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!
MarquieshaH, GOOD FOR YOU for thinking about this ahead of time and really evaluating what you'd be doing to your future with that much debt. I wish more young people were like you.
I agree with most of the other's comments here~ don't go to Chamberlain, don't take out so much in student loans! Please be aware that many employers will no longer offer tuition reimbursement. Since there is such a surplus of nurses, they simply don't have to. Some hospitals only reimburse 3 credit hours per semester, meaning one lousy class, so that would take forever to actually accomplish anything. Also know that many hospitals won't hire anyone without a BSN degree. As an LPN, you probably won't get a job in a hospital. You really need to look at what hospitals, clinics, etc., in your area require in order to get a job. Look online at their job openings and see what kind of degree you need. Good luck!
I went to CCN and when i started tuition was $70 grand. Only reason I went was because I was impatient and didnt want to be on the waiting list for a community college for an associates when I knew I wanted my BSN. Besides CCN there were 2 other schools with a BSN in my area. One school in my area was super competitve. There were students in my classes that had been turned down with 4.0 gpas from that school. The other was private too, expensive but not as much as CCN and was not an accelerated program.
2 years after graduating from CCN and looking at all of my debt in loans (i didnt qualify for grants and was too lazy to do scholarship apps) i would do it over. The community colleges in my area have great programs. I was just young and was in a hurry to get my bsn and start working. A part of me was scared i wouldn't go back for my bsn if i just got my adn and i just wanted to get it over with. Financially however i wish i would have did a different route and also taken the time to do scholarships and see if i got picked for any. Another thing, the program was super demanding about the 2nd year in and i stopped working. I wish i would've picked up a weekend job as a cna at a hospital or something and paid for my books or something out of pocket. I had to take a couple of classes over so that added on too. Oh if i could go back and talk to myself lol. I didnt feel the fin aid advisor was very good either. My bf recently decided to go bck to school and i couldnt believe how awesome his was. Anyways, if theres a cheaper school jn ur area i would recommend it. A bsn is a bsn. Its more about how much u put into studying and learning. Employers care more about that then what school. Ull hear good and bad no matter what school it is. Finanacially though i dont think it was worth it. Plus ccn is a 3 year accelerated but bc i had to redue some classes and had to wait a semester i ended up finishing around the same time as reg bsn programs. Leave urself some room financially incase that happens or u have an emergency and need to drop a class or leave for a semester or anything. Good luck!
And, if people really want to spend that kind of money on a nursing degree, at least spend it to go to a well-respected, good school, not a for-profit school with a bad reputation.
MarquieshaH, GOOD FOR YOU for thinking about this ahead of time and really evaluating what you'd be doing to your future with that much debt. I wish more young people were like you.
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.
Thank you so much, I desperately needed your insight. Chamberlain is definitely OUT!!
There are still nursing homes that offer CNA classes at no cost, at least in the area which I live (northern Indiana). I know that for a fact because I was the program director of one until I accepted my current job.
Consider checking out the nursing homes close to where you live. Look for a clean, reputable one and inquire. In Indiana, nursing homes can be looked up on the state board of health's website to see how they've done in inspections. I'll bet Illinois has something similar - which ever agency oversees quality for them.
It can be done to graduate with no debt - I just took a class or two at time until I graduated. It took me longer because I saved up the money before I took classes, but it was so worth it.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
MarquieshaH said:
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 know a new RN-BSN who can't find a hospital job and lives in Chicago. There is a HUGE glut in that area.
Hi I read your post and I was also looking at this school in Atlanta, Ga. Yes it is expensive, but every where you go it will cost. This is a more private school and honey you might as well get your BSN versus a ASN due to the fact that you will spped the same amount of time getting both. Therefore if you choose to go back you will be getting your Masters and making even more money. You have a child and so do I, you have consider what will better his life in the future so you can afford things for him and not struggle. People will say many things to discourage you, but if you feel going to Chamberlain is worth I say go for it. We are our biggest critics and we hold our own self back, so think of yourself and your child's needs and don't listen to people's opinions all the time, because some people aren't in the same situation as you. I wish you luck with things I just wanted to encourage you.
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.
Hope it's OK that I bring this topic back up. I'm currently applying to different schools. Chamberlain (Pearland) is honestly the most convenient for me because of location, when the semester starts, its BSN instead of ADN, etc. Its expensive, but a majority of my expenses will be taken care of due to military education benefits.
I am hoping to start in September if I get accepted. I am also applying to the ADN programs at HCC and Wharton for the Spring start just in case, but would really like to get into a BSN program. I also want to apply to UTH, but it is VERY competitive I'm assuming.
It worries me that, in the future, I might not even be considered for a job because I went to Chamberlain? What about my experience or NCLEX score? Is a BSN at a more prestigious school better than a BSN here?
Chamberlain students seem to enjoy the program, but the general opinion doesn't seem to positive. I honestly thought Chamberlain would be an excellent choice in my situation but what I'm reading here is discouraging...
Chamberlain is amazing but it's very expensive. I finished all of their pre-requisites (I have a BS in Elementary Education) before going which cut out over $40,000. Check out your closest community college and finish there.
Red Kryptonite
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MarquieshaH, GOOD FOR YOU for thinking about this ahead of time and really evaluating what you'd be doing to your future with that much debt. I wish more young people were like you.