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?
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!!!
I depends. How much are the more reasonable online programs? Do they have a good reputation? Do you know people that have been through it? I would consider all of those factors.
This is a situation in which a compromise would probably be the best thing. Cost should be a factor in your selection, but not the only factor. Don't choose a terrible school just because it is the cheapest. Look for a reputable school that is reasonably priced -- a GOOD, high quality school that might not be the cheapest, but that is not more expensive than average. Also, slowing your progress by going to school part time (while you employer picks up part of the cost) can also be a very good thing.
Most financial experts recommend that your TOTAL amount of student loans should never be more than you make in the first year after you graduate. Keep that in mind.
I agree with llg that a compromise of cost and quality is a good way to go, and that working while going to school in a lighter load program would be ideal. It'll keep your loans down.
A lot of what you'll be covering is more theory and leadership type of stuff, and from what I gather, there is dialog between you and your fellow students and your professors in an online program, even if it isn't face to face.
My tuition debt is related to taking extra classes. I am going to do online education because it'll be covered by my employer for sure in turn for working for them for 3 years in either a part-time or full-time deal.
Ultimately, I would not sacrifice the cost of having more student loans now that I know how much my MSN will cost. I would do an RN to MSN, but getting a BSN will shave about 2,000 off the MSN+DNP regardless of where I go. (It'll be about a 10,000 dollar difference between a MSN and an RN to MSN).
I would say to weigh out your options and explore the community colleges in your area if there is any... if not i would say just go for it and don't let the money scare you, mostly if being a nurse is your dream!!! I'm starting my RN program on the 30th of this month and my tuition is $30.000 a year so I understand your concerns. I guess the positive thing is when you graduate, you have a job that pays good then hopefully you pay out your loan gradually.
About the online or in-class option, I think nursing school is not going to be easy and taking these classes online may be very challenging to do alone without a community of students in class helping each other out..
are there any schools where you would have the option of doing it part-time? that way you could work part-time while you complete it and not have to rack up debt for living expenses, AND you would have continuous experience on your resume and could be networking while you finish your degree.
don't forget to check out online programs with your state schools. They are generally cheaper. As for getting more in debt, I recommend waiting till you work a while and figure out what you can pay towards education. In my hospital we reimburse up to $5000/yr, which is about what it takes to go to the local state university, minus books and fees.
I would say to weigh out your options and explore the community colleges in your area if there is any... if not i would say just go for it and don't let the money scare you, mostly if being a nurse is your dream!!! I'm starting my RN program on the 30th of this month and my tuition is $30.000 a year so I understand your concerns. I guess the positive thing is when you graduate, you have a job that pays good then hopefully you pay out your loan gradually.
About the online or in-class option, I think nursing school is not going to be easy and taking these classes online may be very challenging to do alone without a community of students in class helping each other out..
Good luck in your decisions though...
Community colleges don't offer RN-BSN programs that the OP seeks, but state universities generally do.
christina731
851 Posts