Online RN Programs: Today's Top Nursing Schools

In May of 2023, registered nurses earned a median of $86,070, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Top RN salaries reached $132,680. Registered nursing continues to show tremendous opportunity for growth as well, with the BLS estimating a 6% increase in job openings through 2032.

Aspiring registered nurses have a variety of degree options from which to choose. An associate degree in nursing tends to be the quickest path to the profession, although many RNs decide to begin with a bachelor’s. Many healthcare facilities often require RNs to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in order to gain employment.

Online RN programs have become increasingly popular over the past decade, with schools across the country offering them. This includes online ADN programs (2 years) and online BSN programs (4 years). Accelerated programs for certain types of nurses may exist, as well.

Ready to learn more about online nursing programs for RNs? See who made our list of the top schools for this school year.

As nursing student needs diversify, schools are expanding how they deliver their higher education programs. While face-to-face remains the norm, more and more schools have incorporated online learning into their nursing curricula. It’s convenient, more affordable, and many students can use online RN programs to help balance school, work, and family responsibilities. This holds true for all nursing programs, including the ADN, RN bridge programs, and other higher education opportunities for current and future RNs. Want to learn more? Explore nursing programs online and find the educational path that’s right for you.

• Online MSN Programs
• Online BSN Programs
• Accelerated Online BSN Programs
• Online PhD Nursing Programs
• Online LPN-to-RN Programs
• Online RN-to-BSN Programs
• Online CRNA Programs
• Online CNS Programs
• Nurse’s Guide to Online Bridge Programs
• Most Affordable Online Nursing Programs

Find Online Nursing Programs in Your State

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Q&A with an Online Nursing School Director

As you’re exploring online nursing programs, getting information directly from schools is extremely helpful. We reached out to universities with online nursing schools from across the nation to give them a chance to share what makes their programs stand out. Here’s a recent conversation we had with Rebecca H. Le, director for the School of Nursing at Regent University.

University name		location	School type	online programs	Get more info	Program Description
Regent University		location: Virginia Beach, VA	School type: Private not-for-profit	online programs: 2	Get more info	Interview with Rebecca H. Le, Ph.D., MSN, RN, IBCLC Director for the School of Nursing RN-to-BSN and MSN Nursing Programs What’s your involvement at Regent University with online learning? I am currently serving as Director for the School of Nursing at Regent University. I have had the privilege of working collaboratively with other nurses to create the online nursing curriculum for the Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Regent University. This endeavor required utilizing the knowledge, skills and values that I obtained during my experience serving as nurse, educator, administrator, and mission worker. All of this experience has brought me to the place of desiring to mentor nurses in their advanced careers as professional nurses, educators, administrators, and mission workers. Students can gain the same knowledge, skills, and values through Regent’s nursing program! What makes your online nursing programs stand out from others? The Regent University School of Nursing degree programs are Christ-centered. We offer professional excellence with holistic care. This includes the commitment to be a light to those hurting and to expand the Kingdom through the nurse’s healing touch. Our programs are fully online in 8-week course sessions. Students have the ability to choose specialties and personal practicum locations for both the RN to BS in Nursing and the MSN program. Students may choose the Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator track in the MSN program, which positions them to become a leader on the frontlines of nursing. How do your online nursing programs prepare students for successful careers in the field? Regent University nursing programs prepare students for successful careers by incorporating important topics within the curriculum to prepare graduates for the workforce. These topics are chosen by representatives from the nursing workforce, including professional organizations and employers who know what knowledge, skills, and values are needed to be successful. A few examples of these topics are aggregate research outcomes, resolve practice outcomes, healthcare informatics and emergent technologies, advocacy of policies, leadership, communication, collaboration, consultation skills, quality and safe care, culturally competent and ethical care, and advanced level of understanding of nursing. Furthermore, students learn to effectively assess health systems and the forces that impact patient care, recommend evidence-based healthcare improvements, apply ethical and responsible leadership behaviors to social, psychological, and health-related situations, and expand nursing knowledge and career opportunities with the potential to advance as a nursing scholar. What support services do you offer students enrolled in your online nursing programs? The university’s student support services provide support for the nursing degree programs through advising, faculty support, library, and other academic services for tutoring and success coaching. Because the programs are fully online, students may access these services electronically or by phone. Local students may come to campus or may access resources remotely. The university also maintains all services and web-enabled services, which allow students to register for classes online, check financial accounts, access electronic information from the University Library, and engage in distance education. Blackboard provides technical support to students, faculty members, and staff. Any other information you’d like prospective students to know about your nursing programs? We are currently offering discounted cohort opportunities to maximize staff development and reduce costs. We are competitive in cost with other nursing programs and offer corporate partner discounts. Students may transfer up to 90 credit hours towards the RN to BS in Nursing program. There are no nursing prerequisite courses required, and students will receive prior learning assessment credit for Anatomy & Physiology. Learn more at regent.edu/nursing.

