Members are discussing the cost and value of attending Chamberlain College of Nursing, with some sharing positive experiences and job outcomes, while others express concerns about the high tuition costs and potential debt. Some members advocate for starting at a community college for pre-reqs before transferring to Chamberlain, while others caution against for-profit schools and emphasize the importance of thorough research before committing to a nursing program.
I am beginning my nursing journey. Gathering all the info I need. Getting my classes together. Going to take my pre reqs at a community college.. Going to meet with an advisor tomorrow. My question is this: Is Chamberlain worth it for $90,000+? I'm 21 with a 5 year old son. I wrote down many questions to ask myself and one being where I want to be 5 years from now. And that is a Registered Nurse working with children at a hospital. I've been all year weighing my options about pursuing my nursing degree once all my pre reqs are completed and City Colleges of Chicago I will be waiting until Fall.
I am in no real rush to get in school but I was hoping to get in Malcolm X by the Spring or the Fall and the fact that it isn't a guarantee whatsoever kinda bothers me. I don't want to waste 2 years of my life waiting to get into nursing school whereas at Chamberlain, I could be right after I finish my pre reqs and in 2 years I will be one step closer to getting my BSN. Is Chamberlain worth it? It is CCNE accredited. I've been doing my research on this school and know a couple of people who is either attending it or have graduated from there.
Should I go for it?
I am looking at it form a different perspective than some. I'm not so worried about my loans and funding for school while I am there because I think that's negative and can be very stressful. I will worry about it when I graduate and become the Nurse I've only dreamed of.
Are there any current or alumni students of Chamberlain School of Nursing that can shed some light on me and give me more info and just help me in this journey? All is appreciated. Thanks!
If you can get a CNA job with an employer that offers tuition reimbursement, you could get a good chunk of your nursing school paid by your employer.
Some employers require you to work as a nurse for them for a period of time after they pay for your school-- some do not.
I went to a community college, got tuition reimbursement and a nursing scholarship through work. My education was practically free and I was not required to stay with my employer afterward. I also had my job handed to me because they knew me and my work ethic.
Just tossing out another option for you.
That's amazing. I have a question for you. With CNA, is there schooling for that that is free? Do you think if I went to school for the year to become an LPN and did a bridge program from LPN to RN, do you think that would be a better route for me?
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
MarquieshaH said:
I wanted to see if there were other cons to look at.
Here's another con for you: Chamberlain is an investor-owned for-profit school owned by DeVry Corporation. Investor-owned schools have been under hot water and increased public scrutiny for charging outrageous prices for their educational products.
Here's a third con for you: some hiring managers and HR staff secretly toss resumes and job applications into file number 13 (a.k.a. the wastebasket) if certain investor-owned schools are listed on the candidates educational section.
Here's another con for you: Chamberlain is an investor-owned for-profit school owned by DeVry Corporation. Investor-owned schools have been under hot water and increased public scrutiny for charging outrageous prices for their educational products.
Here's a third con for you: some hiring managers and HR staff secretly toss resumes and job applications into file number 13 (a.k.a. the wastebasket) if certain investor-owned schools are listed on the candidates educational section.
I'm so over that school now. I don't want to be in debt and paying outrageous interest rates on loans... That in itself really is enough to make me run far far away...
Thats amazing. I have a question for you. With CNA, is there schooling for that that is free? Do you think if I went to school for the year to become an LPN and did a bridge program from LPN to RN, do you think that would be a better route for me?
I'm not sure about free CNA class. I worked in a nice nursing home that would hire you without being certified. You had to get certified within a certain time frame and they paid for it... but that was over 20 years ago. Some places might still do this, but I really don't know.
The Red Cross also has CNA classes but I don't know the cost (but I think it cost more than a community college-- not sure).
Also, hospitals don't require their patient care techs to be CNA's. I think they would be more likely to hire one, though. The hospitals are the employers that typically have decent tuition reimbursement.
As for LPN to RN... that could be another option.
There's many ways to go about becoming a nurse without massive debt.
I genuinely understand where both of you are coming from. I know $90,000 is a lot of money for a BSN, hell really thats why I'm even asking questions about it. In my saying that I don't look at it like that is because thats the one con I can think about when choosing this school, if I do. I wanted to see if there were other cons to look at. I know the tuition itself will discourage me from going but at the same time, people who are financially stable right now, I'm sure this same tuition didn't deter them. I don't want that to be my only determining factor, if you know what I'm saying... As for my son and I being deprived, absolutely not. Nurses in my area make a decent amount of money, starting off. I'm in Chicago btw. No, I'm not saying having to pay back X amount of dollars is nothing to me because just paying my phone bill bothers me lol (I'm cheap lol)... I definitely appreciate your comments though.
