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.

Not only the most affordable program on our list with an average credit hour cost of around $104, Delta State University offers one of the most economical online BSN programs in that students can complete the nursing requirements in two semesters. It’s also highly flexible; applications can be accepted year round, students are given online access to academic advisement, and on-campus orientation is made available to online nursing students. Delta State’s curriculum is made up of courses covering health assessment, basic pathophysiology, community health, informatics, management of client care, and ethical decision-making, in addition to three practicums.

Located in Cleveland, Mississippi, Delta State University is a small, public university of approximately 3,300 undergraduate students. Offering forty-two majors through their four colleges and schools, Delta State specializes in training its students to enter and succeed in the workforce. Delta State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and their Robert E. Smith School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The RN to BSN online degree program at Western Kentucky University trains its students in leadership, management, teaching, communication, collaboration, health promotion, research, evidence-based, public health, and ethics. Additionally, WKU students are privileged to unique course requirements that supplement the foundational nursing core, including classes covering concepts of disease process, transcultural nursing, and care of the high acuity patient. WKU’s online nursing students are required to attend limited on-campus meetings, but most courses and work assignments are offered completely online.

Western Kentucky University, located in Bowling Green, is a public university that offers a wide range of undergraduate areas of study as well as graduate programs. They are consistently ranked on national and regional levels by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report. WKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and their nursing school is accredited by the Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

With a curriculum specifically designed by prospective and graduating students, the online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program at East Carolina University offers a structured learning experience that fully prepares students to become practicing BSNs. Graduates of the program are thus able to integrate nursing, social science, humanities, and a range of professional fields to optimize the client/patient experience. Students learn how to fulfill roles as care provider, communicator, advocate, collaborator, health coordinator, manager, educator, innovator, change agent, and more. Finally, students are privy to the university’s web of networking relationships, as the nursing program is a member of the National League for Nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing.

Based in Greenville, East Carolina University is a large, public university of nearly 30,000 students. It is recognized for its huge contributions to research in the health sciences and for being home to a number of research centers and institutes, including its Heart Institute, Jenkins Cancer Center, Family Medicine Center, and more. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Issues in aging and longevity, global health and policy, transformational leadership, genetics and genomics, healthcare economics, and nurses building a health community are just some of the classes you will take as an online BSN student at Drexel University. The curriculum is structured into ten-week quarters that can be fully completed online. However, Drexel distinctively allows students to participate in the Health Assessment Simulation Lab in which they work with virtual patients. And this program is perhaps the only on our ranking that gives its online nursing students the opportunity to take part in its global study abroad program, which sends students to Paraguay where they then gain cross-cultural healthcare provider experience.

This private, research university has multiple campuses in Philadelphia and is nationally and globally ranked by ARWU, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education. Drexel has about 27,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in one of its one-hundred academic programs. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and its nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The University of West Georgia offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree that be completed entirely online. The curriculum at UWG emphasizes the integration of client-centered care, the influences (including the social, political, and economic factors) that affect a healthcare environment, and the implementation of education and healthcare promotion, that is, teaching others the habits that will create long-term healthy lifestyles. This program is notably flexible, allowing students to take courses asynchronously and through the eCore program, and it pairs each student with a dedicated academic advisor.

This mid-sized university of approximately 12,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students is located just outside of Atlanta in Carrollton, Georgia. The University of West Georgia is known for its active and involved student body and it is consistently named one of the best southeastern colleges by The Princeton Review. UWG is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and its Tanner Health System School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At the Denver School of Nursing you can skip prerequisite classes (if you have an associate’s degree in nursing), take classes completely online, finish your degree in eighteen months, have 24/7 access to online tutoring and support services, and the option of receiving a new laptop computer! When you graduate you will be fully knowledgeable in patient-centered care, effective teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, patient advocacy, caregiving, education, safety and ethics, informatics, and leadership strategies. Class sizes are small at the Denver School of Nursing and well-paced, with two-week breaks between quarters.

