In the end does it matter where you got your degree from?

If you look at the data. yes it does matter

Having spoke confidentially with many hiring managers, for your typical degree it does not matter what 4 year school you went too. The exceptions are 1) If you went to an ivy league school, 2) If you went to a for-profit/unaccredited school they will often look at you in a lower light (but still above no degree).

Now as for specific advanced degrees….. As far as nursing goes, so long as you finish from an accredited nursing school as an RN (not one of the lesser forms of nurses, they’re actually being phased out)... the demand is so high it probably doesn’t matter (I’m unfamiliar with Bama’s nursing program so I can’t comment on it, but if its less respected you may have a few limitations on what hospitals or whatever will take you).

The reputation of the actual university and the program you attended matters more than geographical location.

I suppose different universities have varying quality standards. For example, Kent Hovind got his “doctor” title from an unaccredited diploma mill, and he started his “doctoral thesis” with “Hello, my name is Kent Hovind”.

I would not think so since to me a nursing degree is a nursing degree.The following years of experience would be crucial though in getting to a higher paying hospital if that would be your eventual plan. I have a friend who practiced nursing in one hospital specifically working in pediatrics knowing it’s a step closer to getting to another hospital in the same state with a higher pay specifically in pediatrics. And she got it after 4 years.

If you are planning on working in MA., you may meet a lot of people who have studied at the excellent and very good colleges and universities in the state. MA has more than its share of top-notch schools:

Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Brandeis, Wellesley, Simmons, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, Williams, Wheaton, U Mass., NE, Hampshire. Worcester Polytech Instutie, Holy Cross, BU, BC and many others. All 58

Plus, if you get your RN degree instate, you have a chance to network and make connections to the hospitals in the state.

In what end, exactly? Once you’re working? Or what?

Dartmouth is an Ivy League and liberal arts school. They do offer graduate degrees in nursing.

U Ma. Lowell is less fun than the main campus at Amherst. You are talking apples and oranges when you compare it to Dartmouth.

I would say that if you are planning to live and work in MA, you are much better off at U. Mass. Amherst.

For nursing, not so much. For law or medical school, absolutely. It really depends on the degree. Unless the reputation of a school is in the dumps, pretty much any nursing school is going to get you to the same place.

For teaching, @tedd , I think it is the same situation as nursing. There is such a high demand that as long as you have your four year degree and certification you should be able to find a job, and salary should not depend upon where you attend school

Only if you’re going to depend on “the good ole boy network” for your pay and promotions, rather than your own efforts.

Teachers are on a hiring freeze in many places and getting laid off in others right now because of budget issues.

It probably shouldn’t but it does.

For nusring it won’t make that much difference to getting your first nursing post however it may make a difference later on in your career when applying for more specialist or academically orientated posts.

(@Lightlyseared: Psst… “Oriented”)

It depends on the discipline but for nursing, I don’t believe it would make a damn bit of difference.

Colleges in universities all have their own amount of presitge. If you go to the more prestigious college, you’ll have a more impressive resume. The idea is that the big-name schools produce quality graduates more reliably.

In the end it’s just a piece of paper saying you are certified to do a job. It might matter on your first job, and where you went to school may matter with regards to liscensing, but after that, it doesn’t matter at all.

Living in and around Mass and knowing many RN’s and people in the medical field IT DOES matter where you get your 4 year degree from.
@gailcalled is correct. There are plenty of jobs for you in the area, but you will be up against people who have recieved their 4yr degree from colleges that are known in the area for great Nursing programs.
I agree that Umass Amherst would be a superior place to go than Umass Lowell from the location and the college life aspect.
Even Salem State is a good Nursing program that does not cost an arm and leg.

Yes, example: Guy who showed that carbon emission from and mileage of diesel vehicles were horrible in California turned out first not to have an accredited doctorate, nor was he actually from the school he said he was. Talk about a bad day for that guy. (actually was even worse for the guy who discovered guy number 1’s errors and lies)

Any college degree is much more respected, when you attend a college and not one on line.

I was talking about dartmouth as in umass dartmouth. Umass Amherst would be a big reach for me but I’m still going to apply. I just asked this question because I’m considering going far away for school. By no means am I Harvard material but I want to attend a good school. I think attending a university would look good no matter what over lets say a state school?

@CaptainHarley got it (”“the good ole boy network”). From my experience, the most valuable benefits of attending an elite school are the connections. My UMASS Amherst experience didn’t seem to get me friends in high places. People I know who went to fancier colleges seem to have made connections with power (“my friend’s dad, who owns Fancypants Financial has offered me a job”).

@kb12345: U Mass anywhere is a state school.

@tom_g: Having attended one of the fancier colleges, I felt that the connections got you only the first interview. After that, you rose or fell on your qualifications and abilities.

(Remember to use caps for proper nouns; viz; U. Mass, Dartmouth.)

@kb12345 I would also recommend you check out Middlesex. They have a very well respected program.

I don’t think it matters where you go to school….IF….IF…you are an RN. Because they are so in demand.

If you were attempting to apply for a job in robotics…and you went to Carnegie-Mellon (which has a top robotics program) and the next person went to night school at NoName College…you would probably clinch the job because CM is that strong a school in robotics against another school.

But in nursing, unless it is an awful school….you don’t need to worry…I don’t think.

@DarlingRhadamanthus Carnegie-Mellon is borderline Ivy League (in fact probably would be, do they have sports?) So of course that degree would be seen higher than say someone who went to…. the University of Kentucky or something.

@DarlingRhadamanthus I agree with your analogy, but as stated in the OP and by others, what area of the country does matter. In the Boston area where the OP is stating they are going to work is just like your analogy. With world class hospitals in the area, they will look at where your 4 year is from. I have worked for Mass General and know many hiring RN’s and the like and it does make a difference.