LPN or BSN RN Dilemma

Hello all, this is my first time posting on this thread. I have a dilemma that I would appreciate some outside perspective about. I have a choice between two programs at the same private college.

Before anyone suggests community college etc, I have applied, and with the different requirements and lottery systems things feel slow. There is one science class I could retake for a higher grade, but due to a past certificate and poor advise from an advisor, credits were transferred and I now exceed the 150% maximum for FASFA, which means I need permission from an advisor every quarter for the classes I take and aren’t allowed to retake classes.

The BSN RN program is 100,000$ after all fees, supplies, etc. It is 2 years and 8 months long, and a hybrid program. I have between 15,000-20,000$ worth of credit I am able to transfer.

The LPN program is 34,000$ total and takes 13 months to complete (hybrid). I have about 3,000-5,000$ in transfer credit. After this, I would want to apply for an LPN-RN program then my BSN. All of this in total would most likely take me about 4 years and most likely cost less.

For perspective, I graduated early at 17, got my CNA and Esthetician licenses, then immediately started prerequisites. After applying to so many programs, retaking classes, volunteering, I am now almost 22 and starting to feel burnt out and unaccomplished.
So these are my questions:
Would the BSN program be worth it with the salary a nurse receives (western WA state) and the time it takes to complete? Or the LPN bridge plan?
Has anyone a nurse or not seeing this thread ever had that much school debt? Is it doable?
I am also looking into NP school for the future, are either of these realistic paths? (Mainly referring to the debt not actual acceptance or accreditation)

All advice is appreciated!

Posted Aug 12, 2026, 2:08 PM UTC

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