University of South Florida

Erika: Hey, wow, I'm impressed that you're wondering about college tuition already. I've got to tell you that there are an awful lot of high school juniors (and in fact, far too many high school seniors) who haven't bothered to start worrying about that yet. They're in for some unpleasant surprises, so good for you! I wish I could tell you that you should anticipate paying "x dollars" for a college degree, but it's a lot more complicated than that. Think about colleges like cars - I'm sure you realize that car prices are all over the place, from maybe $3000 or $4000 for a halfway decent used car, up to maybe $250,000 for an incredibly luxurious sports car. College costs are just like that. The cheapest option is always a local community college. These are two year schools with very low tuition. Some of the students who go there just want 2 years of education, and they're not planning on continuing beyond that, but many others just take advantage of the low cost of a community college in order to get their first 2 years of college out of the way as cheaply as possible. One of the things that you'll discover is that you'll be taking the same courses in your first 2 years of college no matter where you go to school - so it's often sensible to take those first 2 years at a low-cost school and then transfer somewhere else to finish off your degree. Next in expense comes the state university system. Your state has at least one, and probably several state schools - like in Florida, for example, they have the University of Florida, Florida State, the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and several more. All of these schools are part of the state university system for the state of Florida. State universities charge low rates for state residents, because the schools are funded with state tax money. It usually doesn't make a lot of financial sense to attend a state university in another state, because you'll have to pay quite a bit more than the residents do - so for example, if you live in Florida, you can go to a Florida state school for much much less than it would cost you to go the University of Texas or UCLA in California. At the high end of the price scale comes the private colleges. These are not state schools, so they don't get tax money from the residents of the state. These are the fancy luxury cars of the education world - you can pay $50,000 a year or more to attend some of the more expensive private colleges in the United States. Something else to keep in mind - tuition is often the least of your concerns when you are planning your college expenses. - that's just what you pay for the classes themselves. You'll also pay quite a bit more in school "fees" every year, plus you'll need to buy outrageously expensive textbooks (which can cost $500 to $1000 each year), and you'll need a place to live and food to eat. What's more important than tuition is what schools call the "Cost of Attendance", which is an estimate of what it will cost an average student to go to school there for a year. So how much will you pay? If you go to a community college, you might pay something like $4000 a year for college, but most of these schools don't have dormitories or meal plans - most of their students live at home and eat at home. If you go to a state school, and you live away from home, you're probably looking at more like $18,000-25,000 a year, and if you go to a private school you'll be in the neighborhood of $25,000 and much, much higher. One of the other things you'll learn along the way is that very few families can afford the cost of a college education on their own. Fortunately, there is a whole "financial aid system" that helps students with the cost. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of financial aid is nothing more than loans, so it will always be an expensive proposition to attend college - only you can decide how much you're willing to spend, and how much debt you are willing to take on in order to earn the college degree that will help you get a good job. I know this all sounds very complicated, and it is - and that's part of the reason why so many students try to make believe it's not important to worry about until it's too late. Look around at some of the other questions, and you'll see just how many students are saying things like "I'm a senior and I need $40,000 for school next year, but I can't get a loan. What do I do now?" The only answer to their question is "pray you win the lottery". It's good that you're starting your planning now. Best of luck to you - and if there's one thing you can do now - it's focus on doing well in school and getting involved in community activities. The better your grades, the more likely you are to earn scholarships - and those scholarships make ALL the difference in the world about where you'll be able to afford to go to school.

According to the Princeton Review's Top 368 Colleges publication, the Top Schools in the Southeast have the following representatives from Florida: Eckerd University, Flagler College, Florida Atlanta University, Florida Instititute of Technology, Florida Southern College, Florida State University, Rollins College, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, and the University of South Florida.

If you live in Florida, and have good grades, you are eligible for something called a Bright Futures Scholarship. go here: http://www.fldoe.org/student/ The public universities are: Florida A&M University Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Florida State University New College of Florida University of Central Florida University of Florida University of North Florida University of South Florida University of West Florida There are different requirement for certain levels of scholarship. Depending on your SAT scores and grade point averages, you can get up to 100% of your tuition paid for. The requirements are: Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, as determined by the student's postsecondary institution. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent. Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary education institution, within 3 years of high school graduation. If you enlist directly into the military after graduation, your three-year period begins on the date you separated from active duty. Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours (12 semester credit hours for early admission students) or the equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours. Not have been found guilty of, or plead nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of Clemency. Apply for a scholarship from the program by high school graduation. GOOD LUCK!

