Cost of BSN

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

Im currently looking into getting my BSN In West Coast University. Its a 39 month program. The cost of tuition is 128,000 for the whole program. This blew me away at first but the upside is there is no waiting time and you do graduate with a BSN. Any thoughts?

Is this the total cost, between housing, food, books, supplies, etc? I still think thats a lot of money and you could get just as good of an education elsewhere for a LOT less money. Why burden yourself with that amount of debt after graduation, if you dont have to?

0 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Lol at new grads only making 24-36k per year starting. Maybe in Indiana. I live in Ohio and new grads start off at 48k-50k year BASE rate. And that is the midwest, not Cali.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Lol at new grads only making 24-36k per year starting. Maybe in Indiana. I live in Ohio and new grads start off at 48k-50k year BASE rate. And that is the midwest not Cali.[/quote']

If you're referencing the post I think you are, reference was made to net salary, which is entirely accurate.

0 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.
Glad your math rocks, but I still bring in over a hair more than 4,000 a month. Yes at 27 an hour. Granted we get 4 hours of over time to make up for the lower payment. No most new grads don't, but I will say yet again, in California life in general is more expensive so in turn your pay is higher and I make bottom of the barrel pay where most hospitals start new grads at $33 an hour. Yes it's a steep loan payment, but calculating the loan amount to money not earned waiting the 1-3 (which using your math is somewhere between 60k-180K) years to get into a CC (if you manage to get a job after with an ADN here) is much higher. You pick your poison. I'm happy with what I picked (and you can pay monthly instead of taking out the whole thing in loans, which is what I did)

I make $36 an hour and I barely hit $4,000 per month, you may want to make sure they're taking out taxes for you.

0 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.
Yup yup yup... I hear WCU peeps have great connections with the locals... I know a few grads and current students all of which are desired by the HR bigwigs...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using allnurses.com

BSN new grads with high debt loads are desirable to HR departments, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

My facility just lifted a 3 year hiring freeze on BSN grads, specifically to fill positions we've been unable to fill; 8 hour night shifts at a 1.0 FTE and no set schedule (24 hour notice of when you're working for every shift), they're expecting to have no problem filling these with new grads who owe $125,000, as they put it "they'll do anything".

0 Votes
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.

I'm sure it's a really great school and apparently highly regarded in that area of the state. But take into account your future plans. Are you prepared to deal with $100K+ in student loans for a BSN? Were you hoping to buy a house or take vacations after graduation? Student loan debt is no joke. That is a very heavy burden to carry especially after 4 years of nursing school and entering the job market. Keep in mind that if you ever plan to move outside of that area, you're degree will easily be equivalent any other state or private university that offers a BSN. (I moved from Michigan to Hawaii after graduation, where my degree was from meant nothing regardless of how highly respected it was in my area)

Now, if you are able to get assistance (scholarships, grants), and the cost is now comparable to other BSN programs, then go for it. But think about the freedom that comes with graduating, getting licensed, and actually keeping your wages, not sending them right to the banks. I started with my ADN in 2010, completely financed by scholarships. I took BSN pre-reqs through the CC, a couple CLEP exams, and then completed my BSN through a private university at a final cost of $9K. My payments are only $100 and I can see the end in sight. I make the same as all the other nurses regardless of ADN or BSN, Ivy League to Online degree. But I sure do love the disposable income that would have otherwise gone to a student loan :)

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

Thank you. When you're laughing at 24 to 36 thousand for a new grad, that is entirely accurate. I'm speaking of after taxes and deductions, the amount of money someone has in their pocket (net pay).

0 Votes

BSN new grads with high debt loads are desirable to HR departments, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

My facility just lifted a 3 year hiring freeze on BSN grads, specifically to fill positions we've been unable to fill; 8 hour night shifts at a 1.0 FTE and no set schedule (24 hour notice of when you're working for every shift), they're expecting to have no problem filling these with new grads who owe $125,000, as they put it "they'll do anything".

Im only going to owe 30k max...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using allnurses.com

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatrics.

I think that some people are not very realistic about debt vs cost of living vs disposable income, until those bills start rolling in. 30 grand is still a sizable amount, and many new grads owe 2-3 times that amount. Factor in the additional interest, which can add years to the loan payments. Also, as I mentioned, 24-36 k is roughly the amount a new grad can expect to take home. If you are making 55 k a year, keep in mind that this is your GROSS. At the end of it all, you are actually taking home much less than that. Budgeting properly is essential when you are debating the cost of borrowing funds for any purpose.

0 Votes
I think that some people are not very realistic about debt vs cost of living vs disposable income until those bills start rolling in. 30 grand is still a sizable amount, and many new grads owe 2-3 times that amount. Factor in the additional interest, which can add years to the loan payments. Also, as I mentioned, 24-36 k is roughly the amount a new grad can expect to take home. If you are making 55 k a year, keep in mind that this is your GROSS. At the end of it all, you are actually taking home much less than that. Budgeting properly is essential when you are debating the cost of borrowing funds for any purpose.[/quote']

I'm aware of all that, but, its 30k max... I have a few "scholarships" that im waiting to go through, work will reimburse for some of the charges upon completion and I will be making approx. 5k a month... so long as things so as planned with my current employment. Now, that being said... I see that I am deffinately a lucky minority.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using allnurses.com

0 Votes
Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I almost had a heart attack looking at that tuition! It honestly makes no financial or career sense.

Even IF you live in Ca (and there are WCUs in other states with lower pay, like Texas, you're still not likely to be handed a great paying job right out of the gate. And that debt will eat you alive. Run.

0 Votes
Specializes in Forensic Psych.
I'm sorry maybe it's me. But what credible school awards a person a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing with only 10 classes--even for RN-BSN degree completion?.[/quote']

Every reputable program in my area. 10 classes is usually around 30 credits, the amount 4 year universities usually require you take at their campus to receive a degree from their school. My ADN requires 75 credits, plus the ~30 prerequisites for the ADN-BSN, plus the 30 BSN credits = more than enough hours to warrant a bachelors degree. I needed 120 for my degree in psychology.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment