Online RN to BSN Programs in Louisiana: Comparing Top Schools
Earning an RN to BSN degree online in Louisiana is a logical next step for your professional growth as an RN. Learn about the top programs in the state, what to expect from the curriculum, the considerations you should make when choosing one, and the salary comparisons between RN and BSN roles in the healthcare industry.
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How Online RN to BSN Programs Work in Louisiana
After earning an associate degree and RN license, you can advance your career with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, often in a year or less. RN to BSN programs — especially those with online components — are built with working nurses in mind, making it easier to increase both job opportunities and earning potential without stepping away from the workforce.
When comparing online RN to BSN programs in Louisiana, focus on these factors:
- Program format: Many options are fully online and asynchronous, while others include limited in-person or hybrid requirements.
- Time and cost: Completion timelines, tuition, and available financial aid can vary widely.
- Fit and requirements: Review curriculum content, admission criteria, and how well each program balances work, school, and personal commitments.
Below are three standout RN to BSN programs that reflect what students like you can expect during the program selection process.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria
This university’s 100%-online RN to BSN program is designed for working nurses, with an eye toward graduates entering specialties such as health education, pediatric care, critical care, and staff management. The program operates on seven-week semesters, allowing full-time students to complete two courses per term.
The program requires 45 bachelor’s-level credit hours and includes courses in leadership, care for vulnerable populations, quality improvement strategies, and evidence-based practice. An advisor is assigned to each student to help develop a personalized curriculum plan. Financial aid sources are available for this course for students who qualify.
Duration: 12 to 18 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $14,625
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university
- An active and unencumbered RN license
- A cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher
- A letter of good standing from an RN-BSN program if you are transferring
Curriculum:
- Professional Role Development
- Health Assessment
- Informatics
- Pathophysiology
- Community Nursing
- Nursing Research
Programs that might interest you:
McNeese State University
The 30-credit, accelerated RN to BSN program at McNeese State offers six start dates per year, with classes lasting 7 weeks. With an emphasis on the professional side of leadership in nursing care, including a curriculum based on communication and collaboration, the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
This program features a special tuition discount for nurses, spouses, dependents, and military members who are part of a partner program from the university. The program also encourages people to apply for grants and loans through FAFSA.
Duration: 10 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $9,000 with a $2,000 discount for nurses with partner healthcare agencies
Admissions Requirements:
- A current and unencumbered RN license
- An associate degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Official transcripts
Curriculum:
- Professional Role Transition for RNs
- Informatics/Patient Care Technology
- Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Community Health Nursing
- Leadership and Management
- Business of Healthcare
Nicholls State University
The RN to BSN program at Nicholls State is designed to build on the skills of registered nurses and help them find roles with greater responsibility or specialization. It also emphasizes how nurses with a bachelor’s degree are better able to positively affect patient and population outcomes through advanced techniques.
The program emphasizes evidence-based, patient-centered care in its courses with critical thinking, nursing informatics, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership as particular signposts. It aligns with the American Nurses Association’s “BSN-in-10” initiative, encouraging RNs to obtain their BSN within 10 years of initial licensure.
Duration: 12 to 18 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $26,400
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university
- An active and unencumbered RN license
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Transcripts
Curriculum:
- Clinical Drug Therapy
- Medical Terminology
- Preoperative Nursing Principles and Practices
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Critical Care Nursing
FAQs for Louisiana RN to BSN Online Students
As you explore Louisiana’s online RN to BSN programs, you will have at least a few questions. Check out our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
How will an RN to BSN program in Louisiana prepare me for better career opportunities?
Some hospitals and facilities require nurses to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing beyond the standard associate degree. Earning a BSN also opens the door for working in medical research, nursing education roles, and positions in public health to affect policy and outcomes for community populations.
With a BSN, nurses can apply for a greater range of job opportunities in the healthcare industry. This means wider availability of leadership roles, many of which still involve direct patient care but include responsibilities for leading key initiatives and groups of nursing teams.
Is there financial aid available to Louisiana RN to BSN students?
Yes, students in Louisiana’s online RN to BSN programs have ample financial aid options available, including grants, scholarships, student loans, and fellowships. As an example of how detailed these can be, and for nursing students interested in serving in understaffed hospitals, the federal government offers the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program.
The Louisiana state government also has a long list of state-specific scholarships, though none are currently nursing-specific. The state program known as TOPS, the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is popular among nursing students, as it pays for full tuition.
In what ways does earning a BSN in Louisiana expand my knowledge base?
Much of what you are taught in a BSN program goes into more detail about nursing techniques, distinct patient populations, from the elderly to children, and communication and leadership techniques for becoming a nurse manager or director.
Plus, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing requires 30 hours of continuing education (or 900 practice hours) every two years, and earning the degree certainly covers that requirement. An RN to BSN program is an organized and comprehensive way to provide better patient care or influence its results on a larger scale
Will RN to BSN programs in Louisiana accept my past educational credits?
Yes, but what is accepted may differ between each university or school. Most RN to BSN programs require about 120 credits, but close to or more than half of those are from your time in earning an associate degree in nursing, which likely led to your RN license.
You will submit transcripts to show how you did in each course and get a good idea of what will transfer at the admission stage when starting a program.
What are the best qualities for an RN to BSN degree program in Louisiana?
Consider objective traits such as accreditation, cost, financial aid options, quality curriculum, and student support services. Subjective traits relate to your preferred learning style and should be considered as well. If you want an asynchronous program, the University of Louisiana Lafayette might work, while the RN to BSN program at Franciscan University is a better fit for someone who wants live, interactive class sessions. The goal is to balance personal course delivery preferences with excellent quality.
Expert Insight
If you’re the nurse who engages in team projects at work or you’re involved in work committees, you might do well in RN to BSN programs that include virtual interactions with classmates and professors. But if you’re the nurse who prefers to get your work done independently, you might do well with asynchronous learning (access to course material on your own time).
Salary & Career Comparison: RN vs. BSN
Louisiana's hospital landscape still bears the mark of Katrina and the storms that followed: Gulf Coast facilities know how to run lean during a crisis, and that culture shapes how they staff. Ochsner Health and the state's other large regional systems reserve specialty, charge, and leadership positions mostly for bachelor's-prepared nurses, pulling their pay toward the upper end of the scale. In the rural areas outside New Orleans and Baton Rouge, hospitals can't afford to be picky, so associate-degree RNs stay in consistent demand, generally landing in the lower stretch of this range.
Registered Nurses
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $62,220 | $81,680 | $108,120 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $65,330 | $81,130 | $103,230 |
| Hammond, LA | $65,330 | $76,200 | $98,200 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $55,150 | $75,740 | $102,150 |
| Lafayette, LA | $63,490 | $81,960 | $105,300 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $62,570 | $90,690 | $121,680 |
| Louisiana | $63,800 | $80,230 | $104,740 |
| Monroe, LA | $61,970 | $78,270 | $97,460 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $65,660 | $81,850 | $103,180 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $68,530 | $80,080 | $126,850 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $63,800 | $81,160 | $101,290 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025
Showing 1 – 10 of 11 entries | Data does not reflect school-specific information.
