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online rn to bsn degree

Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Start your online RN to BSN degree

Prepare to enhance your nursing practice, faster. Courses in the RN to BSN program are 5 weeks long. Equip yourself with professional, post-licensure nursing skills while balancing the demands of work and life.

Those transferring an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may complete their program in 14 months. At the time of official evaluation students will be awarded 87 total credits from their ADN and valid unrestricted/unencumbered RN license. RNs without an ADN transfer will be awarded 40 total credits and may complete their degree in 2.5 years.

Transfer credits

Your eligible transfer credits could cover up to 75% of your bachelor's degree.

Scholarships

Explore over $1 million in scholarship opportunities for new or transfer students.

Apply free

No application fee
No SAT/ACT
No essay required

Ignite Your Passion

Start when you're ready

Courses

Browse courses for your online RN to BSN degree

Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.

Skills-aligned program icon

Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.

Requirements: 120 credits

You’ll need 120 credits* to complete the BSN program. Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits or credits earned through the University’s Prior Learning Assessment.

33 Program Credits

33 Required BSN Program Course of Study Credits (11 core courses in nursing). Here’s where you’ll pick up the majority of your program-specific knowledge. By the time you finish these courses, you should have the confidence and skills needed in this field.

47 Gen Ed Credits

These lay the foundation for all our degree programs. Because communication, math and writing skills aren’t just universally applicable in nursing — they’re useful in daily life.

40 Nursing Credits

Students receive 40 lower division nursing credits for having their active, unencumbered RN licensure.

Schedule

Both the on campus and RN to BSN online feature the same courses, and your academic advisor will help you schedule them. Please note that on campus nursing students are required to physically attend class one day a week, typically from 6-10 pm.

Program Purpose Statement

The RN to BSN program is a post-licensure education program designed for nurses with active, unencumbered RN licensure who wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the professional field of nursing. The program is designed to develop the professional knowledge and skills of registered nurses and prepare them as generalists who are able to apply critical thinking, professional skills and knowledge to patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

Skills-aligned program icon

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.

We’ve worked with labor market researchers like Lightcast to find in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Tuition

Transfer credits

Your previous eligible college credits can save you time and money – helping you to graduate faster. That’s why we’ve accepted transcripts from 5,000+ institutions, so you can apply eligible transfer credits from an institutionally accredited university or college toward a degree of your choice.

75%

Of your bachelor's degree could be covered with eligible transfer credits.

Affordable, fixed tuition

Lock in the peace of mind that comes with fixed, affordable tuition. You’ll enjoy one flat rate from the moment you enroll until the day you graduate from your program. That’s your Tuition Guarantee.

Tuition Guarantee Emblem

University of Phoenix RN to BSN degree vs other universities

Phoenix Capella DeVry GCU Purdue Global SNHU Strayer
Cost per credit
Cost per credit
Cost per credit
$398
Cost per credit
$357/415[1]
Cost per credit
$514
Cost per credit
$485
Cost per credit
$371
Cost per credit
$320
Cost per credit
$328.89
Credits per course
Credits per course
Credits per course
3
Credits per course
3-6
Credits per course
2-4
Credits per course
4
Credits per course
5-6
Credits per course
3
Credits per course
4.5
Tuition per course
Tuition per course
Tuition per course
$1,194
Tuition per course
$1,071-
$2,490
Tuition per course
$1,028-
$2,056
Tuition per course
$1,940
Tuition per course
$1,855-
$2,226
Tuition per course
$960
Tuition per course
$1,480
Total program length in credits
Total program length in credits
Total program length in credits
120
Total program length in credits
180
Total program length in credits
124
Total program length in credits
120
Total program length in credits
180
Total program length in credits
120
Total program length in credits
180
Length of course in weeks
Length of course in weeks
Length of course in weeks
5
Length of course in weeks
10
Length of course in weeks
8
Length of course in weeks
7-8
Length of course in weeks
10
Length of course in weeks
8
Length of course in weeks
11
Fees
Fees
Fees
One fee per course
Fees
Multiple fees
Fees
Multiple fees
Fees
Multiple fees
Fees
Multiple fees
Fees
Multiple fees
Fees
Multiple fees
Tuition guarantee
Tuition guarantee
Tuition guarantee
YES
Tuition guarantee
NO
Tuition guarantee
NO
Tuition guarantee
NO
Tuition guarantee
NO
Tuition guarantee
NO
Tuition guarantee
NO

