Best RN to BSN Online

BEST ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAMS
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Find top-ranked online RN to BSN degree programs for RN’s who want to qualify for roles as charge nurses, addiction nurses, and clinical nurse educators.

Top 10 RN to BSN Online Degrees

  1. Virginia Commonwealth University
  2. University of Rochester
  3. University of Cincinnati
  4. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
  5. University of South Carolina
  6. University of Missouri
  7. University of Massachusetts Amherst
  8. Mercer University
  9. East Carolina University
  10. University of Arkansas

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About RN to BSN Degrees

Why go from RN to BSN?

Registered nurses who want to pursue leadership roles while also increasing their earning potential may want to enroll in an RN to BSN, or Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, program.

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How long does it take to go from RN to BSN?

These unique programs typically allow students to transfer up to 60 credits, which can help expedite the process of earning a bachelor’s degree from four years to just two years.

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What topics do courses cover?

Courses, which are available both online and on campus, explore topics like human anatomy, leadership in nursing, and healthcare policy.

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What are RN to BSN students doing after graduation?

Depending on experience, graduates typically qualify for roles as charge nurses, addiction nurses, and clinical nurse educators. However, students should note that additional certifications and licensure may be required for certain career paths. The RN to BSN program also helps prepare students for graduate degrees.

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Learn more about how to major in nursing.

Best Online RN-BSN Degree Programs

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Nurse Practitioners in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary
82750Registered Nurses
86050Audiologists
114210Nurse Midwives
118040Nurse Practitioners
202470Nurse Anesthetists

Best RN to BSN Online Degree Programs

  3. #3

    University of Cincinnati

    Cincinnati , OH
    #11 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #2 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in Ohio 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/26

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing

    Concentrations

    • RN-BSN
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: 9 months, or two semesters
    • Format: Hybrid
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

    Lubbock , TX
    #6 Best Online Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs (PhDs) #6 Fastest Accelerated Online Healthcare Administration Masters

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Student body

    5K

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 4-5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  5. #5

    University of South Carolina

    Columbia , SC
    #1 Best Colleges in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in South Carolina 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    62%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/28

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion time: 4 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  7. #6

    University of Missouri

    Columbia , MO
    #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in Missouri 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in Missouri 2023 #2 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1215/26

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  8. #7

    University of Massachusetts Amherst

    Amherst , MA
    #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts Ranked for Students in 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #6 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #6 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    30K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1295/29

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 1 year
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  10. #9

    East Carolina University

    Greenville , NC
    #4 Best Public Colleges in North Carolina 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2023 #6 Best Grad Schools in North Carolina 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in North Carolina 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1095/21

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing

    Concentrations

    • RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 125-133
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  11. #10

    University of Arkansas

    Fayetteville , AR
    #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2023 #1 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1185/26

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  17. #15

    California State University, Dominguez Hills

    Carson , CA
    #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Strategic Communications Degree Programs #15 Best Online Colleges in California 2023 #21 Best Online Master's Programs in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    15K

    Online Degrees

    RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 50-53
    • Completion time: 4-5 years
    • Format: Online
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  29. #25

    Saint Xavier University

    Chicago , IL
    #7 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2023 #7 Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois #17 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2023 #20 Best Online Colleges in Illinois 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1035/21

    Online Degrees

    RN to BSN Nursing
    • Required Credits: 34
    • Completion time: 205 Years
    • Format: Online
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  32. #27

    Wilmington University

    New Castle , DE
    #1 Best Private Colleges in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Colleges in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Grad Schools in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in Delaware 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    10K

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion time: 4 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  34. #29

    Keuka College

    Keuka Park , NY
    #11 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    1K

    Online Degrees

    BSN in RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 38
    • Completion time: 4-5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  45. #38

    Oklahoma Christian University

    Edmond , OK
    #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oklahoma 2023 #4 Best Christian Colleges in Oklahoma 2023 #4 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma 2023 #4 Best Small Colleges in Oklahoma 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $25K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1135/23

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  46. #39

    Molloy University

    Rockville Centre , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $34K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1165/24

    Online Degrees

    BSN: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion time: 4.5-5.5 years
    • Format: Online
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  52. #44

    Madonna University

    Livonia , MI
    #6 Best Christian Colleges in Michigan 2023 #9 Best Small Colleges in Michigan 2023 #9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 2023 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Michigan 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $25K

    Acceptance

    52%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1015/20

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion time: 16 months
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 38
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  56. #47

    D'Youville University

    Buffalo , NY
    #25 Best Online Colleges in New York 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $30K

    Acceptance

    92%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1055/21

    Online Degrees

    BSN: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 122
    • Completion time: 4-5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  57. #48

    Curry College

    Milton , MA
    #15 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #22 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $44K

    Acceptance

    80%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    2K

    Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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