Stay in the MSN+DNP or drop out after the MSN?

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  1. Should I stay in the MSN+DNP or drop out after the MSN?

    • 3
      Stay in the MSN+DNP
    • 8
      Drop out after the MSN

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Hello fellow AllNurses,

Long time reader of the forum, I totally appreciate all of the resources you have offered this past year or so. I've been struggling with a decision and I would really love any input that you guys can offer. I'm currently in an alternative-route MSN+DNP program that would allow for me to become an FNP at the end of the program. So a quick breakdown of the program, you get your MSN the first year, and then you're eligible to sit for your FNP boards two years after that, and then the school awards a DNP after another residency year (for a total of four years). The issue is, this program is notoriously expensive. The MSN portion alone is gonna cost around $100K in loans, and the DNP is probably gonna be another $100K, which is only compounding in interest by the second. I wanted to know if anyone thinks that there is substantial value in a DNP, or if people think that it's not worth the price they're asking for. I think the FNP certification is very much worth it, but I also wouldn't mind buckling down, working for a year or two as an RN before reapplying to a cheaper certification program. As much as I love the school, I'm finding it hard to justify the cost, and so I just wanted to hear from anyone who may have a better insight into the situation.

18 hours ago, Spadeforce said:

was there not a cheaper program. They say you can't put a price on your education but I assure you that you can.

How far along are you? There are lots of programs that are sub 50K out there.

200k for a DNP is outrageous and even the 100k for MSN is insane. Unless graduates from your school rake in big salaries.

Look for a cheaper school that tells you placement rate and salaries of recent grads. If they can't do that then run away

Just to make sure that we're on the same page, the MSN + DNP would total around 200K, the DNP exclusively is not 200K. I think that I was very much in love with the school and its status, but after the MSN, I know I have that title from the school, so I'd most likely seek cheaper/more affordable schools.

17 hours ago, Miiki said:

Huh? So $200k to be a floor nurse? I’m guessing they target non-nurses who don’t have a full grasp on nursing yet. How far along are you? Can you drop out now? What even is the point of getting that $100k MSN if you want to be a nurse practitioner and would have to do another program after it?

Just to clarify, it would be around $100K for the MSN (to essentially be a floor nurse), it would cost $200K to be a doctorally-prepared NP at the school. I don't think I plan on dropping out right now before I earn the MSN, I think that would be a little much, especially because I would probably see little return if I dropped out now. Ahaha. I think the MSN is the foundation for the DNP/NP license at the school, because the program is a career-changer program, so most people would need that background nursing education before they move into the NP curriculum (that's my best educated guess, ahaha).

I guess another piece of information that I should impart is that I'm from the Bay Area, and that FNPs and RNs (with a couple years experience) essentially make similar earnings. So I'm incredibly dismayed that with the extra schooling and additional loans, I would just be making a salaried version of what an RN would be making. But an RN can partake in OT, whereas NPs (especially FNPs who are limited to outpatient settings) are salaried and ineligible for OT. Any thoughts?

Hi, I know what program you're talking about and I wanted to provide you with some comfort that there are many options to have tuition decreased during the DNP portion. For one, there is the seamless scholarship offered after the MSN. Second, many current DNP students TA for many classes, hold full time RN jobs, and get tuition reimbursements from those jobs. Speak to some of the current DNPs at the school and they will tell you they haven't had to even touch the grad plus loan as a DNP student - meaning they have only taken the $20,500 offered through the unsubsidized loan (lower interest rate and that's roughly $41,000 during the first two years + $20,000 during residency which comes out to about $60,000 if you utilize all the options for decreased tuition during the program). I've also had my reservations about the need for the DNP. You've already invested quite a bit into the MSN (again, talk to grads of this program and you will see they have jobs! Look on LinkedIn for some comfort). I think it's actually quite reasonable to come out of the program with less than 200K in debt plus you'll be employed as an NP in about 2.5 years, making a good salary. There are also so many loan repayment options out there for nurses as well as utilizing the pay as you earn (PAYE) repayment plan if you have federal loans when you graduate. I would say stick it out if you ultimately want to be an FNP. More so, even if you leave after the MSN and decide to stay in the location this program is in, after doing my own research I've learned new grad RNs make roughly 80K-95K. And with a masters degree (assuming you decide not to become an NP), you can get into nurse manager positions that will pay in the six figures. I've come to realize that as useful as this forum is, many fellow users don't have all the info for each individual's unique position to provide the best advice at all times. Seek advice from grads of the school, current DNP students, etc. Good luck with your decision!

1 Votes
3 hours ago, fnptobe123 said:

Hi, I know what program you're talking about and I wanted to provide you with some comfort that there are many options to have tuition decreased during the DNP portion. For one, there is the seamless scholarship offered after the MSN. Second, many current DNP students TA for many classes, hold full time RN jobs, and get tuition reimbursements from those jobs.

The TA-ship I heard is true, but it doesn't cover much (3K-ish and it fluctuates). Most of the DNP students have part-time jobs and the one or two that have full-time jobs (that I have talked to) either plan to cut down on hours or have no intention of taking the tuition reimbursement (because they don't want to commit to the hospital they work at).

