California student: is a $30k LPN "worth it"

BBboy · Mar 26, 2016

You can get your ADN then BSN for less than that

Zyprexa_Ho · Mar 26, 2016

No. From what I've read, Concorde is a for profit school. Don't go to one of those unless it is a last resort. $30k for an LPN program is ridiculous. People (including me) graduate with bachelor's degrees for less than that!

Ilargia99, LVN, RN · Mar 26, 2016

Definitely go to a community college instead. The LPN/LVN programs range in price from 3-9k, which is a MUCH better deal than $30k. Community colleges are typically more respected than for-profit schools as well, at least that's how it is up here in NorCal.

Good luck to you! :-)

13grad71 · Mar 26, 2016

30k is pretty standard for a private college/for profit Lyn program.

I'd go RN if I were you. My total tuition for my entire RN BSN is 17k. ASN from a community college and BSN from Cal State University

willowita, ADN, RN · Mar 26, 2016

Honestly, it doesn't matter that you don't know enough math or science at this point. That's you and everyone thinking of going into nursing. You will learn math and science as you go through the pre-req courses. Doesn't matter what happened 10 years ago. If you're motivated to learn it, you can. Even if you have to start in remedial algebra. It's okay! Take it one step at a time and do not be discouraged that you somehow have to have it all together right now. You don't. Really! And please do not throw 30k out to be an LVN. You can find much more affordable programs all over LA to be an LVN. You can find ADN and BSN programs for less than that! Instead of going to talk to this counselor at a school that just wants your money, see if you can talk to someone at one of the community colleges instead. I forget what's up in North Hollywood but maybe LA Valley College and Pierce College.

muirite · Mar 26, 2016

No

Nooooo. 30,000 for LVN no I did my LVN in LA at the adult school in El Monte for 3000 everything included uniforms, books, lab fees ect. Cc and adult schools are typically respected much more than the for profits.

If you are worried about your deficiency take a class to bring you skills up.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Mar 26, 2016

Go to a community college. Way cheaper and you will get the classes you need, and you won't be set up to fail. Whether you decide on nursing or dental, do not go to one of those for profit schools. A complete waste of time and money. They are nothing but scam artists.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2016

Not only is $30k in tuition expensive, but the Los Angeles-area employment market for new grad LVNs has been rough for several years. It might take a year or longer to find your first job and the pay will not be satisfying.

If you want to become an LVN, attend a state-funded adult education program or community college.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2016

I didn't pay $30k for my LPN to RN bridge program...

With the school background being what it is, I would go to a community college and see what they think. From what I remember when I took my prerequisites at one years ago, they will do placement testing. This will let you know where you are at right now, and where you should go next. You may need some remediation type classes that will bring you up to college level to do your prerequisites. Stay far away from a for profit LPN program that is charging you $30k to complete. They will likely take your money, regardless of your ability to start at the level that they will be teaching, and then there's also the question of whether or not the school itself is anything of quality when it comes to preparing their students for NCLEX. The state board should have a document of all the schools in your area and what their NCLEX pass rate is. It took some pecking around but I found it for mine and some of the numbers can be quite scarey.

AnArtist · Mar 27, 2016

I was homeschooled too, and my mom was not very strict and scheduled with my schoolwork and did not teach very well. But I read, and read, and read. I taught myself algebra with a couple helpful visits to a tutor, I took concurrent enrollment classes at the local junior college. Science was easy since I love science. I had thought, since my mom hadn't been academically strict enough, that I would not do good enough to get into nursing school, but surprising, in junior college I got A's which allowed me to get into a good BSN program.

You can do this too, you don't have to define yourself by what you did or did not do in high-school. If you sell yourself short, you will never reach your full potential. There are many ADN programs that cost only $15,000. Try to find one of those. Look for the NCLEX pass rates for schools in California. I don't know what it is like in California, but the for profit LPN schools in my state do not have very good pass rates.

It is really about attitude, you cannot sell yourself short, you have to keep working. You have to love learning and you have to believe you have a purpose in life.

(Also, I am honestly not convinced that graduating high-school means a person is ready for college. My sister went to public high-school and they had easy classes to meet the state standard and AP courses for students who wanted to be prepared for high-school. I think this devalues a high-school diploma if public education is not going to prepare all students for college.)

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 27, 2016

You can take remedial classes, if needed, at the community college for your LPN/LVN.

You will take a placement test at the college, and will then learn what you need to focus on.

Do NOT pay that God-Awful amount of money for something that can be obtained for a tiny, tiny fraction of that amount.

Speaking with former instructors from the for-profit schools that charge you the ridiculous amounts of money to attend their programs; what you DONT KNOW IS that they purposely wait until the very end to fail a student who was obviously not going to pass early on in the program.

You're still on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars whether you pass or not.

You are MUCH safer, and more supported at a local community college.