Data pulled on March 31, 2023

[1] $357 per 1000-2000 level credit; $415 per 3000-4000 level credit

Source of data: For each institution, the data are publicly available in multiple locations, including Academic Catalogs, Program pages, Tuition and fees pages, and syllabi. All data are publicly available on the websites. 

Certain licensure programs and coursework in other degree programs may have additional fees. Please check with your advisor or course catalog for additional info.

COA Components Bachelors Nursing (non-CBE) Licensure/Certification
Tuition and Fees¹
Tuition and Fees¹
Tuition and Fees¹
$8,376
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment
$1,416
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
$1,360
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Miscellaneous personal expenses
$550
Living Expenses²
Living Expenses²
Living Expenses²
     Food
     Food
     Food
$2,650
     Housing³
     Housing³
     Housing³
$5,120
Federal student loan fees
Federal student loan fees
Federal student loan fees
$60
Professional Licensure/certification⁴
Professional Licensure/certification⁴
Professional Licensure/certification⁴
$349
Dependent care expenses
Dependent care expenses
Dependent care expenses
$0
Disability related expenses
Disability related expenses
Disability related expenses
$0
Total COA
Total COA
Total COA
$19,881

1The tuition component is based on a per credit weighted average for the credential level across the entire University.

2The University allows the same living expense amounts for students in all living arrangements and dependency statuses.

3The living expense component for students receiving Military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) only includes an allowance for food.

4The licensure/certification component included in the final academic year of the program is an average of fees charged by all states the program is offered in by credential level and college.

Scholarships

Starting with your first course, every new, qualifying student will be awarded up to $1,000 to up to $3,000. Because scholarships shouldn’t just be for the chose few – they should be accessible to all working adults, like you.

$1 Million

In scholarship opportunities

Financial aid

You have options when it comes to paying for college tuition and expenses, such as federal grants and loans. Our finance advisors can answer your questions about financial aid and can help guide you through the process.

Federal Student Loan Basics

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do with an online BSN degree?

Learning can lead to earning. Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.

A BSN can prepare you to be a:

  • Charge Nurse
  • Public Health Nurse (PHN)
  • Director of Nursing (DON)

Top skills learned in this program:

  • Business Management for Nursing Professionals

  • Communications

  • Compassion in Population Health

  • Coordinating Safe Care

  • Critical Thinking and Holistic Nursing

  • Health Administration

  • Information Management and Communication

  • Leadership

  • Professionalism in the Nursing Field

  • Quality Improvement and Case Management

  • Strategic Planning

Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information.

Learning Outcomes

When you earn your BSN degree, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:

  • Demonstrate evidence-based, holistic, patient centered care that reflects knowledge of the health-illness continuum.
  • Implement appropriate health promotion and disease prevention strategies for diverse individuals, families, and populations across the life span.
  • Demonstrate professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct in health care industry.
  • Apply leadership and organizational principles that promote safe health care delivery and nursing practice.
  • Incorporate strategies that influence health policy at state, national, and international levels for the provision of safe, quality patient care.
  • Integrate patient care communication and information technology systems in health care delivery to improve patient outcomes.
  • Utilize interprofessional care coordination strategies to promote quality patient care.

6% Growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for registered nurses occupations is projected to be as fast as average between 2021 and 2031.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2021-2031 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Admissions

Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

  • No cost to request transcripts 
  • No SAT/ACT required 
  • No essay required 
  • No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
G. Galindo - Enrollment Representative

Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support

You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Receive highly rated 1-on-1 support

You’ll have a support team of real people you can lean on to encourage your success as a student. Start a conversation about your future with one of our enrollment representatives today.

