Key Takeaways:
- Online RN to BSN programs like those at the University of Rhode Island and University of North Florida offer accelerated online degrees in 12-15 months.
- Accelerated RN to BSN programs offer fast-track options for working nurses to advance their careers in response to a nursing shortage.
- A fast-track RN to BSN prepares graduates for a range of roles and specializations. They can also pursue advanced nursing education.
- Benefits include shorter completion time, intensive learning, community health focus, affordable tuition, and transfer credits for RNs.
The shortest online RN to BSN program is an accelerated nursing degree for a working nurse to earn their BSN and level up their career. With an enormous demand for well-trained, well-educated nurses (thanks to a nationwide nursing shortage), many nursing schools are developing accelerated programs to speed up the process.
Best Health Degree’s analysts have ranked the 10 best accelerated RN to BSN Programs:
- University of Rhode Island
- University of North Florida
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Purdue University Global
- La Salle University
- University of Louisiana Monroe
- University of North Alabama
- Oakland University
- University of Wisconsin Green Bay
- Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
When looking for fast-track RN to BSN online programs, you want to look into the various options that may help cut back on the required time for your degree. An accelerated one-year BSN online may focus on different methods of reducing the time needed for your classes. The best accelerated RN to BSN nursing programs online can be genuinely career-making.
Our Method: Ranking the Best Accelerated Nursing Programs Online
Best Health Degrees editors compiled a list of accredited, reputable institutions offering accelerated online nursing degrees in our search for the best fast-track RN to BSN online programs. While these BSN programs use various methods to get nursing students through quickly, we ranked programs not just on how fast they are but on their quality and return on investment. Programs were ranked by five data points: Tuition, Student Satisfaction, Salary Potential, Grad Rate, and Job Placement, using current data from Niche, IPEDS, and College Scorecard.
Our editors first ranked accredited accelerated RN to BSN programs in July 2022. This ranking was updated November 2023.
1. University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island offers an online RN to BSN that students can complete in as little as 15 months. While there are several programs on this list that can be completed in a short time and are geared toward RNs for want to obtain a BSN, URI does have one unique aspect. The courses in this program are only 7 weeks long, which is shorter than usual. So, distance learners can take more classes and broaden their skill set. This benefit and the program’s overall quality make it one of the best accelerated RN to BSN online programs.
The University of Rhode Island is one of the most respected public universities in the region. It is considered to be a top-tier American university, which is the exception rather than the rule for a public university. URI’s stellar reputation, especially in the New England area, makes graduates desirable for employers in various fields. URI’s online programs use the same esteemed faculty that teaches at the Rhode Island campus, unlike some programs that utilize adjunct instructors for their online classes.
Degree: Online RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Kingston, RI
Program Length: as little as 15 months
School: Learn more here about accelerated nursing programs online!
2. University of North Florida
The University of North Florida has an online RN to BSN that students can finish in as little as 12 months. This is about the shortest time students could complete an RN to BSN program. What makes the program at UNF unique is the focus on community health assessment. The program at UNF is one of the best accelerated RN to BSN nursing programs online for students who want to go into this fast-growing and rewarding area.
UNF is known for being a very affordable college, especially for Florida residents. It has been highly ranked on several lists of the best value in higher education. Students in all fields can benefit from these low tuition rates, which are further offset by the generous financial aid available. UNF does not put an expiration date on the transfer credits that it considers, meaning that RNs who haven’t been in school for a very long time are still eligible for the accelerated program.
Degree: accelerated RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for programmatic accreditation
Campus: Jacksonville, FL
Program Length: as little as 12 months
School: Learn more here about this accelerated nursing degree!
3. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington offers an Internet-based RN to BSN track that students can graduate from in as little as 12 months. What sets the program at UNCW apart is the education in career advancement that the degree includes.
Many RN to BSN programs focus on practical clinical experience and research-based lectures, and UNCW consists of these components. However, the program also provides career guidance from experienced nurses, which makes it one of the best accelerated RN to BSN online programs.
UNCW is known for providing exceptional research funding to its students. This is especially true for students in STEM fields like nursing. Ambitious RNs who want to make a real impact in their careers can work on impactful research projects at UNCW. UNCW also offers a Center for Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.
Degree: accelerated RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Wilmington, North Carolina
Program Length: as little as 12 months
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
4. Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global has a unique accelerated RN to BSN called the ExcelTrack BSN. This program is for students with a valid RN license and an associate degree. Purdue allows students to take as many courses as they want at their own pace.
Students can study subjects they don’t know and avoid taking classes in subjects they do know. The level of customization that the Purdue Global RN to BSN program offers makes it one of the best nursing programs online. The ExcelTrack program offers a flat tuition rate per semester, no matter how many classes you take.
Purdue Global is one of the world’s most prestigious and academically rigorous public universities. It is frequently ranked near the top of the best American public universities lists. Employers in all fields from around the country will recognize the prestige of a degree from Purdue.
