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10 Pricey Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Out-of-State Students

By U.S. News & World Report

The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or grad school search.

Adults looking to get a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing are positioning themselves well for the job market.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners will grow 31 percent by 2022, opening up thousands of new positions.

An online graduate nursing program allows working professionals to earn a degree without making regular trips to campus. But it can also be pricey. Experts suggest prospective online nursing students consider what they’ll study, the duration of their program and other factors before they financially commit to a program.

[Weigh the cost of an online master’s in nursing.]

At the most expensive online graduate nursing programs, out-of-state students paid more than $1,160 per credit in 2014-2015, according to data submitted to U.S. News in an annual survey. However, students should keep in mind the total cost will vary depending on how many credits it takes to complete a program.

Only one of the priciest programs was among the most highly ranked. University of South Carolina, whose online graduate nursing program tied for No. 3 in the U.S. News rankings, had the eighth-highest tuition.

Students who attended the 10 programs below paid significantly more than some of their peers at other schools. Among the 78 public ranked schools that reported the data, for example, out-of-state students were charged an average of about $714 per credit.

Massachusetts’ Fitchburg State University offered students the lowest tuition, charging out-of-state students only $167 per credit in 2014-2015.

[Explore the cheapest online graduate nursing programs for out-of-state students.]

Below are the 10 online graduate nursing programs with the highest out-of-state, part-time tuition on a per-credit basis. Schools designated by U.S. News as unranked were excluded from this list. U.S. News did not calculate a numerical rank for these programs because they did not meet certain criteria that U.S. News requires to be numerically ranked.

Several programs on the list were designated as Rank Not Published in the U.S. News Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs rankings. U.S. News calculates, but does not publish, a numerical rank for RNP schools.

School name (state) Part-time, per-credit, out-of-state tuition (2014-2015) U.S. News rank
McNeese State University (LA) $1,950 RNP
University of Hawaii–Manoa $1,652 70 (tie)
University of Arizona $1,466 36 (tie)
Indiana University-Purdue University–Indianapolis $1,421 48 (tie)
University of Iowa $1,396 78 (tie)
Michigan State University $1,269 31 (tie)
East Tennessee State University $1,258 RNP
University of South Carolina $1,183 3 (tie)
Florida State University $1,175 87 (tie)
West Virginia University $1,165 36 (tie)

School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed 133 schools for our 2014 survey of online graduate nursing programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The tuition data above are correct as of Aug. 25, 2015.

More from U.S. News

Get Accepted Into a Top Online Graduate Nursing Program

Demystify the Clinical Component of Online Graduate Nursing Programs

Weighing Costs of an Online Master’s in Nursing

10 Pricey Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Out-of-State Students originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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