Community college or University?

I don't know where you are in the state, but I just looked up Davenport's program and their tuition is outrageous! (over $400 a credit hour!) If you were to go to a community college in district it would be a fraction of that (for example Oakland Community College's in district rate is less than 60 bucks a credit hour). Hell even very well known state universities with excellent nursing programs are around $250 a credit hour.

It's a personal decision but there is no way I would pay 400 bucks a credit hour for an associates degree when I could get a degree from a local community college for 85% less money or a bachelors for about 65% of the cost from a state university.

If you want to be a RN, it really doesn't matter if you get your associates from a community college or your BSN from a university. The BSN will be necessary if you want to go into management or wish to further your education with a masters to go into advanced practice. If you want to go into advanced practice, it may be beneficial to get your bachelors out of the way early vs doing a RN to BSN bridge.

It's all up to you-- you need to decide what you want to get out of a nursing school before you decide to do it. On a side note-- if you wanted to get your masters make sure your bachelors is from an institution with the correct accreditation for masters programs you are interested in.

If you did want to get your masters it would be a shame to spend time and money on a bachelors degree that didn't have the accreditation that would get you into a masters program. (For example the masters program I'm interested in only accepts students with BSNs from CCNE or NLN accredited schools and it looks like Davenport's BSN program is only accredited by the Michigan Board of Nursing. I don't know if other masters programs accept students from BSN programs that are accredited by the MI BON that would be something to look into)

These are all things to consider before you apply. You probably also want to check the NCLEX pass rates of programs you're interested in, talk to current and former students, and talk to the nursing offices at community colleges and universities.

I wish you great luck in finishing your prereqs and finding your ideal program to attend. If you ever need any help or information just come here and ask-- the members here are a wealth of information.

Community Colleges are a lot cheaper ($81/credit hour) and you'll get paid about the same right out of an associate program as a BSN. You can always do a RN to BSN program afterwards while you work. That's my plan. Unless you want to go away and enjoy campus life, community college is the quicker, cheaper route.

Now this is just a personal opinion, I have already completed my first year in the nursing program at HFCC, so I graduate next year. :-) But, by 2009, between p-reqs and waitlist, i will have almost 4 years at a community college. I trully wish i would have went for the BSN. I will be doing a BSN completion, shortly after I graduate anyway. I am only getting older, I have three kids and a lot of money, energy and efforts put into schooling, so if god permits I'll stay in school.

I had an interview at Davenport. Since it was around the block from me I figured I would save some cash and finish quicker there. HA ha ha. I was told you must first go through the LPN program and that I would need at least a 3.8. I went in after being told yes you can go right in for the RN program. After being asked to pay the application fee(which I think was $50) and I said I wanted it in writing that they do it the way I was told before I would actually apply and pay, the counsler finally said no you have to go through the LPN first. It ended up cheaper to go to HFCC and drive 40 minutes each way 4 days a week for my prereq's so that is 2 years of classes, then what it was to take 1 full time semester at Davenport. I figured in gas, wear on my car, books and tuition. I am still waiting for the letter, but I am on the waitlist and I am working twards my BSN in the mean time. definately check out your options, and ask the school how long the wait is to get in. I was told by a prof. at OU that it is about 3 years for a wait to get into their program if you start now.

I have a few college credits and I want to finish my pre-reqs to get into a nursing program... should I try to attend a community college or university. Has anyone done the program at Davenport? I just need some general info on which steps to take. I know this is a decision I will have to eventually make on a personal note but any info about either or any MI program will be helpful thanks!

Whatever area you are in Universities have the best programs but costly and you become a number instead of a student, Community College is the most cost efficient and more detailed instruction from the professors. At WCCCD i am paying $55.00 per credit hour and the pre-req's are included with the credits you need to start preparation for the nursing program (72 credits). You will need to take Bio, A&P I, II, Patho, Micro, at least english 119, 120, Psyc 101, Sociology, medical math, american government, nutrition, and lifespan development. It seems like alot but i have been continual sumer, spring and winter since may 2007 and now i am finishing the last class of my pre-req's. Oh, the above also includes the co-req's. You will also need to maintain your grade of at least 3.4-4.0 The program is getting quite competitive and they are choosing only the best...Good luck making your decision.

Whatever area you are in Universities have the best programs but costly and you become a number instead of a student, Community College is the most cost efficient and more detailed instruction from the professors.

I beg to differ that at universities you are "only a number." While that may be true in prereq courses like general biology with a few hundred students, once you are in the nursing program there are very few students.

In fact many universities admit fewer students per year than many community colleges....

And in clinicals there is a state mandated max of 8 students per instructor so universities offer the same close relationship with clinical and other teaching staff that CCs have. Both community colleges and universities offer excellent programs, and within the nursing courses at both types of institutions I don't feel that students are ever just a number.

If it's important for you to go to a University then I would first start taking pre-req's at a community college then transfer them to a University. I would never recommend Davenport though, like the other poster said, they are insanely expensive! So is Baker, not as expensive as Davenport and their (Baker) program is very hard to get into. I would also suggest HFCC, I'm transferring all my credits to them, taking 1 chem class at my local community college this fall, then I will be on HFCC waiting list. Hopefully before 18 months is up, I will be starting my program. My stress is gone, I'm done worrying on whether or not I'm going to get in after spending so much $$ on pre-req's. At least with HFCC I know I will be starting their program at some point in the next 2 years. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do. :)