Aspen University Reviews of Bachelor's in Nursing

The RN to BSN online program basically has you teaching yourself as there is no class, just papers and PowerPoint assignments every week. The course is set up to make it easy to find your weekly module discussions and assignments. They have a library to use online to find journal articles for your assignments. This is a lot of work but i followed their "take 1 module at a time" advice. I work full time and have kids, but I made it work. The instructors are fair. I feel i learned a lot about the culture... Read More of the healthcare system. Im happy I completed the program. I am hoping to use my BSN degree for more nursing opportunities.

I am currently in my 1st year at Aspen, and am completing my pre-reqs. At first, I was extremely satisfied with my experience, I was being challenged, I was able to catch on to what I needed to do quickly. However, I am in my second term and am finding that there is no standard amongst classes. Every instructor has a different idea of what APA7 requirements are, which seems odd considering we utilize the APA7 book. One instructor marked me for using headings, as it “wasn’t APA”, while another marked... Read More me for not using them. One marked me for not using page or paragraph numbers in my references, where others never mentioned this requirement. Some will mark you for the slightest mistake, while others will appreciate the effort, address the mistake, but give you the deserved grade. Some will say that “Retrieved on (date)” in the reference is wrong and mark you on your entire essay for it, while others view it as correct. Some utilize the Thursday / Sunday discussion deadlines, while others are okay with your work as long as it is completed before the next module begins. These inconsistencies have left me confused on what is expected of me. Some won’t mark you for one of these “discrepancies” for weeks, and then randomly decide to mark you down for it. This makes getting a 100 on an assignment or DQ almost impossible in some classes. Another thing, is you are not informed that this is a year round school. I was under the impression that I would have at least holidays off (because who has time for school work on holidays?), however that is not the case. You take 2 classes for two months, and then another 2 classes for 2 months, back to back, before getting a 2 week break and the cycle begins again. I can tell you that it is a struggle to not only work but to also celebrate holidays when you have up to 4 DQs, 8 DQ replies, 2 quizzes, and two 1,500-2,700 word essays all due that week. They also don’t give you much extension on things when you are sick. I got covid, bronchitis, sinus infection and pneumonia. Was bed ridden sick, couldn’t stay awake, couldn’t do much of anything let alone think straight, and wasn’t given much wiggle room for completing assignments at a later date when I was better and able to think. I am currently in my second term, which means I have completed 4 classes and am now in the process of completing my 5th and 6th. I found that my first four classes were invigorating, kept me engaged and struck me with interest. These new classes however, have left me feeling like all I do is repetitive busy work, so my motivation to do it lacks. I have no interest in writing a 10 page double spaced essay describing 8 soft skill… it’s easy, it teaches me nothing new, and feels like a waste of my time which kills my motivation to do it at all. I find that though it allows me to work full time, it is not as easy as it sounds. Currently I am required to research and reply to 3 discussion questions a week (250 words each), reply to 6 of my classmates with referenced research (100 words each), and complete one or two 2,000 word essays or 20 slide PowerPoints (with a written script) all in a single week on top of working 40hrs a week. Completing all of this with work, is quite the struggle, and quite frankly leaves little to no wiggle room for a personal life. I think the cost is great, and the flexibility has potential, but it is certainly accelerated and has no tolerance for falling behind. Overall I think the school has a lot of potential, however I think there needs to be a standard of what is expected of us, rather than winging it and hoping for the best. I also think that they really need to stress that it is a year round school, that you won’t get time off for holidays or being sick. I was painted this pretty little picture of what to expect and it certainly has not met those expectations by any means.

I am nearly finished with Aspen's Bachelors degree in Nursing and I would advise anyone who is interested to steer clear of it. Since I am nearly finished, it makes more sense financially to continue however, if I knew then what I know now I would not be at Aspen. The first 4 or 5 classes are nursing related and nursing focused, however, the last few classes are all about your computer skills. You can have your nursing information and knowledge on point but you will get a zero for all assignments... Read More if your computer skills are not spot on. It got to the point where I had to hire a computer tech just to help me get through certain assignments. Even if you go into management, as a BSN nurse, you will not have to possess half the computer skills that Aspen requires. My opinion is that this is something Aspen includes in the program to give an otherwise mediocre nursing program a level of difficulty to give the student a feeling that you are "working hard".

Thanks, Aspen University for allowing me to complete my BSN! It is a great program for adult learners able to maintain self-direction and discipline in their academic studies! I have previous online college experience and would never want to sit in a classroom again! Your professors were really encouraging and assisted in coaching my starting writing ability also with the added bonus of teaching how to do power points and recorded presentations as weekly assignments. I am sure these skills will come... Read More in handy in the future!

Not all schools are perfect and you choose the school that best fits your needs. The BSN program was pretty straightforward and the best thing I learned was how to write a kick butt APA paper! The monthly payments are affordable and made this within reach. There were a few glitches- one teacher was wildly picky and too harsh. One didn’t even read my papers. But there will always be outliers. In all, for the cost, the convenience was very good, I felt like it suit my needs. It’s a legit school. I... Read More would recommend Aspen.

I put off my BSN for 14 years. I was scared to DEATH of starting. It took me a few days to fully understand how the on-line classroom worked but I quickly called my student advisor and all of my fears/questions were resolved. I worked full time (4 days week, 12h shifts) as a clinical supervisor in a busy ER and had no trouble being successful! I graduated with a 4.0 GPA and completed in one year. I have recommended several friends who are doing great, too! Do it! Don't put it off. The comprehensive... Read More final is VERY manageable.

I will graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors. I obtained my RN to BSN. It was not easy, but it if you set aside time to do your reading and research you will succeed. Follow the rubric and assignment content material. Be patient with yourself. Do not allow yourself any excuses. Take a break when you need to, and I suggest you schedule it in as a necessity. If you can not figure out something YouTube or Ted Talks are great references to utilize for people like myself who learn by listening. I, often,... Read More listened to a topic while walking my dog in the mornings. The professors are great in helping, you have to ask! During the courses I would communicate with my professors and simply tag a note about my week when I submitted my papers. It made it seem less disconnected and more like they could get to know me as a student. If we were in a brick and mortar school they would know me, right? You, would and will learn a little about them, too. My last professor, S. Kalb, was so compassionate in regards to my father's passing and my need to be with my family. He guided me through the extension process, answered my emails, texts, and extended his compassion/empathy towards myself and my family. This is my experience with Aspen University. It can be yours too.

Thanks to Aspen's online program, I was able to complete my degree on my time, while tending to a busy family and work my usual hours at the hospital. As an ER nurse, with years of experience, I added my bachelor's degree to my resume and applied for ICU jobs online. I applied for three ICU positions on a weekend. By the end of that week, I had completed interviews, and even had a strong offer by Friday of the same week I applied. I had 2nd and 3rd interviews scheduled the following week; and by... Read More the end of the second week, I had completed multiple interviews with 3 hospitals, and had 3 strong offers for employment. I have the position I wanted, with an award-winning organization, control of the hours I work, and improved wages. I practice my skill set with a high level of autonomy and respect of physicians and mid-level providers who work by my side.

I am only satisfied in that I graduated and became a nurse but it was not through great instruction from the school. Anyone thinking of going here needs to consider what they are getting into. They make it sound all wonderful and how supportive they are....all lies. They lie to you every step of the way, do crap to help you and instead blow you off. They love to change rules depending on how it fits them and yet the students are expected to just do it even if it doesn't follow protocol. You basically... Read More learn on your own, get no help, no direction mainly because the professors don't know either. There are a couple of good instructors there but they are adjunct. The full time (with exception of one) are horrible...they will not work with you if you experience a problem but will fail you in a second. Extremely unprofessional, charge for classes you don't need and do not add to learning but sure put 200% I. When it gets close to graduation because they are so worried about their NCLEX pass rate but could care less in the previous 18 months. You may have to wait longer but if you want a quality education....don't go here!!!