Your Guide to the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in OK

Inside Online RN to BSN Programs in Oklahoma

Online RN to BSN programs offer a high level of study convenience and flexibility, something that is particularly important to working nurses.

Programs may be presented with fully- or partially-online coursework with online content often delivered asynchronously (allowing students to log on and complete their studies at any time.) However, most programs include some in-person components as well, most commonly in the form of campus-based labs or hands-on clinical experiences attended at local healthcare facilities.

Another major plus of online RN to BSN programs is their quick completion times which are sometimes as little as one year or less. And that means big costs savings, too.

We’ll discuss all of this in detail below. But to give you a better idea of how these programs work, we’ll start you off with the following spotlights of three of the best online RN to BSN programs in Oklahoma today.

FAQs for Oklahoma RN to BSN Online Students

As you explore your education options, it’s normal to have a few questions of your own on the details of how online RN to BSN programs work. To help you out, below are the answers to five of the most frequently-asked questions by prospective Oklahoma RN to BSN students.

What additional nursing skills and knowledge will I gain in an RN to BSN program in Oklahoma?

Earning your BSN will provide you with advanced nursing coursework that will increase the depth and breadth of your RN practice resulting in improved patient outcomes and greater opportunities to fill leadership and specialized practice roles. Key areas covered include:

• Community and population health
• Critical thinking and reasoning
• Cultural competence
• Evidence-based practice
• Health informatics
• Health policy
• Leadership and management

Additionally, BSN holders are academically prepared to continue their studies into graduate coursework leading to:

• Advanced nurse practitioner roles (master’s degree)
• Top-tier positions in research and postsecondary education (doctoral degree).

In Oklahoma, how long does it take to complete an RN to BSN program?

Completion times for online RN to BSN programs vary due to a number of factors, including:

• Student’s chosen study pace (full-time, part-time, self-paced)
• Total number of credits required to be completed in the program
• Total number of previously-earned credits transferred in (typically earned in the student’s nursing diploma or ADN program)
• Number of credits awarded (if any) for the student’s active RN license

With all of the above in mind, many full-time online RN to BSN students in Oklahoma will be able to earn their BSNs is as little as one year, sometimes less. Part-time completion times can be somewhat open-ended, but most run an additional year or so.

In Oklahoma, how much do RN to BSN programs cost?

One of the key benefits to earning a nursing bachelor’s through an RN to BSN program is affordability, which is due primarily to the relatively small number of credits required to be earned in the program itself. Most RN to BSN programs in Oklahoma, for example, require around 30 credits total, give or take.

Therefore, determining the total tuition cost of your Oklahoma RN to BSN program requires simply multiplying the total number of credits you must earn in the program by the per-credit tuition rate. For most programs, that total will be in the neighborhood of $10,000.

There are exceptions, though, like the Oklahoma State University program spotlighted above, whose total tuition cost for state residents is around $5,500.

Keep in mind, however, that tuition rates rarely include additional program fees and costs for such things as books and study materials. So, be sure to factor in such costs when calculating your total RN to BSN program price tag.

Finally, don’t forget to factor in any financial aid resources you secure that will lower your education bill. (See below.)

Can I get financial aid to help pay for my RN to BSN program in Oklahoma?

Generally speaking, yes. A wide variety of financial aid types is available to online RN to BSN students, including:

• Scholarships and grants
• Tuition discounts
• Student loans
• Employer tuition reimbursement
• Work study opportunities
• Tuition deferment and installment plans

One potential public funding source is the State of Oklahoma itself, which provides scholarships, loans, and other funding assistance to qualifying BSN students in the state.

Be sure to contact the financial aid offices at the schools you’re considering early in your program search. That’s where you’ll get up-to-date information on lots of potential funding opportunities to help you pay for your RN to BSN education.

In Oklahoma, what are the admission requirements for RN to BSN programs?

While the specifics of RN to BSN program admissions requirements vary a bit from school to school, there are a number that you’ll find shared by most. They include:

• Nursing diploma or associate degree
• Stated minimum GPA on previous college coursework
• Active and unencumbered RN license
• Prerequisite coursework

Some programs admit students who have yet to complete their diploma or ADN program, and/or obtain their RN license. In such cases, students are typically required to complete both tasks before starting any (or some) BSN program requirements.

Salary & Career Comparison: RN vs. BSN

There are several benefits to becoming a registered nurse with a BSN degree, not the least of which is to gain greater nursing knowledge and skills leading to expanded job opportunities in leadership and specialized practice roles. But it's also entirely valid to pursue your nursing bachelor's for the salary and job prospect benefits as well.

As to salaries, ZipRecruiter reports annual average earnings for registered nurses in Oklahoma with a BSN of $93,525, a substantial jump from the $81,131 for RNs with only a nursing associate degree.

These figures are, of course, only averages on the state level. What you actually earn in your Oklahoma RN job will depend on a combination of several factors, such as:

• Geographic location
• Specific job title and responsibilities
• Specific employer
• Your level of professional nursing experience

In terms of job prospects for RNs in Oklahoma, they remain solid with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Projections Central website estimating a 4.8% increase in RN jobs in the state between 2022 and 2032. That's more than double the 2.8% growth rate projected for the same period for all U.S. occupations combined.

Ranking the Best Online RN to BSN Bridge Programs in Oklahoma

Choosing the right RN to BSN program is critical to your academic success. To help, we’ve ranked the best online RN to BSN programs in Oklahoma today and listed them below.

Incorporating data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), our choices were made taking into account several elements, including:

• Accreditation
• Program format (fully-online, hybrid)
• Availability of student resources such as career placement and academic counseling services
• Tuition cost and financial aid availability
• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Graduation rates

For details on our selection process, click the “About the Ranking” button below.