Is the Chamberlain BSN degree credible?

[Avacodo94]

Hi guys,

I was looking into Chamberlain for getting my BSN in nursing. I already have a lot of the prerequisites done since I went to a community college for two years so I'll only be at Chamberlain for about two years. But I was wondering if it's a decent school? I want to become a CRNA eventually and I'm scared that I won't find a job or be accepted into masters programs because lots of people are telling me that Chamberlain is iffy. But these people never went there so how would they know?

If any of you went to Chamberlain, can you help me out? Honestly, it seems like the on-site classes are great aside from the money. Thank you guys in advance!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

lots of people are telling me that Chamberlain is iffy. But these people never went there so how would they know?

Perhaps these people are telling you that Chamberlain is iffy because it is owned by DeVry Corporation. Investor-owned for-profit schools do not have the most sterling reputation in academic circles or the workforce.

I have no firsthand experience with Chamberlain and many of its students are happy, including one of our moderators. I would bypass Chamberlain due to the staggering price tag. I am averse to debt.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Make sure of their accreditation and how long it will last. I believe DeVry got the accreditation for the nursing school by buying an old diploma program that was accredited (and the accreditation transferred when it got bought by DeVry.) Will that purchased accreditation be maintained through your graduation? Will they qualify to have it renewed once the old one expires?

Those are things you need to know -- because grad schools generally only accept academic credit from fully accredited schools. And the better schools may have a bias against selecting students from for-profit, corporate-run schools that are not part of the traditional academic community. That's your real issue -- not the quality of the individual classes you might take. Will a graduate from there be looked upon favorably by the graduate schools that you will be applying to? My suggestion is that you contact those grad schools and find out -- and investigate the status of the Chamberlain accreditation.

I don't know anyone who went there, so I can't comment on the actual quality of the classes. But as I said, considering your long-term plans ... the accreditation and it reputation among graduate school admissions committees is more important for your purposes.