Would YOU pay $38,000 for RN school?

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2007

this is not the case everywhere.. transition programs here in dfw are fierce ... gpa cutoffs are generally close to the 4.0 mark for the adn programs and you can get in to a lvn to bsn program with a lower gpa but there is only 2 programs in this area. also, there was over 100 applicants for about 15 slots the last time i applied to a cc, which was this semester. when i applied to weatherford lvn to rn transition there was 90 applicants for 11 slots but this was several years ago...

no way! lpn to rn programs are generally much less competitive to get into than the generic rn programs. you should have no problem getting into a program once u do the pre reqs. i applied to two schools and got accepted the first time, and my gpa was borderline(i blew school off when i was much younger and my transcript shows it! i cleaned up my act when i decided to become a nurse).
the program im in right now is 11 months (jan to december) and we even get a month off in august...so technically its only 10 months! it costs around 3k! the community college i go to just recently put the transition program online, so we are only required to go to school for clinicals once a week or exams. we do our quizzes and assignments online. its working out great because its very convenient and i can still work full time. i graduate in 6 months!
please look into the community college bridge programs and talk to the school about them, i can almost promise you that you will get in very easily once u meet the requirements...and wont put yourself in a lot more debt in the process.

Ambition13, MSN, RN · May 26, 2007

Merritt Community College in the bay area has a LVN-RN program. If you take their bridge program and pass, you're pretty much in the program starting as a second semester student (of a 4 semester program). You will be exempt from taking fundamentals, law & ethics, and drug dosage and calculations (which are all 1st semester classes). You will complete the remaining 3 semesters with the generic students. It's worth a try, much cheaper, $20 per unit x 11 units per semester. Also, alot of the 1st semester students don't make it to the 2nd semester thus leaving space for the LVN bridge students. This spring, there was approx. 25 vacant spots, all of the LVN bridge students were accepted into the ADN program.

BigB · May 26, 2007

CSU will be cheaper than WCC I think. Good Luck to getting into a program soon!

Yes , Much cheaper.

BigB · May 26, 2007

Merritt Community College in the bay area has a LVN-RN program. If you take their bridge program and pass, you're pretty much in the program starting as a second semester student (of a 4 semester program). You will be exempt from taking fundamentals, law & ethics, and drug dosage and calculations (which are all 1st semester classes). You will complete the remaining 3 semesters with the generic students. It's worth a try, much cheaper, $20 per unit x 11 units per semester. Also, alot of the 1st semester students don't make it to the 2nd semester thus leaving space for the LVN bridge students. This spring, there was approx. 25 vacant spots, all of the LVN bridge students were accepted into the ADN program.

Thats reassuring. here the bridge programs have the LVN take a summer class, then they start as a third semester RN student.

dschueler · May 26, 2007

Well, I probably will. I know here in CA, it is related to what RN's make, and because the starting pay for RNs is pretty high, they feel they can charge an arm and a leg. For me not to have to wait 3 years once pre-reqs are finished, and then another 2 years to finish....we are talking 5 yrs for just an ADN?? I can go get a BSN much faster, and have a 4 yr degree.

I am doing the LVN program and then the LVN to RN, straight away, and I know the RN program will run around $50k. I almost fell over when they told me that, but I will be able to start right after I finish the LVN program, and not sit around on waiting lists....I will be 41 next month. If I were in my 20's I probably would just go the 4 yr degree route, but since I thank God, do not have to rely on my income to live, it is well worth it for my situation.

I think it will be a case by case basis, and they know if 3 won't pay it, someone like me will, so they may have to fish for more students, but you know there will always be those who will pay.

I hate it, but it just sucks so badly here for waiting, so I don't even have to do pre-reqs...they said it is all incompassed in the program.

That excites me as my algebra skills were lacking but I have all my lab courses finished, A&P I and II, Chem, and Micro and Physics, English, Psych, and that is it. I know I will need a Govt and also computers, Public speaking and Human Growth and Dev. Plus the RN classes.

Good Luck to you in whatever you decide.

Take care,

Deborah

dschueler · May 26, 2007

PS.

$38k for an RN for only 8 months is fair. Colleges now a days cost $30k per year, so you are looking at $100k for a BSN (which my son is doing). His tuition is $25k, plus room and board, so we are looking at $30k per year!!!

Its outrageous what college cost today!! When I was in college, 1984, my tuition was high, private college, and it was $7500 per yr, room and board included!!

WOW, those were the days!!

Deb

BigB · May 26, 2007

PS.
$38k for an RN for only 8 months is fair. Colleges now a days cost $30k per year, so you are looking at $100k for a BSN (which my son is doing). His tuition is $25k, plus room and board, so we are looking at $30k per year!!!
Its outrageous what college cost today!! When I was in college, 1984, my tuition was high, private college, and it was $7500 per yr, room and board included!!
WOW, those were the days!!
Deb

Wow and I was complianing that $10,000 was alot to finish my B.S. degree.

ClarissaLPN · Sep 6, 2007

I am wondering if this class or program also include the prerequisites. Also if the program includes the prerequisites, what is the pass rate for the NCLEX? What is the time frame for the program beginning to end. If the numbers are there to support the cost then I would go for it.

What is the name of the program and where is it?

CC

scallywags · Sep 6, 2007

Yes I would pay it if I had no other options. You can make that money back in less than a year of working and it is only 8 months.

Thinking of doing this myself IF my other choices don't pan out.

hoping1281 · Sep 6, 2007

In all honesty it all depends on what kind of degree you are pursuing. the school i went to american career to do my lvn work and the affiliated school which is called West Coast University is offering an RN program equivalent to an associates degree and they are asking for $50,000 (the last time i check) but i suppose now its gonna cost you about $10,000 more because i know of a friend who decided to enroll because she wanted to be an RN right away. So to answer you question, if I wanted to become an RN regardless of what degree I want, then i will spend $38,000.00 for school. however if this is one of those fast track program in which you can't really transfer your credits to a university to pursue a bachelor degree or a master's degree, then it's not at all worth it because you may have to go through your pre-requisites again and it will only cost you double of that amount. So if you want to go as far as getting a higher degree in nursing and would want to consider a school offering a Rn program for $38,000.00 then you have to investigates your options-whether what kind of accreditations they have and if you do pursue nursing further, would you be able to use the credits you already completed and transfer them to a school of your choice.

PACNWNURSING · Sep 12, 2007

NO IT IS NOT WORTH IT.....

Private Nursing schools are taking unfair advantage of students who are desperate to get into a program...