Online RN to BSN Programs in Michigan: Flexible Degree Completion
An online RN to BSN program can be a fast and convenient way to advance your nursing career. This EduMed guide provides details on some of the top online RN to BSN programs in Michigan today, including information on tuition, curriculum content, delivery methods, admission requirements, and more.
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Inside Three Popular Michigan Programs
As nursing continues to evolve with new technologies and treatment models, many employers now favor RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). For nurses, earning a BSN can translate into stronger job prospects, leadership and specialty roles, and higher earning potential.
If you’re a licensed RN with a nursing diploma or associate degree, an online RN to BSN program offers a flexible, cost-effective way to advance. Here’s how these programs typically work:
- Credit transfer and RN credit: Credits from your diploma or ADN program transfer into your BSN, and you’ll usually earn additional credit simply for holding an active RN license.
- Shorter completion time: Although a BSN typically requires about 120 credits, many RN to BSN students need as few as 30 additional credits to graduate.
- Online flexibility: Online coursework allows you to study on your own schedule, making it easier to balance work, family, and other responsibilities while advancing your education.
Together, these advantages make online RN to BSN programs a practical next step for working nurses ready to move forward in their careers. Below, we spotlight three top programs in Michigan, and include key details on admissions requirements, cost, curriculum, and delivery methods.
Online RN to BSN Program — Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University offers an Online RN to BSN program that prepares professionals to approach patient care with an understanding of the cultural, political, and socio-economic issues that impact the communities they serve. Evidence-based research is also a prominent part of the curriculum.
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the program. Transfer credits are encouraged and can be evaluated with an EMU advisor as you create a study program to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Duration: 1 to 2 years
Mode: Online and asynchronous, plus capstone course requiring in-person precepted practice experience
Cost: $328/credit ($9,840 for 30 credits, tuition only)
Admissions Requirements:
- Valid RN license
- At least a 2.5 GPA
- Transcripts
Curriculum:
- Reading & Writing in Nursing Studies
- Health Assessment for RNs
- RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: The Professional Role
- RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: Nurse as Advocate
- Nursing Research Concepts for Practice
- Community-Based Nursing for RNs
- RN Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice: Nurse as Leader
- Additional two elective courses
- Capstone Course
Programs that might interest you:
RN-BSN Degree Completion Program — Siena Heights University
Designed for working RNs, the Nursing RN to BSN (Online) program at Siena Heights University is based on a liberal arts foundation that “embraces caring, diversity, and creativity.” The course of study is presented entirely online and can be completed in as few as 16 months, depending on the student’s number of previously-earned credits.
A variety of financial aid resources is available to qualifying RN to BSN students, including scholarships and grants, student loans, and more.
Duration: 16 months
Mode: Online and asynchronous
Cost: $375/credit
Admissions Requirements:
- An active RN license
- At least 40 transferable credits for an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Current professional resume
Curriculum:
- Transition to Professional Nursing
- Health Care of Communities and Vulnerable Populations
- Evidence-Based Research in Nursing Practice
- Health Policy and Informatics
- Ethical, Cultural, and Spiritual Nursing Practice
- Leadership in Healthcare Organizations
RN to BSN Program Pathways — Davenport University
Davenport University’s online BSN Completion Pathway option is for students with an ADN degree and RN licensure seeking to advance their careers by obtaining evidence-based knowledge in community nursing and leadership through online classes and in-person clinical experiences.
Students are awarded 90 transfer credits for their previously-earned ADN and RN licensure. The remaining 31 credits required to receive their BSN degree are earned through coursework completed through Davenport over the course of one year (three semesters).
A flexible series of start dates means that working nurses can best choose starting and ending times according to their current career needs.
Duration: 1 year
Mode: Mostly online, with in-person lab and clinical requirements
Cost: $1,070/credit
Admissions Requirements:
- Current active RN license
- At least a 2.5 GPA
- Associate degree in nursing
- Transcripts
- Background check
- One professional recommendation
Curriculum:
- Pathophysiology
- Professional Writing
- Introduction to Health Careers
- Introduction to Biostatistics
- Health Care Research
- Health Promotion and Education
- Health Assessment in Nursing
- Evidence Based Nursing Practice
- Community Health Nursing/Clinical
- Nursing Manager Leader/Clinical
- Nursing Capstone
Michigan RN to BSN Student FAQs
As you explore your online RN to BSN program options, you’re bound to have questions of your own regarding how programs work and the benefits of obtaining a nursing bachelors for your career. To help you out, below are the answers to five commonly-asked questions by prospective Michigan RN to BSN students.
