Type of schools to get BSN?

I doubt where you go matters in how advanced and what kind of job you can get, BUT the program you pick should be accredited and you need to look at their NCLEX pass rate. Also, where you going is pretty much up to you and how far your students loans and wallet can go: public vs. private.

Honestly, there's not a lot of advantage to be had in a "prestigious" university's pre-licensure program because everyone has to pass the same NCLEX. A better criteria (than name recognition) would be the program's annual attrition rate & NCLEX pass rate -- and, of course cost. Going for that high-dollar program would just be paying more for the exact same outcome.

There IS a difference in job prospects with graduate (post BSN) programs, but not for undergrad.

Honestly, there's not a lot of advantage to be had in a "prestigious" university's pre-licensure program because everyone has to pass the same NCLEX. A better criteria (than name recognition) would be the program's annual attrition rate & NCLEX pass rate -- and, of course cost. Going for that high-dollar program would just be paying more for the exact same outcome.

There IS a difference in job prospects with graduate (post BSN) programs, but not for undergrad.

Very true. A prestigious school for nursing would be something you would want to attend more for ego gratification than getting a leg up in the field of nursing.

Frankly, I can't think of one stand-alone school of nursing in that respect except that it may be affiliated with an Ivy League or Seven Sister school which are generally noted for their high academic and compeitive standards in spite of having a nursing school. Columbia University comes to mind in this respect as I have met a few NPs from there who are the cat's meow.

As far as accreditation is concerned, have you noticed that even the crappiest of nursing schools are accredited. The soon to be kaput ITT tech is accedited.

Many terrible schools tout their accreditation as some kind of good housekeeping seal of approval. Sure accreditation is necessary but by no means does it attest to the quality per se of any nursing school. Maybe years ago but not now.

Graduation and retention rates are the most important metrics of a schools quality. With this information you can determine if their NYCLEX pass rates have meaning in context because even terrible schools can have good NYCLEX pass rates. Go to (collegescorecard.ed.gov)and state's BON to do this research. By the way many schools fought long and hard to have this Department of Education site suppressed. A lot of schools don't like transparency, it makes them look not so great. But in this regard, who cares! It's your time money and career success that counts.

So vet any school as if your life depended on it. And be your own best, well informed friend.