Top 100 Best Affordable RN to BSN Schools

Choosing an Affordable RN to BSN College

Choosing the right RN to BSN degree program is not an easy thing. There are many options available, and students have many variables in play that complicate the decision-making process. Essentially, students are faced with a litany of personal and practical factors that they must weigh when determining which BSN degree program will be the best for them, providing long-term success and happiness. Some of the personal factors can include their location and how far they are willing to travel for school, but students also look at things like campus amenities, sports teams, and even whether their friends or family members are there.

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Our research covers the more practical factors. We look at each RN to BSN program's educational statistics, the gross and net price, as well as other important features. Included in the educational statistics is each school's retention rate. That number shows how many first-time, full-time students return for a second year. Researchers consider a high retention rate an indication that students and their families are happy with the school's curriculum, faculty, campus resources, and more. A high retention rate also tells students that the cohort they meet in the freshman dorms is likely to remain into their second year. This statistic then can be compared with the graduation rate and the transfer-out rate. When a high retention rate is found along with a high graduation rate, students can be assured of a cohesive college experience. The transfer out might seem negative, but it can indicate that students are prepared by that school to gain admission in a more competitive school from which they will likely graduate.

We also look at factors that impact students and their families in a direct way. Tuition rates, for instance, are a huge concern for most families. We address in-state and out-of-state costs both in terms of the gross price and the average net sums. For this reason, we also look at whether schools offer online nursing degree programs. Online programs can sometimes be cheaper, and they certainly bring far-flung programs to every student's laptop.

Online Options

Nearly every school in the nation has adopted online education for at least some of their courses. The COVID pandemic made this an imperative, and these programs will likely expand and grow as a result. In fact, prior to the pandemic some schools required that students take a certain number of credits online. Yet there are 100% online degree programs for RN to BSN students.

After all, many RN to BSN students will have already started their careers and thus will prefer to continue working. An online RN to BSN degree program allows students to fit coursework into their hectic schedules. For working registered nurses, this option might be the only feasible way to complete a degree. After all, nurses frequently find that their work schedules change with little or no notice. Thus, where students in traditional classroom courses would have to skip class to accommodate problems at work, online BSN degree students can fit their degree in around the changes.

Online education also means more opportunities to attend programs that may be hundreds of miles away. For instance, Ohio University offers an online RN to BSN program which students in, say, Oregon would find inaccessible except for the online option. There many such programs nationwide that are now opening their virtual doors to students everywhere. Therefore, students can thus complete their basic RN training in a local community college or nursing institute, start working, and complete their BSN through an online RN to BSN degree program.

BSN Graduates Earn More After College

One of the chief reasons to enter an RN to BSN degree program is to earn more after college. Nurses who have an RN license make a good salary but, once they have their BSN, they will find that they have an easier time earning raises and promotions. BSN degree holders can also pursue specialty certifications that will raise their credentials to a new level. For instance, hospitals and clinics are sure to reward nurses who maintain specialty credentials in fields such as oncology, psychiatry, assisted living, hematology, or informatics, among other nursing areas.

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Currently, the website Payscale.com reports that BSN degree holders earn an average salary of over $86,000. This includes all nurses at all stages of their career, and in every state and town. They also note that a nursing director earns an average of over $97,000 and nursing managers are being hired for an average salary of $90,000 or more. These salary numbers don't include any bonuses, nor do they consider other benefits, including healthcare or tuition reimbursement.

Not only do BSN degree holders earn more than those RNs without a bachelor's degree, but they also have so many more opportunities than those with only an associate degree. Nurses with a BSN have the option of working towards a long list of specialty nursing fields and they are also eligible to apply for a master's degree program. Thus, a nurse with a BSN can soon find themselves enrolled in a degree program to become a nurse practitioner.