BSN nurses, how much did your schooling cost you?

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jul 23, 2016

Mine is $20k.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 23, 2016

Mine was 35K...it was NEVER that high!!

That will make student loans with interest 80-100K...you sure you want to eat that?

Where are you located? You don't have to give a precise location, but at least a general area.

Froggybelly · Jul 23, 2016

I think those both sound very high! I would expect to pay around $300-350 per semester credit. Make sure to look into non-profit colleges and universities. I paid around $13k for my RN at a community college, start to finish. My RN-BSN cost roughly $9k (I did most of my non-nursing requirements at the community college). I would see if you can get into the school that's 90 minutes away and try to move closer. I would definitely not pay the prices you posted though.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2016

one is University of Phoenix 62K and 4.5 years part time program
the other one is Platte Nursing program, 85K 3 years full time.

The problem is that you've listed outrageously-priced investor-owned schools of questionable repute, so of course you are going to overpay if you opt to attend one of these programs.

Here's a breakdown of my schooling costs...

1. Private nonprofit LVN program, $19,995 in 2004

2. Private for-profit LPN-to-ASN bridge program, $19,000 in 2009

3. Private nonprofit online BSN program, $5,800 in 2014

Grand total: just a few dollars shy of $45k over the years...

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2016

Moved to our Diploma/ADN/BSN forum for more replies.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 26, 2016

I did an online LPN-RN bridge program in under a year. However, a lot of factors contributed to the speed of that completion. Let's just say it was just my time. Afterwards, I did an online RN-BSN bridge very casually at first (taking an exam here and there), took a year-long break from the turtle walk, then got back into the groove of writing papers. I took whatever exams I could during the prerequisite stage instead of the courses because the exams were cheaper...until I failed my first and only ever nursing exam. After that, it was courses all the way. I even shopped around for cheaper courses at other institutions and took those whenever possible (it was required that I got approval from my college prior to taking a course or exam elsewhere, as they may not have accepted the credits). The total cost for my BSN was under $15K.

I did have a brief conversation with the University of Phoenix when I was researching my LPN-to-whatever options. When the admissions person told me that there were not any LPN-RN online options out there, I knew then that they were not where I would place my trust, because I knew better than what he was telling me. I was simply comparing the costs and particularly the science requirements when I called them.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 26, 2016

My LPN program was 12 months in length and cost a whopping $500! :cheeky: Of course, that was during the days when a rotary dial phone was for the rich. :roflmao:

nolanurse88 · Jul 26, 2016

My LPN-BSN is about $24k no way would I pay $60k+

ixchel · Jul 26, 2016

I did all of my pre-reqs and non-nursing courses at community college. This left me with an AA in general studies. My nursing education I did at a university. If I recall....

Community college was per credit, regardless of full time/part time status. Per semester, I think the classes alone were 2000-3000 for tuition and fees, but not books or supplies. Books and materials typically were $500-750 per semester, usually around $600.

2000-3000 x 5 semesters = 10k-15k. Probably closer to $15k.

600 x 5 semesters = $3000

$13k-18k for my AA. (I actually think it was about $16k.)

University had a flat amount for full time. Fees and tuition amounted to around $9k per year. (I should mention I went to a state school that has a low price compared to other state schools.) This does not include books or supplies, which averaged probably $750 per semester.

$750 x 4 semesters = $3k

$9k x 2 years = $18k

~$21k for my BS.

$16k + $21k = $37,000.

This was a few years ago, so I may be mis-remembering, but probably not by too much.

My years at the community college were paid for by the Pell Grant and a Maryland grant. I have kids and my husband was the sole income. This was a massive blessing because we otherwise would have had no way to pay the bills with me in school. My grants always gave an extra couple thousand to assist with bills.

My third year of school, at the university, because of the slightly higher bill and our increased need to cover bills at that time (we unfortunately added some that year), I requested the max amount of loans possible from the feds, which the FAFSA approved me for. I also still received the Pell. I can't remember if I got the Maryland grant, not that it was a huge amount at the time.

My last year, I received the Pell and an additional scholarship of $14k. I was a very, very thankful girl! I wasn't looking forward to doubling my school debt!

My BS(n) landed me a job before graduation. I regret nothing. The students at the University go back home after graduation. The community college ASN grads are all from here, hoping to work here. The market for a BS/BSN is extremely favorable around here.

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · Jul 27, 2016

My breakdown of schooling costs were as follows: My Home Health Aide program back in 2005 was $100 (paid that out of pocket, of course). My CNA course was taught by my employer with state certification fees paid for by them in exchange for working for said employer for one year (Did I mention was getting paid during this three month training period?). My LPN program was free (covered by the WIA grant). I took out a $10,500 loan for my one year LPN to RN bridge program, and another $3750 loan to complete the RN to BSN program through WGU (I finished the program in six months). Total debt up to this point? About $14,500. Don't want any more debt, so I'm definitely paying out of pocket through my MSN program at WGU, which I start on August 1st, and hope to complete in two terms. Lesson here: Education costs, if planned wisely, can be largely inexpensive, especially if you work during your schooling (which I have pretty much the entire time), so that you don't need to take out additional debt for cost of living expenses.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 30, 2016

The problem is that you've listed outrageously-priced investor-owned schools of questionable repute, so of course you are going to overpay if you opt to attend one of these programs.
Here's a breakdown of my schooling costs...
1. Private nonprofit LVN program, $19,995 in 2004
2. Private for-profit LPN-to-ASN bridge program, $19,000 in 2009
3. Private nonprofit online BSN program, $5,800 in 2014
Grand total: just a few dollars shy of $45k over the years...

Thank you for calling University of Phoenix a school of "questionable repute." In their case you are being restaintfully kind. Another loser loan mill mess is the Education Management Corporation's South University.

Unfortunately they both troll these parts incessantly looking for their enrollment "numbers" and leaving in their wake a path of destruction. Just do a thorough net seach and you will be amazed. To evaluate schools, for starters, go to collegescorecard.edu.gov--this site the bad actors in higher education fought long and hard to silence. Knowledge is always power if you choose to use it.

College today needs to be evaluated on the basis of cost vs quality among other things. Seek unbiased advice. With the for-profits, many desperate would-be nurses and others are casting pearls before swine.

You can do so much better. To have a lifetime of crushing debt will ruin your abilty to enjoy the things in life that make it worth living. A marriage, a home, and a family. So be careful. Lots of wolves in sheep's clothing in education today.