Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
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For-profit BSN programs charge 2–4x more than public equivalents for the same RN license. NCSBN analysis shows for-profit graduates have lower aggregate NCLEX pass rates. Here is what the federal data shows and how to evaluate any program.
The most significant divide in the nursing school market is not ADN vs. BSN — it is public vs. for-profit. The difference in tuition, NCLEX outcomes, accreditation risk, and employment outcomes between public and for-profit nursing programs is substantial, and the data consistently favors public institutions for most students.
This guide presents objective comparisons drawn from federal data, NCSBN outcomes, and Department of Education reporting — not marketing materials.
A for-profit nursing school is defined as an institution operated by a private entity that distributes profits to shareholders or owners. Public nursing schools are government-funded, non-profit institutions operating under state authority. Non-profit private universities (including many religious institutions and community colleges) occupy a middle category.
The ownership structure matters because:
For-profit schools with nursing programs include: Grand Canyon University (GCU), Chamberlain University (Adtalem), Purdue Global, Capella University, Walden University, SNHU (technically non-profit, formerly for-profit structure), University of Phoenix, Herzing University, and others.
Public institutions: State universities, community colleges, and technical colleges funded by state legislatures. These constitute the majority of nursing program seats nationally.
| Program Type | Public Institution | For-Profit Institution |
|---|---|---|
| ADN (2 years) | $6,000–$25,000 | $25,000–$60,000 |
| BSN (4 years) | $30,000–$60,000 in-state | $60,000–$120,000 |
| RN-to-BSN (online) | $8,000–$20,000 | $18,000–$45,000 |
| MSN (NP track) | $25,000–$50,000 | $40,000–$80,000 |
| DNP | $40,000–$80,000 | $60,000–$120,000 |
For-profit programs routinely charge 2–4x more than comparable public programs for the same credentials. The RN-to-BSN comparison is particularly stark: WGU (technically non-profit) charges approximately $6,000–$9,000 total; public university online RN-to-BSN programs average $10,000–$20,000; for-profit equivalents charge $25,000–$45,000 for the same credential.
Federal reporting requirements under the HEOA (Higher Education Opportunity Act) and state board of nursing disclosure rules have made it possible to compare NCLEX outcomes across institution types. The comparison is not favorable to for-profit programs in aggregate.
A 2020 analysis by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found that candidates from for-profit institutions had:
Individual variation is real: Some for-profit programs — particularly Chamberlain University and some GCU programs — achieve NCLEX pass rates at or above national averages. The aggregate pattern of underperformance does not apply equally to every for-profit institution. Always evaluate the specific program's pass rate, not just the school's ownership type.
When evaluating any program, request: What is this program's 3-year rolling first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate? Then compare to the national average for the same degree type (88.31% for BSN programs, per NCSBN 2023).
Public and established non-profit universities almost universally maintain ACEN or CCNE accreditation. For-profit schools have a statistically higher rate of accreditation loss, probation, and closure — which can leave enrolled students without a recognized credential.
The Department of Education's college scorecard database and ACEN/CCNE warning lists document cases of:
How to verify a program's accreditation status:
For-profit schools enroll a disproportionate share of students who rely heavily on federal student loans — and their graduates default on those loans at higher rates.
The Department of Education's College Scorecard publishes institutional data on:
For nursing programs specifically, for-profit graduates carry more debt for comparable credentials. At the same post-graduation salary (RNs earn $89,010/year nationally regardless of school ownership type), higher debt creates worse financial outcomes. A nurse who paid $100,000 at a for-profit BSN program versus $30,000 at a state university BSN program earns the same salary but faces dramatically different debt burdens.
The Borrower Defense to Repayment program allows students who were misled by for-profit schools to apply for federal loan forgiveness. Thousands of nursing students at shuttered for-profit programs have successfully obtained debt forgiveness through this mechanism.
Hospital HR professionals have become increasingly skeptical of some for-profit institutions. In competitive hiring markets with many qualified applicants, candidates from for-profit schools sometimes face implicit or explicit screening:
The practical employment outcome for for-profit nursing graduates who pass NCLEX with a valid license and hold a degree from an accredited program is comparable to public school graduates in most non-Magnet settings. The disadvantages appear at the margins — competitive hirings, Magnet hospitals, and geographic markets with many qualified applicants.
Despite the data disadvantages, for-profit schools serve real needs:
Schedule flexibility: For-profit online programs sometimes offer more customizable scheduling than public university programs that have fixed cohort start dates and residency requirements.
Geographic access: In some areas, a for-profit online program may be the only accredited option available for someone who cannot relocate or commute to a public university.
Accelerated timelines: Some for-profit programs offer faster completion timelines by running year-round and not following traditional semester calendars.
RN-to-BSN for working nurses: For nurses who need maximum flexibility for shift work, some for-profit online RN-to-BSN programs offer more scheduling accommodation than public alternatives.
If you choose a for-profit program, verify:
Rather than treating school ownership as the deciding factor, evaluate each program on objective criteria:
| Evaluation Criterion | Weight in Decision |
|---|---|
| ACEN/CCNE accreditation (current, no probation) | Essential — eliminate programs without it |
| First-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate (last 3 years) | High priority — look for ≥ 85% |
| Total program cost | High priority — compare public alternatives |
| Loan default rate (College Scorecard) | Medium priority |
| Clinical placement partnerships | Medium priority |
| Graduation rate | Medium priority |
| Graduate employment rate | Medium priority |
A for-profit program that holds full ACEN/CCNE accreditation, achieves a 90%+ NCLEX pass rate, and costs 50% more than the nearest public alternative may be a reasonable choice for students who value specific scheduling or access benefits. A for-profit program on accreditation warning with an 78% pass rate that costs 3x a community college is not.
Are for-profit nursing schools as good as public nursing schools? At the individual program level, quality varies. In aggregate, for-profit nursing programs show lower first-attempt NCLEX pass rates and higher student debt than comparable public programs, per NCSBN analysis and federal data. The most important individual factors are accreditation status and NCLEX pass rate — evaluate those regardless of ownership type.
Are for-profit nursing degrees worth more than community college degrees? No. Nursing licensure is credential-based. An RN who passed NCLEX holds an RN license regardless of whether their degree came from a community college ADN program or a private BSN program. The license is identical. For-profit BSN degrees cost 2–4x more than community college ADN programs while conferring the same entry-level licensure outcome.
Do employers prefer public university nursing graduates? Generally, employers care most about whether you hold an active license from an accredited program. At Magnet hospitals and academic medical centers in competitive markets, graduates from public universities with strong NCLEX track records may have informal hiring advantages. At community hospitals, rural health systems, and non-acute care settings, employment outcomes are largely determined by licensure status and clinical qualifications.
Can for-profit nursing school credits transfer? This varies by institution and accreditation status. Credits from ACEN- and CCNE-accredited programs are generally transferable to other accredited programs. Credits from non-accredited for-profit programs may not transfer. Before enrolling in any program, verify whether credits will transfer to your likely next step — whether that is an RN-to-BSN, MSN, or DNP program.
What is the cheapest accredited nursing school option? Community college ADN programs (ACEN-accredited) offer the lowest cost path to RN licensure — typically $6,000–$25,000 total in-state tuition for the same NCLEX-RN outcome as a $60,000–$120,000 private BSN program. For nurses pursuing BSN online after ADN, WGU's RN-to-BSN program at approximately $6,000–$9,000 total is among the most cost-effective accredited options nationally.
Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
Helping nursing students find accredited programs across the US since 2026.