Does Houston need another nursing school? University of St. Thomas plans on opening

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Houston does not need another nursing school. Graduate nurses are having a hard time finding a job as it is. I'm hearing on average that there are 300 applicants for every new internship. Yet, University of St. Thomas is opening a new nursing school??? :mad:

Anybody familiar with the tuition costs at UST? $832 per hour beginning this fall. Students will graduate with thousands of dollars in debt, (even if they do qualify for some meager academic scholarship) and then not be able to find a job to pay it all back.

I really wish there was something we could do about this.

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

UGH! out of ALL PLACES.... Houston DOES NOT and i repeat DOES NOT need another nursing school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh, I swear all I see are dollar signs coming out of this institution's eyes.... not what they state as "trying to address the nursing shortage". They can't be serious... gotta be joking. Now I understand they by reading that link, that they are trying to reopen it.... WHY??? I have a family member who is also attending another NEW BSN program that just opened in Houston this February called Chaimberlain. It's expensive as all hell as well. You noticed that all these NEW nursing schools popping up now-a-days are all expensive as hell???? If the shortage is "THAT BAD" in this area, why make the price exorbitant??? I think I know why....

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Specializes in acute care.

And I bet there is a long line of applicants waiting to apply to the school. As long that there are people willing to pay "whatever" to get into a nursing school, then these schools will remainin business.

Hmmm, I think I'm in the wrong profession. Maybe I should open up a Nursing School. I'm kidding, I'm kidding)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

That school is WAY expensive anyway. I got a $7k/yr scholarship there before I wanted to do nursing and that wasn't even a drop in the bucket as far as tuition. Beautiful campus, though.

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I'm glad we're in agreement here.

I will say, I'm a little disappointed that my thread was moved to the nursing programs. My target audience was meant for new grads, since they are more apt to see the lack of logic in another nursing program in Houston. Can we please move this back????

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It is a private university. If someone chooses to go to a private university, then they choose the higher tuition.

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It is a private university. If someone chooses to go to a private university, then they choose the higher tuition.

Yep, I'm aware of this. My primary point of this thread was to draw attention to the fact that Houston is getting another nursing school (something we absolutely do not need).

I wonder what type of student will be attracted to U of St. Thomas? Probably one that cannot get into the cheaper UT, TWU, UTMB and Prairie VIew schools (heck even HBU is cheaper.)

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$$$$. end of. school = a business.

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I'm not sure where you are going with that. Are you saying it will be less competitive because of the high cost? You could be right if so, but on the other hand, there are people with money who will pay for that and will know what they are getting into. And there are people without money who are willing to pay for it. Keep your chin up and try to be positive. Things will get better!

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There was a short-lived thread about this when it was first announced, and I feel the same way as you all do: we do NOT need another nursing program here in Houston. We have PLENTY of programs already.

I do wish there was a direct-entry MSN program here in Houston though. That would have been something I was interested in, as I did get my first degree from St. Thomas. There isn't any such program here in Houston, and that would have been a great void to fill.

I do wish we could do something about it. I know the nurses who set this up meant well, but I feel their money could have been spent in a better way. The reality of nursing and finding jobs now is so much different then when they were new grads back in the 80s.

Also, I saw this in the link:

"The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of St. Thomas in Houston a $3.25 million grant to increase the number of Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students through the development of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The grant is part of the Education Strengthening Institutions – Hispanic Serving Institutions Program (Title V)grant which will support the University’s current efforts to expand the pipeline of nursing students and improve access for Hispanic and low-income students to a high-demand program. "

I don't understand how this is going to help economically disadvantaged students unless they give out full-ride scholarships. St. Thomas is expensive - when I graduated, the cost was $625/credit. You can get a quality education for much cheaper at the local community college or public state college.

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

I don't understand how this is going to help economically disadvantaged students unless they give out full-ride scholarships. St. Thomas is expensive - when I graduated, the cost was $625/credit. You can get a quality education for much cheaper at the local community college or public state college.

Totally agree!!!!

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There was a short-lived thread about this when it was first announced, and I feel the same way as you all do: we do NOT need another nursing program here in Houston. We have PLENTY of programs already.

I do wish there was a direct-entry MSN program here in Houston though. That would have been something I was interested in, as I did get my first degree from St. Thomas. There isn't any such program here in Houston, and that would have been a great void to fill.

I do wish we could do something about it. I know the nurses who set this up meant well, but I feel their money could have been spent in a better way. The reality of nursing and finding jobs now is so much different then when they were new grads back in the 80s.

Also, I saw this in the link:

"The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of St. Thomas in Houston a $3.25 million grant to increase the number of Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students through the development of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The grant is part of the Education Strengthening Institutions - Hispanic Serving Institutions Program (Title V)grant which will support the University's current efforts to expand the pipeline of nursing students and improve access for Hispanic and low-income students to a high-demand program. "

I don't understand how this is going to help economically disadvantaged students unless they give out full-ride scholarships. St. Thomas is expensive - when I graduated, the cost was $625/credit. You can get a quality education for much cheaper at the local community college or public state college.

:up:

Great points! I think that the U.S Dept of Education could have awarded the grant to cheaper school. Argghh.

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