Is faster but more expensive advisable? - Chamberlain RN-BSN

[Dreaming4acute87]

I have been reading obsessively over threads for weeks now and it has seem as though University of Ohio RN - BSN/ UT is one of the cheaper options while Chamberlain is very pricey but can be done quickly. I have done a lot of pre-reqs but not chem. (stats,psychology,speech, history) I do not really have reimbursement from my employer and have been drawn towards two programs, Excelsior/Chamberlain just by the fact that this is where my former co-students have been going. Going into a program where I know others who have been through it is sort of comforting. I live on the east coast and maybe that is why I have not heard of the other programs besides for here on Allnurses. Maybe I should move out of my comfort zone and save the money and go for a program I know nobody in but could save money. A BSN degree is no doubt going to be thousands of dollars but I can't decide whether getting through is faster is worth this jump in tuition. Is Chamberlain really that much faster in time, or just by a few months? I keep paying application fees and feel as though I need to just do it. I feel as though I would need to take much more classes in UO/UT. Is there anyone here who was not reimbursed for the tuition but still found value in pursuing Chamberlain? What helped make the final decision for you.

signed,

Confused and overthinking it.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

You are wise to overthink it! This can be a very expensive endeavor. I did Chamberlain because I already had 206 credits when I finished my ADN (third associates degree!) and I had great reimbursement and a scholarship. Sometimes faster + more expensive isn't the way to go if you're already regretting the price tag before even spending the money.

Other schools to consider: University of Wyoming (https://www.uwyo.edu/nursing/programs/rn-bsn-completion/ -- very reasonable tuition, even for out-of-state residents), WGU (RN to BSN Online | Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree Program | WGU College of Health Online -- very inexpensive when done quickly), and the University of Louisiana - Lafayette (University of Louisiana at Lafayette | RN to BSN Online Degree - such a great price, and a reputable school). Make sure you are comfortable with your choice!

[Dreaming4acute87]

Did you find there to be hidden fees or were they pretty straight forward from the beginning how much it would be? Is the whole program paid for at once like a traditional program or class by class?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

It was very straightforward, I thought. I paid class by class -- some out of pocket, some with tuition reimbursement, some with student loans, and a tiny bit with a scholarship. The total was somewhere over $17K, but I ended with about $9K in loans -- not bad.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

These conversations always remind me of the project management triangle: fast, good, and cheap -- you can only pick two! Random, I know, but it is kind of a universal truth.

[Dreaming4acute87]

I would love to PM you but I just signed up. Is Chamberlain faster just because all of the 8 week courses vs 15 week courses at Excelsior? Excelsior was vague on the phone saying part time could take 3 yrs and full time 1.5 although he couldn't really tell me how many classes most working full time nurses take at a time, he said 1-3 which makes a big difference of how long graduating would take. I wonder if taking more classes at Chamberlain per semester is more doable. I also will be coming in with a lot of credits,have all major ones for sure although random ones that colleges like to throw in I do not. How long did the program take you with having all those credits and how many classes did you take per semester?

Thanks