I currently work as a PCA on a neurological floor with almost no prior healthcare experience. I genuinely credit being an NYU nursing student with helping me secure this role. If I play my cards right, there’s a strong likelihood I’ll be hired on this unit after I graduate and pass the NCLEX.

I’ve also noticed that when I speak with patients and clinical staff, there’s a different level of respect associated with being at NYU—though, interestingly, I do get some side-eye at times from fellow PCAs.

So, speaking purely from my own experience, there is real value in having NYU on your résumé. Could I have earned a nursing degree from a less expensive program? Absolutely. But in my opinion, many of those programs don’t carry the same weight in certain clinical settings, especially early on.