In response to the long waiting lists at nursing schools, these private "career colleges" are starting to offer nursing programs, at the cost of 15k - 20k a year. Often, they are not accredited since they are new programs, therefore the student won't receive an official degree. From what I have heard, there are many "takers," b/c people are desperate to get in to a nursing program and don't want to wait/compete for the traditional programs at state run colleges and universities.
Just curious, to the working RN's out there - if you had to do it over again, would you pay $30,000 for tuition (and tuition alone) to nsg school? Seriously, is it worth it?
my college wasn't accredited when i started there over a year ago, but they had "candidacy status of accreditation".....meaning they had applied but they could not get considered until the first graduating class passed the nclex. after that they came down and reviewed and granted accreditation by neasc. it is a small private college and the nursing program is very new. the cost is about $34,000 for an adn. yes, very expensive indeed but then again i did not want to wait in endless waiting lists so i made that choice. :)
jessica,
just to clarify, i did not state that i wouldn't attend a non-accredited school. that quote came from a previous poster.
yes, i know that..............just forgot to clear the quote before i hit submit (sorry about the confusion). :)
Well, I think the big difference is whether you're a resident or not. I would really like to go home to Montana and do my schooling. My first year there would cost me a little over $14,000 in tuition, and thereafter drop to $4,600 for the years(s) after. Now, I could stay where I already have residency (California or Minnesota) and the costs would be substantially less, depending on where I go. Complicating all of this is that I think I'd like to go on for my CRNA, and there again, might have to pay another year of non-residency level fees depending upon where I am accepted.
ETA: my first year of college in 1989 cost me a grand total of $800 in tuition. How's that for perspective?
Because money is a big factor in beginning my program, I don't think I could do it that way. Recently I did hear that "career colleges" were offering an ADN, but I've seen these places and I think that I posted about one of them. I checked into one a few years ago that has offered a program for medical assistants. It was a two year program, and they had their second year students wearing a goofy cap - sort of like a nursing cap that Frank Lloyd Wright designed. I wouldn't want to go to a program that played games like that differentiation their 1st and 2nd year students.
For me, the expense is too much. Couldn't begin to finance it. I'd rather go with accredidation on this one with a track record of NCLEX pass rates.
every progra, is different. although private schools may be expensice, some have EXCELLENT FINANCIAL AID!!!!!. Like my school. Barry Univeristy in miami florida the tuition is about $40,000. BUT if youve got the grades they will give you money. I had a 3.0 when i applied. A semester is about $11,215.00. They take off $7500 my tution each semester. So we are left to pay about $6000. If you have a 3.5 GPA they will take off $10,500.00 a semester, plus grants and other financial you may qualify for when you file your FASFA. So while they may be expensive, they may have great financial aid.
every progra, is different. although private schools may be expensice, some have EXCELLENT FINANCIAL AID!!!!!. Like my school. Barry Univeristy in miami florida the tuition is about $40,000. BUT if youve got the grades they will give you money. I had a 3.0 when i applied. A semester is about $11,215.00. They take off $7500 my tution each semester. So we are left to pay about $6000. If you have a 3.5 GPA they will take off $10,500.00 a semester, plus grants and other financial you may qualify for when you file your FASFA. So while they may be expensive, they may have great financial aid.
That is so neat! Wish my expensive private college offered that, istead they are building a brand new campus on the riverfront and converting into a 4 year college. Will be worth it I guess, especially if I go there for my BSN.
every progra, is different. although private schools may be expensice, some have EXCELLENT FINANCIAL AID!!!!!. Like my school. Barry Univeristy in miami florida the tuition is about $40,000. BUT if youve got the grades they will give you money. I had a 3.0 when i applied. A semester is about $11,215.00. They take off $7500 my tution each semester. So we are left to pay about $6000. If you have a 3.5 GPA they will take off $10,500.00 a semester, plus grants and other financial you may qualify for when you file your FASFA. So while they may be expensive, they may have great financial aid.
Nathalie,
Is that need-based as well, or strictly based on GPA? Wow, I could have gotten in to Barry over a year ago, but I just assumed it was too expensive. Live and learn, I guess, right?
Thats based only on GPA. You can also get money on need based also. My friend has a 3.5 GPA and could get 10,500.00 a semester plus whatever she could get on need-based, plus grants, FASFA.... at the end of it its like Barry is paying you to go to school :chuckle
Nathalie,
Is that need-based as well, or strictly based on GPA? Wow, I could have gotten in to Barry over a year ago, but I just assumed it was too expensive. Live and learn, I guess, right?
I wouldn't pay a penny for tuition to a non-accredited school because accredidation is a requirement for the NCLEX.
I'm not certain that accreditation is a requirement for NCLEX. Many graduate programs require that their students be graduates of accredited undergrad programs, but I don't believe that it is a reqirement for NCLEX. Accreditation is not necessarily an indication of a quality nursing education program, and lack of accreditation is not necessarily a sign of a poor quality program. Some schools of nursing are opting out of the accreditation process because of the cost and manpower necessary to complete it. Many factors need to be considered in choosing a program, including cost. $30,000 seems pretty pricey for tuition in a basic nursing program.
A true enough post. However, one warning with regard to "career college" ADN programs. While they may be approved by that state BON, and one may be eligible to sit for boards afterward, be careful if you want to continue on to a BSN someday. Some schools are NOT regionally accredited institutions of academic higher learning which is different than program accreditation. What does this mean? It means if you took things such as English Comp 1, A&P, Chem, etc through these instituions, THEY WILL NOT TRANSFER. That means, yep, you have to take A&P, etc. over again. Some things you can clep out of, but there is no clep for A&P. This happened to at least 3 of my students. They were not happy campers, but most of us would prefer to NOT have to take those classes over, especially for the price. Yuch.
I'm in a ADN program, third sesemter, and I waited a year and a half to get accepted, so far my education has cost me out of pocket $7,500.00 and It' worth it, and I plan on completing my BSN right after graduation, we have a transfer program to U of M or Eastern Michigan University. Which I plan to partake in.. $30.000 for tution and a Nursing Degree is a small price to pay, in my eyes, I work as a C.O. now and my Nursing Education comes 1st in my book, I work full time and attend my rotations and clinical full time with an 3.0 average, it's very hard, lack of sleep, care plans and criticial thinking exams. and I'm looking forwarded to graduation in 2006... so hang in there, and don't look at the money but consider all the rewards of the Nursing Career...I have so much repect for this profession and the women and men who are working in it......good luck in your choice.....
I wonder if they would charge that much if there wasn't the shortage? Probably not. I thought my private Catholic school was expensive - $3200 for the first semester, just tuition and fees. But that's not $30 K. And all my credits are good for grad school, if I end up there.
I wouldn't want to go to a program that played games like that differentiation their 1st and 2nd year students.
RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN
8,498 Posts
jessica,
just to clarify, i did not state that i wouldn't attend a non-accredited school. that quote came from a previous poster.
yes, i know that..............just forgot to clear the quote before i hit submit (sorry about the confusion). :)