Should I allow tuition costs to dictate my education? HELP please!

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So, I will be graduating with my ADN in May. I am super excited and want to immediately continue on with an RN to BSN degree.

My problem is the cost. I am trying to weigh out my options as far as online vs. university. I love being able to go to a campus and talk with someone personally if need be but all of the schools in my area that offer a BSN degree are private or extremely expensive (in my opinion).

Is it worth it to go to a $24,000 a year school and be able to travel there and actually talk to other students and faculty face to face? Or do you think a more reasonable online program would be better?

I already have $20,000 in loans from my ADN.

What are your opinions?

Thanks so much!!!

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$20,000 from an ADN!?.... Wow.

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Yup one year of pre-reqs and two years of clinicals, books and other expenses.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
$20000 from an ADN!?.... Wow.[/quote']

Not surprised at this amount. :no:

Sometimes CC does not equal "savings"... :whistling:

OP, you still have a good amount in your loan limits to go to an online program or an in class program. I would shop around and expand the search a bit; if you have the discipline to do an online program, go for it; if you want to show up in class; go for it; no option is incorrect.

Best wishes.

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Guess it depends where you live, ours is estimated at 8,000

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$20000 from an ADN!?.... Wow.[/quote']

I'll have $30,000 in loans for my ADN when I graduate in May. Primarily from living expenses related to being a single mom and not able to work much while doing school. The program itself isn't what eats up cost.. It's living expenses at the same time. It happens.

I'm looking at basically the same cost for an RN to BSN program, as well, because the universities around here charge up the butt for their programs. Luckily there is a hospital here that reimburses tuition costs if you get a certain GPA, or I wouldn't be able to finish my four-year, since my federal loans will cap out during my four-year..

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I would shop around. You could always take a couple classes from a community college online and then transfer them to the university. But remember to check with the university first to make sure they will transfer. Youcould always search for community colleges that have an agreement with a university for the RN to BSN completion! I already have a bachelors and I am just starting the ADN program at a community college. They have an agreement with a university to do the RN to BSN completion. So I am able to take all. It one class for my BSN online and I will have it done before I even start the RN program.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

Check out several of the lower cost RN to BSN programs (online) - there are several under 10K total, some considerably so if you are willing to do nothing but study to get it done more quickly. I am so glad I got my ADN back in the dark ages where even Excelsior was 'Cheap' compared to today's prices. :p

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RN to BSN programs are a dime a dozen, I say go the the most affordable one you can fine that will meet your needs. If you wait till you are working as an RN, you may get lucky and be a a facility that pays partial amounts, if not all of tuition for the program.

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Go to what's affordable. I had 55k in student loans but I also have 2 bachelors degrees. I know you said you like the personal contact but there are a lot cheaper options. Learn to adjust to an online format and save thousands of dollars.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Go to what's affordable. Once you have a BSN, it doesn't really matter where it came from. Mine is from a state school in the midwest that no one had ever heard of until recently. But before you start school, I'd check into which employers offer tuition reimbursement. If you can finangle it, that would be the way to go.

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$20000 from an ADN!?.... Wow.[/quote'] I will have about 15k worth of debt from my ADN by the time I finish in December. Mainly due to living expenses and such - not so much for tuition which only runs about 8k. Working limited hours for 2 years while trying to maintain a roof over my head is difficult but very worth it. Books, uniforms and supplies are not included in the 8k figure.
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