Public colleges vs. Private colleges?

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Hello everyone! I am new to these boards and I just had a few questions. I have finished most all of my pre-reqs, with the exception of A&P, for nursing. I already have my CNA as well as a phlebotomy certification! I am just wondering what people think about attending a public college like a university or community college over a private college for a nursing program. I know private colleges cost more that a state college. I was just wondering if workplaces look differently at where you took your nursing program? Anyone have any experience with this? Thank you all in advance!

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Good question! I'm not really sure, but I know some of the "trade" schools are looked down on, but if it is a legitimate private school, I don't think people would look down on that. I'm sure it depends on where you live also. Some schools have a better reputation than others. Good luck :)!

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I've never heard of someone who went to a private university being looked down on for where they got their degree. Now, if it's an ITT Tech, Spencerian College, or any of those, it holds the potential of being looked down on. Some of the best Universities in the country are private, like Harvard, Stanford, etc. and the main difference comes down to the cost of tuition.

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So do the terms "for profit" and "private", when relating to colleges, have a connection? I am in my last quarter at a community college right now and don't really know anything else. I *almost* attended Everest College here before deciding against it and all the reviews I read on it were bad because it was a "private" college?

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So do the terms "for profit" and "private", when relating to colleges, have a connection? I am in my last quarter at a community college right now and don't really know anything else. I *almost* attended Everest College here before deciding against it and all the reviews I read on it were bad because it was a "private" college?

Everest is one of those schools that some consider "pay for a degree," I wouldn't necessarily consider it a private college. Private colleges tend to be non-profit and for-profits are run by businesses in order to gain money. Private colleges also tend to have credits that will transfer to other schools and are regionally accredited, while for-profits generally don't have either benefit.

Here's a list of for profits that I tend to warn people away from if they plan to transfer anywhere:

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

The schools that are often looked down upon are the "for profit" schools -- they are businesses run by a company to make a profit. They are often vocational schools accredited by different agencies that the academic colleges and universities. Many of the for-profit schools have been criticized for taking unfair advantage of naive students, charging exceptionally high fees for poor quality education and/or accepting students into their programs who have little chance of graduating. The students take a few courses at a very high price, then flunk out or drop out for one reason or another, leaving them with a huge debt to pay and either no degree or a degree that doesn't give them the career oportunities they had hoped for.

So, be careful to investigate a school thoroughly before your commit anything them to avoid such traps.

There are private universities though, that are excellent. For example, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, Stanford, etc. are all private non-profit universities. The difference between them and the private "for-profit" schools is that they are run by non-profit foundations committed to serving the public and/or the advancement of knowledge -- not owned by companies committed to making a profit for their owners/shareholders. They are accredited by the same boards that accredit the other major universities and meet the same higher standards.

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Everest is one of those schools that some consider "pay for a degree," I wouldn't necessarily consider it a private college. Private colleges tend to be non-profit and for-profits are run by businesses in order to gain money. Private colleges also tend to have credits that will transfer to other schools and are regionally accredited, while for-profits generally don't have either benefit.

Here's a list of for profits that I tend to warn people away from if they plan to transfer anywhere:

You have Post University on this list....is this not a good school? My husband was recommended to this school b/c he is AD Military and they have a fully online Criminal Justice Degree. I know its not on nursing topic, but what are your thoughts on this school?

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You have Post University on this list....is this not a good school? My husband was recommended to this school b/c he is AD Military and they have a fully online Criminal Justice Degree. I know its not on nursing topic, but what are your thoughts on this school?

As it's for profit, I'm not a huge fan. There are some great online CJ programs, like the one at Penn State's world campus. The credits are transferable and you get a degree from Penn State University, a well regarded school. I'd recommend that he look into those before deciding. :)

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You have Post University on this list....is this not a good school? My husband was recommended to this school b/c he is AD Military and they have a fully online Criminal Justice Degree. I know its not on nursing topic, but what are your thoughts on this school?

UMUC (University of Maryland University College) has a great online Criminal Justice degree & caters to the military. I think they have lower tuition for military too.

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Specializes in Family medicine, Cardiology, Spinal Cord Injury.

As long as the college is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and you attend one of those colleges and graduate, you are elligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Once you pass the NCLEX-RN and receive your license, hospitals only care about one thing, your RN license.

Go public, it's cheaper. My ADN cost me probably $3000.00 in tuition and books. My accelerated RN-BSN 15 month online program at a private univeristy cost me $25,000.00.

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The attrition rate in the for-profit schools is also much greater than for many of the other institutions. The US Congress has investigating the business practices of several of the online for-profits (since they are receiving hundreds of millions in federal aid from Pell Grants through VA educational benefits). A small fraction of those who start the program will actually finish with a degree (under 30% for nearly all of the schools listed above). One institution requires that nursing students pay the $38,000 tuition for an ADN program up front knowing in student loans that only 1/3 will complete the degree. The other 2/3 of admitted students thus have large debts and no degree.

My own academic degrees are from a well-known Jesuit university in DC and a Big Ten public university that was in the Final Four this year. The education that I received at this public university was top notch and of an exceptional value. Private does not always mean better.

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As long as the college is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and you attend one of those colleges and graduate, you are elligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Once you pass the NCLEX-RN and receive your license, hospitals only care about one thing, your RN license.

Don't know why people keep saying this. There is no US state that requires people to be a graduate of an accredited program (NLNAC or CCNE) in order to be eligible for licensure. The states just requires that programs be approved by the state BON in order to operate and for its graduates to be eligible for licensure. (However, there are plenty of other reasons why it is smart to choose an accredited program!)

And it is not necessarily true that employers "only care about one thing, your RN license." Many employers are now only hiring individuals with BSNs. They are certainly looking at more than licensure. Also, you just never know when it might matter where you went to school. In a tight race for a position with two or more comparable candidates, the final decision may come down to where you went to school. Also, being a graduate of a well-known and well-regarded school (whether that is a local reputation or a national reputation) may give you advantages and opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise have.

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