The approximately 12,000 students at the University of Denver are pretty evenly split among the many and varying undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university is divided into a number of schools, colleges, and research centers, and it offers several areas of involvement and study for its students. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the University of Denver is a private university whose campus is a designated arboretum. Its Denver School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission for Education in Nursing and the Higher Learning Commission.  

Creating healing environments, populations health, designer of caring environments, and becoming member of a caring profession are just some of the unique courses you can take at Florida Atlantic University through their online learning program. These classes, in addition to the number of nursing fundamental courses—such as pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, and nursing research—can be completed fully online and they wholly prepare students for an advanced career in nursing. Online BSN students also receive substantive institutional support from FAU, including online tutoring, library services, disability access, and career services, ensuring they are well-prepared upon graduation. In fact, graduates have gone on to become clinical nurses, clinician leaders, community health nurses, and emergency room nurses.

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Florida Atlantic University belongs to the twelve-member State University System of Florida and is known for its research activities in biotechnology, oceanography, ocean engineering, marine biotechnology, and more, as well as its commitment to sustainability and LEED certifications. FAU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Though there are some synchronous logins required, the distance education experience through the University of Nebraska at Omaha allows students to mostly attend classes and complete coursework on demand, at anytime, and to fit their schedules. This flexibility gives students the option to finish their online BSN degree between one and three years, with semesters comprising between one and three courses. Healthcare policy and regulatory environments, interprofessional communications, clinical prevention and population health, systems of leadership, and quality and patient care are just some of the class you can expect as a University of Nebraska student, as well as a practicum that can be fulfilled locally.

The Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska system is a public research university known for its information science, management information systems, engineering, and IT innovation departments. A mid-sized institution of around 15,500 undergraduates and graduate students, the University of Nebraska Omaha and and its Medical Center are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania’s online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree not only distinctly combines liberal arts education with nursing fundamentals, this program stresses scientific inquiry, creative thinking, critical judgement, and personal development. Students learn how to promote the health of individuals as well as families and communities, including vulnerable and diverse populations. They also learn how to communicate effectively in a variety of settings, to apply leadership principles and strategies, and they blend scholarly inquiry with research and evidence-based nursing practice.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania is part of the fourteen-member Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Though relatively small, with under 6,000 students, is boasts a diverse range of colleges, schools, departments, and research centers. According to U.S. News & World Report, Clarion’s online learning platform is considered among the best in the country. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and its nursing school is accredited by the Commission for Education in Nursing.

The online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program at the University of Kansas can be completed within a year or you can take up to five years of part-time study. As a student you can anticipate classes on utilizing technology to enhance client safety, scholarly inquiry for quality improvement, navigating influences of healthcare in micro and macro environments, nursing research in an evidence-based practice setting, client assessment for the practicing nurse, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Graduates from the University of Kansas have gone on to work in a diverse range of settings, from private and public hospitals to clinics, classrooms, and more. This program is designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing.

The University of Kansas, located in Lawrence, is a public, research, flagship university nationally and globally ranked by ARWU, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education. The School of Nursing at the University of Kansas is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education while the university as a whole is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The eLine education program at Texas A&M University (TAMU) is a pre-licensure nursing track for those who want to earn their BSN degree while also training to become an RN. This is for those who have not yet completed an associate or diploma program in nursing, and thus students take core courses (composition, U.S. history, public speaking, etc.), nursing support courses (microbiology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, etc.) and upper division nursing major courses: nurse as therapeutic communicator, health assessment, nursing of children, nursing of adults, and much more. Students are also required to complete clinicals in their local community.