Degree: accelerated RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: West Lafayette, IN
Program Length: accelerated – ExcelTrack BSN
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
5. La Salle University
La Salle University offers an Internet-based RN to BSN program that can be completed in as little as 13 months. This program is for students with a valid RN license and an associate degree.
Additionally, it emphasizes evidence based practice, patient care, or bedside manner, which many nursing professionals feel has suffered as the number of patients that healthcare professionals have to deal with regularly has skyrocketed. This emphasis on caring for patients makes La Salle one of the best nursing programs online. La Salle’s nursing BSN programs are CCNE-accredited.
La Salle is known for offering students an exceptional bang for their buck. The relatively low tuition rates and the high average salaries that graduates enjoy after they complete their educations make La Salle an attractive choice for students planning to go into various fields. STEM graduates, such as nursing program graduates, are especially well-compensated.
Degree: RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Philadelphia, PA
Program Length: as little as 13 months
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
6. University of Louisiana Monroe
The University of Louisiana Monroe offers an online RN to BSN degree that can be completed in as little as 14 months. This program is for students with an RN license and an associate degree. A unique aspect of this program is the focus on management rather than clinical practice.
Nurses that want to move into managerial roles in their careers may want to consider ULM. For them, this program is an excellent choice for a flexible nursing program available in an online format. The undergraduate nursing program at ULM is accredited by CCNE.
ULM is one of the top-ranked public universities in the region. It also has very affordable tuition, especially for Louisiana residents. This combination makes it one of the most attractive universities to students in the South who are on a tight budget, no matter what field of study they plan to go into.
Degree: RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Monroe, LA
Program Length: as little as 14 months
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
7. University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama has an online RN to BSN degree that can be finished in as little as 12 months. This evidence based practice program is for students with an RN license and an associate degree.
Unlike most public universities, this program differs from similar programs because it does not charge increased tuition fees to out-of-state students. Students from outside of Alabama who want a quality education at extremely low tuition rates may find UNA to be one of the best accelerated RN to BSN nursing programs online for their needs.
UNA is known for its focus on preparing students with practical career guidance. For example, nursing students can get advice from experienced professionals. Few universities offer this sort of valuable mentorship to their students. UNA will also accept up to 30 hours of undergraduate nursing transfer credits.
Degree: RN to BSN online program
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Florence, AL
Program Length: as little as 12 months
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
8. Oakland University
Oakland University has an Internet-based RN to BSN program that students can complete in as little as 12 months. This program is unique because it requires student nurses to complete a capstone class, which usually involves a research-based clinical project. This gives the students both research experience and clinical experience that graduates of other universities may not have, making Oakland the perfect choice for online nursing programs. This program is for online learners with an RN license and an associate degree.
Oakland, which is located in Oakland County, Michigan, is recognized as a leading public university in the area of nursing. There are many alumni in the Detroit area. Students in this area can benefit from Oakland’s strong and civic-minded alumni association. Oakland is classified as a “high research activity” university, and STEM programs like nursing benefit from this research activity.
Degree: online RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Michigan
Program Length: as little as 12 months
School: Learn more here about Michigan’s best accelerated nursing programs!
9. University of Wisconsin Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has an online RN to BSN program. This online program is unique because it accepts up to 90 transfer credits. After transferring credits, online learners can complete the program in as little as a year. This makes UWGB one of the best online options and an excellent choice for prospective students looking to accomplish their goals fast. UWGB’s nursing program is jointly managed with the Bellin College of Nursing.
UWGB is known for its generous financial aid. Prospective students should investigate the various grants and scholarships. Students of color have many different federal financial aid opportunities created specifically for people from their backgrounds.
Degree: online RN to BSN – transfer up to 90 credits
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Program Length:
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
10. Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville has an Internet-based RN to BSN program that students can complete in as little as 12 months. What sets the program at SIUE apart is its integration with accelerated graduate nursing programs.
Students can go all the way from their RN license to their DNP license at an accelerated rate. Of course, students can also simply complete the RN to BSN program if they so choose. The advancement options make SIUE one of the best accelerated RN to BSN nursing programs online.
SIUE is known for its research focus. It has more funding for research than many more significant and better-known universities. Students in STEM programs like nursing often take advantage of this high level of funding by completing research projects during their education. In addition to providing a unique learning experience, a research project will help a student’s resume stand out when trying to advance in their chosen career path. SIUE has partnerships with many leading area hospitals to give students access to a wide range of clinical experiences as an integral part of their education.
Degree: Online RN to BSN
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus: Edwardsville, IL
Program Length: as little as 12 months
School: Learn more about this accelerated nursing degree here!
What are the Advantages of an Accelerated BSN Program?
When you pursue an accelerated BSN program, you will want to understand your career’s advantages and goals. The accelerated online program’s apparent advantage is the required time for your degree. You finish the degree in 12 to 18 months rather than taking two or more years to finish up an RN to BSN degree program. The classes are accelerated, which means you have an intensive learning environment.
How Do Schools Make Accelerated Programs Shorter?
