Is Furthering Your Nursing Education Worth It?
Every college wants you to get yet another degree. Measure your options to make sure going back to school makes sense for you.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Asking if going back to college is worth it is similar to asking if you should invest in a new business venture. It might be—it might not be—but ultimately, there’s more to the question. Should you invest all of your life savings into your friend’s startup candle brand? Possibly, but your chances of seeing a return on that are likely on the low side. Should you buy a house when you have savings to repair it and the market is low? Probably! That is an example of an investment that has a likely high rate of return.
Some Important Factors To Consider:
- College is basically a business investment
- What degree program you choose matters
- The job market for that degree matters
THE BUSINESS INVESTMENT
In general, college is essentially a business investment. If someone came to you with a business proposal and wanted you to take out a loan and invest, would you do it? Well, that’s what college is—an investment with a potential opportunity. Degrees and other business ventures can have great lifelong returns. But they have to be calculated.
If you get a degree, you’re investing in yourself – YOU are the business venture! Are you ready to take that seriously? Do you have a plan AFTER college?
HOW MUCH DOES A SPECIFIC DEGREE PROGRAM MATTER?
Some people may tell you that “it doesn’t matter what degree you get as long as you have one!” That advice may have been more true in the past, but with shifting job markets, the supply/demand ratio has changed depending on the field a student is aiming for.
Most health care employers are looking for skills that are specific and are focusing on solving their needs. Do you aspire to work in acute care, a doctor’s office, an urban or rural hospital or transition to a role in management? An associate’s degree in nursing (and the program) focus mostly on clinical skills, but a BSN degreed nurse learns clinical skills, as well as nursing research, leadership, and management.
A quality career path should have a goal in sight!
That leads to the final point:
If you return to college to get a bachelor’s degree, you are investing in yourself. Are you ready to take yourself seriously as a business investment?
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR DEGREE PATH?
Take a look at resources like payscale.com or the bureau of labor statistics. These resources can give great insight into what it will actually look like to follow a given career path.
Let’s look at the job outlook for a Bachelor of Science In Nursing. PayScale and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show us the following data:
Job Outlook For A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing:
$
0
Median Salary
The median salary of a nurse with a BSN is $83,000 according to Payscale.com (as of 2020), while the median salary of all RNs is $64,000.
0
%
Industry Growth
Job prospects for nurses are projected to grow at about 12% from 2018-2028 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In Demand
Many hospitals don’t just favor applicants with a bachelor’s in nursing – some are starting to require it for all nurses.
In Conclusion:
Yes, degree completion programs can be worth it! But it’s important to do the math and find out about ACTUAL outcomes once you’re in the workforce.
If you want to talk to someone who specializes in making sure adult professionals have a clear path to degree completion, make sure to give our admissions director a call!
Flexible Attendance Options
- Interactive online in real time
- Enhanced online at your convenience
School Values
Since 1844, Olivet has believed that education should be available to anyone regardless of gender, race or financial means. Olivet has stood behind this belief, even when doing so initially prevented them from receiving a state charter for their first 4 years due to abolitionist beliefs.
Instructors With Real Life Experience
Instructors are individuals with real life experience in nursing. They are all industry professionals and engaged with students.
2020/2021
TUITION DECREASE:
$567
Per Credit hour
$410
Per Credit hour
This year has been a challenging time for many. We've decreased tuition costs for our first responders and front-line workers to make your next career move more accessible. We'd also love to talk to you about any employer contribution or financial aid we may be able to work with to help you reach your goals.
A Worthwhile Degree, At Your Pace, With An Accessible Faculty.
"Busy working professionals often have very specific professional and personal life goals, and it is my role to help guide them through the process of reaching their goals. There is no better feeling than working with adult professionals and seeing the fruits of their labor help advance their professional careers."
Mike Lazusky
director of adult professional and graduate programs