Why do nurses love for profit schools?

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Not trying to be flamed, so please think logically and only post well thought out arguments (not personal attacks, etc). I would like to know why nurses, from RNs to NPs, seem to be so enamored with for profit schools? For almost every other profession, they are an embarrassment. Most professions don't even allow for profit schools to grant degrees in their field. They drastically lower credibility of a degree, and many function as degree mills with very poor standards for admission. They contribute nothing to research, they care nothing for their academic reputation, and their ultimate goal is satisfying shareholders, not students.

Despite this, nurses continue to support them with zeal. I cannot count the number of posts on this forum from people asking whether they should choose Walden or Chamberlain, South or Aspen. It seems as soon as people think of doing an online degree, they immediately gravitate toward the for profits despite a huge number of reputable, not for profit options, which are sometimes cheaper. Is it the advertising? Is the ease of admissions? Are people so uninterested in the quality of their education that they choose a for profit simply due to lack of admissions tests or interviews? I mean, for heavens sake we have a "Colleges" tab here at allnurses, and I click it thinking I will see dedicated forums for top schools like Duke or Johns Hopkins...instead I see Walden and Chamberlain. Really??

I really want want to know, guys!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I would like to know why nurses, from RNs to NPs, seem to be so enamored with for profit schools?
For many, the choice to attend a for-profit entity can be narrowed down to one important word: convenience. People will gladly pay extra to take the path that saves time and offers convenience in a world otherwise loaded with inconveniences.
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I have friends in several fields who have gotten master's degrees at for profit schools and their companies have paid for them. The fields included a very large CRO, a major health insurance company, and physical therapy organization. So it isn't just limited to nursing anymore. I agree with TheCommuter on the convenience factor - it's often easier to apply and the classes are flexible enough for the average person who works full time.

Not a fan of for profit schools at all but these days some B&M schools don't seem that much better.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

For many, the "for profit" school allows the nurse the opportunity to obtain the desired goal. If one lives in a rural area where a brick and mortar school is not available, and the state universities are not online, the "for profit" schools offer the alternative. I question whether one goes to a "for profit", tradition online, or attend a brick and mortar program, which makes a "better" NP? All have to follow the recommended course curriculum, all have to pass the same boards. Some students find the convenience of online schools far superior to brick and mortar schools, while of the online schools, many cannot afford to pay the high tuition of many online schools. Before I embarked on this journey, I asked NPs who had attended all three venues. The answer I got consistently, is some nurses will become excellent NPs and some won't. That is the same in basic nursing school as well as medical school. Just because someone can be book smart does not make them a good practitioner.

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I disagree about the book smart comment...in order to be a good practitioner one definitely must be book smart. That may not be as true for RNs but at the provider level, knowledge and intelligence is imperative for proper diagnostics and treatment.

Everyone keeps mentioning convenience but there are many not for profit online schools with the same convenience factor. As for cost, many of the not for profits cost the same or less, so I still don't quite see the point.

Finally, as for the "we all take the same curriculum and pass the same boards" argument, I don't get that either. All law school graduates pass the same curriculum and boards too, yet it's accepted that some law schools (Harvard, Yale) do a better job of prepping their students. Shouldn't it be the same in nursing? While all NPs may pass the same boards, some will still have had a "better" more enriching experience that makes them better entry level NPs with a higher knowledge base. Not all schools are created equal..

as I said, I'm not trying to attack anyone so please don't think that. I respect everyone's decision to do what's best for them...I'm just trying to figure out why is all. :)

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For many the choice to attend a for-profit entity can be narrowed down to one important word: convenience. People will gladly pay extra to take the path that saves time and offers convenience in a world otherwise loaded with inconveniences.[/quote']

This.

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Around here, chamberlain has an excellent reputation.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

Two prominent hospital systems I know of will not hire graduates of certain for-profit online schools. My company is also discussing the same issue. Also, when I was looking around at graduate schools and scholarships, two scholarship sources said they will not fund any education obtained at for-profit online schools.

Buyer beware......

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Two prominent hospital systems I know of will not hire graduates of certain for-profit online schools. My company is also discussing the same issue. Also, when I was looking around at graduate schools and scholarships, two scholarship sources said they will not fund any education obtained at for-profit online schools.

Buyer beware......

This.

As I've mentioned on other threads, graduates of your profits are getting jobs right now because there is not saturation. It's just as when people argued about ADN vs BSN and the ADN proponents argued that they don't need a BSN because they were getting jobs just fine. Now look - most hospitals wont hire ADNs because the market is saturated and they can afford to be more picky. This WILL happen with the NP market and employers will be able to be much more picky. When that happens they will not willingly choose for profit graduates over those from highly recognized, not for profit programs. All other things equal, no employer will pick a Walden graduate over a UPenn or Columbia graduate.

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Specializes in NICU.
I disagree about the book smart comment...in order to be a good practitioner one definitely must be book smart.

True, you need to be academically smart to be a good practitioner, but if you are only book smart and bad at the clinical skills, you will not be a good practitioner.

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No one wants to say it, but the realities are most students who could not get into a Not-for-profit institution (low GPA, etc.) tend to gravitate towards these For-Profit-Schools. I have been told by a number of students who attend these schools that they tend to accept anyone and make it easy to complete their degree. Often times, these institutions are not even accredited by the appropriate accrediting bodies.

IMHO, most For-Profit Institutions offer inferior education. For instance, why would any sane individual pay $126,000 tuition (fees and books not included) to attend West Coast University, when the same education could be had for less than $10,000 at a Community College or State University in the State of California (a State with one of , if not the lowest Tuition available for public institutions)? A lot of recruiters for Hospital/LTC facilities recruiters will not hire graduates from a lot of these schools.

This is my personal opinion and not subject to change...perception rules!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
why would any sane individual pay $126,000 tuition (fees and books not included) to attend West Coast University, when the same education could be had for less than $10,000 at a Community College or State University in the State of California (a State with one of , if not the lowest Tuition available for public institutions)?
Just a friendly, albeit insignificant, correction. . .West Coast University is now charging in excess of $132,000 in tuition for their generic BSN program. Outrageous!

BTW, people pay this much money due to instant gratification. . .they want the degree NOW instead of patiently ending up on a waiting list, improving their grades, or relocating to an accredited out-of-state nursing program.

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