There are more than 100 schools that plan to offer or are offering DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) and they are: ALABAMA, Samford University, The University of Alabama, Troy University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of South Alabama ALASKA, None ARIZONA, Arizona State University, University of Arizona ARKANSAS, none CALIFORNIA, Loma Linda University, Samuel Merritt University, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Western University of Health Sciences, COLORADO, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Northern Colorado CONNECTICUT, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, University of Connecticut DELAWARE, None DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Catholic University of America, George Washington University, FLORIDA, Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University, Jacksonville University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, GEORGIA, Georgia Southern University, Medical College of Georgia, HAWAII, None IDAHO, None ILLINOIS, Governors State University, Loyola University Chicago, Rush University, Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of St. Francis, ------------- INDIANA, Ball State University, Purdue University, University of Southern Indiana, Valparaiso University IOWA, Allen College, University of Iowa, KANSAS, University of Kansas, Wichita State University, KENTUCKY, Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. University of Kentucky, LOUISIANA, Loyola University New Orleans. MAINE, None. MARYLAND, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland. MASSACHUSETTS, MGH Institute for Health Professions, Northeastern University, Regis College, Simmons College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Massachusetts Worcester. MICHIGAN, Grand Valley State University, Madonna University, Oakland University, University of Michigan-Flint, Wayne State University. MINNESOTA, College of St. Catherine, College of St. Scholastica, Minnesota State University - Mankato Minnesota State University at Moorehead, University of Minnesota, Winona State University. MISSISSIPPI, The University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center MISSOURI, Maryville University - St. Louis, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Missouri-St. Louis. MONTANA, None. NEBRASKA, Creighton University. NEVADA, Touro University, University of Nevada. NEW HAMPSHIRE, None NEW JERSEY, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Monmouth University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Seton Hall University, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. NEW MEXICO, None. NEW YORK, Columbia University, Daemen College, New York University, Pace University, St. John Fisher College, Stony Brook University, University of Rochester. NORTH CAROLINA, Duke University. NORTH DAKOTA, North Dakota State University. OHIO, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, Otterbein University, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, University of Toledo, Walsh University, Wright State University. OKLAHOMA, None. OREGON, Oregon Health & Science University, University of Portland, PENNSYLVANIA, Carlow University, Chatham University, Drexel University, Duquesne University, Pennsylvania State University, Robert Morris University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pittsburgh, Waynesburg University, Widener University, Wilkes University. RHODE ISLAND, None. SOUTH CAROLINA, Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina. SOUTH DAKOTA, South Dakota State University. TENNESSEE, Union University, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Vanderbilt University. TEXAS, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Texas Woman's University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. UTAH, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, University of Utah. VERMONT, None. VIRGINIA, Marymount University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Shenandoah University University of Virginia. WASHINGTON, University of Washington WEST VIRGINIA, West Virginia University, WISCONSIN, Concordia University, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WYOMING, None.

By far, the most comprehensive guide of universities offering online degrees is Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning. There are over 900 universities that offer complete online degrees, so it would not be possible to list them all here (there is a character limit on responses). If you provide an update to your question that asks about a specific course of study, I can provide you with a very detailed list of accredited universities offering that degree online. That said, here are a few well-known universities offering degrees online: Abilene Christian University Argosy University Online Arkansas State University Ashford University Baker College Online Bellevue University Benedictine University Boise State University Boston University Bowling Green State University California Coast University Capella University Central Michigan University Chamberlain College of Nursing Champlain College Cleveland State University College for Financial Planning Colorado Christian University Colorado State University Colorado Technical University Concord Law School Concordia University DeVry University Drexel University Duquesne University Eastern Kentucky University eCornell ECPI College of Technology Erikson Institute Everest College Everest University Everglades University Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing Full Sail University Golden Gate University Gonzaga University Graceland University Grand Canyon University Grantham University Henley-Putnam University Herzing University Hodges University Indiana State University International Academy of Design and Technology Iowa Central College Online Ivy Bridge College Jones International University Kaplan University Keiser University Keller Graduate School of Management Kendall College Kent State University Kona University LA College Online Lamar University Lancaster Bible College Lehigh University LeTourneau University Lewis University Liberty University Lincoln College Loyola University Malone University Marygrove College Marylhurst University McKinley College Minnesota School of Business National American University New England College New England College of Business New England Culinary Institute New Jersey Institute of Technology New York University Northcentral University Northeastern University Northwestern College Norwich University Nova Southeastern University Ohio Christian University Ohio University Oklahoma Wesleyan University Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon State University Our Lady of the Lake University Penn Foster College Philadelphia University Pima Medical Institute Portland State University Post University Online Quinnipiac University Online Rasmussen College Regent University Regis University RETS College Robert Morris University Rochester Institute of Technology Rocky Mountain College Rutgers Business School Sacred Heart University Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saint Joseph's University Saint Leo University Saint Xavier University Salem University San Joaquin Valley College Savannah College of Art and Design Siena Heights University South University Southeastern University Southern New Hampshire University St. Joseph’s College Stetson University Stevens-Henager College Stratford University Strayer University Sullivan University Syracuse University The Art Institute of Pittsburgh The Chicago School of Professional Psychology The George Washington University The University of Georgia The University of Liverpool The University of Scranton Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas University Tiffin University Ultimate Medical Academy Union Institute & University University of California, Irvine University of Central Missouri University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Denver University of Florida University of Illinois University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Minnesota University of Nebraska at Kearney University of New England University of Pittsburgh University of Saint Mary University of San Diego University of Southern California University of the Rockies University of the Southwest University of Wisconsin Utah State University Utica College Vanderbilt University Virginia College Walden University Washington State University Western Carolina University Western Governors University Western International University Western New England College Western New Mexico University Westwood College Worcester Polytechnic Institute If you want to narrow down this list by degree level or course of study, you can do so using my source below (they have a degree search tool).