Gabriel G., Enrollment Representative

Call or chat with us 7 days a week.

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 20 hours a day, 5 days a week. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

Phoenix provides support and resources for busy students

Faculty Spotlight

Professionals dedicated to you

Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average of 26 years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.

Beverly Jensen

I definitely understand how difficult it is for students who have a family. I try to make my classes as “un-stressful” as possible.

Beverly Jensen
2020 Faculty of the Year

MSN, RN, CNE

Accreditation

Count on the quality of your education

programmatic accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)[2] and this program is aligned with leading industry organizations, such as:

  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN®)
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)

[2] The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Phoenix are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

CCNE Accredited

Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree

Go from RN to BSN in 12 to 14 months depending on the type of program you choose. 

  • A traditional RN to BSN program is 14 months long*
  • A competency-based RN to BSN program is 12 months long

Choose your RN to BSN program

* Those transferring an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may complete their program in 14 months. At the time of official evaluation students will be awarded 87 total credits from their ADN and valid unrestricted/unencumbered RN license. RNs without an ADN transfer will be awarded 40 total credits and may complete their degree in 2.5 years.

Go from RN to BSN to pursue career enhancement in nursing. A BSN graduate has an estimated salary range between $67-92k. Salary ranges reflect the 25th and 75th percentile for nursing occupations in Arizona, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  

Learn more about RN to BSN online programs

The salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location, and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level, or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BSN programs prepare you for some of the following growing career opportunities in nursing:

  • Registered Nurses are experiencing 9% growth, faster than average. $61-93k - Salary ranges for registered nurses reflect the 25th-75th percentile for the occupation in Arizona, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

  • Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary are experiencing 12% growth. $57-100k salary ranges for nursing instructors reflect the 25th-75th percentile for the occupation in Arizona, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

A BSN is a degree in nursing. An RN is a licensure and job title. A BSN does not prepare you to be a nurse practitioner. If you are an RN, you can pursue a BSN degree for career opportunities in your field.

A registered nurse (RN) is a nursing professional who medically treats patients and provides educational and emotional support for those individuals and their families. Depending on the specialty of the registered nurse, their specific duties will vary. 

A BSN is a bachelor’s degree of science in nursing and is a four-year program for students who seek to become a registered nurse, or those who already are a registered nurse and have an associate degree in nursing. Many RNs will enroll in BSN programs to further their education in the nursing field from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about RN to BSN degrees

A BSN introduces you to skills such as: 

  • Business Management
  • Communications
  • Compassion in Population Health
  • Coordinating Safe Care
  • Critical Thinking and Holistic Nursing
  • Health Administration
  • Information Management and Communication
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism
  • Quality Improvement and Case Management
  • Strategic Planning

Learn more about a BSN

An RN to BSN program can take 12 to 14 months depending on the type of program you choose. 

A traditional RN to BSN program is 14 months long*

A competency-based RN to BSN program is 12 months long

If you are currently working as an RN, you can choose RN to BSN online programs to take courses that fit a nursing program into your busy schedule. You can also use the highly rated 1-on-1 support, available 20 hours a day, 5 days a week to help you while earning your BSN.

* Those transferring an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) may complete their program in 14 months. At the time of official evaluation students will be awarded 87 total credits from their ADN and valid unrestricted/unencumbered RN license. RNs without an ADN transfer will be awarded 40 total credits and may complete their degree in 2.5 years.

An RN is a licensure and job titleAs an RN you may have many opportunities in your nursing career. If you are an RN and wish to a pursue career enhancement in nursing you can choose a BSN.

You may be eligible to enroll in a competency-based RN to BSN degree program which can reduce the time it takes to complete your BSN. There are specific admission requirements including qualifying prior work experience.

Current RN license required. 

While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.