Follow
If you want a career that is challenging and rewarding, look no further than the field of health care. Enrolling in an accredited online RN to BSN degree program is an excellent way for registered nurses to advance their career and take classes on their own busy schedule. Graduates from a Bachelor’s in Nursing program can quality for more high-level and higher-paying positions in the diverse nursing profession.
Ranking Top Online RN to BSN Degree Programs
The following accredited and cheap online RN to BSN degree programs have been selected from among the finest in higher education by virtue of reputation, rankings, and affordability.
#1 University of Illinois
RN to BSN Online Degree Completion Program – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Executive Summary
The College of Nursing at the University of Illinois is a well-respected program. The University is public research school that is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rankings and Awards
According to the U.S. News and World Report, the University of Illinois is ranked as the 41st best college and 11th top public school in the nation.
Tuition
Tuition is $617.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
Students interested in the RN to BSN Degree Completion program can choose from three start dates each year. Courses are eight weeks in length. All courses are completed online with no residency requirement.
#2 University of Saint Mary
RN to BSN Online – Bachelor in Nursing Degree
Executive Summary
The University of Saint Mary’s RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Rankings and Awards
The prestigious Princeton Review has named the University of Saint Mary as a “Best Midwestern College” consecutively for the last nine years.
Tuition
Tuition is $410.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
Students can complete the program in as little as 12 months. The curriculum focuses on the Five C’s of Caring – “commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence.”
#3 Western Governors University
Online BS Nursing (RN to BSN)
Executive Summary
The Nursing degree program at WGU is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Rankings and Awards
WGU has been designated as a top “Military Friendly School” by the Military Advanced Education for the last five consecutive years.
Tuition
Tuition is charged as a flat rate of $3,250.00 per six-month term.
Unique Features
New students can start their program on the first day of any month. WGU evaluates students based on their competence, not how many hours they spend in class. Students work with a mentor to determine the best methods to develop competency required to completed assignments, papers and tests to demonstrate competency in each subject area.
#4 Liberty University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse – Online RN to BSN Program
Executive Summary
Liberty University is a private, not-for-profit school. Courses are taught from a Christian perspective. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rankings and Awards
Not only has Liberty been recognized as the 89th best college and 23rd top university for veterans in the South, but it is also nationally acclaimed by the U.S. News and World Report for having the 76th best online graduate nursing programs.
Tuition
Students at Liberty pay $325.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
The RN to BSN program offers eight-week courses taught by a distinguished faculty. Nine start dates are available throughout the year. The program can be completed in about two years.
#6 Baker College
Online Bachelor of Science – Nursing
Executive Summary
Baker College has been offering classes online since the mid-1990s. It is the largest private college in Michigan, and the school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rankings and Awards
According to the U.S. News and World Report, Baker College is recognized for having the 164th best online bachelor’s programs in the nation.
Tuition
At $215.00 per credit hour, Baker College has one of the most affordable online nursing degrees available.
Unique Features
The online bachelor’s degree in nursing is open to applicants who are licensed Registered Nurses and hold credentials in the United States or in Canada. The program includes required clinical experience.
#7 Gannon University
RN to BSN Degree – Online Nursing
Executive Summary
Gannon University was founded in 1925 and is a private, not-for-profit school. This Catholic university is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rankings and Awards
Gannon is currently ranked as the 54th best college, 11th best value school, and 17th top college for veterans in the North with the top 332nd nursing programs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report.
Tuition
Tuition at Gannon is $650.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
The online RN to BSN degree includes courses focusing on leadership, current health care issues, and the nurse’s role in providing care. The University develops a customized plan of study for each applicant based on their academic and professional background to maximize the number of transfer credits.
#8 Utica College
Online RN to BSN Degree – Nursing Bachelor’s
Executive Summary
Utica College was founded in 1946. The school is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rankings and Awards
For 2014, the U.S. News and World Report survey has ranked Utica College as the 116th best college in the North.
Tuition
Nursing students pay $375.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
Registered Nurses who have graduated from an associate’s degree program may apply to the RN to BS Nursing program at Utica.
#9 Anna Maria College
RN-BSN Online Degree Program
Executive Summary
Anna Maria College’s RN to BSN program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. It has been fully approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Rankings and Awards
Anna Maria College was recently ranked in the top 25 Massachusetts colleges and universities considered to have the greatest lifetime return on investment.
Tuition
Students at AMC pay $425.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
Registered Nurses with a diploma from all 50 states may be admitted to this program with no required clinical component.
#10 Indiana State University
Online RN to BS Nursing Degree Program
Executive Summary
The Nursing Program at Indiana State University is approved by the State Board of Nursing. It is also accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
Rankings and Awards
According to the U.S. News and World Report, Indiana State is nationally acclaimed for offering students the 79th best nursing programs in the United States.
Tuition
In-state students pay $286.00 per credit hour. Out-of-state learners are charged $358.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
The University offers two online nursing degree programs: a Nursing LPN/LVN to BS and a Nursing RN to BS. Graduates from the LPN/LVN to BS program are eligible to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse.
See also: 25 Great Scholarships for Nursing Majors
