Top Accredited RN to BSN Programs Online

Designed for working nurses who want their four-year degree, online RN-to-BSN programs are a great pathway to career advancement and a higher salary. BSN-holders earn an average of $32.92 per hour, according to PayScale. RNs who possess a BSN may also be more aligned to secure advanced nursing positions and are eligible for MSN programs that can lead to even higher-level roles within healthcare.

In as little as 3 years, RNs can walk away with the credential they need to open the door to new career opportunities and secure a higher paycheck. And with an online program, students don’t even have to stop working to get the education they need.

With so many options available, choosing the right program for your personal and professionals needs can sometimes seem complex. To help you on your journey, we’ve researched the top online RN-to-BSN program from around the country. See who made our list of top schools in 2022.

2022’s Best Online RN to BSN Programs

According to Nightingale College, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a required degree for many registered nursing job openings. This makes it critical for RNs without a bachelor’s (and who want to advance) to find a program that allows them to go to school while balancing their workload. Our goal is to help current RNs to find the best bridge program to suit their needs. Each RN-BSN program varies depending its the availability of online courses, advanced curriculum, college and departmental accreditations, program length, and tuition costs. Note that aside from online learning, many BSN students must take on-site clinical placements, as well. We’ve identified the schools that are top all-around candidates for a great education. See if one is right for you.

Profiling Online RN to BSN Programs

The RN to BSN online is one of the most popular nursing bridge programs in the virtual format. Schools from across the country are helping RNs get their bachelor’s and take the necessary steps to boost their careers. However, when it’s time to pick a program, questions may linger. How long will it take? Can I even afford it right now? To help you answer those critical questions, we’ve collected key program details from some of today’s leading RN to BSN bridges online.

The School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The University of Wisconsin’s [email protected] program is designed expressly for working nurses and can be completed in as little as a year and a half. This program prepares nurses for advanced roles or professional specialized leadership. Wisconsin’s 33-credit bridge program accepts nursing transfer credits from a two-year college. Prerequisites include completion of an RN or a Diploma in Nursing from an accredited institution. Applicants must have also completed 24-transferable non-nursing credits from their community college program and high school coursework in algebra, plane geometry, and college-preparatory math. Students who have a bachelor’s degree in any field can complete the online accelerated BSN in 12 months. The first class requires a day of on-campus orientation. Online tuition is $10,555/year. Accreditations are from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX-RN. Applications are made through the UW System Application for Admission.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The 100% online RN to BSN program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is comprised of 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months. Online courses run on an 8-week timetable. Core curriculum includes 9 courses and an eight-week capstone project. Prerequisite courses must also be completed prior to graduation and include studies in English literature, art, history, statistics, chemistry, college algebra, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. Total off-campus tuition for the bridge program is $9,500. The total cost of the general education courses is based on the number of credit hours the student has already completed. To enter, students must hold an unencumbered RN license. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Applications must be made online at the university’s website.

Washington State University College of Nursing

WDU’s online RN-BSN degree-completion program can be taken on a full- or part-time basis. There is one campus-based meeting per semester. The 32-credit program focuses on assessment, leadership/management, ethics, research, informatics, community health, and mental health. The nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Applicants must hold a current RN license, have junior-year college standing (60 transfer hours), and have completed college prerequisites in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, growth and development across the lifespan, nutrition, sociology, psychology, microbiology, and statistics. In-state tuition for the program is $5,145 per semester. The online bridge programs are offered through WSU campuses in Spokane, Walla Walla, Pullman, Yakima, and Vancouver. To apply, students must first contact an academic advisor at their respective campus.

Interview with Online RN to BSN Leadership

Choosing the best online RN to BSN program for you can be challenging. It’s a big decision and there are a lot of options. We reached out to deans of nursing colleges to give them the opportunity to share why prospective students should pick their program over others.

