Nursing is one of the most stable and financially secure careers in the United States today. While most health care professions offer low wages, a job as a nurse is an almost certain gateway to a middle-class lifestyle. With Americans older than 65 expected to double by 2060, nurses will become highly sought-after and vital in the workforce. And beyond the stability of the profession, a career in nursing boasts a healthy salary. Registered nurses on average earn a little more than $72,000 a year. While the rise of artificial intelligence and automation of the workforce is worrying other professionals about their jobs’ futures, nurses needn’t have the same apprehension. Nursing requires interpersonal skills and compassionate care that machines just don’t have the ability to provide.

Yet the high demand for nurses and attractiveness of the career is, unfortunately, leading to a competitive and crowded job market and shortage of affordable nursing schools of reputable quality. Nursing schools are turning away thousands of qualified applicants because schools can’t accommodate the soaring number of applicants. Programs either don’t have enough slots or don’t have enough teachers. For these reasons, finding an accredited nursing program on a budget can be a bit of a challenge.

But if you’re looking for a school that can help make your nursing dreams come true, Excelsior College is certainly a place to check out.

Flexible schedule

Excelsior College gives adult students the chance to work and get an education simultaneously. The school understands the busy lifestyle and all of the responsibilities that come with adulthood, so it makes it easy to go back to school. With the wide variety of classes that fit with any hectic schedule, you are able to study on your own time and in the comfort of your home.

Budget prices

Excelsior College offers students a quality education on a budget. The school helps make education affordable by providing interest-free payment plans, financial aid, scholarship, grant, and private-loan opportunities, as well as reduced tuition for military personnel and their families.

Is the school accredited?

Finding a cost-effective program is just one part of your college education journey. You also have to make sure the school you’re interested in is accredited. Accreditation essentially means the school meets certain standards and values. Going to an accredited university means you’re a student at an institution that adheres to excellency. Additionally, accreditation determines whether you can get financial aid and whether your credits can be transferred to another college. Graduate schools also check your undergraduate university’s accreditation when you are applying and employers also take into account whether your school was accredited when they’re hiring.

Excelsior College is accredited for nursing by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This specialized accrediting agency for nursing is recognized by the US Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. In general, Excelsior College is accredited through 2022 by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

For nursing, accredited graduates ensures patients across the country are receiving the same level of care. Accreditation for nursing schools is voluntary, so accredited nursing programs signals a commitment to excellence and superb curriculum. And if you’re considering going into medical social work or another area of medicine that requires a master’s degree, most graduate schools won’t be interested in you if you didn’t get your nursing degree from an accredited program. And finally, many nursing employers won’t even consider a candidate who didn’t go to an accredited institution. By choosing a school that isn’t accredited, you’re diminishing your chances for success after graduation in an already tough job market.