Best Online BSN Degrees

This Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Texas at Tyler can take as few as twelve months to complete, though students are allowed to take as long as they like to finish the degree; graduation dates are flexible. UT Tyler requires its students to already have an associate’s degree in nursing in place before admission, but then students are able to do the coursework fully online, with clinical experiences taking place in the students’ local communities. At UT Tyler you can anticipate foundational classes in pathophysiology, leadership, and health assessment, then upper-level classes in community nursing, professional issues, gerontology, and more.

This BSN degree is fully accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing as well as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The University of Texas at Tyler as a whole is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. UT at Tyler is a mid-size school with approximately 8,000 undergraduates. It is a public institution and a member of the greater University of Texas System. Life at Tyler is marked by an active student body involved in organizations, athletics, Greek life, and student government.

The online BSN from the University of South Carolina strives to provide three objectives to its students: to cultivate leadership, critical thinking skills, and professionalism; to master the skills needed to provide nursing services in an array of settings; and to gain a comprehensive, interdisciplinary foundation in nursing education. This program is for those who already have an associate’s degree in nursing and it takes only twelve months to complete, if classes are taken full-time. In addition to its competitive credit hour tuition rates and its high average annual salary of its recent graduates, the University of South Carolina’s online programs are rated as the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The flagship institution of the University of South Carolina System, the University of South Carolina is a large school with nearly 400 different programs of study. It is a top-ranked school, listed as among the 100 best nationally by ARWU, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the University of South Carolina’s nursing school is also specifically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.

This 100 percent online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree from the renowned University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) pairs its students with nationally recognized leaders in healthcare. Specifically designed for RNs looking to complete their undergraduate degree, this program covers health assessment and communication, research and statistics, leadership and management in healthcare, care of populations, and nursing informatics. Students in the UIC College of Nursing’s online program have the advantage, not only of learning from a distance, from wherever they choose, but they learn from the same renowned faculty who teaches the on-campus classes, making this online degree nearly identical to the “traditional” degree.

Graduates with a BSN degree from the University of Illinois Chicago make, on average, $53,000 annually in the early years of their career. UIC is further noted for its research contributions and for being consistently ranked among the top national universities, by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Washington Monthly, Times Higher Education, and more. UIC is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati is not only ranked among the top 10 percent of nursing schools in the country, it has a long history and legacy, going all the way back to its founding in 1889. Their online RN to BSN degree can be completed in as little as nine months, but students can adjust the academic plan of this flexible program to better align with work-life events. Unique to the University of Cincinnati’s online nursing program is its emphasis on mentorship, connecting students with one advisor whom they will work closely with throughout the program. Furthermore, Cincinnati stresses the important role of leadership, as seen by the character of the curriculum. Though this is a completion degree, students are eligible for admission even if they have not completed all the required general education courses. And, as a student, you should be prepared to line up a community or population-focused project to complete the degree.

The University of Cincinnati is a large, public research university with many nationally ranked departments, including nursing, education, pediatrics, pharmacy, environmental science, medicine, criminal justice, and neurology, among others. It is accredited by the North Central Association and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

By getting your online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree through West Texas A&M University’s school of nursing you are offered the opportunity to advance into management positions, to earn more money, to work in more diverse environments (such as risk management or quality assurance), and to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, if you so choose. Courses at West Texas cover everything from research to cultural competence, ethics, and pharmacotherapeutics. West Texas’ tuition rates are already competitive, but they offer additional special tuition rebates to those who qualify, making this both an affordable and convenient option for registered nurses looking to earn an online BSN.

A mid-sized, public university located in Canyon, Texas, West Texas A&M University has approximately 8,000 undergraduates and is known for its research initiatives, especially in environmental health and safety, occupational health, energy, and computer information systems. West Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At the University of Alabama’s online college you can earn a degree in nursing that can be fully achieved from a distance. UA offers two options for those students who are already registered nurses but looking to advance their careers: the RN to BSN track or the RN to BSN/MSN track. The former consists of twenty-five credits that can be taken either full or part-time and includes courses covering community health, client systems, informatics, leadership and management, and role transition in baccalaureate nursing. The latter is an accelerated degree program for students who plan to study full-time, complete all fifty credit hours, and graduate with a masters in nursing with a concentration in either clinical nurse leadership or case management.  

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the University of Alabama is ranked among the top fifty best public universities in the country, by U.S. News & World Report. A larger school, with over 30,000 undergraduates and grad students, UA is comprised of over a dozen colleges and schools, including its Capstone College of Nursing, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

As an Ohio State University online nursing student you will take classes on community health, leadership and management, professional issues in contemporary nursing, and a practicum that applies the learned leadership and management skills to a hands-on experience. Graduates from the OSU online RN to BSN program go on to work in a diverse array of healthcare settings; and many students choose to earn a master of science in nursing degree, having been fully prepared by the OSU nursing program and its elite board of faculty members, who are leading practicing clinicians, physicians, and nurses. This nursing degree is 100 percent online and requires no visits to the Columbus campus.

