-based research papers. The top university for the 1st category in my research was Aspen University with its fixed tuition, a little over $10,000.00 and its zero-interest loan to students where you pay only $250.00 per month. The top university in the 2nd category was the only university in that group that I found which was () - four exams, seven papers - where you pay $3,250 per semester PLUS fees. The top university in the 3rd category was the only university in the group that I found was Capella University and their FlexPath program.
Aspen University can be completed in twelve months if you double up on courses after you take the first class which they strongly recommend you take by itself. WGU can be completed in as little as five to six months. Capella University's FlexPath program can be completed in as little as seven to nine months.
While WGU appeared to be the most economical option (the 1st semester, six-months, including fees) would have right slightly under $4,000 I had concerns after talking face-to-face with one instructor as well as face-to-face discussions with a student and two years of following various discussion groups on Facebook where there were many concerns brought up by the one faculty member, the one face-to-face student, and scores upon scores of other students. Those concerns included the following:
- No guarantee to have a student mentor who will allow you to fast track your classes.
- Regularly changing class requirements (biochemistry was just one of several) with what appeared to be (based on student perceptions) the goal of making the program last longer.
- The regular, required, weekly to every other week phone calls with your student mentor.
- The fees they don't tell you about when you read, "only $3,250" per semester.
- The first class requiring specific login times and participation times which entirely and utterly removes the entire spirit of being an online program.
- Another class requires a minimum of 45-hours of interviews and walkthroughs of various facilities with requirements of what can be counted time-wise such that the illusion of an online program you can do on a deserted island with just internet coverage is revealed as just an illusion.
While I was leery at first that FlexPath was just a more expensive copy of WGU's program -- FlexPath runs $2,700 per three-month semester compared to WGU's $3,250 plus fees per six-month semester), I investigated FlexPath and found it to have many pros which ended up making it easy for me to pick FlexPath as my choice for an RN to BSN program.
FlexPath Pros
- FlexPath is 100% online.
- FlexPath has no hidden fees (did you know about the $495 fee WGU charges?)
- FlexPath doesn't require biochemistry/chemistry
- FlexPath involves just writing APA-based research papers and presentations; there are no exams.
- FlexPath doesn't require one to purchase a single book.
- FlexPath doesn't require any phone calls with a student mentor to discuss your weekly or every other week progress.
- FlexPath can be done on a deserted island with just an internet connection; there are no requirements to visit, call, interview, etc. It is an actual online program.
- FlexPath doesn't require permission to move onto the next class. Within hours (often the same day) of completing a course, the following course opens. And should you want the next course to open while you are waiting for a paper/presentation to be graded, you can just email or call your coach.
How does FlexPath work?
Each class is composed of several assessments of learning. Of the five courses I've taken to date, the classes have four to five assessments of learning (I've read of at least one class - BSN FP 4017 Collaborative Group Process Nursing having six assessments). In each assessment of learning, you are presented with one of several scenarios to address. For example, in my Nursing Leadership and Management, the one assessment involved picking three scenarios out of five where I had to write about change theory, leadership styles, professional and legal standards, and measurement of outcomes. Most of the classes include one assessment that involves creating a presentation with speaker notes. All the writing must be in APA 6th edition format with the primary reference requirements being peer-reviewed, scholarly, references that are within five years of age except for sentinel works where the age of the reference is not relevant. All assessments have a scoring guide (rubric) to help guide the student as to what matters to pass the assessment.
Faculty grades submitted assessments within two business days where portions of the paper (based on the rubric) can receive one of three grades: non-performance (failed to meet the criteria; zero/F), basic (just met the criteria: C), proficient (met the criteria: B), and distinguished (above and beyond: A). The word-based grades are translated into actual grades upon request as well as through a computer-generated form students can run on demand to submit to employers or for one's knowledge. There's a Competency Map per class where students can see their progress and decide to re-submit an assessment in hopes of improving one's grade. An assessment can be revised (students are encouraged to highlight the changes) and re-submitted two additional times for a total of three submissions.
There are times the instructions and scoring guide for a given assessment are vague, and that's where the Capella RN to BSN Facebook group and tutors come in handy. Tutors are available via email and through scheduled one-to-one sessions for each class. The tutors are typically MSN and DNP students, fellow nurses, who usually collaborate with those asking for help to assist in learning. In addition to tutors, students have access to SmartThinking, a tutorial group where papers can be reviewed.
Capella University, like many other universities that require APA-based material, uses a service called Turnitin. Before submitting an assessment of learning for review by faculty, students must submit their paper/presentation to Turnitin via an easy-to-use web-based interface. Turnitin then grades the paper regarding the percentage of originality regarding the potential for plagiarism. The lower the percentage, the more original the work. Most faculties want an originality score of 20% or less. In my experience, it's easy to be under 10% by following three simple rules: 1) paraphrase often vs. quoting, 2) cite correctly using APA standards, and 3) remove the title and reference page(s) before submission. One can also use filters within TurnItIn to take care of number three for you, but I've found that to be hit and miss even though I do recommend using TurnItIn filters even when doing the three steps mentioned.
How does Capella University's FlexPath program stack up regarding cost?
The FlexPath program costs $2,700 every 12-weeks and does not have any additional fees or cost requirements such as books. At first glance, this does look expensive (at least it did for me). But when you consider you can complete three to five classes within that period, and look at the cost per credit, FlexPath is economical. If you complete three classes, the cost per credit is $300 per credit. If you finish five courses in that period, the cost per credit comes down to $180 per credit. If you work for a facility that partners with Capella, such as UPMC Pinnacle, the tuition runs $2,430 every 12 weeks reducing the per credit down to $270 per credit if you complete three classes and $162 per credit if you complete five classes.
How many classes can you complete every twelve weeks?
That's up to you as FlexPath is a 100% go-at-your-own-pace program. At the time of this writing, I'm on track to complete five classes within my first term for a cost of $162 per credit. From what I've read, surveyed, and studied, most students complete the FlexPath program in twelve months or less. Currently, I'm on track to complete the program in a seven to nine-month period.
