Nursing degree (BSN) for under $30,000

anon695 · Feb 6, 2011

You're looking for a second-degree ABSN program? City universities are usually the least expensive. I don't know what the entire total would be, but New Jersey City University charges a bit under $7K for their accelerated BSN. You have to live in NJ.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

There are no respectable places that offer a BSN that aren't universities. I'm really not sure what you are asking. Your best bet would be to attend a community college and earn your ADN and complete as many Gen Ed courses there as you possibly can. Then once you are licensed apply to an RN to BSN program and complete that along with any remaining Gen Ed Courses.

pamela202 · Feb 6, 2011

I would be going into the program with no degree. At the community college where I am at it would take 16months to get my Associates, or I could just do more pre-reqs and then transfer and get my bachelors.

$7,000 sounds very reasonable for Associates to Bachelors.

Lakeview is not a university but is just as good as any program at a University.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

I would be going into the program with no degree. At the community college where I am at it would take 16months to get my Associates, or I could just do more pre-reqs and then transfer and get my bachelors.
$7,000 sounds very reasonable for Associates to Bachelors.
Lakeview is not a university but is just as good as any program at a University.

Lakeview has a transfer sheet from Danville Community College. Take the courses on the transfer sheet and there will be no worries about non-transferrable credits. If you want to attend another community college and transfer credits, talk to an admissions counselor at Lakeview to make sure that all classes will transfer. Always, ALWAYS check the transfer sheets/with admission of the school you want to get your bachelor's from. It will save a LOT of heartache later.

You can also cut costs by living at home and commuting to Danville. If you go out of state, you will have living expenses, unless you live with a relative. Even then, it would be a good idea to chip in for food, etc. just to avoid taking advantage of them.

ETA: You do not have to earn an associate's degree before transferring credits to a bachelor's program. An associate's degree has its own set of criteria that may or may not be met by the classes required for a bachelor's program of nursing.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

I honestly feel like that's too much for a nursing.

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

Check out El Paso. The city is a bit hard to get used to, but the education was wonderful! 4 year BSN program (I did pre-req's at community college) was about 20,000...

The best way to go is to get your pre-req's done at community level then transfer, what you are already doing.

I have since moved and I am very proud of my educational program.

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

I got my ABSN at a very low cost university and now work at the hospital where I did clinicals. However, it all carries a price. The RN's at my rural hospital make probably the lowest $ in the country. I make 18/hour and last year only made about 40,000. I originally planned to go to a university close to my home in a far more $$ area (northeast state). The cost was unreasonable. I would have been 100k in debt.

I guess it worked out but I also know that I cannot afford to live here long term. Yes, the ocean is close, but that does not pay my rent! I have been told that nurse practitioners only make about 45,000 so to me it does not seem worth it. This is also a retirement town so lots of nurses work 1 or 2 days a week to supplement the retirement of their husband. Off topic, but my neighbor has a husband who gets 8000 a month for retiring from one of our big automakers. She works just to keep active so 18/hour does not matter to her. This naturally lowers the pay of nurses and NP's.

iteachob, MSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

Check out El Paso. The city is a bit hard to get used to, but the education was wonderful! 4 year BSN program (I did pre-req's at community college) was about 20,000...
The best way to go is to get your pre-req's done at community level then transfer, what you are already doing.
I have since moved and I am very proud of my educational program.

Agree! Proud UT EL PASO (Dec '83) grad here! I no longer live in El Paso, but return yearly to see family. In spite of the very serious drug violence problem in Juarez, El Paso is rated the #1 safest city in the US with a population over 500,000.

DesertRN2, MSN, APRN · Feb 7, 2011

Check out University of Texas, Arlington. But having just finished at the community college to get my ADN, I am at ASU for my RN to BSN, but now considering a change in school due to the cost. But the cheapest route is to get your ADN then explore your options UT Arlington is $6450 with all your prereqs done.

Southern Magnolia · Feb 7, 2011

NAU (Northern Arizona). If you have all other requirements complete the nursing core is 5 semesters at around $4000 a sememster.

spudbunny · Jul 18, 2011

Hello,

Has anyone done the University of Texas El paso RN-BSN program - I would appreciate hearing the positives and negatives on this program from anyone who has attended. Thank you.

Spudbunny