Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 21:35     Subject: Re:Prestigious nursing programs?
I agree about not going into debt for a BSN but go to the best program you can get into that offers the best financial aid package. My DD liked having high achieving nursing classmates and professors who offered research opportunities, encouraged her to go on for a master and doctorate.

The current USNWR list: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/nursing-overall?_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc

Emory
Duke
Penn
Ohio State
Univ. of Iowa
UNC Chapel Hill
Pitt
UWash
Case Western
UCLA
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 21:00     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Anonymous wrote:Go where you are happy and if set on nursing, find a program that is direct entry and starts freshman year. Ask about NCLEX pass rate, where clinicals are and if you do a senior practicum. Ask about the ability to double major, study abroad. Ask if students get student nurse jobs at a local hospital. Look up salaries across areas where you want to live- these vary wildly. Good luck!


This is the best advice.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:48     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t exist. You have to get experience to get more money.


This. I'm a nurse and many of my friends are nurses and we have spent our careers in the field. If you're working in patient care roles as an RN the pay is the same regardless of where you went to school. If you decide to not work in patient care and go directly into some sort of healthcare consulting in the business world then I could possibly see making more out of school but these opportunities would be extremely rare for a new grad as you wouldn't have much to offer a client as you would have no practical experience. Possibly these grads have double majored in nursing and Wharton (which I think a small contingent of grads do).


I think a couple of grads probably do double major as there are always a couple that end up working for MBB in healthcare consulting.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:36     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Penn average salary is $94,000 though 20% of the class exceeds $120k. Understand 20% is only 3 kids each year.

Most grads work at Penn hospital or NYC Langone.


I thought there were a lot at CHoP?


There are…I was lumping them into Penn Medicine.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:30     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Go where you are happy and if set on nursing, find a program that is direct entry and starts freshman year. Ask about NCLEX pass rate, where clinicals are and if you do a senior practicum. Ask about the ability to double major, study abroad. Ask if students get student nurse jobs at a local hospital. Look up salaries across areas where you want to live- these vary wildly. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:16     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Georgetown Nursing is not prestigious. Georgetown itself is but the BSN program is unranked.
Realistically Emory>Duke>>Penn>UCLA>Umich>BC for undergrad Nursing.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:33     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
My niece who went to a for-profit school for nursing makes an incredible amount of money. It doesn't matter.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:22     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t exist. You have to get experience to get more money.


This. I'm a nurse and many of my friends are nurses and we have spent our careers in the field. If you're working in patient care roles as an RN the pay is the same regardless of where you went to school. If you decide to not work in patient care and go directly into some sort of healthcare consulting in the business world then I could possibly see making more out of school but these opportunities would be extremely rare for a new grad as you wouldn't have much to offer a client as you would have no practical experience. Possibly these grads have double majored in nursing and Wharton (which I think a small contingent of grads do).
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:54     Subject: Re:Prestigious nursing programs?
I think they are worth it if you can easily afford over $90k/year or if you're receiving substantial FA that makes it cheaper than in-state options. Or if you have the stats to get into Penn you'll receive great merit scholarships elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:25     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Anonymous wrote:Penn average salary is $94,000 though 20% of the class exceeds $120k. Understand 20% is only 3 kids each year.

Most grads work at Penn hospital or NYC Langone.


I thought there were a lot at CHoP?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:13     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
This doesn’t exist. You have to get experience to get more money.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 18:01     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Just go to GMU. Same job, same pay.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 17:28     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Also, 80% of Penn nursing receives significant financial aid.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 17:28     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
Penn average salary is $94,000 though 20% of the class exceeds $120k. Understand 20% is only 3 kids each year.

Most grads work at Penn hospital or NYC Langone.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 17:23     Subject: Prestigious nursing programs?
A couple of other threads suggest there's basically no point to prestigious BSN programs like Penn and Georgetown. On the other hand, I've heard of starting salaries around $125,000 for Penn nursing grads.

What's the real deal? Who are these programs for? Are they worth it? Under what circumstances?