Help: U Portland or Seattle U for nursing?

College Majors Nursing Major
1

Hi, I have admitted to several nursing programs and now narrowed them down to two schools: U Portland and Seattle U. I have visited both schools. I like both of them. Both offered same amount of scholarship, so the COA will be same. I really have a hard time to decide which one to attend. Here is the data I collected so far:

  1. # of BSN students enrolled each year: UP ~ 250 vs. SU ~ 90. UP has a much bigger nursing program. Not sure if it is a concern for the arrangement of clinicals.
  2. NCLEX pass rate (2017): UP ~ 83% vs. SU ~ 88%. SU is slightly higher.
  3. 4-Yr graduation rate (whole school) from US News: UP ~ 75% vs. SU ~ 64%. UP is higher.
  4. Retention rate: UP ~ 90% vs. SU ~ 84%. UP is higher.
  5. School system: UP ~ semester vs. SU ~ quarter. No sure which one is better.
  6. Seattle vs. Portland: both cities have a lot of rains :-(. Seattle is a bigger city, has more opportunities?

What else should I look into? Please tell me your opinion.

Thanks!

2

I would consider the minimum grades required for progression, and the grades required to keep your merit money.
What is the policy for retake, and does it set you back a semester?
Locations of clinicals, and relative to campus?
Number of hours need to carry to graduate in 4 years?
Study abroad opportunities?

Please post the answers if you figure them out. I finally started a spreadsheet to try to keep info straight.
If you want to be on the same general schedule as most of your friends, seems like more schools are on semester system.

3

Seattle U is close to the “Pill Hill” hospital area so there should be plenty of places do to clinicals or medical volunteering near school

4

Thanks a lot for the reply. It’s a painful process. At the end, I found a coin… Then I will attend Seattle U. :slight_smile: