West Coast University - Generic BSN program

Amanda1985 · Sep 13, 2008

I do not think that it is worth 116,000. I went there last week for my financial aid appointment and did not qualify for grants because this would be my 2nd bachelors.

I was transferring in courses, but it left me with like a 90,000 balance. I would have to take out student loans to cover that and I just don't think it is worth it. Especially if you would like to get your Masters in nursing later on.

The admissions rep I have been dealing with is really nice. The building and labs are nice but just the price!!! I took the HESI exam about a month ago and passed, but after thinking about what I want later in life I decided not to go with this school.

kryztality · Sep 26, 2008

I do not think that it is worth 116,000. I went there last week for my financial aid appointment and did not qualify for grants because this would be my 2nd bachelors.
I was transferring in courses, but it left me with like a 90,000 balance. I would have to take out student loans to cover that and I just don't think it is worth it. Especially if you would like to get your Masters in nursing later on.
The admissions rep I have been dealing with is really nice. The building and labs are nice but just the price!!! I took the HESI exam about a month ago and passed, but after thinking about what I want later in life I decided not to go with this school.

Hi! I'm wondering which courses you transferred over and how many? Also, What do you mean about the Masters in nursing part? Are you saying that if you get your BSN from west coast Univ., you won't be able to get in to a Masters program later?

Amanda1985 · Sep 26, 2008

Hi! I'm wondering which courses you transferred over and how many? Also, What do you mean about the Masters in nursing part? Are you saying that if you get your BSN from west coast Univ., you won't be able to get in to a Masters program later?

I was planning on transferring 5 classes. When the admissions rep called me yesterday he said they would not tell me what classes would transfer until I got the tuition paid for and taken care of.

So I was going to transfer my English, psych, sociology, anatomy, and another class but I don't have the list near me.

In the student catalog it clearly states in bold that courses or a degree from there won't transfer to other schools. A bsn there would not transfer to like ucla.

kryztality · Oct 6, 2008

I was planning on transferring 5 classes. When the admissions rep called me yesterday he said they would not tell me what classes would transfer until I got the tuition paid for and taken care of.
So I was going to transfer my English, psych, sociology, anatomy, and another class but I don't have the list near me.
In the student catalog it clearly states in bold that courses or a degree from there won't transfer to other schools. A bsn there would not transfer to like ucla.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the info session is mandatory? I spoke 2 different advisors and asked them about it. They were pretty hesitant about it, but said yes in the end anyway. I was just wondering, since I don't live in the area and would have to fly out there.

Amanda1985 · Oct 6, 2008

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the info session is mandatory? I spoke 2 different advisors and asked them about it. They were pretty hesitant about it, but said yes in the end anyway. I was just wondering, since I don't live in the area and would have to fly out there.

No problem :) I'm not 100% sure if one of the info sessions is mandatory, but I had to fly from Sacramento to Orange County to meet with the rep. But at the same appointment I also took the HESI test. When I was 1st talking with admissions it sounded like they want you to come to meet with them first, then take the HESI, and then go through FA.

I got to the FA part and realized that there is no way I want to be that much in debt after nursing school.

change2008 · Oct 7, 2008

OK, to be honest, I work for West Coast University - so I am a bit biased. Your comments were excellent, even the ones that stung! But, that helps us improve.

I just want to add a few comments. First, WCU is a private university with no state funding. State universities are subsidized by the State of CA. Make sure, as you comparison shop, that you are looking at the costs at other private universities, not state schools. For the most part, you will find similar or higher tuition rates.

Regarding transferring your degree to another institution, we cannot guarantee it, and we tell all our incoming students that they should assume the credits won't transfer. It will always be up to the other institution. We do, however, have WCU Associate Degree in Nursing graduates currently enrolled in the RN-BSN program within the CSU system. We recommend that all students retain their textbooks, syllabi and coursework in order to demonstrate comparability of their degree to any other university.

On the issue of WCU accepting transfer credits, WCU evaluates all student transcripts to ensure that their completed course work is comparable to WCU's, that the student earned at least a C in the course, and to ensure the course was completed within the last five years through an accredited college or university. If these things are met, transfer credit will generally be granted.