One of the largest schools on our list with nearly 70,000 undergraduates and graduate students, Texas A&M University is a renowned university, and a great option for online study, as students get access to the name and prestige, but bypass that which goes with large-campus life. TAMU is ranked the third best in the country by Washington Monthly, and it is both nationally and globally ranked by other reputable sources, such as Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and others. The whole university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

A member of the National League for Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) works with all eight IU campuses to offer this online RN to BSN degree completion program. Students are able to attain the degree within a year, if they choose, though they are given up to twenty-four months to complete it. Because this is a program specifically designed for those who want to finish their degree, the curriculum has the needs of working nurses and adult learners in mind. And thus graduates of the program are fully trained to provide culturally sensitive and critical care to individuals, families, communities, and large populations.

A public university, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis is a mid-sized research institution that specializes in providing a professional education to nearly half its students population. IUPUI is also known for its research initiatives in imaging, STEM education, nanosystems, and physician science, among others. Well ranked for its academics, its commitment to sustainability, and its diversity, IUPUI is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The 100 percent online BSN course load at Western Carolina University is divided into four sections: the introductory RN to BSN block, the community health block, the leadership block, and the research block. Classes therefore cover everything from community health nursing to nursing leadership and invention, research processes, clinical applications, and professional transitions. And, if you are so interested, WCU offers a MSN early-entry option, in which students can apply six to eight hours of electives to the advanced degree while still earning the online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Western Carolina University is a mid-sized university of around 10,000 students. Despite its more modest size, WCU offers a number of academic areas of study and is home to over twenty research centers and institutes, including those that promote research efforts devoted to the Cherokee and Appalachian Mountain cultures. Western Carolina University is based in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains, near the National Park, offering students many recreational and adventuring opportunities. WCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

This completion program through the University of Michigan–Flint is available completely online and allows students to begin at the start of any of their four quarters. Though the school expects you to be licensed before starting, you can complete general education and nursing courses first, then attain licensure and enroll in the program. Students can also test out of a number of courses, making the degree even more flexible! In addition to online classes covering community health, leadership and management, gerontological nursing, research skills, and nursing issues and trends, the University of Michigan–Flint requires clinicals to be completed in your local community.

Though much smaller than its Ann Arbor counterpart, the University of Michigan–Flint benefits from the research initiatives and funds of the larger university. Approximately 8,200 students are enrolled at the UM Flint, most of whom are undergraduates, though U.S. News & World Report recently ranked it as one of the best master’s-level public universities in all of the Midwest. Additionally, The Princeton Review gave it similar accolades. UM Flint is made up of five schools and colleges, including its School of Health Professions and Studies, the School of Education and Human Services, and the School of Nursing, the latter founded in 2016. UM Flint is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.

This online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree program at Graceland University allows new students to transfer up to twenty-eight semester hours of credit earned at previous undergraduate institutions, no matter how long ago they were earned. The Graceland curriculum, 100 percent online, combines classes on pathophysiology and pharmacology with courses covering psychology, sociology, and microbiology, giving you a sturdy foundation of training in nursing, leadership, and community health perspectives. Upon graduation you will be able to confidently and successfully treat individuals in vulnerable populations, as well as families and larger communities.

Graceland University is a small, private, liberal arts university based in Independence, Missouri (there’s also a campus in Lamoni, Iowa). The 2,300 undergraduates and graduate students are enrolled in one of Graceland’s fifty academic programs, and many of them participate in one of the over fifty student clubs and organizations, making Graceland an active, social campus. Graceland is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and School and its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At Wheeling Jesuit University you can earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree that can be fully completed online. Like many schools on our ranking, this program allows students who are registered nurses and have either a nursing diploma or associate’s degree to complete their BSN entirely online; however, the Wheeling Jesuit curriculum also perfectly sets up the graduating student to enter a MSN program, as upon graduation with the BSN that student will have fulfilled all the foundational courses necessary for the MSN. This means in just a couple years of online study you can become a family nurse practitioner, a nursing education specialist, a nurse administrator, and much more, all at an affordable rate and with a high degree of flexibility.

