Members are discussing various online RN-to-BSN programs, sharing their experiences, program lengths, paper requirements, and costs. Some members mention specific programs like Nightingale College, Excelsior College, Boise State, and University of Louisville, while others are seeking recommendations for programs with manageable workloads and minimal papers. Accreditation, clinical requirements, and military discounts are also topics of discussion.
I was leaning towards Grand Canyon University, but I just chatted with someone who told me she had to write extensive papers almost every week. That seems like too much!
I understand nursing school is hard, I did the LVN-RN step-up program, and eventually want to get my Masters, but the program I'm looking at requires a BSN first.
Any advice is appreciated, I'm looking for as simple and fast as possible. Of course I'd like to have a reasonable cost as well.
It was reported a few days ago (and confirmed on their state board requirements page) that Excelsior College is voluntarily withdrawing their accreditation with the ACNE as of May 11, 2021. That is a huge blow to their program, which only seems to be getting worse. The passing rates are not good, and NCLEX rates are getting lower and lower. Combine that with the lawsuits they had to deal with, that school is going into freefall. I would definitely look elsewhere.
Old post, but good info here. Heading back to finish my BSN. Looking for a quick and easy, 100% online program without a lot of hassle. I realize people will say, "quick and easy," are not good words for a nursing program, but I've been an RN for many years. I'm confident in my previous education, skills, and knowledge. I just need to finish this step so I can move forward with my educational goals. I am sure I will gain knowledge and skills during the course of this journey, I just want to complete it as quickly as possible. I'm highly motivated to get this part done fast!
I'd prefer to do my work at my pace, I prefer to not have a lot of online classroom discussions/interactions, and of course I'd prefer few papers. I know there are good programs out there that will have something like this, just looking to see what others have done and hear about their experiences.
Military discount would be fantastic as well, but at this point, money isn't a deciding factor in my decision.
I am extensively and intensely looking for a good RN-BSN program that doesn't involve schools I've never heard of. I'm honestly not a fan of Western Governor's. I don't like the fact that it's competency-based and not graded. You end up with the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA at the end, which for someone who was a subpar college student years ago, won't help my efforts in getting into a decent MSN after my BSN is done. Same goes for Chamberlain, Capella, SNHU, Kaplan, and all those other online-only colleges. I know they're all accredited and all that, but I'd rather go to a notable school that people know of and you don't see advertising on TV. Just my opinion, though.
So I've narrowed my choices down to Drexel, Louisville, Ohio State, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Drexel of course is expensive so might not go there. I'm intrigued by Louisville ($375/credit) and Arkansas ($298/credit) who both have great curriculums. Haven't looked much into UNM. And of course, Ohio State's program reputation is well-known. I've looked at over 100 schools and dozens of review sites so far and those are my top 5 if anyone wants to look into it more. Also, if anyone has attended those 5 programs, let me know how it was.
Its frustrating trying to narrow down the choices for future nursing education programs. There are so many to choose from! But, I've heard too many horror stories from nurses that ended up taking and paying for classes they didn't need, finding out they had a pass/fail curriculum that hindered their future schooling, programs with TONS of papers to write, or programs that weren't accredited or wouldn't meet the requirements for their state licensure. I'd love if someone would chime in and share some of their experiences with good schools that were helpful.
Updating. I chose University Of Louisville because it was quite inexpensive considering what school it is and the fact that I only need 2 Humanities courses besides the BSN courses. Starting in the fall this year. Excellent admissions staff that works with you and treats you like a person, not a bank.
I am looking for RN to BSN online program that is fast and manageable with full time work. Can you recommend one that is manageable (lesser writing pages. etc)with assignments/projects etc. Thank you so much for your time and reply !!
Look at FSCJ online RN to BSN. Even out of state tuition is pretty reasonable and yes the school has a large brick and mortar presence too. Fully accredited.
However I plan to go through Cappella I think...supposedly you can do it in 4-5 months and less than $6500 if you work at it every day. I think that will be my plan. I have to check the latest tuition but that's what I've heard.
As someone who graduated from the RN-to-BSN program at Pacific College of Health and Science, I highly recommend it! The program is entirely online, which made it super convenient for me to balance work and study. What really stood out for me was how practical and integrative the curriculum is—focusing not just on traditional nursing but also on holistic care and wellness, which I found incredibly valuable in my practice.
The workload was manageable—yes, there were papers and assignments, but they were purposeful and directly applicable to real-world nursing, not just busywork. Plus, the support from instructors was phenomenal; they really want you to succeed. The cost was reasonable too, especially compared to other BSN programs I looked into.
If you're looking for a flexible, enriching program that's still straightforward and doesn't bury you in unnecessary work, I'd say go for it!
Medic6940, ASN
17 Posts
It was reported a few days ago (and confirmed on their state board requirements page) that Excelsior College is voluntarily withdrawing their accreditation with the ACNE as of May 11, 2021. That is a huge blow to their program, which only seems to be getting worse. The passing rates are not good, and NCLEX rates are getting lower and lower. Combine that with the lawsuits they had to deal with, that school is going into freefall. I would definitely look elsewhere.