University name		location	School type	online programs	Get more info	Program Description
West Coast University		location: Campuses in CA, FL, TX	School type: Private for-profit	online programs: 1	Get more info	Q&A with Robyn M. Nelson, PhD, MSN, RN Dean, College of Nursing RN to BSN Online What’s your involvement at WCU with online learning? I am the Chief Nursing Officer in the eyes of our professional accreditor, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), for all nursing programs at WCU (BSN, MSN, and DNP) regardless of the modality (on-ground or online). What makes your online RN to BSN program stand out from other programs? The seamless transition from the associate degree or diploma nursing program—42 semester units for nursing regardless of the program completed; and we accept 42 semester units of general education, as long as they are transferrable units. We do not have specific GE categories or required upper division GE. Most RN-BSN students spent many years in college, and most RN-BSN students only have 36 units to complete—either as an accelerated schedule in as little as 12 months or a schedule designed for the working professional in as little as 24 months. How does your online program in RN to BSN prepare students for successful careers in the field? The graduate of our RN-BSN program is eligible for the CA Public Health Nursing Certificate and employment in a community-based setting, and they earn a Nurse Manager Certificate from Sigma, the international honor society of nursing. The RN-BSN curriculum focuses on preparing the RN for leadership positions, and being a consumer of research, using evidence-based practice to inform clinical decisions. What support services do you offer students enrolled in your online RN to BSN program? They are supported from their initial contact to WCU with an experience admissions advisor, followed by a Student Success advisor who is part of a dynamic Student Advising team that will assist each student in achieving their educational aspirations. We believe the WCU Online Student Advising support is the new gold standard for all universities to emulate. The ongoing assistance with professional and career development guidance enhances the prospect for securing employment and obtaining professional success. Our career services department offers career planning advice, assistance from resume writing, interview preparation to job leads and more! We can help you prepare make the most out of every career opportunity. Any other information you’d like prospective students to know about your program? Nursing is one education with many career opportunities. Their goal should be to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing—whether through completion of an associate degree in nursing initially and then the Bachelor of Science degree—employers want BSN-prepared nurses and the patients we serve benefit when the RN has a BSN.

Online RN to BSN Programs in Detail

There are critical factors to weigh when researching and applying to RN to BSN degree programs — especially to the online bridge format. First consider the breakdown of each program’s curriculum, including nursing core requirements, general education classes, labs, and clinical placements, and then consider the program length. Bridge programs run from one to two years, depending on completed prerequisites, the number of two-year courses that the student can transfer, and whether the student attends on a full- or part-time basis. Then, there is the cost of the program, typically based on the number of semesters each student needs to complete. Here’s a breakdown of key attributes to consider when searching for the best program to suit your professional goals:

Inside the RN to BSN Curriculum

The curriculum within RN to BSN bridge programs is designed for RNs who want to advance their careers or prepare for graduate nursing programs. Bridge programs address key competencies needed for success in the profession. The curriculum consists of general education courses, nursing core classes, studies in nursing theory, leadership, labs, and clinical experiences.

How Long Does an Online RN to BSN Program Take?

In general, students can complete their 60-credit RN to BSN program in as little as 24 months on a full-time basis. For nurses pursing a part-time program, the degree can take up to three years. Wholly online didactic studies may be self-paced, affecting time of completion. Online nursing students can complete their degrees faster than they would at brick and mortar colleges since they may finish their didactic courses ahead of deadlines. Other variables impacting time to graduation are whether their 60 course credits transfer from an ADN program and if the applicant has satisfied all lower-division prerequisites. RNs may also receive credit for work experience, shortening the total number of credits required for graduation.

Here is a sample timeline for completing an online RN to BSN program:

Admissions for RN to BSN Programs

Admission requirements for bridge programs may vary by institution, however the most-common ones call for completion of an RN degree or nursing diploma from an accredited school and possession of a current RN license. Some programs require an applicant interview or essay. Those with nursing experience must provide a verification of work from their employers and a resume. Applicants must also provide transcripts from their two-year nursing programs to demonstrate completion of the bridge program’s prerequisite coursework.

Cost of an RN to BSN Online Program

RN to BSN programs require tuition and fees, just like any other educational program. Online bridge programs may accelerate learning, decreasing the number of courses or credits required for graduation and along with it, the total cost. In effect, they can be less expensive than on-campus programs. Online tuition may be based on the university’s annual undergraduate fees or by the number of college credits per course. Since didactic courses may be self-paced, online students must keep up or extend their program length and tuition depending on progress. Tuition may also vary by the institution’s prestige or specializations. Here’s a range of tuition (low to high) charged for online RN to BSN degree completion programs:

For information on how to make your online RN to BSN program more affordable, check out the following pages:

Sources:

4 Semester Plan of Study
Florida Atlantic University

Benefits of an Online RN to BSN Program
University of Texas

NCLEX & Other Exams
National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Nursing, RN to BSN
Western Governors University

Online Nursing Programs: How They Work & Why to Take Them
Nightingale University

Programs of Study
The University of Alabama School of Nursing

Registered Nurses
Bureau of Labor Statistics

RN to BSN General Education Course Requirements
The University of Missouri School of Nursing

RN to BSN Course Requirements
Weber State University

RN to BSN Online Nursing Program
Drexel University

RN-To-BSN Program Benefits
Nightingale College

RN-To-BSN Program Description
Nightingale College

The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.
U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health