I'm going to give you my honest opinion. I think $90,000 in loans for a nursing degree is outrageous. Also, I've worked in Chicago for a year (I had four years experience as an RN) and I still took a hefty pay cut. I was shocked that the pay was worse in Chicago compared to where I came from. As a new nurse, prepare yourself to get the bottom pay rate. It ain't pretty.
I don't know much about Chamberlain or if it's any good, but that is a lot of money to saddle yourself with. You really need to think long and hard about this. My best friend, who is pursuing her CRNA at Rush, isn't even shelling out that much.
I'm not sure about free CNA class. I worked in a nice nursing home that would hire you without being certified. You had to get certified within a certain time frame and they paid for it... but that was over 20 years ago. Some places might still do this, but I really don't know.
The Red Cross also has CNA classes but I don't know the cost (but I think it cost more than a community college-- not sure).
Our community college charges $100/semester hours (the class is 7), $25 background check fee and a $65 lab fee.
Also, know that hospitals don't require their patient care techs to be CNA's. I think they would be more likely to hire one, though. The hospitals are the employers that typically have decent tuition reimbursement.
As for LPN to RN... that could be another option.
There's many ways to go about becoming a nurse without massive debt.
Good luck to you
I think I'm going to just go speak with an advisor and see whats best for me. I do want to work and go to school and I think if I chose to go the CNA route as far as working right now, that would be the perfect experience I need to land a job after I graduate from school. I know some people have a hard time landing a job immediately due to lack of job related experience. Also, I believe if I start taking my pre reqs for the Nursing school, by the time I'm done, a year will have passed already... Which will make me closer to starting at a community college. I really don't want to pay so much for school... Thanks for your help!
I'm going to give you my honest opinion. I think $90,000 in loans for a nursing degree is outrageous. Also, I've worked in Chicago for a year (I had four years experience as an RN) and I still took a hefty pay cut. I was shocked that the pay was worse in Chicago compared to where I came from. As a new nurse, prepare yourself to get the bottom pay rate. It ain't pretty.
I don't know much about Chamberlain or if it's any good, but that is a lot of money to saddle yourself with. You really need to think long and hard about this. My best friend, who is pursuing her CRNA at Rush, isn't even shelling out that much.
I honestly was just going through mood swings of feeling like I'm wasting my life away. I feel like not really doing anything now, well I just got offered a job at Wrigley Field , so thats that, but before that feeling like I'm wasting my days and then to top it off to hear that I would have to wait an additional year or two to start the Nursing program at my school of choice was just bummer for me.
As a fellow Chicago girl I have got to say, PLEASE think twice. Chamberlain is very expensive and guess what, they aren't teaching anything every other nursing school out there is teaching. I would not take on that kind of debt. If people can afford it, great but, if not it will bite you in the butt in the end.
You can likely get financial aid so that can help you. Do a bit of research, there are lots of nursing schools out here and maybe you can find a different route that will not leave you so in debt. It is wise to go the city college route then merge into an RN-BSN program. You can save a lot of money and work as a nurse while you get your BSN. Although the big hospitals want a BSN (Rush, Northwestern), there are plenty of places willing to hire ADN nurses. If you want to do a BSN program maybe look into a few of the other schools, sit with a counselor in the financial aid office then make a decision depending on who has the best package for you. For $90,000 you can go to Loyola or St. Xavier! I didn't realize Chamberlain was quite that expensive.
I myself was looking into this school, but I have a friend that graduated from there. Although she said it was a good school, the cost isn't worth it .
Thank you everyone for your input. I am definitely not choosing that route now. That loan calculation was enough to make me run far away from this school...
Specializes in Nephrology, Dialysis, Plasmapheresis.
I am a graduate of Chamberlain College of Nursing. Only went there for 2 years and racked up $55,000. That didn't count my pre-reqs from another school. If I could go back and do it again, I would wait and go for the cheapest school or at least one that was less expensive. Once you get into nursing, no one cares where you graduated from as long as you pass the NCLEX. Once you're an RN, you're an RN. At least research the graduate passing rate for schools in your areas, and wait if needed on a a wait list. You are 21 and have plenty of time.
$90,000 may seem reasonable because, hey, you're gonna be making $50-60K a year, right? NO! You will make that much yeah, but after taxes, bills, student loan payments (which for you is prob minimum $500-900 a month, and that's with low interest rate loans), car, food, childcare, health insurance, retirement, rent, phone, internet, and gas, you will be struggling just to get by. Trust someone that has lived that way for 5 years now, month to month. I have had 2 jobs for almost 5 years in order to pay off my loans. I have been able to pay off $10K a year, working my tail off (50-65 hours a week), and I have NO KIDS!!!! Please reconsider this school, it's great, but any nursing degree will do and it's worth the wait.
MarquieshaH
53 Posts
That's amazing. I have a question for you. With CNA, is there schooling for that that is free? Do you think if I went to school for the year to become an LPN and did a bridge program from LPN to RN, do you think that would be a better route for me?