Ask a Nurse: Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Schools for Nursing?

In our Ask a Nurse series, experienced nurses provide an insider look at the nursing profession by answering your questions about nursing careers, degrees, and resources.

Here’s the short answer to this question: Probably not. Chances are, getting a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from a for-profit BSN program will not hurt your chances of getting into graduate school.

And here’s the slightly more complicated answer: Probably not, but it does depend on your specific circumstances.

People choose for-profit colleges for many reasons, like greater accessibility and more flexibility for nontraditional students. That said, for-profit programs can come with some negatives as well, like more expensive tuition costs.

So when researching for-profit schools, put in the work. Looking into factors like accreditation, supervised clinical opportunities, or National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) pass rates can help you determine the quality of the school. Keep in mind, RN licensure and work experience are major admission considerations when applying to graduate school as well.

This guide takes a comprehensive look at all of these considerations so you can feel confident about your decision.

The fundamental difference between nonprofit and for-profit schools involves their financial structure. While both colleges make their money through students’ tuition costs, nonprofit schools invest any tuition revenue into educational expenses at the institution. In contrast, for-profit schools dedicate a portion of this tuition money directly to investors, or to noneducational spending like marketing.

This does not necessarily lead to an overall discrepancy in educational quality, although certain outliers may exist. But the distinctions in financial structure can lead to other operational differences, which you can learn about more in detail below.

It is true that certain nonprofit schools may carry more recognition or come with a robust alumni network. But, in the end, attending a school other than these prestigious institutions won’t stop you from finding a job.

“Employers view degrees earned from nonprofit and for-profit nursing schools exactly the same,” Liphart Rhoads says, as long as your school possesses accreditation.

Instead, employers are more interested in your individual experiences in nursing schools, like any clinical, lab, and volunteer experiences. This could set you apart more than the name of your school.

“More so than anything, employers want to see extracurricular experience and a passion for the career of nursing,” Ross says. “You want a nursing school experience that allows you to build a strong resume through clinical rotations and extracurricular opportunities.”

When looking for potential schools —nonprofit and for-profit alike —doing thorough research before applying is key.

Pay attention to clinical and extracurricular opportunities, and look at factors like acceptance rates, graduate rates, and NCLEX pass rates. Some of these statistics can be more important than others, as Liphart Rhoads notes.

“Pay more attention to the NCLEX pass-rate and graduation rate of the students,” Liphart Rhoads says. “Graduating and successfully passing the NCLEX … the first time is the true end goal.”

Remember, the most important factor when searching for potential schools is accreditation. The accreditation process ensures that academic programs properly prepare students for their careers. As long as you attend an accredited school, you will be ready to take on your first nursing job with a quality education.