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Easy Guide to Online Registered Nursing Programs

by | Online Education

Online RN Programs
In the article below we will be covering the ins and outs of online RN programs and training. We get a lot of questions about whether there are nursing schools that are 100% online and we will be clarifying that for you below. From getting your bachelors degree in nursing (BSN) to going after your masters degree in Nursing (MSN), we breakdown all the details. Medical fields, let alone nursing, is seeing a huge demand and online nursing training is becoming a huge part of the training that is helping fill that growing demand. By the end of this article you will have a clear idea of whether or not you will want to become a registered nurse and if you want to do that in an online setting.

How do Online Registered Nursing Programs Work?

Online nursing schools in many situations do allow the earning of your associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) and can even get you qualified for initial RN licensure. This is typically done through hybrid RN programs. Hybrid programs are a combination of classroom and online nursing education. Typically students will complete their non-clinical sections of their online nursing school course work 100% online. But, they will still have to complete their clinical requirements at a medical facility of their respective schools choosing.

Online education is becoming more and more popular and if you want to see what other medical fields are using them for their training see our other guides below.

CNA Courses Online
Online Medical Assisting Training
Medical Coding Programs Online
Online LPN Schools
Phlebotomy Courses Online
Online HHA Training
Ultrasound Technician Schools Online
Pharmacy Tech Schools Online

Top 10 Online Nursing Programs

Top 10 Online RN Programs

Below is our detailed list of the top 10 online nursing programs. We use a custom methodology that uses NCES.ed.gov and IPEDS latest statistical data. We focused on online availability, overall tuition cost, graduation rate, career counseling, financial aid availability, nights and weekend availability to set our list up. We would like to congratulate the top 10 online schools for nursing, for they deserve the accolades we are giving them and any they receive.
If you represent an institution that is featured on our top 10 list, feel free to grab a free copy of the top 10 badge and post it on your school’s website so that current and future students can share in the excitement of this prestigious award. Medicalfieldcareers.com is proud and driven to assist the growth and the future success of the nursing profession as a whole and will continue to do just that. Join us in saluting the 10 outstanding online institutions that are proudly featured on our top 10 online nursing programs list!

#1 – Score 93

Purdue Global University
Tuition Cost
$14,241

School Website
1515 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
954-515-3000

Student/Faculty Ratio
13:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
Yes

#2 – Score 88

Capella University
Tuition Cost
$13,998

School Website
225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
866-808-4080

Student/Faculty Ratio
22:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
Yes
#3 – Score 88
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Tuition Cost
$13,516

School Website
128 Outreach Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
800-252-3592

Student/Faculty Ratio
11:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#4 – Score 80
Walden University
Tuition Cost
$12,075

School Website
100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 900, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
855-561-4411

Student/Faculty Ratio
17:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#5 – Score 78
South University – Savannah Online
Tuition Cost
$13,354

School Website
709 Mall Blvd, Savannah, Georgia 31406
888-444-3404

Student/Faculty Ratio
16:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#6 – Score 77
Excelsior College
Tuition Cost
$9,133

School Website
7 Columbia Cir, Albany, New York 12203
888-647-2388

Student/Faculty Ratio
17:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#7 – Score 74
Frontier Nursing University
Tuition Cost
$13,920

School Website
195 School Street, Hyden, Kentucky 41749
606-672-2312

Student/Faculty Ratio
21:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#8 – Score 71
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex
Tuition Cost
$2,250 (per 3 months)

School Website
2200 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
877-895-3276

Student/Faculty Ratio
18:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No
#9 – Score 70
Grantham University
Tuition Cost
$6,500

School Website
16025 West 113th Street, Lenexa, Kansas 66219
888-947-2684

Student/Faculty Ratio
22:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No

#10 – Score 62

Western Governors University
Tuition Cost
$6,070

School Website
4001 South 700 East Suite 700, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
866-225-5948

Student/Faculty Ratio
41:1
Life Experience Credit
Yes
Career Counseling
Yes
Nights and Weekends
No

What are the Benefits of Taking an RN Program Online?

With so many nurses who are students working and having families, it is very common to not be able to cut back on your work schedule to study more. That is where an online nursing education really shines! The ability to study on your own schedule cannot be undervalued. There are also other items to remember that help you like less travel time. Saving travel time can really be helpful for those in rural areas and those in large cities who use public transportation. Going to school on your laptop or your desk at home is much easier than driving an hour or getting on the subway, train or bus to get to school.

Find Nursing Schools Online Here

What Online Nursing Degrees are Most Commonly Offered?

The most commonly offered online nursing degrees are RN-to-BSN and MSN online degrees. It is important to know that many nursing schools limit their online nursing degrees. But that being said, there are many institutions that do offer a multitude of varieties of advanced degrees and certificate options for their students that are looking for an online education. Below we go in to detail about these online nursing degree options.

Online BSN Courses

The (BSN) Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing is an entry-level degree option and is a traditional four year degree or it can be taken as a bridge program from an (ADN) Associates Degree in Nursing. Either degree gives eligibility to employed as a bedside registered nurse. If you get your BSN you are that much closer to options at higher levels of nursing, like a MSN degree.

Online MSN Courses

(MSN) Master’s of Science in Nursing degrees is an option for entry-level students who may have a degree in a non-nursing major and want to become a nurse. RN to MSN education is commonly available 100% online and in most situations can be completed in less than 2 years.

These bridge programs are tailored for the working registered nurse due to the fact they do not have clinical training. Earning a MSN from the beginning is not as fast as this method. If you are a BSN than you just have to gain entry in to graduate school to get on the path to your MSN degree. These online programs are commonly at universities and in many situations are tough and competitive.

They are options for accelerated programs that can be finished in around 15-18 months. That even includes your necessary clinical training. If you are going for your MSN in a non bridge program it is not recommended that you working during your time for the coursework is very strenuous and encompassing.

Who Accredits Online Registered Nursing Programs?

Here is a list of the top accrediting bodies for nursing education that you should look for in your online nursing school.

(MSCHE) Middle States Commission on Higher Education
(ACS-WASC) Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(ACCJC) Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
(NEASC) New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(SACSCOC) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
(HLC) Higher Learning Commission
(WSCUC) WASC Senior College and University Commission

What are the Typical Requirements for Registered Nursing Training Online?

Before you decide on online RN programs you should always check with the respective school that you may be interested in and find out what the specific entrance requirements of your online nursing program are. Below we detail what the typical requirements are for a variety of levels of nursing education.

Standard Online Nursing Education Requirements

SAT or ACT exams – The minimum score varies by institution
Minimum GPA – Varies based on institution (safe to assume 2.0 to 3.5)
4 years HS English
3 years HS math (geometry, algebra II)
3 years HS science (biology, chemistry)
2 years HS foreign language

RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN and MSN Requirements

Completion of accredited nursing school (The National League of Nursing), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), The American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation (ACNM) are the accrediting bodies in nursing)
Current registered nursing license
Meet the GPA standard

How to get an RN Online Degree if you are a LPN/LVN

After a LPN/LVN has fully completed their education and have become a working practical nurse, most nursing schools actually offer online bridge programs that can be completed in around 9-12 months and can earn their associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). The ADN is the minimum degree that allows students and nurses to sit for and take the NCLEX-RN examination. If they pass the NCLEX-RN exam they will gain RN licensure. The LPN to RN Bridge program is extremely popular and can do wonders for your career path.

What do I Need at Home to Take Online RN Classes?

To successfully take nursing classes online you will need a working computer, a good internet connection and quiet place to do your work. If you have these three things you are on your way! If you can stream movies online your internet connection is good enough to take an online nursing course.