by Updated on | $ $ Public College: $6,000-$40,000+ Tuition, Fees, Books & Supplies | $ $ $ Private College: $30,000-$100,000+ Tuition, Fees, Books & Supplies |
The programs for an associate degree in nursing usually take two to three years to complete, being provided by public and private colleges.
The graduates with an associate degree in nursing are then eligible to take the exam NCLEX-RN, which is a typical requirement to get a state license and work as a registered nurse.
Typical Costs
Tuition, fees, books and supplies for an associate degree in nursing program at a public college can cost $6,000-$40,000 or more, based on the length of the program and the state of residency of the student.
The accommodation and board, the transportation costs and other living expenses are based on the individual student’s circumstances and the location and can reach $10,000-$60,000 or more.
State College of Florida, for example, requires tuition and fees, books and supplies for one year of prerequisite classes and its two-year nursing program at $12,625 for all Florida residents and $33,072 for out-of-state students.
The estimated living and personal expenses increase the total costs to $29,625 for residents and $50,072 for out-of-state students.
At Everett Community College in Washington, for one year of prerequisites and a two-year nursing program, the fees and tuition, the supplies and books usually cost $18,680 for Washington residents, $24,040 for out-of-state students, and $36,130 for international students who are not citizens or legal residents of the United States.
When the typical living and personal expenses are included, the total sum goes to $38,543 for state residents, $48,438 for out-of-state and $53,837 for international students.
Tuition, fees, books and supplies for an associate degree in nursing program at a private college can reach up to $30,000-$100,000 basedon the program’s duration, the school status, and whether it is not-for-profit or for-profit.
The living expenses and total costs vary significantly based on the location and the individual student’s circumstances.
At Hesston College, which is affiliated with Mennonite USA in Kansas, the fees and tuition, the books and supplies for a two-year of this program cost roughly $47,000, while the estimated room-and-board charges of $7,676 a year bring total costs to about $62,500; for Hesston’s three-year nursing program, it’s $70,572; three years of room and board brings the total to $93,600.
What Is Included
The ADN programs usually cover both classroom lecture time and clinical practice hours.
The Northwestern Michigan College, for example, lists a nursing associate degree program map, which is showing the class schedule for a typical student semester-by-semester.
Additional Costs
Taking the NCLEX-RN license exam usually costs approx. $200, while the state license fees to become a registered nurse add $100-$200 on the top.
Some schools though include these costs in their estimated fees.
Discounts
- There is a choice of many nursing grants, scholarship and loan programs.
- The candidates should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid before receiving most scholarships or financial aid.
- Information can be found online for federal student aid grants that don’t need to be repaid and federal work-study programs, designed for students with financial need.
- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides a list of the potential financial aid resources.
- The National Student Nurses Association secures scholarships and grants.
- The Department of Health Resources and Human Services Administration’s Nurse Corps scholarship program covers tuition and fees, related costs and a monthly stipend, in exchange for a work commitment for two years at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility after graduation.
Shopping For An Associate Degree In Nursing
- Associate programs can be found at DiscoverNursing.com, or by contacting the state board of nursing for a list of schools in that state.
- Associate Degree in Nursing programs at public colleges are in general less expensive, however the admission can be quite competitive, as many have waiting lists and there is often only one start date each year; while the private colleges cost more, but may have no waiting list for qualified students and more frequent start dates.
- The candidate should ask about the school’s accreditation and the sites where clinical practice is offered, the total number of clinical hours that students attend, and also the NCLEX-RN pass rate as well as the percentage of students either placed in jobs or transferring to a BSN program.
- The Kansas Association of Nurse Leadersis presenting questions to ask for a potential nursing program.