Located in Columbus, Ohio, Ohio State University is a huge school of nearly 60,000 students (though there are over 100,000 if you include all campus locations). Known for its business, science, medicine, education, and politics departments, OSU is nationally and globally ranked by Forbes, ARWU, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and more. OSU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and its College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.

The University of Florida’s online RN to BSN degree is specifically designed for working adults who are eager to go back and finish their undergraduate degree. This program emphasizes flexibility and leadership while preparing students to apply information management and technology to healthcare practice; to analyze, implement, and alter healthcare policies; and to efficiently strategize wellness promotion and illness prevention. As a UF online student in nursing you will take classes in pathophysiology and pharmacology, genetics and genomics, finances in regulatory environments, principles of leadership, health assessment, and public health, the last two requiring clinical experience in your local community.

The University of Florida, based in Gainesville, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is known for having one of the best online colleges in the country. The university is highly active in research projects that span from sustainability initiatives to major contributions to health and medicine. In fact, the university is home to many important health clinics and research centers, including its UF Health Cancer Center. The College of Nursing at UF is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Not only does Pennsylvania State University offer an online BSN program, they offer an accelerated degree program that allows students to combine online classes with on-campus coursework, expediting that graduation date. This program is consistently recognized as one of the best online nursing programs in the country, and it uniquely offers its students the opportunity to earn a specialized certificate in nursing management, nursing informatics, or nursing forensics.

In addition to clinical work, graduates from this program have gone on to work in education, research, consulting, community and public health centers, social work, pharmaceutical sales, and insurance. Though this degree is 100 percent online, four courses require clinical hours: health assessment (45 clinical hours required), family and community health concepts (45 clinical hours required), health concepts for adults with complex health care needs (45 clinical hours required), and integrated concepts in nursing practice (90 clinical hours required).

Penn State is a globally renowned university, earning a spot on the best national and global universities rankings from Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, QS World University Rankings, and more. It is also one of the largest universities in the country with over 100,000 students. Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission for Education in Nursing.

Innovation in nursing, the synthesis of professional nursing, the art of nursing, health promotion across the lifespan, nursing theory, and writing for health care management are just some of the unique courses offered by Arizona State University’s online nursing program. ASU also sets itself apart from some of the other programs on our list in that it pairs students with an enrollment coach, students learn through a variety of online instructional delivery methods, and the curriculum is designed to present a holistic, populations-based education. Students tend to complete this degree in fifteen to eighteen months, and they graduate prepared to be critical thinkers, client advocates, and effective communicators.

With nearly 15,000 online students, Arizona State University boasts a huge distance learning program that has been in place for many years. Distance learners are privileged to learn from the same renowned faculty as “traditional” students, and they have access to the research centers and initiatives that make ASU a top-ranked university. ASU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and their College of Nursing and Health Innovation is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Through the renowned University of Wisconsin, registered nurses can enroll in the online nursing program to complete their BSN from a College of Nursing that is ranked in the top 6 percent. In addition to foundational nursing courses—for example, community health, research based practice, and chronic care management—those students can also take online electives such as global health and ethics, symptom management, genetics and genomics, and mental health nursing across the care continuum. Other incentives to get your degree at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater are its flexibility (students can start any time they want), its rewarding of credit hours to professional experience, and its emphasis on personal support.

Part of the larger University of Wisconsin system, this campus in Whitewater is mid-sized with approximately 12,000 students, offers around fifty undergraduate areas of study, and is particularly focused on encouraging diversity, both on-campus and through the curriculum. UW Whitewater also offers students the opportunity to do grant-funded research and scholarship. The school at large is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and their nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.  

George Washington University’s School of Nursing allows students to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing completely online, and they even make it possible for students to earn a master’s degree simultaneously. Whichever route you take as a student, GWU expects you to already be a registered nurse upon admission. Coursework will fully prepare you to promote health in diverse communities; to critically evaluate client responses to health and illness; to demonstrate ethical, legal, and professional values and practice; to enact a presence of leadership and management; and to prove an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.

Located in the nation’s capital, George Washington University is a private, research-driven school. It is home to many notable research centers and institutes such as the Center for Equity and Excellence in Education, the McCormick Genomic and Proteomic Center, the Cancer Institute, the Institute for Biomedical Engineering, and many others. It is ranked as among the best schools in the country by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and more, and it is known for its commitment to sustainability. GWU is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and their School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

One unique aspect of the University of Missouri’s online RN-BSN program is its residency requirement. Though most of the program can be fully completed online, students are expected to attend campus events and classes one to two days per semester. Other than this, the Mizzou curriculum, its expectations and requirements, align closely with the other schools on our ranking. Students take classes that cover ethics and legal issues, theory and research, pathophysiology, leadership, evidence-based nursing practice, and a four-credit hour, ten-week long practicum with a local community agency.

