Can anyone infer info on RN-BSN schools: UTEP, WGU, Texas Tech, UTA, Lamar?

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I'm just looking for any information that current or former students can infer on the following schools for RN-BSN: UTEP, WGU, Texas Tech, UTA, Lamar, Ohio, Thomas Edison. I guess by information, I'm looking to find out experiences, any confusion, how were exams taken, lots of papers?

Those were some of the schools I am interested in and have narrowed it down to. I can patch some info together from what I gathered. Noticed most of them are from TX...hmmm..

UTEP: $5235 for 6 months? Their brochure didn't say but if this is the case, they seem to be copying WGU's formula. RN-only courses for 20 credits, but school requires 30 resident units so you must take 10 elective credits, which is not included in the $5235. Price does not include books. No mention of clinical. Requires health clearance documents.

WGU: $3745 total tuition and fees for 6 month term, self-paced. Books included. Exams are proctored or at test center. Has practicum "experience" project but no clinical. 3.0 GPA is all u get. (leaning on this one)

Lamar: Just like UTA's Academic Partnership thing, but seems to be cheaper @ $7500. Has 8 Week classes. Not as many start dates. Not sure if books included. Requires TX Government Class. Nothing mentioned on allnurses.

Texas Tech: Read someone finished in 6 months on allnurses. Can send unofficial transcripts in advance. Only 3 admissions year round. $7562 not including books for in-state. Not sure about out of state.

UTA: $9K. Slow as hell in processing transcripts. Includes books.

Ohio: 5-week classes. >$10K

West A&M: Special Tution Rebate of $7k, practicum experiences, can only apply when you got license within 3 months of graduating school.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I went to WGU - read through that forum to see all of the questions. It's awesome, and lets you accelerate at your own pace plus no cost for books or added prerequisites. Only gotchyas is the 3.0 GPA (which didn't matter to me) and that they require you to be employed.

I was able to complete in much less than a term, but YMMV on that. Have also heard good things about university of LA@ Lafayette - that was my second choice. There's also GCU, which I didn't see on your list.

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Call me a cheapo but I'm only looking to spend up to $6-7K for the RN-BSN. I have full Pell Grant eligibility still so why not utilize it.

Thanks for those recommends featherz. I looked into lafeyette but read that they take an awful long time to process transcripts and everything.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I'm a cheapo too, that's why I went to WGU. I spent 3.6K (they had a deal then where I didn't have to pay the resource fee) and alllll done. :p But again, YMMV as far as finishing in one term. :)

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Oh yeah, definitely YMMV. I'm not a fan of Biochemistry or those proctored exams either. So past the 6 month term, WGU becomes around $7490 in cost.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Thomas Edison. Excellent at transfer credit, no "crap" course requirements. I only needed the nursing courses (I think its 7 or 8) @ 450 per credit hour, its not cheap but doable if you use a pell grant in your case. Just finished nursing informatics, my grade was 99%. Work is very doable. Best option for me. No exams, just discussion forums and papers. NI had like 2 bibliographies, 1 paper, 1 presentation, 1 abstract. Loving it so far.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.
Oh yeah, definitely YMMV. I'm not a fan of Biochemistry or those proctored exams either. So past the 6 month term, WGU becomes around $7490 in cost.

Biochemistry is nothing to be scared of. It's an arts and crafts project. Seriously. :p The class most people seem to hate is Statistics. :) (although I thought it was pretty easy for a stats class).

The proctored exams you get a choice on. Either take them at home via webcam or at a testing center. And you don't have one for every class. Some prefer those types of classes, some prefer the classes with a paper or three. :)

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@Nervous1- I am also looking into TE, my question is : do employers prefer B&M schools to online BSN programs? I just finished 2 nursing BSN courses on the ground at an in state college, but I would prefer to do all online and not have to do all of the "extras- history, politics, etc". I have already done religion, 2 psych, computers. One school wanted me to take a language, that's not going to happen! I live in ct and I am curious about what potential employers think?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

@milfordmom - In my experience, they don't care and really can't tell if you went in person. Magnet matters to my hospital and magnet doesn't care where my BSN comes from as long as its accredited.

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