Affordable Online RN-to-BSN Programs

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

How can I further my nursing education without accumulating debt?

For a myriad of reasons, many nurses who are educated at the diploma or associate degree level are wanting to return to school to earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. For instance, managerial personnel at numerous acute care hospitals across the US are requiring currently-employed nurses to earn the BSN degree within a certain time frame. Conversely, nurses who do not comply with this requirement are faced with the very real risk of demotion or outright termination of employment. In addition, some nursing professionals are intrinsically motivated to further their schooling because they are looking to augment their knowledge base and receive well-rounded educations.

Are you a nursing professional with an associates degree or diploma who wants to pursue higher education without accruing a ridiculous amount of student loan debt? If so, you might want to look more closely into the online RN-to-BSN programs that have been listed below. Also, feel free to post a response if you know of any other reputable online RN-to-BSN degree completion programs that offer affordability and value.

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University, based in Kansas, offers an accredited online RN-to-BSN degree completion program through their Virtual College. Students who are enrolled in the Virtual College pay the affordable rate of $186 per credit hour at the time of this update (March 2015).

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a respected school that offers a fully accredited online RN-to-BSN degree completion program. Tuition is $316.66 per credit hour at the time of this writing. Estimated tuition for the entire RN-to-BSN program is less than $10,000 for nursing courses.

Ohio University

Ohio University is another reputable school that offers an accredited online RN-to-BSN degree completion program with attractively priced tuition. At the time of this writing, tuition is $240 per credit hour for residents of Ohio, and $243 per credit for students who reside out of state.

University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington offers a popular, well respected, very affordable, fully accredited, and totally online RN-to-BSN degree completion program. Tuition for the online RN-to-BSN courses is $257 per credit hour at the time of this writing.

Western Governors University

With an innovative competency-based model that allows busy professionals to complete their degree requirements in an accelerated time frame, Western Governors University is growing in popularity. Tuition for the online, fully accredited RN-to-BSN program is $3250 per 6-month term. Many people have completed the program in less than 12 months, and some have even finished in less than six months.

University of Arkansas Grantham

Grantham University, a private for-profit virtual college, offers a nationally-accredited RN-to-BSN degree completion program that is affordable, convenient and user-friendly. The tuition of $265 per credit hour certainly places Grantham University's RN-to-BSN program into an affordable category when compared to other similar programs.

Lamar University

Lamar University, a respectable public university located in southeast Texas, offers an accredited online RN-to-BSN completion program. The tuition of $283 per credit hour makes this program affordable for students who want to pursue higher learning while minimizing costs.

Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern New Mexico University, a public university located in Portales, offers a CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN degree completion program that is 100% online. At $203 per semester hour, this program is an absolute bargain. Out-of-state students qualify for the low in-state tuition and fees if enrolled on a part-time basis.

Purdue University

Kaplan University, an investor-owned private for-profit institution of higher learning, offers a CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN program that is also 100% online. The tuition of $315 per credit may not be the lowest-priced, but it is still worthy of inclusion on our list.

NJ2013

Thank you for the list, I wanted to add some info from some schools I have researched.

Ohio university: as of 12/18/13 were only enrolling students from the following states

Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Michigan. Not sure if they made any changes recently.

Western Governors University: You can do as much as you want, and to any pace. The school uses a pass/fail system, which means they don't have a GPA system; however, when people graduate, they graduate with 3.0 overall GPA. and from what I read, many graduate schools will still take you into their NP/MSN programs.

amygarside

Thanks for the list.

Guttercat, ASN, RN

This is good to know.

I was just told by my university's Advisor that I am not even allowed to pick up per diem work outside of state lines. Not even intermittently for a week at a time.

So--I cannot do agency/travel/per diem and still maintain my residency status with the university, even thought the State itself would accept my continuing residency here.

Unreal.

Maacanto

I just applied to Capella University. I saw a couple of people applying to the schools listed above but I decided to try Capella b/c they provided a lot of information on financial aid options which is big for me and they're pretty known as far as online schools are concerned. But I must say the tuition listed above looks great!

tokmom, BSN, RN

Grand Canyon University "almost-alum" here. :) Chosen because it has been around since 1949, is Christian based and has a ground campus complete with dorms, etc. The program is challenging and I have learned a lot.

The next time the basketball team comes to my neck of the woods, I'm going to go. Gotta support my team, GO LOPES!

tokmom, BSN, RN

Guttercat,

That stinks! How can they decide that? Does that mean if people live on bordering states and they work in one and live in the other, they cannot go to your school?

anie10

Thank you for this article!

I plan to obtain my BSN online as well, then same for my DNP. Additionally, it should only take the same amount as a BSN - for me to become "Dr. Anie10"

Such a great time to be a student

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

anie10 said:
I plan to obtain my BSN online as well, then same for my DNP.

Yep. I am enrolled in an online RN-to-BSN completion program at one of the aforementioned schools. After I earn the BSN degree, I am looking at an online MSN completion program at another affordable school.

brandy1017, ASN, RN

Guttercat said:
This is good to know.
I was just told by my university's Advisor that I am not even allowed to pick up per diem work outside of state lines. Not even intermittently for a week at a time.
So--I cannot do agency/travel/per diem and still maintain my residency status with the university, even thought the State itself would accept my continuing residency here.
Unreal.

How would they know?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

brandy1017 said:
How would they know?

The people at the school might know this info if one is receiving federal student aid because they have access to a student's financial information via the FAFSA.

rose407

University of arlington wanted me to take a texas history forget that.louisiana of lafayette I have applied to already. Fort hayes so far sounds promising as well

Affordable Online RN-to-BSN Programs

How can I further my nursing education without accumulating debt?

Fort Hays State University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Ohio University

University of Texas at Arlington

Western Governors University

University of Arkansas Grantham

Lamar University

Eastern New Mexico University

Purdue University

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