Are online RN to BSN/MSN programs legitimate?

I am SERIOUSLY considering going back to school for RN to BSN or MSN. I have NO idea how to go about choosing a program though. Obviously, it will be based in part on which specialty I want (still mulling that one over). But my big concerns are 1) Are online programs legitimate and respected by hiring nurse managers 2) Which ones are the best?? How does one even go about deciding which to choose?

I'm looking for opinions on "well-known" programs as well such as Kaplan, Chamberlain, UWM's BSN@Home, Colorado Technical University, University of Phoenix, etc.... I'm not opposed to some more "obscure" options either, but I need to find a way to verify quality/ranking, etc. (More concerned about quality and accreditation than ranking, but ranking doesn't hurt either).

I'm also looking for opinions regarding programs that have NO clinical requirement. I don't really know if I trust the sound of that, but I'm already working full time and have a family....

I don't need an "Ivy League" education but I want a high quality program that is respected and known for being good. I've done research all over the internet and most of what I come up with are the websites that schools pay for advertisements on. I don't trust ANY of those sites at all. Are there sites out there that don't allow schools to pay for advertising? Even the U.S. News Best Colleges Lists allow paid advertisements now! Disappointing!!

I have NO idea how I will be able to handle working three 12s a week and having two kids and a husband while attending a rigorous program, but I think it is time that I do it.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Classes are starting in a couple of weeks here, so I doubt I'll make it in time for the upcoming semester, but maybe the one after that.

Expedient replies are appreciated!

All I can say is look for regional accreditations. This is what I learned from a friend of mine who is an admissions counselor. I went back to school for an ADN after earning a Masters degree in another field. I applied to two school for my BSN. Thomas Edison State University and Southern New Hampshire University. One required 28 credits and the other required their minimum of 30 credits. Both are 100% online. Because of the regional accreditations of all the schools I attended, everything transferred. I opted for one over the other because one only required a capstone course and the other had a clinical requirement. Both count certain courses towards a Masters. If an employer is paying, they may prefer certain schools or other accreditations such as CCNE. For me, I really had no desire to do more clinical hours after all I did at my local community college. I also opted for shorter terms so I could finish faster. If you can see a school's required curriculum it also helps you figure out how many courses you may need. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

I know this is an old post, but to determine whether a school is regionally accredited vs nationally accredited you can use this website

https://ope.ED.gov/dapip/#/home

Typically nationally accredited schools are career schools, and/or religious or for-profit, though not all of these kinds of schools are nationally accredited, quite a few are regionally accredited.

This will impact your ability to transfer credit or use your previous degrees for admission requirements should you go to a regionally accredited school down the road.

If you know you aren't going further with school or you know the school you are looking into has the next degree you'd want, then it really doesn't end up being much of an issue as long as it is also an accredited nursing school CCNE or ACCEN (I think there might be a few others that are good too).

I worked as an enrollment advisor for an online program that was also a brick and mortar school and would often have people looking to get a masters only to find out their bachelors was not regionally accredited so we could not accept them as having a bachelors.

One that I see talked about a lot on this site is Aspen University, this does not mean it's a bad school (I know nothing about it), just if you go for a future degree your credits from there may mean nothing. Hope that helps someone ?

I am actually a nurse and a nurse educator. Some programs are ligitimate, some are not. Stay with State Universities! You know they are all

  1. credentialed
  2. legitimate
  3. accepted everywhere

check out USCA

https://online.usca.edu/degrees/nursing/RN-to-BSN/

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I was just going to share my experience. I live in NC and went through one of the UNC system schools (UNC-Wilmington)

Great program, inexpensive, no clinical component. Not sure what clinical components that people had to do.

I am at a loss at why people don't use their state university systems more instead of the uber expensive private schools.

Hi. Im hope someone gives a good response to this post. I am considering and wondering the same things. And i also have the same work and family structure as yourself. Good luck to you!

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

My sister completed an RN-to-MSN program at the University of Phoenix. I don't believe that she had any clinicals. I believe that she had to attend some physical classes as well, as opposed to it being competely online. It's very pricey.

We had a presentation not long ago from Grand Canyon University, which was offering online courses for nursing (BSN/MSN). I can't vouch for the quality of education. It was also extremely expensive (which is probably true of most such programs).

RNmage said:
Texas Tech university is working for me. Completely online, and cheap. 2 semesters/ 6 months to complete. It costs

Does this program require you to be a working RN while in school?

Purdue University Calumet

Have you finished at Texas Tech?

I'd be interested to know how it was.

Specializes in ER, Med Surg, Hospice, TBI.

If you don't mind me asking, which state university did you attend? Thanks!

Which program did you attend?

Can I asked what school you went to? I live in NC and am currently looking at schools.

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