Chamberlain Nursing School... Is it worth it?

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!

Specializes in Med/Surg Telemetry.

I've been following this post for a while and this is what I have to add. I checked out Chamberlain Irving in June but waited to finish my prerequisites from CC which saved me about $12,000. I just started this January and it's been great so far.

There are so many resources available to you to help you succeed. I think that my total tuition will be about $45,000. I have pell grants and government loans so, I don't have to take out private loans or pay out of pocket. Also, I work with Texas Health Resources and they give tuition reimbursement of $5,000 every year plus there are nursing scholarships through devry or community. My advice to anyone that wishes to attend Chamberlain is to finish all the prerequisites in Community College before transferring to Chamberlain. This will help reduce the tuition and the time. I only take two courses per 8 weeks and I will graduate by January.

All the best.

There are many private schools that cost much more than Chamberlain!!! Chamberlain has a great BSN program and I would advise anyone to go there. Don't think about the loan payment you can easily work a full time and a part time to pay them loans back swiftly.

You can easily pay your loans off without struggling there are many hospitals offering tuition reimbursement! You just have to sign a 3-4 year contract with the hospital. So I don't like the way you all just put this school down in this manner. There are other schools that cost so much more than chamberlain that aren't as good. If you have time to waste then by all means do what you have to do.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
wallacevellonpvamu said:
You can easily pay your loans off without struggling there are many hospitals offering tuition reimbursement! You just have to sign a 3-4 year contract with the hospital. So I don't like the way you all just put this school down in this manner. There are other schools that cost so much more than chamberlain that aren't as good. If you have time to waste then by all means do what you have to do.

There is tuition reimbursement, then there are student loans. Tuition reimbursement is usually going forward, not paying what debt you already have.

There are many new grads struggling with student loan debt who had the best intentions going to school but cannot find jobs. Looking at the saturation of new grads in one's area is wise.

I have graduated from Chamberlain twice now — RN-to-BSN and then MSN — but I had tuition reimbursement and later my GI Bill from military service to fund my education. While I enjoyed both programs, I would never pay $85,000 for a BSN — which is what some people pay if they don't have transfer credits.

If I am advising someone to be an informed individual, it's that simple — people should do that across the board for anything of value, be it cars, homes/mortgages, or education. Here is the gainful employment page from Chamberlain that people should consider: Gainful Employment Disclosures

Also a student loan repayment calculator: FinAid | Calculators | Loan Calculator

Now if you look at the gainful employment information for Georgia BSN grads, you'll see it's 85%. Not bad, if you are in that 85%, but what about the other 15%? How stressed do you think they are if they have the max loan debt?

Just do your research and be an informed consumer. Yes, you need to think about the loan debt you are incurring. Why do you think that there is a staggering amount of student loan debt in this country already? Because people did not take the time to be informed.

Hey Pixie

Thank you for your service!

I also wanted to say thank you for your objective view. I lurk on here from time to time, and I have seen you comment in many posts. I am currently finishing up a bachelor's, along with pre reqs for nursing. I want to attend Chamberlain next fall, but am applying to 4 other state schools as well (Emory University is my top school). Anyway, your post is right on. If I get accepted to Chamberlain, all of my pre-reqs are completed so I would be able to start out taking nursing courses! I also have the GI bill and will be using that to help.

It is nice to be reminded to remain realistic along with being optimistic!:yes:

I'm a current student there now. All schools have there pros and cons. I would definitely suggest that you do all your non nursing classes at a community college and save your money. Most people come in with most credits and it does help. Though there is nothing wrong with a community college program for nursing either. You just have to decides what is best for you and puts you farther faster.

I decided to go to chamberlain because I was at another college for nursing and had to drop out and move home. I wanted to get my school done a quickly as possible. Chamberlain allowed me to do that. Though my growing loan amount does bother me but if I went to a four year college it would have been that same amount but just over a longer period of time.

Good luck!

Hello, I am late getting to this thread but am hoping someone is able to answer this question for me: If I have all of my prereqs completed and attended the program full time, what is the shortest amount of time in which I can complete the BSN program through Chamberlain?

2 years if you have all your pre-reqs

Don't listen to anyone that doesn't know your personal situation. Nurses in California are likely to get a job as new grad making 80-95k a year. It varies, obviously, but the loans won't make much of a difference to you are smart about it. Use calculators, definitely spend time crunching the numbers, seeking the advice of the financial advisors (and make sure you verify everything they tell you), and creating a plan.

But is the school worth it? If you can't afford or sustain the lifestyle higher education requires for years, then absolutely. If you are in a highly competitive state and will wait so long to get into a nursing school, your science credits expire... then yes, worth it. Do your time, invest in yourself, make the right decision for your situation. After 10-15 years of payments, federal loans are forgiven. That is nothing for a lifetime of stability and a fulfilling career.

As someone that obsessively avoids debt, I now realize it is an investment in myself.

One last thing, try to stay away from private loans if you can.

The staff and professors, along with the tutors, the counseling provided on an as needed basis makes up for the slightly increased tuition. It's not more when you consider the opportunities that are given in order for you to be successful. Sherry Taylor-Reynolds RN

This degree will end up costing me about 40k. Thats not bad of an investment especially when state colleges will cost about the same.

From what I am seeing Chamberlain students are highly respected at local hospitals in Atlanta and many of their students now work at Emory, Wellstar and Piedmont.

+ Join the Discussion