Both one of the smallest schools (with 1,500 enrolled students) on our ranking and one of the only Roman Catholic universities on our ranking, Wheeling Jesuit University is a private institution based in Wheeling, West Virginia, and it is one of twenty-eight members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Wheeling Jesuit is known for its affordability as well as its selectivity; it is well ranked by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Wheeling Jesuit is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Their Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) offers an online BSN degree program that stresses the significance of new trends in nursing and providing holistic care. Classes therefore engage topics such as the nature of nursing theory, legal and ethical issues in healthcare, risk analysis and community health, quality management, nursing leadership, and issues and trends in nursing. The TTUHSC online BSN program can be completed in as little as two semesters, is offered at an affordable rate, and can be paired with scholarships and grants (after admittance) to make attendance even more accessible.  

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, with locations throughout Texas, offers degree programs in the health and biomedical sciences through its five schools, which include the school of health professions, the graduate school of biomedical sciences, the school of medicine, the school of nursing, and the school of pharmacy. Around 5,000 students attend TTUHSC, a quarter of whom are nursing students, and the school is home to over a dozen research institutes and centers that specialize in women’s health, environmental and human health, geriatric scholarship, rehabilitation, cancer, and much more. TTUHSC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

If you’re looking for an online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program that heavily emphasizes a Christian perspective and foundation, then Regent may be just for you. The program is designed for licensed RNs, but students are fully trained to assess common patient pathologies, apply modern techniques of assessment and treatment, navigate health information systems, and evaluate disease and injury. The nursing core courses—including informatics, community and public health strategies, leadership and management, pathophysiology, and more—are all taught from a distinctly Christian perspective. Regent graduates have found work in general nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, health education, and health administration.

A mid-sized, private Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Regent University is comprised of eight academic schools and colleges that proffer degrees across all academic levels, from associate’s to doctoral programs. Regent’s online learning platform is well-regarded by many, and was recently counted among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Regent is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Approximately 8,600 students, evenly split among the undergraduate and graduate departments, are enrolled at Regent.

You can take online classes such as nutrition science, ethical and cultural frontiers in U.S. healthcare, effective interactions in the world of healthcare, a cultural history of the healing arts, and gerontology in addition to the common nursing core at Clarkson College. Their 100 percent online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program is for registered nurses looking to complete their undergraduate degree. Like some of the other schools on our list, Clarkson makes the transition from BSN to online MSN easy and expedient, since students can apply credit earned at the undergraduate level to the master’s degree. But even if you don’t go this route you can find work in a number of settings. In fact, Clarkson graduates have found work in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, nursing homes, hospice care, insurance companies, and in governmental organizations.

Clarkson College is based in Omaha and is the smallest school on our ranking with a student population of around 1,200. Clarkson specializes in health science degrees, with fields including nursing, medical imaging, radiologic tech, healthcare business, physical therapy, professional development, and health information management. It is also known for being the first school in its state to include a nurse anesthesia program. The combination of its small size and specific emphases may make Clarkson College the perfect fit for you! Clarkson is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Commission for Education in Nursing.

With a focus on flexibility, the University of Southern Indiana (USI) makes it possible for its online students to progress through the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree at their own pace, attending full-time, part-time, or anything in between. USI also gives course credit for certifications, portfolios, and/or testing. The online nursing curriculum at USI is pretty similar to others on our list, but they also include coursework that engages topics such as global health, interprofessional perspectives, and clinical syntheses. The NCLEX pass rates coming from USI prove it fully trains its students to be successful: last year they boasted a pass rate that ranged between 97 and 100 percent.

Located in Evansville, Indiana, this mid-sized public university offers a variety of degree opportunities through its college of liberal arts, college of business, college of nursing and health professions, and its college of science, engineering, and education. The University of Southern Indiana’s online education program is renowned, and considered among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The university as a whole is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and their nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing.  

