West Coast University Review

Featured Programs:

Favorite Features

Nursing programs are CCNE accredited

The issue of accreditation is a critical one when talking about online universities. Online education is still fairly new, and some people will still question whether an online degree is a ‘real’ degree.

If the program that you are taking is accredited by a respected body in the field, both you and potential employers can have confidence that you are earning a degree that has a high level of value.

In the nursing profession, the gold standard for accreditation is the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or CCNE. CCNE has been ensuring the quality and integrity of nursing programs for decades.

When you see that the program is CCNE accredited, it means that it has met or exceeded rigorous accreditation standards in the field of nursing.

BSN can be earned in only 39 months

Most bachelor of nursing programs take four years to complete. This program can be completed mostly online in only 39 months. Getting through college faster has two primary benefits.

First, you can get through college faster and start working. Second, you will be able to save money by not being in college for four years.

More than 300 clinical sites across the country

Your clinical rotations are where you get to take what you learned from the online classroom and practice it in the real world. Clinical work is an essential part of your bachelor’s or master’s nursing program.

When it comes time to do your clinical rotations in your bachelor’s or master’s program, you will be able to choose from more than 300 clinical sites around the US. Thus, there is a good chance that you will be able to find a clinical site a reasonable distance from your home.

Affordable BSN and MSN online tuition

College costs continue to soar, and in many cases, online tuition can be just as expensive as on a college campus. But the nursing programs at West Coast University are quite reasonable.

For example, the total tuition cost for the BSN degree, including all fees, books, etc, is only $20,620.

For the MSN degree, the total cost is only $26,080. There are many online BSN and MSN degrees that cost much, much more than that.

Also keep in mind that the salary potential for nurses with a BSN and especially an MSN are quite high. The median income for nurses with a BSN is approximately $60,000 per year, and with an MSN, it is more than $80,000 per year.

Tuition costs that low mean you are getting a solid return on your investment.

Least Favorite Features

West Coast University is unranked by major publications

Publications such as US News and World Report and The Princeton Review publish rankings of all types of colleges and their programs in the US every year. These rankings give potential students an idea of which schools are of the best quality in a given field.

West Coast University is not ranked by either US News or The Princeton Review, so it is more difficult to ascertain the quality of their nursing programs.

All classes are recorded and archived

Some universities have live classes so that you can interact with others and learn from each other. Some students also find that this is a more rewarding learning experience as you get to talk with and bond with other students. Some also find that learning in a group is easier and more effective.

West Coast University’s classes are all archived and recorded and you need to watch them on your own. This does allow you to take your classes entirely on your schedule, which is convenient, however.

Lack of strong alumni support

Many traditional universities with a strong online nursing program will offer students and graduates the support of a large community of alumni. This group of professionals in your field can be a source of very valuable information and connections. Those connections often lead to job opportunities and other ways to advance your career.

West Coast University does not seem to have a strong alumni network, based upon a review of its website. So, you will need to work with career services primarily to seek employment after you graduate with your nursing degree.