Students should plan to incorporate ninety hours of practicum into their semester. One of the more affordable online degrees on our list, graduates from Mizzou’s BSN program make, on average, approximately $44,200 annually in their first few years of their careers, making the return on investment at Mizzou huge.

Located in Columbia, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) is a public land-grant research school of over 30,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students. Mizzou is comprised of twenty colleges and schools, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is home to the renowned University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics system. Mizzou, at large is, accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.  

By enacting the standards of nursing education set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the online RN-BSN program at CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) trains students to become experts in health assessment, leadership and management, nursing research, care of culturally diverse populations, global health and policy, and nursing informatics. CUNY SPS differentiates its program from others, including many of those on our list, with its large offering of minors. In addition to receiving a foundational education in nursing, students can pair their degree with a minor in business, mental and behavioral health, sociology, psychology, intellectual/developmental studies, or information systems, among others.

Part of the City University of New York System, CUNY School of Professional Studies is known for its online bachelor’s degrees in health, business, nursing, sociology, and psychology, among others. They offer a number of master’s degrees as well, in addition to several certificate programs that can be paired with a full degree program. CUNY SPS is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the RN-BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At Pace University’s Leinhard School of Nursing you can use take graduate level courses while earning a BSN completely online. You also have the opportunity to obtain credit for professional certification. Pace’s BSN curriculum is unique in that its courses include cultural mindfulness, innovation and the art of leadership, core competencies for multidimensional care, spirit inquiry, and a nurse’s role in advocacy, policy, and politics, in addition to its typical nursing coursework. Furthermore, online BSN students at Pace have two options to complete their degree: to enter the academic year in the fall and complete the program in approximately two years, or to enter in the spring and thus complete the program in a mere fifteen months.

Pace University is located right in the middle of everything, in metro New York City. It is a private university of about 8,000 undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. It is most known for its renowned business school, but is also widely recognized as a notable contributor to health research. Pace is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and its Lienhard School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The University of Colorado in Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers a fully online RN to BS in Nursing degree with a unique curriculum; classes cover the history of nursing, immersion in clinical nursing, interprof law, interpersonal education, teamwork and ethics, social justice and nursing trends, and much more. This online nursing degree can be completed in as few as four terms and will prepare you to work in government, healthcare centers, and in state, local, and private hospitals. In fact, graduates are specifically trained to integrate clinical practice strategies with evidence of improving healthcare outcomes for individuals, families, and whole communities.

The Colorado Springs campus in the University of Colorado System is most known for its College of Engineering and Applied Science, which is ranked fourth nationally among public universities. Though many of its departments, notably its STEM departments, are well ranked and nationally recognized. UCCS is also known for its aerospace research and for being home to the Center for Space Studies. UCCS is accredited by the North Central Association of Higher Learning Commission. The nursing program is accredited by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

If you’re not only interested in the fundamentals of healthcare provision, but the theoretical, ethical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of nursing, then the online nursing degree at St. Xavier is probably for you. Every student is required to take one religious studies course of his or her choosing, foundational nursing core courses (such as health assessment, population-based care, leadership and nursing collaboration, global health, and patient safety), and a class called The Examined Life. Another incentive to the St. Xavier program is its close relationship with Student Nurses Association.

Located in Chicago, St. Xavier University is a small school of approximately 3,000 undergraduates and forty-five areas of study. Their School of Nursing, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the National League of Nursing, and it is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online nursing programs in the country. St. Xavier is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

At Michigan State University, online undergraduate nursing students can earn their BSN in five semesters, of which thirty credit hours are granted for successful completion of the National Council Licensing Examination–Registered Nurse (NCLEX–RN). In addition, students take classes on health promotion, leadership immersion, pathophysiology, community and population health nursing, and integrative studies, among others. MSU online nursing students should also be prepared to complete a clinical practice in their local communities. Otherwise, this Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree is 100 percent online, and specifically designed for working adults.

A major public university based in Michigan’s capital, Lansing, Michigan State University is a large school of over 50,000 students, most of whom are undergraduates. Ranked well by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Times Higher Education, and more, MSU is recognized for being a leader in energy research, particularly in physics. However, the university offers over 200 areas of study and receives accolades for a number of its departments. MSU as a whole is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.

