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For registered nurses, a bachelor of science in nursing degree is the next step on the path to greater and more fulfilling opportunities, whether career or academic. A BSN degree can pave the way to management-level employment, facilitate specialization in areas of interest such as clinical care or pediatrics, or act as a stepping stone toward graduate or doctoral studies in nursing. With the high demand for qualified nursing professionals, and the augmented salary potential a baccalaureate degree provides, an RN to BSN degree completion track is a smart choice for many of today’s registered nurses. The most common obstacles, of course, are tuition costs and the challenges of balancing campus-based classes with the scheduling demands of the nursing profession. To assist potential students in finding the solutions to these obstacles, BestCollegesOnline.org has recently debuted a ranking list of the top 10 most affordable online RN to BSN programs.
Selected degree programs are ranked according to tuition costs, beginning with the lowest rates and advancing toward the highest. In compiling the ranking list, factors such as school reputation, scheduling flexibility and the depth and breadth of required coursework were all taken into account. Affordability was a top priority, as was the compatibility of the curriculum with the busy schedule of a working registered nurse. That being said, none of the degree programs chosen compromise on academic quality. Potential students can expect the same level of education and career preparation from these degree tracks as from a conventional on-campus program, while benefiting from the convenience and expediency of distance-based learning.
Perusing the list, degree candidates will discover that a number of traditional state universities have extended their RN to BSN degree programs to online students, with such recognizable names as the University of Massachusetts and Arizona State University appearing on the ranking. Other online academic options available to RNs include the faith-based education offered by Liberty University, and Kent State University’s notably rigorous BSN curriculum, which encompasses a clinical capstone project. Each of the schools presented is fully accredited, enabling prospective students to feel confident in pursuing their studies online.
1. University of Wyoming – Cost: $106.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
2. Lamar University – Cost: $150.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
3. Western Governors University – Cost: $3,250.00 per term
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
4. Thomas Edison State College – Cost: $3,186.00 to $5,006.00 per term in-state tuition; $5,322.00 to $7,837.00 per term out-of-state tuition
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
5. Liberty University – Cost: $325.00 per credit for full-time studies; $365 per credit for part-time studies
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
6. University of Massachusetts – Cost: $330.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
7. California State University Dominguez Hills – Cost: $1,348.00 per class in-state tuition; $2,250.00 per class out-of-state tuition
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
8. Colorado Technical University – Cost: $305.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
9. Kent State University – Cost: $425.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
10. Arizona State University – Cost: $445.00 per credit
Degree Name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing