Is it more difficult to complete an RN to BSN bridge program online than in person?

[AllNursesisCool]

Has anyone here completed their BSN online? How long did it take you, how many semesters? And how much did it cost you? I prefer going to classes in person because I focus better when I'm in a classroom. I feel like I'm just gonna procrastinate or get distracted easily if I take the courses online. But I also want to work while trying to earn my BSN, so I think doing it online will be better. I can't decide. Based on your experiences (if you've been in the same situation as me), did you find it easier or more difficult to get a BSN online?

[Thedreamer]

From what the nurses on the floor are telling me, online is a LOT more writting, but I think all in all it equals out to the same effort.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I'm about a quarter of the way through an on-line RN-BSN program. While I don't know how much more difficult (or easy) the on-line program is compared to a traditional classroom program, I can say that I prefer classroom learning. I miss the interaction between the student and instructor and I don't think that the discussion boards are a good substitute for classroom debate. That said, the on-line program does have a lot of advantages with the biggest being that you can do the assignments on your own time. I suspect that there is more writing in the on-line programs but from my perspective, that's OK since I'm comfortable putting my thoughts down on paper (or more correctly, on screen). The institution that I'm enrolled in structures the classes in 5 week blocks, which I also find advantageous. While this means you have to work hard - and pretty consistently - for those 5 weeks, it also means that the pain is over fairly quickly.

As far the question about cost goes, let me answer that with another question: How much do you want to pay? You can pay a lot for the degree from a for-profit institution (like UoPhx) or a private college (like Drexel) or a little from one of the state-supported colleges (U Texas-Arlington, U Wyoming, Slippery Rock, Ohio and a host of others). The institutions named above cover a range from as much as ~$20,000 to as little as ~$7,500.

In my opinion, the on-line program is a much better choice for a working adult with a family and a host of other time-sensitive responsibilities.