SUNY Binghamton or University of Rochester?

[futurenurse4997]

Hi all,

I am from the NYC area and have been accepted to two nursing programs in upstate NY.

I am deciding between two 12-month accelerated programs, both Binghamton and the University of Rochester. Both are very good programs, but Rochester's tuition is about 3 times the cost Binghamton's. However, Rochester is affiliated with a magnet hospital, where many new grads are able to work and even receive tuition reimbursement. I know I want to someday go back to school to get my MSN. Rochester is also a well-respected program in the nursing world and I was wondering if the big investment would benefit me in the end.

Binghamton's program is also a very good and competitive program (also more affordable), but I would not want to stay in the area after graduation. Rather, I would look for jobs in NYC. However, I've heard that NYC hospitals are very competitive and are rarely looking to hire new grads that have no experience.

Also, I have often heard that a nursing degree is a nursing degree, and that people should take the cheapest route to becoming a nurse. Is it really true that employers do not look at where their applicants went to school/quality of the program? What about graduate school?

Please let me know what you guys think!

Thanks.