Speak to some of the current DNPs at the school and they will tell you they haven't had to even touch the grad plus loan as a DNP student - meaning they have only taken the $20,500 offered through the unsubsidized loan (lower interest rate and that's roughly $41,000 during the first two years + $20,000 during residency which comes out to about $60,000 if you utilize all the options for decreased tuition during the program).

So they charge for the fall, spring and summer semester, so it's $61,500 a year for two years, no? I haven't asked any DNP students about their loan situation, but I'd imagine that they'd have to take a little bit of GradPLUS loans? I'd have to ask, but fair point.

I've also had my reservations about the need for the DNP. You've already invested quite a bit into the MSN (again, talk to grads of this program and you will see they have jobs! Look on LinkedIn for some comfort). I think it's actually quite reasonable to come out of the program with less than 200K in debt plus you'll be employed as an NP in about 2.5 years, making a good salary.

The thing about FNP in the Bay Area is that they make very similar to a seasoned RN, so at the moment, I am having a bit of a hard time justifying the increased schooling and higher debt burden for a more stable, but similar earning potential.

There are also so many loan repayment options out there for nurses as well as utilizing the pay as you earn (PAYE) repayment plan if you have federal loans when you graduate. I would say stick it out if you ultimately want to be an FNP. More so, even if you leave after the MSN and decide to stay in the location this program is in, after doing my own research I've learned new grad RNs make roughly 80K-95K. And with a masters degree (assuming you decide not to become an NP), you can get into nurse manager positions that will pay in the six figures. I've come to realize that as useful as this forum is, many fellow users don't have all the info for each individual's unique position to provide the best advice at all times. Seek advice from grads of the school, current DNP students, etc. Good luck with your decision!

That's what I'm looking into the moment. Currently, I almost see no harm in stopping with the MSN/RN license, just because if I ever do realize that I truly, truly want to go back, it's always an option to reapply. And the time I spend away from school as an RN can only benefit me in the long-run as an NP, so I almost see little issue with stopping.

Hey! So I broke your post down into a couple of subsections just so that I could address what you were saying, see above! Thank you for your response, I really, really appreciate it!

On 1/18/2019 at 3:55 AM, HappierTimesAreComing said:

Just to clarify, it would be around $100K for the MSN (to essentially be a floor nurse), it would cost $200K to be a doctorally-prepared NP at the school. I don't think I plan on dropping out right now before I earn the MSN, I think that would be a little much, especially because I would probably see little return if I dropped out now. Ahaha. I think the MSN is the foundation for the DNP/NP license at the school, because the program is a career-changer program, so most people would need that background nursing education before they move into the NP curriculum (that's my best educated guess, ahaha).

100k to be come a floor nurse when it could have been found at a community college for free

Please reevaluate this school before you end up with a 2k a month loan repayment for 30 years and swallowed up in debt just to finance this nursing school Deans new Porche

9 hours ago, Spadeforce said:

100k to be come a floor nurse when it could have been found at a community college for free

Please reevaluate this school before you end up with a 2k a month loan repayment for 30 years and swallowed up in debt just to finance this nursing school Deans new Porche

Community college at this point is out of the question. As much as I understand the point that you're trying to make, this is a poor way of executing it. I'm asking for advice, not commentary.

16 hours ago, HappierTimesAreComing said:

Hey! So I broke your post down into a couple of subsections just so that I could address what you were saying, see above! Thank you for your response, I really, really appreciate it!

I think you'll be more than okay, successful, and happy no matter what you choose to do! The TA opportunities really depend on how many classes you want to TA for. I believe depending on the credits you get a certain amount of reimbursements. And I'm sure every students' experience has been different in the DNP thus far - I spoke to one who worked full time and hasn't touched grad plus. I spoke to another who started full time in a nearby hospital and is getting tuition reimbursement. I spoke to another who is in a more rigorous speciality than FNP and is also working full time. There are others who are working part-time because that's what they can handle...so it just depends! And life of a bedside nurse (seasoned or new) is very different than the role of an NP! Just something else to consider aside from salary - quality of life, kind of work done, etc. Don't listen to these comments about how you should drop out now (absolute nonsense) or going to community college. For some reason nursing seems to really dig itself in the ground with how much education is worth. No one bats an eyelash when a pharmacy student goes into 300K of debt for a PharmD where average income is roughly 120K but tell anyone you're investing in a nursing education beyond community college and they're appalled. No doubt this program is expensive, but there are many ways to handle the debt and live your life working a job you love. If you leave after the MSN, you have limitless options for what you can do and you'll have less debt too. You'll be fine either way. Good luck again!

1 Votes

Agreed, the DNP does nothing for you in the working world at this time unless you are going into academics. Eventually, I think later they will phase out the masters program and have all nurse practitioners graduate with a DNP (sort of like how the pharmacy program and physical therapy programs have evolved). Like what others have said, you can always start practicing to gain experience and if you later decide you would like to pursue a DNP, you can find one that doesn't cost and arm and a leg. Salarywise, DNP does not help or give and advantage. Right now, it's all about how much experience, type of experience, and field you are working in, and geographic region that determine salary. Good luck!

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