The standard method many schools, colleges, and universities use to reduce the time required for your degree is intensive class formats. You may have an opportunity to work on your degree in courses that are either six or eight weeks long. The intensive studies allow you to get through your course material in a shorter amount of time, which accelerates the process.
An RN to BSN program may also offer credit for your work experience as a nurse or accept classes you’ve taken before you entered the program. Transferring credits from other college classes you’ve taken at a community college, or a previous university course may help reduce the required time for your bachelor’s degree.
How Much Do the Fastest RN to BSN Online Programs Cost?
The cheapest accelerated nursing programs are also a benefit for your goals. Accelerated nursing programs through online courses are more likely to have a reasonable cost for your degree. It is not as expensive as traditional classes because you are not spending as much time in school. You cut back on unnecessary costs associated with paying extra tuition expenses for added semesters.
You can also consider RN to BSN online no clinical courses. A degree program does not require clinical lab work or related standards due to your work experience as a registered nurse may help reduce the time needed for your degree.
How Long Does an Online RN to BSN Take?
Full-time students can finish an online RN to BSN program in less than one year. However, there is some variation in these programs. Below are some examples of programs with 30 credit hours and 10 courses.
- Self-Paced programs allow you to go as fast as possible.
- 8 Month programs take two traditional semesters, and students take 4-5 courses per semester.
- 9 Month programs are two longer semesters and are very similar to the eight-month programs.
- 10 Months programs have the same model, multiple start dates, and similar tuition.
- 11 Month programs are not very common and usually have shorter courses.
What are the Admission Requirements for an RN to BSN?
Many prospective students want to know if they qualify for a program. Most programs require applicants to have:
- associate degree in nursing or RN nursing diploma
- minimum 2.5 GPA with a “C” or above in prerequisite courses
- a current, unencumbered RN license
What Do You Study in an RN to BSN?
Registered Nurses in a BSN online program study many topics and also take clinical practicums. In addition to coursework, students develop patient care techniques, leadership skills, and also critical thinking skills. Below are some of the classes nurses may take.
- Pathophysiology for Healthcare Professionals
- Issues in Professionalism / Professional Nursing Practice
- Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Community Health Nursing / Community Nursing / Community Health Assessment
- Healthcare Genetics
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- Transcultural Nursing Holistic
- Healthcare Policy
- Primary Care in the Ambulatory Setting
- Case Management
- Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
- Population Health Nursing / Public Health
- Nursing Leadership / Leadership and Management in Nursing / Nursing Management
- Healthcare Genetics
Are Online BSN Programs Easier than On-Campus?
When looking for the easiest online RN to BSN programs, you may assume that it will not compare to the challenges of on-campus classes. Regarding reputable online programs, you can expect the coursework to be as challenging as on-campus coursework. In some cases, quick online RN to BSN programs are more difficult due to the intensity of the training and the fast pace of the online course material.
As a general rule, you should expect the online BSN programs to have a similar level of challenge and difficulty as the on-campus degree programs. Many colleges and universities focus on ensuring students have access to the same training and skill development level to provide competent patient care. If you are looking for an easier program, then you may want to focus on online BSN programs that offer classes that are longer than six or eight weeks to work at a slower pace.
Can I Get an Accelerated BSN if I Have a Bachelor’s in Another Field?
Yes. There are many online BSN programs for non-nurses interested in entering the nursing field. Accelerated online BSN programs for non-nurses use credits from another degree. This cuts down on time it takes to earn their RN to BSN degree.
If you are considering a change to your career and want to start working as a nurse, you may consider taking an accelerated BSN program. While the exact standards a school sets depend on its program and options, many second-degree programs are designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to change their focus to nursing.
BSN Programs for Non-Nurses
The way online BSN programs for non-nurses work is simple. You are given a second degree in nursing after you finish up the program. The school may use credits from your first degree that apply to the nursing degree. You then take classes specifically designed for nursing and finish appropriate clinical lab work or simulations.
The exact number of credits that may transfer into the program varies based on the details of the program, the school’s standards, and the type of bachelor’s degree you completed. Generally, you can expect credits and courses that apply to the nursing industry to transfer to many programs. Classes unrelated to your new field of study may or may not transfer for credit in a BSN program.
Check Program Details and Transfer Policies
You will want to clarify the details about the school’s methods of transferring credits for a second degree in nursing before you decide to pursue an accelerated program at a college or university.
The exact details of their transfer processes and standards will differ for each school. You should also discuss the process of obtaining a second degree and how your original degree program may enhance or improve your training as a nurse.
What Can You Do with a BSN?
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, prepares registered nurses for many roles. Additionally, a BSN gives nurses the academic foundation they need to attend graduate programs for more advanced specializations and administrative positions.
With a BSN, registered nurses can work in critical care, nursing leadership, case management, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, community health nursing, and public health.
Related:
25 Best Traditional BSN Degree Programs
15 Best Online BSN Degree Programs
10 Most Affordable BSN Degree Programs
15 Best Online Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Programs
What Can I Do with a Bachelor’s in Nursing?