Looking for an online NP program recommendations

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Hello everyone, I have been researching a few online NP programs and need some recommendations and any feedback you may have (especially if you have attended Kaplan or Aspen University). Since I live in NC, many of the online programs are not accepted here (Walden, Cambridge, Grand Canyon, South University, etc.). I prefer online programs because you can take one class at a time and keep rolling from there. What are your thoughts about Kaplan or Aspen and do you have any recommendations for other online programs? Thanks!

Just thought I'd mention that both Duke and ECU have their NP programs online.

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Thanks! I would love to go to Duke, but they are very expensive. I have applied to ECU, but they don't begin until September. Thanks!

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Thanks! I would love to go to Duke, but they are very expensive. I have applied to ECU, but they don't begin until September. Thanks!

Whats the rush? Better a quality program in sept than a scam now, right?

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Barinbass,

I can't thank you enough for your response and all of the information you provided. It has been very helpful! You are right about the limited amount of opportunities for NPs here in NC. My husband and I are planning on moving back to Georgia over the next six months to a year. That's why it's important to find a quality online program that is CCNE accredited and fits my requirement for one class at a time. I have applied to two schools because I want to go ahead and get started. I do have a 3.67 GPA from my BSN program and a 4.0 in my Masters of Arts in Health Education program. I am looking forward to obtaining my MSN. Myself and two other RNs are planning on opening our own business in five years. It took her two years to obtain a NP position due to not having any experience as an NP, but she finally got hired recently. In the meantime, she was able to work a few hours a month in order to keep her license otherwise, she would have had to take the certification again if she did not have a certain amount of hours over a period of time.

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Specializes in Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Don't listen to the Nay Sayers on this sight. I Attended Walden University full time. I graduated in 18 months after a rigorous educational experience. I graduated in February, took the AANP certification exam 10 days later without a review course, and passed it easily. I am now a practicing FNP making a great salary, a Monday through Friday schedule, with no call or weekends and profit sharing. Research your school well, but don't take peoples advice about a school you are interested in, especially if they have never attended that school!

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I won't disparage other schools, but I'll tell you the same thing I tell my children- Go to the very best school that will take you. Duke, obviously, would be your best choice if you live in NC. Duke is a Top 5 program in the country, outstanding in every way. Don't let the price tag dissuade you, DUSON has a large endowment and offers a great deal of scholarship money. There wasn't anyone in my class paying the full ticket price. I was a University Scholar and attended for free, and that scholarship is open to anyone who qualifies.

I absolutely believe the best education is worth the investment. I would not settle for second best unless the best just wouldn't have me. That said, ECU has a very good reputation, particularly for midwifery. WCU less stellar, but I would judge it superior to a diploma mill. UNC, as much as it pains me -a loyal Blue Devil- to say, is excellent, although I don't believe they are offering online options yet and may not be conveniently located to you.

Don't settle.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

While I agree with many that for profit, take all comers schools aren't that great, I also think it entirely depends on you. If you are fine learning online, are very motivated, and were a good student during undergrad, you will probably do well.

While I know schools like Duke or Georgetown are great, I also cringe thinking about paying the price of those degrees, especially if you aren't from that area, and don't plan to practice in the area after graduation. I think getting a degree that allows you to practice close to where you intend on living after graduation, where you can build connections with physicians and other NP's means far more than going to a school with an arbitrary higher ranking. For example, I live in Texas, and will be graduating from UTEP's online grad school with my FNP later this year (knock on wood). I'm doing clinicals in my hometown, and making connections all over the place, which has resulted in 3 job offers, in writing, before I even graduate. Had I moved across country to go to a school in an area I have no intention of ever staying in, I would just be paying more money and missing out on all the connections that come with going to school close to where you intent on living.

Nursing school isn't like Law School, where class rank and the school you attend means everything. If Duke is close to where you are or want to live, go for it, otherwise, you might be paying more money and missing out on valuable connections back home where you want to practice.

