nikicole

After originally starting at Ivy Tech Valpo, I'm doing the accelerated BSN through Valpo University, but the actual nursing program is just 15 months (after prereqs are taken care of...for me, just have to take the A&P, Chem, Stats, Nutrition, and Micro...everything else transferred from my previous college coursework a million years ago). It will take me a total of 2 years, whereas Ivy Tech accepted nothing of my previous credits and I would have to retake everything and that would take about 3 years with two years as a full-time nursing student. When I take in to consideration lost wages for 15 mo. vs. 24 mo. and compare the tuition cost with approx. $40k Valpo and $7k Ivy Tech...it actually ends up being a wash, believe it or not, cost-wise. Obviously the BSN from Valpo wins since it is a more advanced degree in less time (weird)! So, I think which one to go with just really depends on your individual situation (like everything in life). Make sure you understand their accelerated program. I believe the length varies just depending on when you get started and if you've got the prereqs done. I really like Valpo so far...profs are excellent (much much better than what I've experienced at Ivy Tech so far) and everyone has been incredibly helpful. The DON is super-responsive to any questions you may have. Good luck neighbor!

Valparaiso University in Valpo, Indiana. But, it's not online. They offer an accelerated BSN for transfer students who have completed at least 57 credit hours with at least a 3.0 GPA.

So...I'm responding to my original post, but I got more info from the school and thought it might be of interest to people in NW Indiana. For my background...I have about 80 credits completed from another college in a different subject area from 10 years ago, but no degree. Valpo U will accept those credits and I qualify for the accelerated BSN they offer (unlike most accelerated BSN programs, you do not have to already have a bachelor's degree). Believe it or not, I can graduate in exactly TWO years with a BSN from Valpo U (two semesters completing their prereqs as I need chem, micro, a&p, and 15 months--summer to summer--in the actual nursing program). Ivy Tech only accepted one class from my former school (that doesn't even count toward the program), so it will take me no less than THREE years to get my ADN. How does that make sense!? I think I'm going for the Valpo U program. It costs A LOT more, but I'll actually come out even once I figure in lost wages from having to be a full-time student 15 months vs. 22 months. Plus, I had planned to eventually get my BSN and MSN, so this shaves quite a bit of time and money off there too!

Is anyone familiar with the nursing program at Valparaiso University? I'm currently taking prereq's at Ivy Tech Valpo, but saw that VU has an accelerated BSN for students who have some significant transfer credits (without having to already have a bachelors). That would be ideal as the VU program (if I got in) would actually take less time than getting my Associates. I'm wondering if VU would take science credits from Ivy Tech as obviously it would be much cheaper to take those there. I have an appointment with the dean but it's weeks away and I'm anxious to know something (anything)!