For online nursing students enrolled in Fort Hays State University’s RN-BSN program who attend full-time, this degree can be completed in as few as twelve months. For those who choose to attend part-time, the flexibility of the program still allows for them to complete the degree efficiently, in eighteen to twenty-four months. In addition to a curriculum comprised of foundational studies in nursing courses as well as social and behavioral studies courses, students will take three clinicals to meet the requirements of the following classes: population-focused care, integration of professional nursing for the RN, and the internship.

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its Department of Nursing is accredited by the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education. A small, public university based in Hays, Kansas, Fort Hays State is comprised of approximately 4,000 undergraduates and 6,000 online students, and it is home to over fifty academic areas of study, its popular natural history museum, and several research institutes and centers.

Online classes such as career pathways, case management and outcome results, community health, and theoretical foundations of professional nursing, among others, make up the online BSN degree at Old Dominion University. Graduates of the program have gone on to work in advanced practice nursing, nursing management and administration, community and nonprofit organizations, consulting, and pharmaceutical sales, and in a survey of those graduates, released just last year, 96 percent said they were very satisfied with the online experience at Old Dominion.

Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University is a large research institute known for its contributions to the fields of engineering, climate change, maritime studies, and coastal energy. Approximately 20,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students attend, many of whom are involved in one of the over 300 students organizations, making campus life at Old Dominion an active and vibrant one. Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Though you can earn your BSN fully online from the University of Central Florida, the university also offers students the opportunity to take some classes on campus too. Like many of the programs on our list, UCF’s curriculum includes pathophysiology, leadership, and practicums, but it also has classes on the role transition from RN to BSN, research methodology, health care policy and economics, health promotion across a lifespan, and public health nursing. Additional credits can be earned through prior learning and RN experience, which helps students expedite their course load and graduation date.

Based in Orlando, the University of Central Florida is comprised of over a dozen colleges and schools as well as several nationally ranked departments, including its biological sciences, healthcare management, nursing, and psychology departments. It has made significant research contributions to a range of fields: education, business, engineering, optics, and more. UCF is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.

Often considered the top RN to BSN provider among public universities and colleges, the online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree at Columbus State University boasts a 100 percent employment rate among its graduates. Furthermore, classes are asynchronous, so students can complete coursework whenever, wherever, and at their own pace. This program introduces students to evidence-based practice, applied pathophysiology, professional development, health assessment and wellness, and more. Students engage in both clinicals and a senior project for which they are expected to focus on evidence-based principles and theory in the dissemination of information regarding a clinical topic. This program takes twelve months to complete.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Columbus State University is a public, mid-sized university of approximately 8,300 enrolled students. Though it is most known for its elite business school, Columbus State also receives praise for its environmental learning center, its Mead Observatory, and its education, nursing, and music departments. The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

When you enroll in the online BSN degree program at Ball State University you are enrolling in a unique program that blends nursing education with a liberal arts education. Physical, psychosocial, nursing, fine arts, and the humanities are all a part of the Ball State BSN curriculum. Ball State further differentiates itself from other programs in our ranking in that they emphasize an approach to nursing and community care that protects women, children, and vulnerable populations. Ball State’s online BSN is designated a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence.

Ball State University, located Muncie, Indiana, offers nearly 200 areas of study to its nearly 20,000 undergraduates. A public, research institution, it is well ranked by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. It is also known for its active student body, a majority of whom are involved in at least one of the nearly 500 student organizations and clubs. Ball State University is accredited, as a whole, by the Higher Learning Commission, while its School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Students in Jacksonville University’s online nursing program learn how to manage patients with complex cases, resolve problems and delegate responsibilities, think through legal and ethical situations in critical care, communicate effectively, make hard decisions in rapidly changing environments, and execute sharp critical thinking skills to strategize and solve problems. Graduates from Jacksonville University have found work as directors of education, charge nurses, healthcare risk managers, chief nursing officers, ICU staff RNs, directors of case management, and much more. Thus, as a student, you will take classes that particularly emphasize leadership, healthcare management, global health promotion, and information management. Finally, Jacksonville University is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Jacksonville University, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is based in Florida and is a private university. It’s relatively small with an undergraduate population of around 3,500 students, but it offers nearly 100 areas of study. It is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Their School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

A highly flexible and fully online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree program, online students at Duquesne University learn how to communicate well, both verbally and in writing; they participate in interprofessional collaboration in the healthcare industry; they learn how to act as a moral agent in their professional nursing practice; they are trained to analyze complex community, individual, and family dynamics to perform the best care; and they learn how to approach culturally complex situations with sensitivity. This degree is fully online and utilizes an array of innovative technologies to provide students with the most interactive, online education platform possible.

A private, Catholic university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University is small (there are approximately 6,000 students) but offers degrees across academic levels and in nearly 200 different fields of study. Comprised of ten colleges and schools, including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited School of Nursing, Duquesne is notably diverse with international students representing more than eighty countries. The university as a whole is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.