Online RN to BSN Programs in New Jersey: Comparing Schools
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Nursing Nursing Ed.Are you a registered nurse in New Jersey looking to advance your career and increase your earning potential? With an accredited online RN to BSN program in New Jersey, you can continue working while completing your degree, making career advancement more accessible than ever. This EduMed guide explores New Jersey’s top online RN to BSN programs, helping you find the right one for you.
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Inside Online RN to BSN Programs in New Jersey
Online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey are designed to help licensed registered nurses earn a bachelor’s degree while continuing to work. While each program differs in focus and structure, most share a set of core features you should understand before enrolling.
- Flexible online coursework: Didactic classes are typically delivered fully online, most often in an asynchronous format that allows you to complete assignments on your own schedule.
- Varied clinical requirements: Many programs include in-person clinical or practice experiences, while some can be completed entirely online with no on-site components.
- Program-specific emphasis: Differences in curriculum design, academic focus, and delivery methods make it important to review each program carefully to ensure it aligns with your career goals.
To help you compare your options, we’ve highlighted three current online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey. These spotlights offer a practical look at how individual programs are structured and what you can expect as a student.
RN to BSN Online – William Paterson University
A quick completion time is a major feature of the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program at William Paterson University. Coursework is delivered in an accelerated format that allows students to complete all program requirements in as few as 10 months.
Students must complete a total of 30 credits (27 credits of core coursework plus one 3-credit elective) in the program. Additional credits needed to earn the BSN come from transferred-in credits from the student’s ADN program and credits awarded for active RN licensure.
Graduates are prepared to take on a variety of specialized practice roles such as:
- Critical Care Nurse
- Hospice Nurse
- Nurse Case Manager
- Pediatric Nurse
- Surgical Nurse
Graduates are additionally prepared to continue their nursing education at the graduate (master’s or doctorate) level.
The RN to BSN Online program at WPU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Four start dates are available annually.
Duration: As few as 10 months
Mode: Fully online
Cost: $9,930 ($330/credit x 30 credits)
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
- 2.5 or higher GPA
- Valid, unencumbered RN license
Curriculum:
- Comprehensive Health Assessment for RN-BSN
- Nursing Research
- Dimensions of Public Health Post Licensure
- Healthcare Economics
- Leadership and Professional Practice
- Leadership Seminar
- Nursing Practice for RN-BSN
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Population Health, Legislation and Social Policy
- The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse or Advanced Pharmacology
Programs that might interest you:
Online RN to BSN – Montclair State University
The Online RN to BSN program at Montclair State University (MSU) is particularly notable for its emphasis on study convenience and flexibility.
All didactic coursework in the 30-credit curriculum is delivered entirely online in an asynchronous format that allow students to log on and attend to their studies at any time that fits their busy schedules. However, students must complete some clinical hours in-person in a program-affiliated community health setting.
Additionally, students have the choice of completing their courses of study in either an accelerated (four semester) or self-paced (two to three year) format.
As with most online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey, MSU requires 120 total credits to obtain the BSN degree, which includes (along with those earned in the RN to BSN program):
- Credits for general education, prerequisite science, and pre-licensure nursing courses completed in the student’s ADN program
- 30 competency credits awarded for passing the NCLEX-RN exam
Start dates are available in both the fall and spring.
Duration: Four semesters (accelerated) or two to three years (self-paced)
Mode: Fully online except for some in-person clinical hours
Cost: $7,839/semester
Admissions Requirements:
- ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited program earned with a 2.5 or higher overall GPA
- Current New Jersey RN license or eligibility for licensure if a new ADN/diploma graduate (must pass the NCLEX-RN exam within matriculation into the RN to BSN program)
Curriculum:
- Leadership in Nursing
- Transprofessional Communication and Collaboration
- Information Technology and Nursing Practice
- Genetics and Genomics for Clinical Nursing
- Nursing Scholarship
- Population and Global Health: Didactic and Practicum
- Statistics
- Evidence Based Practice in Nursing
- Integration Practicum
RN to BSN Fast Track – Felician University
Private, Catholic-affiliated Felician University offers an RN to BSN Fast Track option as part of its larger Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
The curriculum of this 15-month program consists of 48 credits of nursing, non-nursing, and liberal arts coursework and is designed for working nurses seeking advanced knowledge and skills to take on leadership and management roles.
Students have the choice of completing courses entirely online, entirely on-campus, or in a combination of both formats.
Felician nursing students have access to a wide range of financial aid resources and payment options that can lower their total program cost.
Duration: 15 months
Mode: Online, on-campus, or combination of both
Cost: $375/credit
Admissions Requirements:
- Associate degree or diploma in nursing from a nationally-accredited program
- Completion of 33 credits of liberal arts or science courses at an accredited institution with a grade of “C” or better
- Unincumbered RN license. Applicants with an RN license from outside of New Jersey will be evaluated on an individual basis
Students pursuing their RN license following graduation from their original ADN or nursing diploma program are eligible for “conditional acceptance”, and may take a maximum of 12 credits in the Fast Track program while awaiting licensure.