This 100 percent online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree allows working nurses to attain a BSN in as little as one year. Credit hour cost is already pretty affordable, but Eastern Kentucky University goes to lengths to make their program accessible to all who want an education, offering federal financial aid, grants, and scholarships. The curriculum is also specifically designed to reflect the standards set in place by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and it allows online nursing students to choose between two graduation paths. The first is the traditional path, in which students take one course per eight-week term and finish in two years, and the other path allows students to take two classes a term and finish in under a year. Graduates have gone on to work in leadership, research, community and public health, acute care, long-term care, and advanced practice through additional graduate study.

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond and is a public university offering over 150 academic areas of study through its six colleges and schools. It is often well ranked by a number of sources, including Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, the Carnegie Foundation, and more, for its academic performance, its research contributions, and its commitment to providing accessible education to veterans. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Getting an online Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from a specifically healthcare-focused university means you will work with faculty members who are practicing experts and leaders in their fields, you will have access to some of the best research centers and clinics, and you will engage in a curriculum that fulfills the expectations of the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center). As an Augusta student you can anticipate an online course load that includes contemporary nursing topics, research strategies, concepts of health systems, health assessment across the lifespan, and pathophysiologic and pharmacologic concepts. Though most of the program at Augusta is online, three labs will require your on-campus presence.

Located in Augusta, Georgia, this mid-sized academic health center proffers degrees in a range of medical, nursing, and healthcare fields. Augusta University, a public institution, is made up of nine colleges and schools, as well as a children’s hospital, outpatient clinics, a wellness center, a medical education library, and a number of medical labs and research centers. Augusta University, as a whole, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UT Chattanooga) you can take 100 percent online classes in nursing theory, health assessment, conceptual thinking, the individual in professional practice, pathophysiology, concepts of community health, and more, all culminating in a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree. Only sixteen months long to complete, this fully online BSN requires you complete classes in a sequential order, and one class is allocated per term, as this program is designed for working nurses. Though most of this BSN can be completed online, students are expected to attend a one-day orientation on the Chattanooga campus.

UT Chattanooga is a public university, part of the University of Tennessee System, and is nationally ranked for its nursing program, in addition to its business, engineering, chemistry, psychology, and accounting departments. Approximately 12,000 students attend UT Chattanooga, most of whom are undergraduates enrolled in one of the four colleges, that is, either the College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, or the College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies. UT Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

There are many reasons to consider getting your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing online through Illinois State University’s (ISU) Mennonite College of Nursing. Not only is the university itself well-ranked, so is the online BSN program. And ISU boasts a long history of providing education at distance—offering this degree online for the past fourteen years—meaning you will benefit from a historically strong system of e-learning. Whether you study part or full-time, you will get to take classes that range from the cultural and spiritual dimensions in healthcare to health assessments across the lifespan. This online BSN can be completed in one to two years.

The oldest public university in the state, and based in Normal, Illinois State University is a highly ranked university, receiving accolades from Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. Known for its emphases on educator training, ISU is one of the largest producers of teachers (representing an array of fields and areas) in the country. Around 20,000 students attend ISU, many of whom are undergraduates, and many of whom are involved in one of the many student organizations. Campus life at ISU is markedly active and involved. Illinois State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and its Mennonite College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The affordability of this online BSN is hard to argue with! This program through Northwest Florida State College is a great, affordable option for securing your BSN degree. You’ll take classes on complex client care, incorporating nursing research into evidence-based care, writing for success in nursing, family and community health, healthcare issues, leadership and management, and much more. Students can go part or full-time, test out of classes, and take clinicals through a local community. Regarding the latter, however, the practicum must be based at a Florida facility, though it doesn’t matter where in the state.

Based in Niceville, Florida, Northwest Florida State College is part of the larger Florida College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Once a community college, in 2008 it gained status as a full, four-year state college, which means they specialize in providing education to working adults and professionals, and in designing degree programs for those working adults. The nursing programs at Northwest Florida State College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.