Difference between A.A.S and a BSN degree

There are a zillion posts, especially lately, asking about ASN/ADN vs. BSN. Please peruse the forum.

Don't bother getting a different associate's degree if you're going into nursing. What would be the point? Don't waste the time and money on those other classes. But definitely do those prereqs at a community college.

If you're considering going into Nursing and you're considering getting a BSN, I suggest you consult with the 4 year school's requirements for general ed and match those up with the courses at your community college. Knock all that stuff out of the way and get your prerequisites done at the CC level. It's much cheaper. Then transfer to the 4 year and go for the BSN program.

If you want to get an Associates, get one that's an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) and not an AAS, which is an applied science. Those may not have all the general education stuff as those educational programs are designed to get you in and out quickly, with little to no coursework that's not dedicated to your education in that field. The point is, though, get ONE Associates, not two. Otherwise you're just spending too much time doing something else.

As to whether or not they're the same, they're not exactly the same, though some ADN programs can be very, very close. In the end, both will take the same NCLEX and receive the same license. The BSN will usually have a wider range of employment options because the broader upper division Gen Ed and public health education they receive as part of their program. They're also usually a prepared for entry to a Master's level program. If you're looking to get a Masters in Nursing, it'll be a LOT quicker to go BSN than it would be to go ADN to BSN to MSN unless you've already earned a Bachelor's in another field. Then BSN to MSN route is only a little faster.

Just remember, if you do your own legwork and research about what classes you need, it'll make things go a whole lot smoother for you. Get a transfer agreement set up between the CC and University. It'll be just as fast and probably cheaper in the long run.