How Does an Online RN Program Work?

Online RN programs combine the flexibility of distance learning with classroom work and hands-on clinicals. Many of the more academically-oriented courses take place online, while group and/or patient-centered activities occur at medical facilities. This combination makes online RN programs “hybrid” or “blended” in nature. While some post-licensure programs can be taken fully online, nearly all pre-licensure nursing programs with an online component are partially online. Let’s see how these hybrid programs work, and if online learning could make sense for your registered nursing education.

Nursing Programs & Accreditation

Accreditation refers to the independent review of a school or program to ensure it meets certain educational standards. This is particularly important with online nursing programs, where it can be very tempting for schools to cut corners to make it easier for students to graduate. When researching campus or online nursing programs, make sure the schools on your shortlist have (1) regional accreditation and (2) programmatic accreditation specific to nursing. The following accrediting bodies are key:

Why NCLEX-RN Pass Rates Matter

Accreditation confirms a nursing program meets basic education standards, and it’s a sign that the program readies its students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Passing this exam is required to work as a registered nurse in all 50 states.

The NCLEX-RN exam is managed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and administered by Pearson VUE. It uses computerized adaptive testing, which means the test taker completes the exam on a computer, with the computer deciding which questions to provide the test taker based on how they answered the prior question. This means the exam may be different for every person, including the number of questions they must answer. Most test questions are in multiple choice format.

Because there’s so much weight on passing the exam, NCLEX-RN pass rates should be a key component in your nursing program search. Higher pass rates mean that a program’s curriculum is complete and its educators are well-versed in the nursing profession and education standards.

To learn how to pass the NCLEX on your first try, check out our guide on acing the exam.

Can You Get into an Online RN Program?

Exact requirements to gain acceptance into an online nursing program depends largely on the type of program. For instance, for a post-licensure program, incoming students need to already have a registered nursing license. This requirement does not exist for students entering a pre-licensure program. In contrast, students entering a pre-licensure program do have certain academic prerequisites that registered nurses enrolled in a BSN completion program won’t need to complete. In addition to academic prerequisites, incoming students also need to meet other admission requirements.

For a detailed review of what it takes to get in, check out our expert guide on getting into nursing school.

The Admissions Process

Prospective nursing students need to pay close attention to each program’s admissions requirements, as there are a wide number of variations between programs. In addition to admission to the school, there are also degree-specific admissions requirements. At the very least, students will submit an application and evidence that they meet the physical requirements for the program. Below is a list of other common admissions criteria.

Inside Online RN Programs

One of the strengths of nurses as healthcare professionals is their broad level of knowledge. So it comes as no surprise that the nursing curriculum for training registered nurses covers a wide arrange of subjects and topics. While each program has the freedom to create its own curriculum, all registered nursing students will take courses in several key areas, including:

Evidence Based Practice: All pre-licensure nursing programs require students to complete several courses focused on understanding medical research and how it applies to improving medical outcomes. In these courses, students will learn basic concepts concerning statistical analysis, the research process, and how this information contributes to the creation of policies and procedures in the healthcare setting.

Ethics: The general principles of ethics in the medical field are fairly straightforward. But when those ideas intersect with the real world, moral conundrums that can stump even the most seasoned medical professional can arise. Therefore, registered nurses must learn to put the overarching ethical principles within the context of society, legal statutes, regulations, and medical science.

Leadership and Management: Providing healthcare services is a team effort, with registered nurses being key players. It’s important for future registered nurses to understand how the managing of nurses takes place in a medical facility, such as a hospital. Nursing students will also learn about the financial aspect of providing healthcare services to patients and how economic considerations play a part in healthcare.

Critical Care and Assessment: In these courses, nursing students learn how to assess patients and provide necessary medical care, especially for serious or traumatic injuries. One of the key skills of any medical professional is being able to identify a medical issue as quickly as possible. Another equally important skill is being able to take that initial assessment and convert that into actionable behavior, such as a specific intervention or treatment.

Nursing students may develop additional hard and soft skills during their program, as well. This may happen during academic coursework, but likely will be put into practice via in-person clinicals.

Specialization & Career Growth

When it comes to career growth, nurses have a plethora of specializations available to them. Moving into a specific area of practice can increase career prospects due to a higher degree of skill required. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular specializations for registered nurses. For more ideas and to find the right specialization for you, take our Nursing Specialties Quiz.

The Cost of an Online RN Program

One of the major decisions to make when choosing an online registered nursing program is how much it costs to complete it. The exact cost depends on a variety of factors, such as residency status, program type, and the availability of financial aid. However, to provide a general idea of tuition costs, we’ve chosen three sample schools.

Paying for an RN Program

A nursing education isn’t cheap. Even though most nurses can expect to make a decent income after graduation, they must still figure out how to pay for the cost of education to get to that point. Like any other student, nurses are eligible for several forms of financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. But there are also some options tailored specifically to nursing students.