Online BSN Programs in Michigan: An Inside Look

So, if you’re thinking that a career in nursing may be for you, keep reading to learn how to pick the right BSN program and program type, what you’ll learn in your coursework, what job opportunities await you upon graduation, and much more. Let’s get started by looking at our list of the top online and hybrid BSN programs in the state.

Main Benefits of BSN Programs in Michigan

There are several benefits, both academic and professional, to obtaining your bachelor’s in nursing from a Michigan BSN program that you simply can’t get from an associate degree in nursing or nursing diploma alone. Here are three of the most valuable:

Access to Strong Professional Network

It is hard to overstate the importance to your nursing career of creating and maintaining a solid base of professional connections. For those nursing professionals who put the time and effort into it, networking can pay big dividends educationally, vocationally, and socially. Michigan BSN program students have access to valuable networking opportunities with their instructors, career counselors and mentors, fellow BSN students, nursing school alumni groups, and professional associations, among others.

Broad Range of Clinical Opportunities

Clinical rotations play a major role in all pre-licensure BSN programs. Michigan-based BSN programs provide their students access to a wide range of major clinical rotation placements across the state, including the most respected hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and healthcare facilities. That’s a big plus for your resume. And remember, it’s not uncommon for clinical sites to hire the BSN students who complete rotations with them.

Wide Array of Prestigious Nursing Schools

While community colleges and associate degree-granting programs offer students high quality education and training, students enrolled in BSN programs gain important academic and professional advantages by earning their degrees from highly respected nursing schools at one of Michigan’s many prestigious colleges and universities.

Program Checklist: Features to Look for in a Michigan BSN Program

Regardless of the school or program you’re interested in, there are a few items you’ll want tick off of your BSN program checklist before signing up. Here are three of the most important items to look for:

Accreditation

Accreditation is how you know a BSN program has been vetted for academic quality, so it’s critical that you confirm that your chosen school has the proper institutional and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation is administered by several regional and national agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Most nursing degree programs, including BSN programs in Michigan, are accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). You can use the Department of Educations’ Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs search engine to check the current accreditation status of both Michigan BSN programs and the colleges and universities that offer them.

Format That Fits Your Needs

Success in your BSN studies depends not only on what you study, but how you study. As you start your program search, you’ll quickly discover that there are lots of variables to consider in terms of format (online, hybrid, traditional/in-person), course delivery (synchronous or asynchronous), and program pace (part-time, full-time, self-paced). Knowing the combination of format, delivery method, and pace that works best for you is essential.

Student Support Resources

BSN programs in Michigan understand that a quality nursing education goes beyond what happens in the classroom. That’s why they make it a priority to provide their students with a number of support services. These typically include academic and career counseling, financial aid opportunities, tutoring and mentorship services, and more. Many schools go further to provide additional services aimed at supporting students’ overall well-being. An excellent example is the package of Student Wellness Resources offered by the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing.

Types of BSN Programs in Michigan

We mentioned earlier that there are many different BSN program types out there, each one geared toward students with different academic and professional backgrounds, as well as career goals. Below are descriptions of the various types of BSN programs in Michigan to help you determine which one works best for you. You’ll also find examples of current Michigan BSN programs of each type.

FAQs About BSN Programs in Michigan

Still have questions about BSN programs in Michigan? Below we’ll answer a few of the most common questions prospective nursing students have about BSN programs. From selecting the right program to figuring out what to do with your degree once you’ve earned it, we’ve got you covered.

Are there online or part-time options available for BSN programs in Michigan?

Generally speaking, the answer is yes, but the availability of online or part-time programs depends heavily on the type of BSN program. For example, virtually all pre-licensure BSN programs (traditional BSN, ABSN, LPN to BSN) are campus-based. However, most offer at least some coursework, particularly general education courses, either fully or partially online. And, as we mentioned earlier, almost all RN to BSN programs are offered at least partially online.

Part-time study is also a common feature of RN to BSN programs, but less common of pre-licensure BSN programs. One exception is the part-time option available at the University of Detroit Mercy’s BSN for Transfer Students program.

Can I transfer credits from another institution?

Students in pre-licensure BSN programs in Michigan will find that most schools accept transfer credits, especially general education and nursing prerequisite courses. It’s much less common for programs–pre-licensure and RN to BSN alike–to accept nursing course credits from another school because every BSN program teaches nursing subjects in their own way, both in terms of content and course structure. Examples of nursing schools in Michigan that accept transfer credits include those at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan-Flint, and the University of Detroit Mercy (linked above).

Do online BSN programs in Michigan require clinical experience?

This one’s simple—yes. All pre-licensure programs require students to complete supervised clinical rotation hours at healthcare facilities. These rotations are a requirement to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. The specific number of clinical hours varies somewhat from program to program. For example, students in Michigan State University’s ABSN program complete approximately 765 clinical hours over the course of the four-semester program.

What are my career prospects after finishing my BSN in Michigan?

There are several reasons to get a BSN degree, all of which significantly improve your career prospects. First and foremost, a BSN degree prepares students who are not already registered nurses to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain their RN license. Second, a BSN degree provides current RNs the additional knowledge and skills they need to obtain more complex, and better paying, clinical and leadership positions. It’s also the degree preferred by most employers today, as well as the credential required for admission into most graduate-level nursing degree and certificate programs.

Job & Salary Outlook for Michigan BSN Nurses

No matter how rewarding you think a nursing career may be, you probably still have questions. That's why we have compiled the data below. You'll find information on the job outlook for RNs and salaries for these professionals. Michigan nurses earn, on average, $81,710 per year. The 90th percentile of workers makes $101,610, while the 10th percentile earns $67,450. In Battle Creek specifically, the 10th percentile of registered nurses makes $65,600, and the 90th percentile makes $111,010. The average in this area is $79,660 per year. In the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area, salaries also differ from state figures—ranging between $69,770 and $98,870. The average salary is $81,050. There will be 5,950 additional jobs added to the nursing profession in Michigan every year, representing a 2.70% increase. In the United States, there will be a 5.60% increase, which equates to an additional 193,100 jobs added annually. Find more data in the tables below.