I looked up ohsu’s prices for their programs, and their direct entry route costs are rather obscure, but if I do some guessing, I think it’s safe to say that by combining the cost of their accelerated BSN ($57,000) with their price for their psyche NP program ($70,000), that comes out to $127,000. I think it’s safe to say that’s how they price it because they require you to do their accelerated 5 quarter BSN and then you jump right into the NP program, and I don’t see why they would separate the cost any. Granted, ohsu be muy spendy for anyone who graces their halls, but that’s likely to be what you’d see at a lot of direct entry NP programs. That is just for school, and doesn’t count what it costs to live on while you eat ramen in expensive Portland Oregon.
In essence it’s similar to many of the more expensive PA programs. I used psyche NP as an example even though an FNP there costs the same, and did that because the psyche NP actually has a decent chance at timely repayment. I hear horror stories that new grad FNPs are taking jobs for $80k or less near me, and at that rate, it seems like direct entry at a place like OHSU for that would put one in debt forever... PA kind of debt (I know one PA that is over $200k in debt). I also know nurses that paid $80k for their BSN, which blows me away. When I was looking at PA school, I put off my feelings toward the debt I was going to incur because I had tunnel vision, obsessing over getting in. When I was faced with the opportunity to become an RN for <$,9000, and then have my hospital pay for my BSN while I made $75,000 a year plus overtime, I didn’t even go to any more PA interviews. All PA school could offer me was lots of debt, and lots of lost income... to the tune of over $200,000 (I think it actually was more like $280,000... lost income while in PA school for 2 years x $60,000 in my previous healthcare job, relocation, school at $85,000 to $130,000, and living expenses for 2 years). I decided to instead use a modest portion of that money to buy a house, and I went to RN school while I worked full time, and then got the bachelors in nursing after that for free by my hospital paying for it. I’ll graduate NP school and get all my loans paid off by the national health service corp. I’d pay them off right now, but in order to be reimbursed by the national health service corp, you have to run a student loan balance. I may not get it, but I don’t know anyone who legitimately met all the qualifications that didn’t get it. Most states are hurting for psyche prescribers. If I need to, I’ll just cut a fat check to pay it off, or consider other financial arrangements.
So that’s a long response, but it lays out a cheaper way to roll. On the flip side, time is money. I can see some value in just hitting it hard and going the direct entry rout and hitting the workforce in swift fashion. A lot of PAs have that mindset, and I had that mindset when I wanted to be a PA. The value of doing direct entry over Pa school is that you might be able to work as an RN while you do your NP work. I do see the value in an accelerated BSN, even if it’s expensive, as long as you are sure to keep on trucking to get your NP. What I think is a better and faster route is to get your accelerated BSN, and then shop around for a cheaper NP program. Instead of $70,000 for your NP at OHSU where they basically tack in a very expensive NP degree on top of a fairly expensive private accelerated BSn, just jump out after your BSN and go to $30,000 Np school. They are out there, and many are very good. Save $40,000. Make $75,000 a year as an RN while you do it. My guess is that at the direct entry program, it’s tough to work full time, which is what it takes to make $75,000 as a new RN. If you want to be an FNP, I definitely wouldn’t pay top dollar for the privelage of graduating to make $90,000 working 5 days a week.
As psycheNpguy said, pay attention to the economics. Looking back in the thread I see we are talking about psyche, and not every state pays super well to any Nps. And some states that do pay well have cost of living that can be high for the high paying areas.
It’s easy to get tunnel vision and think that costs will be recouped once you hit the labor force. There are physicians, physical therapists, dentists, PAs, and the occasional NP (NPs that paid top dollar for their degrees), that can tell you that reality is a lot more complicated. Debt is a common factor behind why many folks are struggling behind the scenes with very little liquid cash. It’s not that an investment in yourself through education is a bad one, but you have to be prepared to have the payoffs arrive on terms that you don’t dictate.
