Schools make higher education in healthcare more affordable

Schools make higher education in healthcare more affordable

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the healthcare industry is expected to generate 3.2 million new jobs over the next decade. Nurses and other professionals who wish to further their education may discover that schools and organizations are partnering in an effort to help alleviate the burden of a tuition.

For example, Western Governor's University (WGU) along with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) recently announced that they will combine efforts to make education more affordable and accessible for nurses and healthcare workers.

The partnership will provide community health center employees and directors with nursing and management degrees. The new programs are intended to help these professionals move into an administrative or leadership position.

Those who are employed at NACHC centers and choose to enroll in a WGU program will be eligible for a 5 percent tuition discount as well as scholarships of up to $2,000.

Individuals who are interested in this program will also discover that they can continue to work while also enrolling in courses. For instance, WGU provides a bachelor's degree in nursing as well as a master's in nursing leadership, management or education fully online. The courses are designed to allow students to work at their own pace, so their regular routines will not be drastically interrupted.

Professionals in the healthcare industry may find that similar initiatives at other schools provide easier access to higher education.

By Stephanie Hughes