Last, when you compare the cost to the value, figure out how long it will take you to graduate with your BSN from another university (and it is almost never 4 years in CA). If you complete WCU in 39 months (without any transfer credits) and you earn an RN's wages for an additional 1 ½ or 2 years (or more), how much did the other education really cost?

kryztality · Oct 25, 2008

OK, to be honest, I work for West Coast University - so I am a bit biased. Your comments were excellent, even the ones that stung! But, that helps us improve.
I just want to add a few comments. First, WCU is a private university with no state funding. State universities are subsidized by the State of CA. Make sure, as you comparison shop, that you are looking at the costs at other private universities, not state schools. For the most part, you will find similar or higher tuition rates.
Regarding transferring your degree to another institution, we cannot guarantee it, and we tell all our incoming students that they should assume the credits won't transfer. It will always be up to the other institution. We do, however, have WCU Associate Degree in Nursing graduates currently enrolled in the RN-BSN program within the CSU system. We recommend that all students retain their textbooks, syllabi and coursework in order to demonstrate comparability of their degree to any other university.
On the issue of WCU accepting transfer credits, WCU evaluates all student transcripts to ensure that their completed course work is comparable to WCU's, that the student earned at least a C in the course, and to ensure the course was completed within the last five years through an accredited college or university. If these things are met, transfer credit will generally be granted.
Last, when you compare the cost to the value, figure out how long it will take you to graduate with your BSN from another university (and it is almost never 4 years in CA). If you complete WCU in 39 months (without any transfer credits) and you earn an RN's wages for an additional 1 ½ or 2 years (or more), how much did the other education really cost?

Thanks for the info! Do you know if the program starts with basic courses that are typically prereqs for nursing programs in CA? If so, how do they determine when you start if someone already finished those prereqs?

change2008 · Nov 25, 2008

The program does start with the pre-reqs. However, if a student has their pre-reqs complete, they are admitted into the nursing part of the program on a space availability basis. New classes start every 10-weeks, so if there are not any open slots in the next group, it likely won't be too long before there is a spot available.

caliotter3 · Nov 25, 2008

For a BSN that won't transfer, $116,000 is too much money. For that kind of money, one should get the education provided at a prestigious school, and maybe it should cover the BSN, the MSN, and part of a higher degree. That kind of money is up there with what medical students go in debt for. JMO

Jamo88 · May 3, 2009

I wouldn't recommend going to that school unless you have the money, money that can back you up(family, financial aid, grants, whatever), and if you seriously have no patience in getting your bsn.

I almost enrolled myself to the BSN program at West Coast in Ontario. I had all pre-reqs except 3 more that i needed to complete for them and they lowered my cost to 100K. Which was still intimidating because i couldnt get any financial aid. The Rep that helped me out was really pushy and told me lies like i was going to be making 75 to 85 bucks an hour once i graduate and when i told her that i wanted to do lvn first, she made it seem like west coast was the only school to have the lvn-rn bridge. Also, 2 of my friends that recently graduated from WCU told me to go a different route: LVN(private) then LVN-RNorBSN at Cal State or CC."Save a lot more money this way! but takes a little longer" Soooo If you want to be stuck in debt for the next 5-10years then go to West Coast.

EricBookNSCyp · May 17, 2009

If you do the true math including the starting wages of an RN in the first 3 years of being a licensed RN at full-time status, after taxes, the take home pay averages out to about $36,000 - 40,000 a year (NET).

In my estimate, you would have to work 6 and a half years, giving half your take home pay, to pay back the cost of the tuition from WCU. That, compared to a RN degree from a community college ($3,800), just over 2 months of half your take home check to pay that cost, or CSU BSN at ($28,000) which is still only 18 months to pay back the cost at half the take home RN salary.

The bottom line is that you will work for over 6 years before you see any increase in your income. So WCU is slanting the numbers to make it look like you are saving money just because you start working sooner with your RN sooner. They want you to think you would be ahead in earnings. They are hiding the true math. Some community colleges are not academic based and you just have to get a C in the classes to qualify for addmission. The BSN from WCU doesn't transfer to other schools either. If you don't want to be in management (needing a BSN), you are still better of with an AS in Nursing. Then you can bridge at your own time without the risk of raking up enormous tuition costs.