Interested in distant learning, be aware of the hidden fees

Nursing Students Online Learning

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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

For those considering Indiana State Uniiversity or Ivy Tech be aware there are fees being charged over and above what non distant students are paying. Be sure to do your due diligence.

Although ISU distant learning students do not take up real estate in a class room or use universitity facilities and utilities, the student will be charged the same as a regular student and will also pay an additional distant learning fee. The extra fee equates to about half of the out of state fees.

Further, the student will be charged a $300 lab fee for each of the 6 lab classes. However, what is not discussed, is the payment of an additional $300 lab fee for each lab. Only the distant learning students pay double lab fees. When questioning why, the rationale was it is an "adjunct fee."

The last lab class from Spring 2011 had a minimum of 18 students who took the final and a minimum of 25 students who registered. The "adjunct lab fee" for 25 students is $7500 for that class. This lab class consists of a volunteer unpaid BSN proctor, personally obtained by the student, and a online ISU distant learning professor/instructor. If the student pays tuition and a lab fee, then why an extra adjunct lab fee?

Possibly I am wrong, and those out there please chime in and correct me if I am wrong, but this extra lab fee/adjunct fee sounds as if the distant learning nursing students are paying the salary of the adjunct professor over and above the normal tuition which should include the professor's salary.

IVY TECH

Ivy Tech has instituted a policy of non refundable distant learning fees. If a student enrolls into a class and transfer to another class or drops the class, the fees for that class are non refundable. Rationale: According to Ivy Tech, the non refundable adjunct fee has increased matriculation 2%, and has enabled Ivy Tech to retain quality professors/instructors who lose time and money when they prepare for a class to only have it cancelled.

UPDATE ON ISU PROVIDING TCN DISTANT LEARNING NURSING STUDENTS' PERSONAL INFORMATION

In the situation in which ISU was providing to TCN all student names, grades, and other personal information for nursing students in the LVN to BSN distant learning program, an investigation apparently resolved the matter for ISU. Instead of notifying all the students whose information has been compromised (the issue involves years of info release), ISU has stated that it will now "make its association with TCN more transparent." No notification to the students, although by law it is required, and no apology.

BOTTOMLINE

If you are enrolling into a distant learning program, investigate the university and their practices. You are paying for the education and have the right to all the information as well as all the fees. More and more universities will start offering distant learning programs as they realize what a cash cow the programs are. As a student, be aware you are at a disadvantage and the universities/colleges are taking advantage of this situation.

This is not surprising. Distance learning programs are great cash cows for schools. Anyone who has observed the Excelsior program evolve over the years, along with their fees, would come to that conclusion. Price one pays for the opportunity.

Specializes in Telemetry.
This is not surprising. Distance learning programs are great cash cows for schools. Anyone who has observed the Excelsior program evolve over the years, along with their fees, would come to that conclusion. Price one pays for the opportunity.

I honestly think Excelsior is cheap. I did my entire ASN with no student loans, how many people can say that? I just paid for my classes and tests as I took them and It only took me a year to do it. I know people who took their ASN at a brick and mortar school and owe tens of thousands of dollars.

Specializes in homecare, rehab,sub acute.
I honestly think Excelsior is cheap. I did my entire ASN with no student loans, how many people can say that? I just paid for my classes and tests as I took them and It only took me a year to do it. I know people who took their ASN at a brick and mortar school and owe tens of thousands of dollars.

I second that !!! :redbeathe Excelsior is very cheap or even Cheaper then some Community colleges for a ASN degree. If it takes the full 7 years to complete the ASN program through EC , or a person goes through a third party resource such as TCN, Rue, etc or if someone unfortunatley never finishes their studies with EC I would see how one would think Excelsior is expensive. But it works for me and will be a very proud graduate when I'm done.

Just my 2 :twocents:

Failure is not an option...

Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
I honestly think Excelsior is cheap. I did my entire ASN with no student loans, how many people can say that? I just paid for my classes and tests as I took them and It only took me a year to do it. I know people who took their ASN at a brick and mortar school and owe tens of thousands of dollars.

