Cost of your RN degree??

[SML456]

I am thinking of going to a Fortis school in Florida and the RN program is 45K. I can take night classes or daytime, but daytime would add on to the loan amount.

Is this too much??

I think it is a ton of money for an RN degree, but I am interested to know what others have paid.

Thanks!!

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

My bachelor's degree cost about $55k.

[turtlesRcool]

OP, you have to consider more than price. You have to consider value. They are not the same.

Spending $45K for a BSN from a respected school could be a good investment. Most hospitals want BSNs, and having a program with a good reputation behind you can open doors when you are job hunting. Chances are good you will be able to pay back you loans easily.

Spending $45K for an ADN from a for-profit college is a rip off. More and more employers want the BSN rather than the ADN, and you'll be at an even greater disadvantage because your degree will be from a poorly-regarded school. You'll have a very hard time finding a job, but you'll be saddled with debt from the college. Not worth it.

[ThatBigGuy]

BSN, state university in the South, did not live on campus: $15,000.

[nightfly]

It depends on your other options. If you can't get into any other RN program, it may be your only choice. If you work full time days, and only have evenings and weekends to go to school, that extremely limits your school choices. I had to find a school that offered weekends. There was only one. It cost many times more than the other schools, but I did get my RN even though I had to cash in my accumulated retirment accounts to do it. Was it worth it? Yes. I easily made up for my investment in my education within a few years, and have enjoyed doing a job I like ever since. Only you can decide whether you need to dive into the first school that offers you a seat in a nursing program. If you're young and can wait, I'd recommend looking into a govt community college, get your RN there, and continue part time at a state 4 year program to get your BSN after that. Also remember that getting a job after school can depend on your references; if you have letters of recommendation from your instructors and previous employers, that can go a long way. Wherever you do your clinical rotation, make friends with the staff and try to meet the manager there, and work your butt off to impress them with your work ethic. Way too many people don't think that's important anymore; be the first one in, and the last one to go home. People will notice. So too, will networking to get you in the door of a new employer. Every job has many applicants; having someone with connections to the people who do the hiring can make all the difference in whether you get the job. In the meantime, volunteer a day or two a week for a few hours at a local hospital. Learn while you're waiting. Ask questions. Help with anything that they'll let you.

[ohiobobcat]

I think my ADN was around $10,000 at a local community college. I had to take microbiology and speech, and I had to retake A&P because it had been longer than 10 years since I took it the first time. Other than those, I just had to take nursing classes becuase I have previous bachelors and masters degrees. I graduated nursing school in 2006.

[Libby1987]

If you could get a job and stick with it (ie deal with the working conditions) 45K is doable in Northern California.

The problem is that the chances of a new grad with an ADN finding a job in California are slim. The new nurses with ADN's that I know of had to start off in LTC and they say it was brutal and couldn't/wouldn't stick with it.

A BSN from a California State University (where I obtained my BSN which was much less back in the 80's so irrelevant now) runs about 30K depending on where you complete your pre reqs.

In your case chances are high that you'd have to spend more to go back for your BSN and even then you may not like the nursing jobs available.

You need to know your job market with its wages as well as the working conditions before knowing if 45K is a good or terrible investment for you to make, including if that particular degree is marketable (and it sounds like it's not).

[krRN86]

I used HOPE (GA funds) and tuition reimbursement for LPN...then a scholar loan from my company for LPN-RN (you pay back over a 2 years period without interest) and it was $7500.00.

[42pines]

$180,000 seriously.........?

Uh, and just who do you think pays the Army? (Hint--look at your paycheck deductions)

How in heaven's name could you run up a 185k bill, CRNA, PhD of Nursing?

Yikes. That's $1200 every month for twenty years. Your classmates must hope they never lose their jobs for any reason.

[Libby1987]

Perhaps 180K is the true cost of this level of education that has been subsidized one way or another in many cases?

[ScrappytheCoco]

$6000 for ADN, $8000 for BSN completion. Have a Bachelor's in another subject, thank God I got in in GA back in the good ole days of the Hope Grant so it basically cost me nothing.

[moogleson]

too much

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

mine cost 3 box tops and a self addressed stamped envelope.