Is a nursing program too expensive for your students?

Apart from being one of the most noble and fulfilling jobs, the nursing profession is highly in demand in almost every country across the world, what with the global shortage of healthcare professionals. The job of a nurse is multi-dimensional, requiring that you interact directly with patients, administer treatment and tests, perform lab work, provide counselling and guidance, operate equipment, research treatment methods, and set up long-term patient care plans, among many other things. For this reason, all those who wish to become registered nurses today must first pursue a Bachelor of Science (BSN) or associate degree in nursing (ADN). These programs are meant to develop the multitude of skills that nurses need to manage their day-to-day duties and prepare for a real-world career.

The average cost of nursing school can vary widely, but nursing programs at two-year colleges provide inexpensive paths into nursing degree programs and have excellent transfer records. That being said, here is a list of colleges with some of the most affordable nursing programs in the US and Canada.

Valencia College – Associate in Science (Nursing), $12k yearly

Valencia’s Nursing Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program is a two-year program that prepares you to go directly into a specialised career in the nursing field. The nationally accredited programs at Valencia College are among the best for preparing men and women for nursing careers, by connecting students directly to situations nurses face today. These programs offer classroom curriculum together with real-life clinical experiences to help nurses build skills and confidence. 

Butte College – Associate in Science Degree in Registered Nursing, $8k yearly

Butte College’s two-year traditional Registered Nursing Associate Degree program provides theory and clinical content required for registered nursing licensure. Upon completion of the degree, the student will be eligible for the national/state licensure examination for registered nursing.

College of the Canyons – Associate in Science Nursing, $9,960 yearly

Approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing, the two-year registered nursing program at College of the Canyons is designed to prepare the student with the knowledge required to assume the responsibilities of an entry level registered nurse. Upon graduation, students receive an Associate Degree in Nursing and are eligible to take the national licensure examination to become a registered nurse.

Lane Community College – $11.25k yearly

Lane Community College’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program requires approximately three years of full time study. Graduates of this program are qualified to participate in a fourth year of study via online lecture and theory and local clinical experiences to earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University (or, if the graduate prefers, any of many other RN to BSN programs available nationally).

Merritt College – Associate in Science in Nursing, $8.7k yearly

Also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Merritt’s ADN program is designed to prepare students for beginning positions in Registered Nursing. The program includes instruction in applied nursing sciences, related natural and social/behavioral sciences, and clinical nursing experience in hospitals and healthcare facilities located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Nipissing University: 21k

Nipissing University’s Scholar Practitioner Program is an innovative second degree nursing program for university graduates who would like to pursue nursing at the BScN level. Its learner-centred approach trains students to become responsive to changes in contemporary health care,  premised on the idea that nurses must be clinically competent and theoretically sound thinkers as developing “scholar practitioners.” 

Keyano College: 14k

The two-year Practical Nurse program at Keyano prepares students for a career in high quality nursing care in many different settings: hospitals, home care, and other health care agencies. The Practical Nurse works cooperatively with other health care personnel in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of wellness. The program includes practical experience in job-related settings and prepares graduates for both the National Practical Nurse Examination and employment in the current healthcare environment.