Curriculum:
- Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing
- Health Assessment for RNs
- Ethical/Legal Issues in Health Care
- Health Care Policy and Politics
- Population and Community Health for RNs
- Leadership and Management for RNs
- Critique and Evaluation of Nursing Research
- Statistics
- Pathophysiology
- Computer Applications for Health Care Professionals
- Moral and Spiritual Dimensions of Health Care
- Experiencing the Arts
- Business Dimensions of Health Care
- Technical Writing for the Profession
FAQs for New Jersey RN to BSN Students
The spotlights above provide a good look at how individual New Jersey online RN to BSN programs work, but they’ve likely raised several questions for you about RN to BSN programs in general. The following five FAQs will help you in answering some of those questions.
How much do online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey cost?
As indicated by the figures quoted in the program spotlights above and three programs listed below, the costs of online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey vary from program to program. In general, most students can expect a preliminary program cost in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000.
It’s very important to keep in mind, however, that your total RN to BSN program price tag could be much lower once you take into account any and all financial aid resources available. Common forms of financial aid include:
- Scholarships and grants
- Tuition discounts and deferment and installment plans
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- Student loans
Be sure to contact the financial aid office at each school you’re considering to get the most up-to-date information available on funding opportunities to help pay for your New Jersey RN to BSN education. Below are tuition examples from three institutions.
Rutgers University School of Nursing–Camden
RN to Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing
Total Credits: 33
$580/credit
What should I look for in a quality RN to BSN program in New Jersey?
There are a number of things you can look for during your search of online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey to indicate you’ll be getting a quality education, starting with:
- Program approval by the New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Proper institutional and programmatic accreditation
Proper accreditation is your way of knowing that the RN to BSN program you’re interested in has met important standards of academic quality.
Institutional accreditation in the U.S. is administered by a number of Department of Education recognized independent regional and national accrediting agencies. Programmatic education of RN to BSN programs in the U.S. is handled by two primary accreditors:
- Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Current accreditation information can usually be found on school and program websites. You can also check accreditation status using this Department of Education search engine.
Beyond BON approval and proper accreditation, look for RN to BSN programs that best suit your academic and career goals as well as your personal study style and preferences.
What are the admissions requirements for RN to BSN programs in New Jersey?
Admission requirements for New Jersey RN to BSN programs vary somewhat from program to program, so be sure you have a clear understanding of the specific requirements for any program you’re interested in before you apply.
Generally speaking, you can expect all RN to BSN programs to require the following for admission:
- Active and unencumbered RN license. Some schools limit admission to applicants with a New Jersey-issued license.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or (for some programs) nursing diploma from an accredited nursing program
- Minimum cumulative GPA on coursework transferred into the program
You may also need to pass a criminal background check and drug screening. But you likely already have that covered as a requirement for employment in your current RN job.
What knowledge and skills will I gain in an online RN to BSN Program?
The focus of practically all RN to BSN programs is on providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully take on leadership and management roles in the nursing/healthcare field. This is borne out by the topics covered in the courses making up core RN to BSN curricula, including:
- Leadership and administration
- Nursing theory
- Research methods
- Public/community health and policy
- Information technology and management
- Legal/ethical issues in nursing practice
A small number of clinical practice courses are also often included covering such topics as pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment.
How long does a New Jersey online RN to BSN program take to complete?
Program lengths for online RN to BSN programs vary due primarily to:
- Specific program requirements
- Number of credits needed to be earned in the program by the individual student
- Student’s chosen study pace (full-time, part-time, self-paced)
Students enrolled full-time in online RN to BSN programs in New Jersey typically complete all program requirements in anywhere from 10 to 18 months. Students opting for part-time or self-paced study typically complete their programs in 18 months to two years (sometimes longer).
Be sure to consult with a program representative for any program you’re interested in if you have any concerns about whether you can complete a program in the time allowed as accommodations may be available.
Expert Insight
If you want to finish on time, it’s especially important to follow any recommended course of study offered by the program or meet with an academic advisor to be sure. Some programs may have strict rules about course scheduling, such as taking courses in a particular order or enrolling in certain courses within the same semester.
New Jersey RN to BSN Salary & Career Outlook
New Jersey nurses have an advantage most states don't: they can commute into New York City or Philadelphia for work, which forces in-state pay to stay competitive just to keep talent from leaving. Hackensack Meridian and RWJBarnabas Health, the state's largest systems, increasingly prefer a BSN for specialty and leadership roles, positioning bachelor's-prepared nurses better against that NYC and Philadelphia competition and pushing their wages higher up on this scale. Associate-degree RNs find consistent demand in general staff roles throughout the state, though pay usually sits toward the lower half of the scale.
Registered Nurses
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $78,280 | $101,440 | $118,070 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $82,270 | $99,320 | $121,830 |
| New Jersey | $83,060 | $106,500 | $135,170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,180 | $119,720 | $159,240 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $79,160 | $101,180 | $121,900 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $82,110 | $99,990 | $125,900 |
| Vineland, NJ | $82,910 | $103,380 | $123,590 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025
Data does not reflect school-specific information.
