WGU (Western Governors) no longer "Accelerated and Affordable"

[Hexum944]

The Western Governors Pre-Licensure BSN Nursing program is no longer an "accelerated" program. It used to be a 2 year program, it has now been extended to 2 1/2 years. I believe the change was made about 1 1/2 years ago. It's unfortunate they extended it 6 months. Not only does it take longer to get through the program, it also costs about $4500 more. This brings the program cost up to ~$24,000, close to other traditional private BSN programs. I heard the reason for the length extension was to allow students to complete pre-reqs during the first few months and to extend the pediatric and obstetrics classes/labs/clinicals. Although this is still a good program, the extension was unnecessary. They could have taken one week away from other classes and added it to peds and ob.

Although WGU can't really be considered Accelerated and Affordable anymore at least it is still Accredited.

[Hexum944]

Hi everyone!

I just finished my interview for the ABSN (fall 13) for MSMC. My dilemma is that I also got into WGU's nursing program.

MSMC would cost me 60K and WGU 23K.

MSMC is a year long and WGU is 2.5 years long.

I really don't know what program I should attend.

I know MSMC nurses are very reputable and get hired right after they graduate. What about WGU graduates?

Any thoughts?

Congrats on getting in to both schools! If I were in your situation I would look at two main things:

1. Can I handle an entire nursing program crammed into 1 year?

2. Is it worth paying more for MSMC since I will graduate and make money sooner than WGU?

Regarding 1: I know a nurse who did the ABSN program at MSMC and she said it was very difficult. Cramming all the information in one year created a year of hardcore constant homework. But she was able to graduate on time.

Regarding 2: In one way, MSMC would cost less than WGU. If you go to MSMC and graduate in one year, you will have 1.5 years to work before you would have graduated WGU. Therefore, if a standard nurse starts at $60,000 a year, you would make $90,000 in that 1.5 years. Therefore MSMC could theoretically save you money. However, due to the high cost of MSMC, you will probably have to take out student loans and the interest will have a marginal decrease on the savings.

If you live near MSMC and think you can handle the one year program, I would say do that. MSMC makes great nurses and has the best reputation around. If you chose MSMC make sure you live near the campus, sitting in hours of traffic before and after school for an entire year can break you. If you are unsure if you can handle the MSMC workload, don't want to pay student loans for 10-20 years, and want a more relaxed school environment (and you can work while attending WGU), then I would chose WGU. You just have to decide which of the two fits you best. WGU nurses get hired very easily, I personally know of some at Cedars Sinai and Kaiser.

[klone, MSN, RN]

You should also consider what the job market is in your area. Would it be worth it to accrue more student loan debt to graduate sooner, if you cannot get a job right away? Many new grads spend 6-9 months job hunting before they're able to secure employment (some a year or longer). Is it worth it to rack up 60K in student loans if you can't find a job?

In this current economy and job market, I would not recommend to ANYONE to go to a nursing school that's going to mean more than $10K in debt by the time you graduate.

[heyitsmary]

Thank you so much Hexum994!!!

[Nursing24/7, LVN]

I know this is an old thread but I had to chime in. IMO WGU IS the most affordable BSN program. I live in Los Angeles & to get a BSN from a private nursing school...it takes 3 years & costs $70,000+ in fact, one extremely popular private school charges $140,000 [emoji33]...That's just crazy $$$. I've told many of my friends who go to this expensive school: do you realize you could have gotten your BSN, MSN AND a DNP with that $140,000 you just dropped into ONE degree? They always say the same thing "oh my god, you're right"

With state & UC schools, you'll spend $50,000+ for a BSN & spend 3-4 years in school. And sure, Jr colleges are the cheapest route & you get an ADN in 2 years for half the price of a BSN but out here, the ADN programs are so overcrowded that there are often 1-2 yr waiting lists or you have to apply several places & several times before you get accepted (meanwhile 2-3 yrs have passed).

To me, WGU is by far the best value for your time & $$$ & the most flexible solution for working adults. Especially in my state, where becoming a nurse is harder due to overcrowding at schools & the high cost of nursing schools in the area.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

I know this is an old thread but I had to chime in.

I think that, in the three years that have passed since the last post in this thread, WGU's reputation as an affordable and accelerated option has been pretty well established.

[CaRT2RN]

$25,000 is very affordable being West coast university charges $130,000 and has a wait list....

[burnskl]

I'd like to repond to the person who is clearly a staff member of WGU above. As a current student finishing my 2nd and last term before clinicals, here's a few thoughts that WGU should consider. Overall, the school has a lot of benefits. BUT, halfway thorugh my first term the tuition for the Nursing program was raised from appx. $6500 per term to almost $8500 per term. This puts you on par with schools like MUSC (a top tier progam with appx 800 clinical hours) that does offer a 16 month ABSN, and there are many others like it with as little as 12 months.  The quality of education has not been stellar in my experience. Mentors, at least mine, are not helpful when you need them. In my experience, this is mostly, not entirely, true of instructors. Throughout this experience, I have literally taught myself, which is fine, but I've done so more outside the material than within it, as it's just not well organized, overally fluffed, etc. Overall, I see the value for time-constrained folks, but not for those with ample time or in a hurry and I wish I'd gone a different route. Still here I am.  Next, you state that the program was never intended to be accelerated, however, that is most definitely how it was "sold" to me, then I got thorugh admissions, handed off to a mentor only to have a bait and switch regarding clinicals.  Sure, you can move as fast as you want through the pre-req's but clinicals are two years? Really? And you advertise as accelerated... see below.  

My question is this, if you're going to charge like the the well known, more prestigious schools, why not deliver the same quality? And while you're at, it why not offer two tracks as many of them do? One for those working as you've stated and one for those who can move more quickly through clinicals? My take, it's a money grab.