What are the elements of a quality RN to BSN program in Michigan?
There are two basic steps to take when considering the quality of an online RN to BSN program in Michigan:
- Confirm that the Michigan Board of Nursing authorizes your program by visiting its list of approved nursing programs.
- Confirm that the program is programmatically accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Proper programmatic accreditation ensures that the program you’re considering meets important standards of academic quality.
What financial aid is available to Michigan RN to BSN students?
Obtaining funding help is critical to most prospective RN to BSN students. Fortunately, there is a wide range of financial aid resources available to qualifying students, which often include:
- Scholarships and grants
- Tuition discounts
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- Tuition deferment and installment plans
- Student loans (both public and private)
Federal sources of financial aid are among the most popular, so it’s a must that you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible.
Most schools offer their own need- or merit-based scholarships as well. You will additionally want to check into scholarship opportunities provided through the Michigan Board of Nursing and the Michigan Nurses Foundation.
The best place to start your funding search is by contacting the financial aid offices at each of the schools you’re considering.
What are the different types of delivery for an online RN to BSN program in Michigan?
Online RN to BSN programs in Michigan can be fully-online or hybrid-formatted, the latter combining both online and in-person elements. In either case, online content may be delivered in one of two ways:
- Synchronous: Students are required to log on and attend class sessions via live stream at specifically-scheduled dates and times.
- Asynchronous: Students can log on and complete coursework (prerecorded lectures, assignments, etc.) at any time fitting their individual schedules.
Asynchronous delivery is particularly popular with online RN to BSN programs since it provides tremendous convenience for working RNs who must fit their studies in between nursing shifts. Also, it is not uncommon for programs to combine both synchronous and asynchronous components.
What are some ways to stay focused while taking an online RN to BSN course in Michigan?
Learning and practicing effective time management techniques is a great start for finding the right balance between work and study. Beyond that there are lots of other steps you can take for effective online study, including:
- Developing a firm study routine
- Developing solid online communication skills
- Finding a study partner
- Establishing a space exclusively for study
- Taking advantage of online resources
- Getting plenty of rest to avoid burnout
Expert Insight
Finding a study partner is especially helpful when attending school online. Think about your original nursing program. Your nursing cohort was your support system – they kept you accountable. Study partners can help you stay on track in an online program, but you’ll need to make more effort to stay connected since you aren’t regularly seeing each other in person.
How will an RN to BSN program in Michigan prepare me for better career opportunities?
Along with helping you level up your nursing skills and offering new ways to approach nursing, earning your nursing bachelor’s through an online RN to BSN program will prepare you to take on leadership and research roles. That makes you a more attractive prospect in the job market for better paying positions with higher quality employers.
Additionally, having your BSN degree positions you to continue your education to earn a graduate nursing degree leading to filling top administrative positions or becoming a Nurse Practitioner in any of a number of areas of advanced specialized practice.
RN vs. BSN Career & Salary Outlook in Michigan
Michigan's healthcare economy grew up alongside its auto industry, and that legacy of strong union-negotiated benefits still shapes how nurses get paid here. Henry Ford Health, University of Michigan Health, and Corewell Health increasingly reserve specialty and supervisory openings for bachelor's-prepared nurses, pushing their pay closer to the top of the scale. Head north into the Upper Peninsula, though, and hospitals are simply glad to have steady staff. Associate-degree RNs land those rural and community hospital roles quickly, usually toward the lower end of the scale.
Registered Nurses
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $82,680 | $103,450 | $135,330 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $80,030 | $97,520 | $122,390 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $78,140 | $97,280 | $110,650 |
| Flint, MI | $77,320 | $97,780 | $118,790 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $78,840 | $83,920 | $101,820 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $65,140 | $88,200 | $106,080 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $77,900 | $84,320 | $100,600 |
| Michigan | $77,260 | $94,300 | $116,710 |
| Midland, MI | $78,720 | $86,360 | $104,310 |
| Monroe, MI | $61,270 | $82,170 | $100,520 |
| Saginaw, MI | $76,600 | $95,160 | $113,820 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $66,870 | $93,540 | $141,390 |
| Traverse City, MI | $73,230 | $83,690 | $105,820 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025
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