You’ve probably seen the building while driving near Summerlin or spotted the ads while scrolling through your feed. It’s hard to miss. Chamberlain University Las Vegas has carved out a massive niche in the Nevada desert, specifically for people who are desperate to get their nursing license without waiting two years on a community college waitlist.
But honestly? There is a lot of noise out there about this place. Some people call it a "degree mill" because it’s for-profit. Others swear it’s the only reason they’re finally making $40 an hour as an RN.
Let's cut through the marketing fluff.
The 3-Year BSN: Is it actually faster?
Most traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs take four years. You do two years of "pre-nursing" and then pray to the heavens that you get into the actual clinical portion. At the Las Vegas campus, they basically smash that timeline.
You can finish in three years.
That's year-round. No summer breaks. No "taking a semester off to find yourself." It’s a grind. They offer a direct-entry program, meaning if you qualify, you start working toward that nursing degree on day one.
What "No Prerequisites" really means
The recruiters love to say "no prerequisites required." This is a bit of a linguistic trick. It doesn't mean you don't take Anatomy or Microbiology. It just means you don't have to take them somewhere else before you apply. You take them as part of the program.
Wait times at UNLV or CSN can be brutal. I’ve talked to students who spent three years just trying to get into the clinical gate at public schools. Chamberlain bypasses that, but you pay a premium for the speed.
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The money talk: $775 per credit hour
Let’s be real—this isn’t cheap. While a state school might cost you significantly less, Chamberlain University Las Vegas sits at about $775 per credit hour for the BSN program.
By the time you factor in:
- Student service charges ($235 per session)
- Books and supplies (roughly $150 per session)
- The one-time NCLEX prep fee ($350)
- Background checks and drug screens
You’re looking at a total investment that can easily clear $80,000 to $100,000 if you're starting from scratch.
Is it worth it? That depends on your "opportunity cost." If graduating a year earlier means you start earning a nursing salary ($75k+) a year sooner, the math starts to look a bit different. But if you’re already stressed about debt, those numbers are a lot to swallow.
What’s it like on the Covington Cross Drive campus?
The campus itself is located at 9901 Covington Cross Drive. It’s not a sprawling university with a football stadium. It’s a professional building. Think high-tech simulation labs and clinical suites rather than frat houses.
The labs are actually pretty cool. They use high-fidelity manikins that breathe, bleed, and—kinda terrifyingly—give birth. It’s where you’re allowed to mess up before you’re standing in front of a real patient at UMC or St. Rose.
The "Chamberlain Care" thing
They talk a lot about "Chamberlain Care." In prose, that basically means they provide a lot of tutoring and support because they really need you to pass the NCLEX. Their reputation lives or dies by their pass rates.
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As of late 2025, the national first-time pass rate for U.S.-educated RN candidates is floating around 87.1%. Chamberlain generally stays competitive with these numbers, but you have to put in the work. They won't hand you a license just because you paid tuition.
The "Teach Yourself" controversy
If you go on Reddit or Niche, you’ll see a common complaint: "I had to teach myself everything."
Welcome to modern nursing school.
Because the pace is so fast—sessions are only 8 weeks long—the professors aren't there to spoon-feed you 500 pages of medical-surgical nursing. They're there to facilitate. If you’re the type of learner who needs a slow, methodical lecture, this environment might feel like a nightmare.
Common student gripes:
- The 84% Rule: In many nursing programs, a "C" isn't a passing grade. At Chamberlain, you often need to maintain a high percentage (around 76-84% depending on the specific course/year) just to stay in the program.
- Clinical Placements: While they have a "Practicum Commitment," some students in the Vegas area have mentioned that clinical sites can be a drive. You might be at a hospital in Henderson one day and a clinic in North Las Vegas the next.
Admission: Easier to get in, harder to stay in
The acceptance rate is generally higher than public universities—often cited around 75-90% nationally, though Las Vegas fluctuates.
What you actually need to apply:
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- A minimum GPA (usually 2.75).
- A decent score on the HESI A2 Admission Assessment.
- A background check that doesn't have "surprises."
They don't care about your SAT scores as much as they care about whether you can handle the science heavy-lifting.
The Tourism-Nursing Hybrid
One thing people forget about nursing in Vegas is the "Strip Factor."
Students at the Las Vegas campus often get clinical rotations that expose them to things you don't see in rural Iowa. You deal with "tourist medicine"—dehydration, convention-related illnesses, and the unique trauma cases that come with a 24-hour city. It’s a wild way to learn, but it makes for a very versatile resume.
What most people get wrong
People think that because it’s a for-profit school, the degree is "lesser."
In the nursing world, that's mostly a myth. Hospitals in Nevada—Valley Health System, HCA, Dignity Health—are so short-staffed they don't care if your degree is from a fancy private school or a state college. They care about two things:
- Did you graduate from a CCNE-accredited program? (Yes, Chamberlain is).
- Do you have an active RN license?
If you have those two things, you’re getting the job.
Your Next Steps
If you're actually considering dropping six figures on a nursing degree, don't just take the recruiter's word for it.
- Visit the campus on a Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s usually when it’s busiest. Talk to a student in the hallway who looks tired. Ask them if the professors actually answer emails.
- Calculate your "Break-Even" point. If you're 22 and can wait two years for a cheaper school, do that. If you're 35, changing careers, and every year you wait is $80k in lost wages, the "expensive" school might actually be the cheaper option in the long run.
- Check the latest NCLEX data. The Nevada State Board of Nursing publishes pass rates by school every year. Look for the most recent 2024 or 2025 data specifically for the Las Vegas campus to ensure they haven't dipped.
- Apply for the "Excellence in Education" scholarship. They often offer up to $5,000 for Las Vegas students, which isn't huge, but it covers your books and a good chunk of fees.