Online RN to BSN Programs in Indiana: Finding a School

Inside the Programs: How They Work Online

Registered nurses with a current, unencumbered license can advance their education through an RN to BSN program in Indiana, often finishing in as little as 12 months. With many programs offered online, it’s possible to earn your bachelor’s degree while maintaining a full-time work schedule.

As you compare RN to BSN programs, keep these core points in mind:

1. Eligibility: Admission typically requires an active RN license, with some programs considering prior clinical or professional experience.
2. Format: Coursework is usually fully online, but most programs include a required in-person clinical practicum or simulation experience.
3. Time and cost savings: Some schools allow experienced RNs to apply work experience toward clinical requirements, potentially reducing both program length and tuition.

Below, you’ll find profiles of accredited online RN to BSN programs in Indiana to help you understand what these programs offer and what to expect during your search.

Online RN to BSN Student FAQs

Before committing to one of Indiana’s RN to BSN online programs, it’s important to understand what they entail. Asking the right questions can help you determine if a program is right for you.

Below, we’ve answered some of our readers’ most common questions about going from RN to BSN online.

How will an RN-to-BSN program in Indiana prepare me for more opportunities?

An RN-to-BSN program can prepare you for job promotions, graduate nursing programs, and a wider range of job opportunities. A bachelor’s degree provides a robust curriculum of courses and topics that prepare you to incorporate more advanced skills into your work and analyze healthcare issues on a deeper level.

If you’re considering furthering your education, a bachelor’s degree is also a way to lay the foundation for graduate studies. For example, if you’re thinking about pursuing different nursing specialties, you will need to earn a graduate degree, and schools will generally expect you to have bachelor’s-level training to enroll in these programs.

Additionally, furthering your education can help you prepare for non-nursing jobs for nurses, such as administration and writing positions. For example, if you’re thinking about becoming a nursing instructor or researcher in the future, you will need to earn a doctoral degree. These programs will also require that you have the preparation for graduate studies that a bachelor’s degree provides.

How long is an RN to BSN program in Indiana?

Though the shortest of Indiana’s RN to BSN online programs can be completed in just 10 months, in most cases, you can expect to spend at least one year on your studies. The amount of time it takes to complete an RN to BSN program depends on how many courses you’ve already taken and your chosen program.

Additionally, the amount of time you can devote to coursework will impact how long it will take you to finish your RN to BSN program. The full-time programs can be completed in about one year. However, if you enroll in a part-time program, you may take 18 months to over two years to finish your studies.

Is there financial aid available to Indiana RN to BSN students?

Yes, financial aid may be available from several sources. Although online programs may offer the most affordable RN to BSN programs in the state, you still may need some help paying for your education.

For example, Purdue Northwest offers scholarships for students in its RN to BSN program that can significantly reduce the amount they pay. Also, students may be able to get help paying off their student loans through government programs. Those willing to commit to two years of service in an approved, underserved facility can receive student loan repayment through the Indiana State Loan Repayment Program or the federal Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Additionally, many private organizations and employers offer nursing scholarships, like the ones provided by Ascension St. Vincent.

What skills will I learn in an RN to BSN program in Indiana?

You’ll ramp up your knowledge of best practices in clinical care and take courses in specialized topics like community health, management, and health assessment. You may also learn more about caring for specific populations. An Indiana RN to BSN online is a chance to build on the clinical skills you learned in your previous nursing training, as well as the experience you gained on the job.

When you finish your bachelor’s degree, what you’ve learned will help you boost the quality of the patient care you deliver. In fact, according to a study by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, healthcare facilities with more BSN nurses have more positive patient outcomes. Not only that, but they also boast significantly lower mortality rates among patients than facilities with fewer BSN nurses.

What should I look for in an RN to BSN degree program in Indiana?

Above all, choose a program that meets your educational needs and career goals. For example, a school like the University of Southern Indiana might be best if you still need to take your general education prerequisites. It’s also essential that you confirm a program is accredited by a recognized programmatic accrediting body, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

What you should look for in a program will be based on your personal preferences, such as whether you want to travel to campus or take courses entirely online.

Career Pathways and Projected Salaries: RN vs. BSN

As you advance in your education, you’re able to advance in your career and make more money. As a registered nurse, you make more than a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) because you’ve had more education to develop your skills.

When you earn a bachelor's degree, you’re able to make more money than you would with just an associate degree or diploma. While RNs make a healthy salary at $80,321 per year when they have an associate degree, their earning potential boosts to $90,046 annually with a bachelor’s degree.

Just as a registered nurse has a higher level of clinical skills than an LPN or LVN, your skillset will significantly improve with a bachelor’s degree. With this increased clinical knowledge, there will be opportunities to land higher-level positions. Some of the jobs that require a BSN include health educator, emergency room nurse, medical writer, pharmaceutical sales representative, and geriatric nurse positions.

As you can see, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing can open up many doors for you, so it’s definitely worth serious consideration.

Ranking Indiana’s Best Online RN to BSN Bridge Programs

There are several choices for online RN to BSN bridge programs in Indiana, but not all of them may be right for you. To figure out which schools have programs that will best help you meet your goals and needs, we have put together the rankings below.

Here are the best schools in Indiana for RN-to-BSN based on data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). If you want to learn more about how these rankings were compiled, be sure to review our methodology in the “About the Rankings” link below.