Top Online Nursing Programs for Non-Nurses
A career in nursing is a dream for many, but the rigorous schedule required by traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs can put the profession out of reach for many. If a traditional in-person nursing program won’t fit into your schedule, an online nursing program may be just what you need. These programs are specially tailored for those non-nurses and students with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields. The online format allows students to quickly earn their BSN degrees in just a few semesters.
Yes! Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are available for students with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who want to become nurses.
While many of these accelerated nursing programs have online courses, all of them will require an in-person component. Most programs require students to attend on-campus intensives and clinical rotations.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
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For nursing candidates interested in online programs, convenience is generally the factor that ranks highest in importance and priority. But other elements contribute to our ranking methodology, including accreditation, cost, and the program’s reputation. When choosing the top online nursing programs for non-nurses, our selection process included the following elements:
- Cost of attendance
- Program length
- Admission requirements
- Flexibility of available programs
- Any additional accolades that the program has received
|
Program |
Accreditation |
Program Length |
Tuition |
|
Emory University |
CCNE |
3 semesters |
$1,706 per credit hour |
|
University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh |
CCNE |
12 months |
$48,224 |
|
Villanova University |
CCNE |
14 or 23 months |
$52,500 |
|
Holy Family University |
CCNE |
14 months |
$50,563 |
|
Herzing University |
CCNE |
36 months |
$755 per credit hour |
|
Wilkes University |
CCNE |
15 months |
$66,233 |
|
Marymount University |
CCNE |
16 months |
$39,270 per year |
|
Elmhurst University |
CCNE |
16 months |
$50,000 |
|
Methodist College |
CCNE |
24 months |
$677 per credit hour |
|
Roseman University of Health Science |
CCNE |
18 months |
$60,000 |
1. Emory University
Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is one of the nation’s leading educational institutions, and its distance-based Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program provides the opportunity for students who have already earned a previous bachelor’s degree in another discipline to earn their BSN over three semesters, completing the curriculum in just one year.
The program is full-time but distance-based, with all classes offered online. Despite being entirely online, only 30 students are admitted for each cohort, giving students individualized attention. Clinical rotations are offered in local communities, on the Emory campus, and on optional global sites. The program has two required clinical intensive sessions students must attend on Emory’s Atlanta campus.
2. University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin’s Accelerated BSN program was the first for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Since its inception in 2003, the program has graduated more than 1,400 students.
It is an intense program that offers all nursing theory courses online. Clinical rotations are completed in or near a student’s home community. There are also required on-campus residencies, including a two-week lab/clinical combination and an advanced concepts/capstone week.
- Tuition: $48,224
- Program Length: 12 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: June 30th
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Yes
3. Villanova University
Villanova offers two unique accelerated BSN programs. The first is a 14-month express track, and the other is a 23-month flex track.
Students must indicate which track they are applying for on the application, as there are different deadlines. Villanova holds frequent virtual open houses, allowing students to speak with faculty and the BSN director. Attendees receive an application fee waiver if they attend.
- Tuition: $52,500
- Program Length: 14 or 23 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline:
- Express Track
- First Deadline: September 15th
- Second Deadline: December 15th
- Flex Track: March 15th
- Express Track
- Contact Information:
- Email: gotovu@villanova.edu
- Phone Number: (610) 519-4500
- Online Options Available? Yes
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
4. Holy Family University
In just 14 months, students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can complete this online nursing program with only one in-person appearance at Holy Family University, located outside of Philadelphia.
While a bachelor’s degree is part of the admission requirements, students must only have the five prerequisite courses. Additionally, students can access a dedicated clinical placement team to help find preceptors and immersive clinical sites.
- Tuition: $50,563
- Program Length: 14 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Information:
- Email: admissions@onlinenursing.holyfamily.edu
- Phone Number: (888) 411-1443
- Online Options Available? Yes
5. Herzing University
Herzing University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program designed explicitly for non-nurses seeking an undergraduate baccalaureate education.
Classes are offered both on-demand and in real time. The program’s eight clinical courses can be completed in your geographic area, and students are required to attend three 2-4 day intensives at a designated Herzing or partner site. Students can earn dual credits towards an MSN or choose an online MSN Direct Entry program to begin working towards a master’s degree.
