For-Profit Schools That Offer Online Nursing Programs

For-profit schools have become increasingly popular choices of educational completion with nurses and other healthcare workers for a variety of reasons. A list of for-profit schools that offer online nursing degree completion programs can be found below.

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For-Profit Schools That Offer Online Nursing Programs

For-profit schools, unlike their nonprofit counterparts, are owned and operated by corporate entities or private organizations. Even though for-profit colleges and universities have come under increased media scrutiny in recent years, enrollments have spiked in the six years since the economic meltdown of 2008 because adult learners want to acquire (or retain) marketability in today's ultra-competitive workforce.

For-profit schools are becoming increasingly popular choices of educational attainment with nurses and other healthcare workers for a myriad of reasons. First of all, these schools appeal to the unique needs of nontraditional adult learners by offering convenience through flexible class schedules that will not interfere with full time employment. Second of all, the majority of these entities have extraordinarily generous credit transfer policies that are very attractive to students who do not wish to repeat courses they took and passed several years ago. Third, the admissions process tends to be streamlined and uncomplicated. Fourth, coursework is presented in an accelerated format that enables swift completion of degree requirements. Finally, many students experience relief when they do not have to contend with the formidable bureaucracy of traditional nonprofit colleges.

Moreover, for-profit schools exert a remarkable presence in online education. In fact, a few of the prominent for-profit schools have no land-based campuses whatsoever, and only offer degree programs and certifications through distance-based formats. Here is a list of for-profit colleges and universities that offer online nursing degree completion programs.

Grantham University

University of Arkansas Grantham (College of Nursing), a for-profit institution with national accreditation through the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), offers multiple online nursing degree completion programs.

Colorado Technical University

Colorado Technical University, a subsidiary of Career Education Corporation, is a for-profit school that offers several online nursing degree completion programs at the baccalaureate and undergraduate level.

Aspen University

Aspen University has institutional accreditation from the DETC. The school also offers online nursing degree completion programs that are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The RN-to-MSN program is especially popular.

American Sentinel University

Post University is another school that is institutionally accredited by the DETC. The university offers multiple CCNE-accredited online nursing degree completion programs. In addition, tuition is more affordable than most other for-profit entities.

West Coast University

West Coast University offers a hybrid RN-to-BSN degree completion program in a bookend format where students are expected to physically attend their first and last courses and complete the remainder online. West Coast University is regionally accredited, and its nursing programs have full accreditation through the CCNE.

South University

South University, a subsidiary of Education Management Corporation, offers several online nursing degree completion programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctorate level.

Walden University

Walden University, a subsidiary of Laureate Education Inc., is a regionally accredited school that offers multiple online nursing degree completion programs.

Kaplan University

Kaplan University, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company, is a regionally-accredited for-profit entity that offers several online nursing degree completion programs. Kaplan University is named after Stanley Kaplan, original founder of Kaplan Test Prep.

Capella University

Capella University, owned and operated by the publicly-traded Capella Education Company, offers a range of online baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree completion programs.

DeVry University

DeVry University, a subsidiary of the DeVry Education Group, owns and operates the Chamberlain College of Nursing. The Chamberlain College of Nursing offers several online nursing degree completion programs and is known for generous credit transfer policies.

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University, owned and operated by Grand Canyon Education, offers several convenient online nursing degree completion programs for busy nurses who want to pursue higher education.

University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix, a subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc., is probably the most recognizable name on this list. UOP is regionally accredited and offers several CCNE-accredited online nursing degree completion programs.

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TheCommuter

About TheCommuter, BSN, RN

TheCommuter, BSN, RN, CRRN is a longtime physical rehabilitation nurse who has varied experiences upon which to draw for her articles. She was an LPN/LVN for more than four years prior to becoming a Registered Nurse.

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Don't the proprietary schools do enough advertising on their own, already? Are we shilling for them now? How come no mention of any of the negatives of proprietary schools?

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Thanks for the great list.

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I found this very helpful! Thank you so much for the post :)

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Great compilation and arguments in favor of for profit schools. Now you should have also included the most famous arguments against for profit school, and mention the factors that prospective students must keep in consideration before choosing a for profit school to complete their education.

1. Keep in mind tuition and fees in for profit schools ring north of $20k per year. ( this of course is before any scholarships they may offer, but not everyone qualifies for these)

2. Look into accreditation. Any school you choose to attend needs to be accredited not only by your State's BON , but also by any of the national accrediting bodies.

3. Passing rates. Any good school should have passing rates of their graduates in national examinations of at least over 90%. You can obtain this information from your State's BON. The reason why passing rates are so high normally is because only the most driven , hard working students make it to the end of a program. The programs are geared to weed out those that at the end wont be able to pass the national examination. Also a low passing rates can put the institution in probation and loose their accreditation.

4. Look into Public, non for profit colleges first. The difference in how much debt you'll accumulate is gigantic.

5. For profit school offer the allure of admitting students that have a low GPA in their undergrad or high school coursework. Keep in mind that whatever reason caused that you had such a low GPA, must be in your past and dealt with. Also keep in mind your study habits/skills may need to be improved in order to be able to handle the rigor of a nursing program and fully capture the knowledge needed to pass the NCLEX-RN after graduation. Not alienating anyone, I believe in second or third chances in life, but keep in mind hard work will be expected of you. First asses if you are willing to commit to your studies before forking thousands of dollars for your education.

6. Do an extensive search in Google about the for profit institutions you may want to attend. Some are involved in scandals, others have complains from former students against them. Remember information is power.

Finally base you decisions in sound research and not on hype or because someone told you nursing is a recession proof job. And that you will have a job lined for you before graduation. Good luck in your journey!!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
How come no mention of any of the negatives of proprietary schools?
Good afternoon, people! I'm the author of the piece chacking back in. I wrote two previous articles that extensively mentioned the negatives of for-profit schools. Feel free to click on the links below if you have time on your hands.

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Private For-Profit Schools | allnurses

Sleazy External Cues On Daytime TV | allnurses

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See advertisements at bottom of page.

We need a new, not-for-profit nursing discussion board.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

We need a new, not-for-profit nursing discussion board.

Look out for future articles.

Affordable Online RN-to-BSN Programs features many non-profits.

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Specializes in Internal medicine/critical care/FP.

Don't cut your finger on the Cracker Jack box

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Thank you for including Grand Canyon in the school list. As a soon-to-be alum, I must correct a few things someone posted.

NCLEX: The online GCU nursing degree is RN-BSN only. No NCLEX needed. Nurse wanna be's go to the traditional ground campus, live in dorms and do the college student thing. GCU is a Christian based school, so ground campus people must attend chapel on a scheduled basis. The rest of us have to take a spirituality class in the core classes. GCU has been around since 1949 as a small private Christian school in AZ. :) The school colors are purple and white, and the mascot in an antelope. GCU plays many smaller schools and has played sports against my local, schools. :). That was kinda cool.

Cost: Getting my degree for waaaay less than 20k, thank you very much, to whomever the poster was.

Accreditation: GCU has all the acronyms that every other school has.

One must work their tail off to pass. The diploma's are not handed out, like some think.

Profit or non profit. Let me tell you. I struggle with this. I have #3 kid graduating from college this summer. All three went to very good universities in my state. All three experienced HUGE tuition increases during their 4 year stay. The dorms of two of them were outdated, smelled old and looked like prison cells. Ugly..ugly..ugly.. when one kids college campus apartment caught fire through no fault of his own, the university offered no assistance or housing. My kid lived out of his car off and on because the campus would not allow his fellow dorm buddies or other college apt buddies take him in, due to tuition/money etc, even though we PAID for housing. He finally was able to sneak in and sleep on a couch for 2 months until he found permanent housing during spring semester and some kids left.

All three complained of sub par graduate students, with some barely speaking English, instructing the over crowded, standing room only classrooms.

In fact the football coach at one of my kids' universities, makes more than the state governor!

So yeah, I have been a bit disillusioned by the "non-profit" schools for many years now and am thinking for what I have paid out of pocket for my kids' educations and what loans they have incurred, I think they should have been treated much better than they have.

Commuter, thank you for an interesting article. :)

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Tokmom I am little confused about your statement. You said that they dont require the NCLEX for their RN-BSN program, but how do the become RN if they dont pass the national exam? And if the type of program is RN-BSN the need to be a RN first.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Tokmom I am little confused about your statement. You said that they dont require the NCLEX for their RN-BSN program, but how do the become RN if they dont pass the national exam? And if the type of program is RN-BSN the need to be a RN first.

RN-BSN programs are typically RN-to-BSN programs, i.e., degree completion. Plain ol' BSN programs (pre-licensure) would obviously require NCLEX.

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