For me personally, it wouldn't be worth it, and let's be honest, nursing isn't like Law School, where quality of school you attend means everything in the post-job market.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I have only attended Ivy League and Tier I schools, so I'm clearly biased. I do think, depending what specifically one aims to accomplish, how far one wants to go, it might matter a great deal. I can only speak for myself, and tell you that the fact that I went to these schools has opened doors for me and given me almost unlimited networking potential. Introductions have been made based on my alma maters.

I keep in touch with the people I've met along the way, because as it happens we are all now in our 50s and all leaders in our respective fields and consequently, occasionally in a position to help one another. My life and career would be very different had I gone to different schools, met different people, studied under different faculty -although I would still be the very same smart, driven man.

This illustrates the most important point, and that is that the graduates of the Brown Mackie's et al., are quite possibly every bit as capable as their Ivy League peers. But the sad truth of the world is, they aren't likely to get the chance to prove it.

Yes, I'd say my alma matters have mattered quite a bit. I'm reaching for the stars and the networking I have done, the sphere of influence I have cultivated, not to mention the stellar education I have been given from some of the best systems in the country, have offered me opportunities I would not otherwise have had. I am certain of it.

When trying to decide about attending a graduate program, students need to know if they are reaching for stars in the sky or starfish on the beach. There is no shame in either, but decisions one makes along the way certainly do impact future opportunity. Choose wisely.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

I agree BlueDevil, but again I think it all has to do with location. Especially in nursing. Say I'm from Arizona and I go to Yale undergrad and pay 150k for my BSN. Is that better than going to UofArizona and paying 1/3 to 1/4 of that, if in the end all I wanted to do was end up in Arizona? Sure it's a fancy Ivy League degree, but at what cost?

My area cares more about experience and certifications, and far less about where you went to school. If anything, all that matters where I work is that you have a BSN. Whether you got it from Yale of Turd Burglar University doesn't matter. It goes for NP's here too.

However, if ones location is more competitive, and school really does matter, go with the best school. I've just personally found that in nursing most of your learning comes from personal, hands on experience, and the ivory tower means much less to us, so I place little stock in the actual school, although I don't like for profits, for largely other broad reasons.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I think pedigree of school seems to be of more importance to people the further east you travel. I don't mean this in a negative way towards anyone (east or west), it's just an observation I've made over 30+ years in my previous career. More prestigious universities do afford someone a chance to make connections that can be helpful in the political realm of whatever profession they choose to be in, and I think that aspect is more respected in the northeastern states than it is in the western states.

For someone who is simply planning on practicing in their local community, and maybe have a local or state level of influence, a good state program may give them a better initial network than a more prestigious university that is in another part of the country. More prestigious universities can provide a network of connections in the political powers of a profession and may offer you a step up if you wish to have a say in national or international direction setting. This tends to be more true in some professions than in others.

In general I agree with the basic premise that Blue Devil advocates though, pick the program that will give you the best educational foundation for your chosen career. Networking is certainly a factor to take into account in that. In my case, my program is all online and through a university that is on the other side of the country. To compensate for that, I actively work towards building my network in my community on a weekly basis, and I started doing that long before I applied to my program. I have no aspirations to have a network or influence at the national level, or even state level, so I don't feel I'm missing much by not going to a program that would help me develop a network within those who have those aspirations.

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Specializes in ER.

Hi! I live in NC too and I applied to University for Fall 2014. They offer many advanced degrees online. I contacted the NC Board of Nursing to see if they "accept" online degrees and they said as long as the program is accredited, which Drexel definitely is. It's a private school in Philadelphia, so it's definitely more expensive, but they have a great reputation and their online programs have been around for over 20 years. Good luck!!!

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When I was searching for online schools, I looked for their accreditation by CCNE. That was first. Also, I looked at the other accreditation the school had, and those may be shared by other schools too, especially if in the same area. In my opinion, if the school's MSN program is accredited by CCNE, and if I am able to take and pass the same national certification as everyone else, then my school meets the same criteria as the others. I could not at all say what would make one school better than another when it gets down to it if they all contain what was necessary to satisfy CCNE. Everything else may be more superficial such as name which really does not correlate to quality, whatever that means. I did read the philosophies and Mission statements of the school and selected one that I liked and was in agreement with.

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