Ivy League Schools worth it?

babilidose · Nov 5, 2015

I'm wondering how much difference it makes to graduate from an "Ivy League" nursing school like Duke. What impact is there in graduating from a place like Duke or Emory vs. a state school or even community college.
I'm finishing up my ADN and looking at Rn-BSN programs. I have the grades and academic horsepower to get into top tier schools, but I can't see spending major $$$$ for a degree that I can get much cheaper at a local state school.
Also what are the top-ranked online Rb-BSN programs?

It's personal preference. I think in many places, you're paying for the name. I went to a state school and was offered an ICU position as a new grad. It's about the effort you put into networking while in clinicals. Additionally, I was accepted I to several crna schools. It didn't hurt me one bit to not go to a non top tier school.

smalli · May 28, 2017

@babilidose @amb218 @elkpark Hi! I'm just wondering which Ivies you all attended. I'm in college and looking at possible graduate schools! Thanks!

smalli · May 28, 2017

Hi! I'm just wondering which Ivies you all attended. I'm in college and looking at possible graduate schools! Thanks!

Rionoir, ADN, RN · May 29, 2017

From a mathematical standpoint, let's say you make $70k a year as an RN at a "top hospital", and $64K a year at a "regular" hospital. Considering most good nursing schools have very high pass rates, that seems an irrelevant point to consider.

Now, I am going to pay - honestly I don't even know - but let's say on the high end it costs me $30k to get my ADN (about 60k for a BSN). Ivy League schools - you are going to pay $45,000 a YEAR just for tuition, which means at least $180,000 for your BSN. That's a difference of $150,000 (or $120,000). Considering a $6k difference in pay, you would have to work as an RN for 20-25 years (but likely much longer once you factor in interest) for that to be financially worthwhile if your career goal is to be nothing more than an RN, and that's assuming you are always making more than someone with a state college degree, which I can't say is a given in the first place.

As someone said earlier, if you are going to be going to grad school, I think that would be the appropriate time to splurge on your education a bit more than a BSN. It just doesn't make any financial sense unless your family has the money lying around and they are willing to give it to you.\

Edited because I did the math:

On a 30 year stafford loan:

Cumulative Payments:$422,443.73

Total Interest Paid:$242,443.73

Yea you would never make up that difference, and in fact would be paying $1100 per month, which means you would actually be making LESS money than the person with a state university degree. I'm sure there's more factors in here, but anyone who actually would do this has to be a financial idiot. lol

kadphilly · Jun 7, 2017

There are two Ivy League schools that have nursing programs. University of Pennsylvania has both undergrad and grad programs, and Yale only has a grad program. I attended Penn for my NP. Am I making more money than other NP's? No. Did I pay more for the program? Yep. But I do enjoy its strong networking and opportunities as an alumni for continued professional development. There are certainly advantages.

Gmilitar · Nov 10, 2019

On 6/7/2017 at 12:32 AM, kadphilly said:
There are two Ivy League schools that have nursing programs. University of Pennsylvania has both undergrad and grad programs, and Yale only has a grad program. I attended Penn for my NP. Am I making more money than other NP's? No. Did I pay more for the program? Yep. But I do enjoy its strong networking and opportunities as an alumni for continued professional development. There are certainly advantages.

All nursing programs at columbia are now at a graduate and doctorate level.

blenderbottle · Nov 12, 2019

You can attend DUKE for just 10% of the cost, work for them for 2 years and they would pay for your education.

UNC chapel hill is 20 minutes away, you are eligable for FREE tuition on 1st day on the job as nurse (Full time employee)

As Duke employee I was able to take a few classes as class sitter. I really enjoy professors and their teaching style. They make you think outside of the box on day 1. In 1 class you would be expected to learn at least 3 more times amount of information compare to other nursing school.

For example in A and P classes students was expected to look at microscope and to differentiate different sells like heart muscle, regular muscle, and all kind of pseudo cells, we learn good base of cytology in order to pass this class.

Since I was not nurse I was not able to attend school for discounted amount, so I attended different local school

caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2019

You make of it what you put into it. Find a quality program that you can afford, that has a good reputation and an excellent NCLEX pass rate. If that's an Ivy League, great. But if it's a state university, that's okay too. I know plenty of excellent nurses, NPs, and CRNAs that graduated from state universities, too.