- Tuition: $755 per credit hour
- Program Length: 36 Months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (800) 596-0724
- Online Options Available? Yes
6. Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a nationally ranked nursing program that offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program that can be completed in just one year.
The program is full-time, offers complimentary clinical placement services, and provides graduates the ability to quickly transition into a nursing career. There are multiple start dates and all coursework is offered 100% online.
While the program is entirely online, students must reside within Pennsylvania so that clinicals may be completed at local healthcare systems.
- Tuition: $66,233
- Program Length: 15 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Yes
7. Marymount University*
Marymount University has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Universities in the South, Best Colleges for Veterans, and Best Value School. Its Second-Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a full-time program specifically designed for students who can take their courses online and complete their clinicals within the state of Virginia.
The didactic coursework is completed entirely online. Nursing students must complete a two-week hands-on residency and the required in-person clinicals. The program is also offered part-time, where students can take 2-3 courses at a time.
- Tuition: $39,270 per year
- Program Length: 16 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: June 24th
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Yes
8. Elmhurst University
Students enrolled in Elmhurst’s ABSN program complete coursework entirely online but gain experience through 1-2 on-campus residencies and clinical placements in their local community.
The program is 60 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 16 months. Students must complete a minimum of 450 clinical hours.
- Tuition: $50,000
- Program Length: 16 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: June 24th
- Contact Information:
- Email: brennanl@elmhurst.edu
- Phone Number: (630) 617-3513
- Online Options Available? Yes
9. Methodist College
Methodist College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Second Degree is an online and weekend program for those who already have a degree in another area of study. Full-time students can complete the program in two academic years or five semesters, with learning taking place in an online classroom that provides lectures, instructional materials, media, and discussions.
Students must attend weekend face-to-face classes and clinical experiences at the school’s campus and at Peoria, Illinois healthcare facilities.
- Tuition: $677 per credit hour
- Program Length: 24 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: July 1st
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Yes
10. Roseman University of Health Science
Roseman University of Health Sciences is a non-profit, private institution with locations in Nevada and Utah. The College of Nursing offers a hybrid-online accelerated BSN program that is available to both graduates with bachelor’s degrees in other areas of study and applicants with 54 specific college credits.
Courses are offered in a block curriculum that allows students to take one course at a time continuously. In addition to completing all didactic classes online, lab assignments, and assessments are conducted in person, as is the clinical rotation component of the curriculum.
- Tuition: $60,000
- Program Length: 18 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline:
- Spring: November 1st
- Summer: May 1st
- Fall: August 1st
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Hybrid
>> Show Me Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Second-degree programs can be completed in a little less than a year, while the accelerated programs for students who do not have bachelor’s degrees are offered in a year-round, compressed schedule that prepares graduates to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam in just three years.
Admission Requirements
Though each program is different, all of the second-degree programs require students to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.
Different schools have different minimum GPA requirements, and most require the completion of prerequisite science-based classes. Others ask students to submit academic and/or professional letters of recommendation and personal statements explaining their reasons for wanting to become a nurse.
Program Length
The length of the online BSN programs varies depending upon whether the student takes them on a full-time or part-time basis. The quickest path to nursing offered by these programs is one year, and the longest is three years.
Program Cost
The cost to attend an accelerated online BSN program depends upon the individual program. Private schools tend to cost more than state- or community-based programs.
Classes
Every nursing program is a reflection of the priorities and philosophies of its faculty and administration, but there are certain classes that every nurse can expect to be part of the curriculum that they will be required to take. Some of these foundational courses include:
- Introduction to Professional Nursing
- Health Assessments
- Mental Health
- Pharmacology
- Pathophysiology
- Nursing Medication Mathematics
- Nursing Care of Adults
- Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families
- Nursing of Geriatric Populations
- Health Policy
- Health Ethics
- Leadership and Management in Nursing
What’s the Difference Between Online ADN Programs for Non-Nurses vs. Online BSN Programs for Non-Nurses
Online ADN programs for non-nurses are essentially traditional ADN programs. These are ideal for high school graduates interested in becoming a nurse.
On the other hand, online BSN programs for non-nurses are specifically designed for students who possess a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are interested in becoming an RN.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required