In-Demand Health Care Education at Chamberlain
Chamberlain University appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Nursing Education Degrees Online.
Ranked fourth for faculty credentials by the U.S. News & World Report, Chamberlain University is an accredited, for-profit school delivering three bachelor’s, three master’s, one doctoral, and nine certificate programs in eight-week formats at 21 U.S. locations and online.
For example, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing follows a 122-credit, year-round curriculum with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and 84.9 percent NCLEX-RN pass rate after clinical practice in the cutting-edge Simcare Center.
Chaired by Dr. Robin Kirschner, the Master of Science in Nursing brings its 36-credit, CCNE-accredited plan online to Canvas with 625 practicum hours specialized for Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, Healthcare Policy, Nursing Informatics, and Nurse Educator tracks. The Master of Public Health offers 24/7 Web access to a 42-credit, six-semester sequence of 600-level courses like Principles of Epidemiology atop two 120-hour fieldwork placements, such as the Centers for Disease Control or Red Cross.
Other Chamberlain options include the RN-BSN Program, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership Nursing, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Global Health, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Public Health Generalist.
About Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University originally started in 1889 when evangelical Christian settlers started the Deaconess School of Nursing in St. Louis. Its purpose was to train nurses according to the Deaconess model founded by Saint Theodor Fliedner in 1836 in Westphalia, Germany. In 1893, a 19-bed hospital was built by the Protestant Deaconess Association on Evansville’s Mary Street. By 1960, Deaconess became the second-largest private hospital system in Indiana. In 1999, Deaconess Cross Pointe was launched to address growing mental health needs. Two years later, the Deaconess Women’s Hospital was built.
In March 2005, DeVry Education Group purchased its Deaconess School of Nursing to expand it. That Fall, it adopted the Chamberlain University name that translates to “chief steward.” In 2017, Chamberlain’s owner was rebranded as Adtalem Global Education. Worth $2.09 billion, Adtalem made Downers Grove the for-profit headquarters for Chamberlain University to serve 25,569 health majors online and nationwide with 72 percent graduation. In 2018, WTOP profiled Chamberlain for the country’s largest online MSN program. College Factual also ranked Chamberlain the second most popular health professions school.
Chamberlain University Accreditation Details
On December 17, 2015, Chamberlain University was notified by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council that the Level V accreditation was reaffirmed through 2025-26 under President Karen Cox, Ph.D., who received the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship. Headquartered 21 miles east via Interstate 290 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for Federal Title-IV eligibility. Chamberlain is recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education plus 16 other state boards. Since October 9, 2004, the College of Nursing has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In October 2017, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accepted the Chamberlain MPH program for candidacy status too.
Chamberlain University Application Requirements
Entry-level BSN students should graduate from accredited high schools with 2.75 GPAs or better. At least three years of science and math are recommended. Reaching a 600 GED equivalency score would be acceptable. If taken before 2014, the minimum GED score is 551. Freshmen need a 73 or higher grade on Chamberlain’s A2 assessment. The Online RN to BSN option requires transferring an accredited nursing diploma or associate degree. On average, entrants already hold 87 credits atop active state RN licensure. Cumulative college GPAs above 2.0 are mandated. Before the RN-BSN to MSN track, nurses must complete 24+ bachelor’s credits at a 3.0 GPA or greater. The Master of Public Health seeks regionally accredited, four-year baccalaureate holders with “B” averages. Up to 12 graduate credits with 3.0 GPAs can transfer. The Master of Science in Nursing requires the same plus an unrestricted RN license. Four tracks, except Family Nurse Practitioner, offer conditional status for 2.75-2.99 GPAs. Doctoral entrants need an accredited MSN with five prerequisites, such as Healthcare Policy and Nursing Informatics.
Chamberlain University has conveniently structured a rolling admission process to start the eight-week terms. Anytime, use the secure online portal to complete the $95 ($60 if RN to BSN) application. Virtual or phone interviews must be scheduled with the Office of Admissions. Official transcripts are mailed directly to 3005 Highland Parkway in Downers Grove, IL 60515. For testing results, select SAT code 7274 or ACT code 5170. International students must prove English fluency with a 79 TOEFL iBT or 6.5 IELTS score. Verification of current LPN, LVN, or RN licensure from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is essential. Students sometimes need the A2 assessment, criminal background check, drug screening, military documentation, health care résumé, and financial affidavit. Ask further questions at (877) 751-5783 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Chamberlain University charged pre-licensure BSN students $675 per credit. Undergrads paid a $200 background check fee, $150 services fee, and $150 book fee. The 122-credit program total was $88,045. The Military to BSN option cost less at $61,945. Online RN to BSN cohorts spent $590 per credit. Finishing the three-term bridge required $28,870. The RN-BSN to MSN pathway was $550 per credit for $34,875. Most Chamberlain MSN candidates pay $650 per credit for $27,480 overall. The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track is a 45-credit exception billing $39,435. College of Nursing certificates are $650 per credit for $6,915 to $13,770. Doctor of Nursing Practice majors in the APL track pay $30,560 combined. The DNP Healthcare Systems Leadership Track is $750 per credit or $39,660. College of Public Health entrants usually pay MPH tuition of $550 per credit. The military rate is $465 per credit though.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office connects 69 percent of full-time Chamberlain students to average tuition assistance of $2,458 for $26.74 million total. University funds include the New RN Grant, Working Parent Grant, Continuing Education Scholarship, Next Generation Scholarship, Horizon Scholarship, Bridge Scholarship, Navigate to Nursing Scholarship, Daisy Honoree Scholarship, and MPH Pioneer Grant. The Chamberlain Opportunity Scholarship gifts up to $6,000 for pre-licensure BSN majors maintaining GPAs over 2.5 in 9+ credits. The $3,480 Clinical Educator Scholarship selects MSN post-grads with minimum 3.0 GPAs, five years of experience, and licensed teaching goals. On the Johnson & Johnson database, there are nearly 350 external programs like the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship, Adolph Van Pelt Scholarship, Richardson DNP Scholarship, and Dorothy Budnek Memorial Scholarship. The Illinois Nurses Foundation has a March 15th deadline for the Maybelle Sonne Scholarship and Arthur L. Davis Scholarship. FAFSA applications coded 006385 qualify most for Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, or Work-Study programs. The Bureau of Health Workforce also has the Nurse Corps Repayment to forgive any Federal Direct loans.
Search through the College of Nursing and College of Public Health degrees at the Chamberlain University website.