I agree w/you on this one. The program at the community college does not offer an LPN-RN option so I would have to take the full 2 years of nursing courses plus pre-reqs. My boyfriend did the program there and it took him about 4 years to finish, and when he graduated in 2002, it cost him about $8,000. The estimated cost there is about $10,000 for the ADN program now.

I have a log of everything I have spent so far, and even with the upcoming fee for the CPNE, and a possible trip to New York, I am still less than that... I am almost right at $9,000 but I had alot of general ed's to do and I purchased practice exams for each test. I think the Excelsior program is really reasonable, and from what I understand about the CPNE is the reason why it is so expensive is because they pay for the one on one CE's to be with you.

Here is my summary of expenses/upcoming expenses:

Transcript evaluation = $75

Enrollment fee ($895 - $247 from my scholarship) = $648

1 Penn Foster Info Lit = $115

7 nursing exams x $250 = $1750

7 practice tests x $65 = $455

2 CLEP exam x $102 ($77 + $25 proctor fees) = $204

1 A&P exam ($355 + $65 practice exam) = $420

1 Life Span Dev. Psych exam ($250 + $65 practice exam) = $315

1 Microbiology exam ($250 + $65 exam) = $315

1 FCCA = $370

1 CPNE = $2,025 (with possible scholarship hopefully! I have to call back in July)

Travel to CPNE (not sure yet--thinking of putting in for the NPAC to get a date quicker.. but just an estimate from Orlando to Queens or Albany + hotel and bus fare) = $700

Books and SG101 notes = $300

Wound = $35

Online workshop x 2 months = $300

Background check = $12

Medical exam = $20

Photos = $7

CPNE prep DVD and other materials (estimate) = $150

Graduation fee = $595

1 NCLEX - RN exam = $300

I started in January.. so the whole LPN-RN all on my own time, while watching Sponge bob with my kid? Priceless.

:yeah:

EC is no cheaper than any other program when a person can not complete the program because they can not get the $5000 or so at the end for the CPNE. For those who have to try three times, that is quite a little chunk of change.

Specializes in Telemetry.
EC is no cheaper than any other program when a person can not complete the program because they can not get the $5000 or so at the end for the CPNE. For those who have to try three times, that is quite a little chunk of change.

I don't get your meaning. It would be the same as failing nursing school. Tons of student nurses don't make it through to the end and many shouldn't because they aren't cut out for it. I think when people start using financial aid they end up taking the max amount, keep the refunds for other stuff and end up owing a lot more than the original price. No program is perfect, but I think Excelsior is very cost efficient, especially when you don't really need to buy the recommended books. My community college costs were way higher. Just my opinion. Did you do Excelsior?

There are people who can not complete the program because they can not get the money. EC will not give a scholarship just because a student is financially strapped at the wrong time.

Specializes in Telemetry.
There are people who can not complete the program because they can not get the money. EC will not give a scholarship just because a student is financially strapped at the wrong time.

Life is kind of like that don't you think? I had to wait 15 years to go back to school, but I paid for it myself. My family had to live on less so I could use any extra money for school. No one owes anybody anything, you have to work for it. Why would someone do EC if they couldn't pay for it? Our financial aid system is going to be the next bubble to burst just like the housing bubble did.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
EC is no cheaper than any other program when a person can not complete the program because they can not get the $5000 or so at the end for the CPNE. For those who have to try three times, that is quite a little chunk of change.

They shouldn't go unless they are prepared.

Currently, I have an RN student on our med/surg floor. She failed clinicals once and she is gearing up to do so again. This person should really think about their future and if nursing is the right field for her.

I think this holds true for Excelsior students as well.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
There are people who can not complete the program because they can not get the money. EC will not give a scholarship just because a student is financially strapped at the wrong time.

I had to pay for the tests and CPNE with occasional help from a rich aunt. Otherwise it was all on me. I worked extra shifts to help pay for books, tests and for half of the CPNE. If I didn't have the money, I didn't test.

Now that I'm going for my RN-BSN, I'm again, saving up money for what I will need. My loans will be minimal and my job offers reimbursement. I certainly don't expect free handouts though.

Anyone starting any program, either online or sitting in a chair in a real classroom, should make sure they can afford the program!

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