Top Board-Approved Online RN to BSN Programs in Montana (MT)

Montana State University – Billings (MSU – Billings)

If you want to earn a BSN without commuting to class, the RN to BSN program at Montana State University–Billings offers a 49-credit completion plan built around online study.

The curriculum includes 33 nursing credits and 16 supporting credits, with courses in:

• Health assessment
• Informatics
• Evidence-based practice
• Community health
• Leadership

Most courses follow eight-week blocks, and the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Duration: About one year for full-time students. Individualized part-time plans are also available.

Mode: All classes are online. The program also includes two one-credit clinical courses, one in community nursing and one in leadership. Each course requires 45 hours of clinical and project work, which you can complete at your workplace or in your community.

Cost: Based on 2026–2027 rates, the semester cost is approximately $3,721.99 for 12+ credits for Montana residents or $6,493.63 for nonresidents. There’s also an $800-per-semester RN-to-BSN program fee.

Admissions Requirements:

• An associate degree in nursing (ADN)
• A completed MSU–Billings application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• A current, unencumbered RN license or proof of a scheduled National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)-RN examination
• An active, unencumbered RN license before beginning the Community and Leadership clinical courses.

University of Providence

The online RN to BSN program at the University of Providence, a Catholic university in Great Falls, uses a cohort model built around the experience nurses already bring to practice.

In this CCNE-accredited, 37-credit program, you’ll take classes with the same classmates from start to finish. The lessons relate directly to day-to-day nursing, meaning you can put what you learn to use in your current role.

Courses include:

• Research methods and statistics
• Evidence-based practice
• Ethical decision-making and spirituality
• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Public health and health promotion
• Nursing informatics
• Leadership, quality, and safety

Duration: 12 consecutive months over three semesters. Each semester has two eight-week sessions, with two courses per session.

Mode: Courses are fully online and asynchronous, and assignments have weekly deadlines. The program has no campus visits, in-person classes, or clinical requirements.

Cost: Standard tuition for 2026–2027 is $972 per credit, totaling about $35,964 for 37 credits. Eligible healthcare professionals pay $586 per credit, or $21,682. The university also has a $1,200 annual full-time student service fee and a $90 graduation fee.

Admissions Requirements:

• An ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited institution
• A minimum 2.75 GPA, with an essay or academic review possible for applicants below this threshold
• An active, unencumbered RN license from the state where the applicant lives and works
• A completed NursingCAS application
• Official undergraduate transcripts

Montana State University – Northern (MSU – Northern)

Earning a BSN doesn’t have to mean leaving the community where you live and work. Montana State University–Northern’s RN to BSN Completion Program combines online coursework with clinical experiences completed close to home.

The curriculum covers a wide range of courses, including:

• Leadership
• Population health
• Clinical decision-making
• Evidence-based practice
• Informatics
• Healthcare ethics

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Montana Board of Nursing.

Duration: Three semesters, about one year, when completed full time. Part-time study is available, and you’ll have up to five consecutive years to finish the program.

Mode: Classes are 100% online, and you’ll complete 90 clinical hours in your local area.

Cost: Based on 2026–2027 online rates, three full-time semesters cost about $11,403 for Montana residents and $33,772 for nonresidents. Eligible Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Canadian students pay about $15,798. These estimates assume 12 to 18 credits per semester.

Admissions Requirements:

• An Associate of Science in Nursing from MSU–Northern or another approved nursing program
• Admission to MSU–Northern and a separate RN to BSN program application
• A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended
• A current RN license in the state where the practicum will occur or proof of NCLEX-RN registration and a scheduled exam date