Fortis College is a for profit, private online and campus based program that offers a variety of associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and diplomas in various fields. In the nursing field it offers an RN to BSN online degree program. This is a suitable choice for an experienced RN with a diploma or associate’s degree who wants to earn his or her bachelor’s degree in nursing to expand their career options in the field.
Favorite Features
Strong online support and 24/7 course access
Students who are getting their RN to BSN degree online at Fortis will find that there is very strong online support programs so students can learn on their on at any time.
The courses that you take online are available 24/7 and are archived so you can view them on your schedule. Many professional nurses with an RN already are busy professionals with families. A lot of them may work night hours and have to take their online classes whenever they have time.
Fortis College gives you the kind of access that you need to complete your degree – on your schedule. This type of convenience makes it more likely that students will be able to graduate and improve their lives.
Other convenient online features that make this program work well for busy nurses include:
- Group chat forums
- Live chatting features
- Exams that are graded right away
- Feedback quickly from instructors
- Case studies available online to build skills you are learning in class
- Flashcards for studying
This excellent support is widely praised by both current and past students of the nursing program.
Strong career and academic services program
The career development program at Fortis College is robust and includes career placement, resume development, coaching for interviews, and academic counseling. These career and academic support services are critical to the success of students and graduates at Fortis.
Earn online RN to BSN degree while working
The RN to BSN program online is popular because it allows students to earn their full bachelor’s degree mostly online, except for clinical experience in a healthcare facility in their area.
This is a very convenient program because it lets a busy nurse further his or her career in nursing by continuing to work and earning a degree at the same time.
With a bachelor’s degree in nursing, the student will be able to earn an excellent salary, once completing the degree and taking the national certification examination.
Many financial aid options
Fortis College has a large financial aid office so that nursing students can explore many financial aid options to make their nursing program as affordable as possible.
Some of the options available to most students are various grants, loans and federal student loans. There also are state and private funding options, as well as flexible student payment plans.
Least Favorite Features
RN to BSN program is not accredited by the CCNE
The most important nursing accreditation organization for programs today is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or CCNE. A nursing program that has earned CCNE accreditation has shown that it has met the most rigorous quality standards in its curriculum, faculty and student support features.
CCNE accreditation tells you and employers that the program has taught you what you need to know to succeed in nursing.
Fortis College’s RN to BSN program – offered through an articulation agreement with the Denver School of Nursing, has not been accredited by the CCNE.
Online, for profit universities generally are regarded less favorably
Online universities that are for profit tend to be viewed with more skepticism than non-profit online universities. Employers want to have confidence that you have earned a valuable degree, but it is harder to verify that this is the case with these types of universities.
On the other hand, the university does have many examples on its website of successful students in nursing and other fields. So, it is shown on their site that there are many successful students who have graduated from this college and had college success.
The website also features testimonials from satisfied employers who have hired past Fortis College students. These reviews indicate that they have been pleased with the quality and determination of the students.
The Details
General Information
- Founded in 2008
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Application fee: $50
- School type: Private, for profit
- Term Schedule: Semester
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Student-faculty ratio: 10:1
Tuition Rates
- Many programs cost $13,937 per semester – inquire
Nursing Degrees
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Class Profile
- Recent acceptance numbers for the college state 879 applications were received and 879 were admitted, indicating a 100% acceptance rate.
Graduation and Retention Rates
- Fortis College reports that its overall graduation rate is 55.7%
- Some campuses of Fortis College have high retention rates, such as the Largo campus with 100% retention from freshman year, according to recent surveys.
US News Rankings
- This is a for profit university and is not ranked by US News and World Report
