RN to BSN Degree Online BS in Nursing Program

If you're looking to earn your MSN – and want to save time and money along the way – the Accelerated RN-MSN program option is the right path for you.

Ideal for nurses looking to fill a role in leadership, this affordable nursing degree option allows eligible students to complete 2 graduate-level courses within their BSN program. Once you transition to your MSN, these courses will be waived, saving you up to 20 weeks of coursework and $3,700 in tuition. Prior to moving into the MSN program, students must successfully achieve their BSN degree.

RN to BSN students who transition into the online Accelerated RN to MSN program option can choose from 1 of 3 specialty tracks designed to fit their career goals, including:

Clinical Nurse Leader Program

Gain the skills you need to pursue a role as a clinical nurse leader (CNL). The CNL bridges the gap between traditional bedside nursing and modern data and technology driven practices. You'll learn how to collaborate with all of a patient's caregivers and make sure broader systems like payment structures, institutional policies and data collection are organized in ways that best serve patient safety and care.

Nurse Educator Program

Combine your clinical expertise and passion for teaching. Based on the competencies and practice standards defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National League for Nursing (NLN). Students who complete this specialty track will be eligible to sit for the national Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.

MSN Degree (Generalist)

Customize your program to fit your career goals. By selecting your desired electives, you'll  have the opportunity to tailor your specialty knowledge in areas including continuous improvement, quality and safety of healthcare systems, patient-centered care, inter-professional collaboration and evidence-based practice.

Courses may include:

• Pathophysiology for Nurses
• Patient Assessment and Health Literacy
• Information Management and Patient Care Technologies
• Healthcare Management and Finance.

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify. We also make it easy to transfer to SNHU by accepting up to 90 credits from your previous institution.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.

Recently, Southern New Hampshire University has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
• Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium

96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.⁴ Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Part of our mission to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 undergraduate terms.

• An active unencumbered RN license equivalent to NCLEX-RN. If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction all licenses must be unencumbered.
• An earned diploma or associate degree in nursing from a state-approved or nationally accredited nursing program and a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA
• Students who have graduated from a nursing program within three months of application may be admitted if all other admission requirements are met. Evidence of licensure must be provided within three months from date of admission.

If you are an RN to BSN student interested in the Accelerated RN to MSN program option, contact an admission counselor or your academic advisor for more information.

Graduates of an ASN program from a New Hampshire community college should contact an admission counselor at Southern New Hampshire University to learn more about our tuition benefit and admission requirements.

NOTE: SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington or US territories and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state or US territories into Nursing programs at this time. Currently enrolled students who move into the state of Washington or a US territory will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington or the US territory. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Admission, and current students should contact their Advisor, for more information.

Students enrolled in SNHU nursing programs must comply with requirements of the healthcare organizations where their Clinical Practice Experiences will be completed. If the healthcare organization requires an affiliation agreement prior to conducting Clinical Practice Experiences, additional requirements may include (but are not limited to) criminal background checks and verification of licensure, drug testing, immunization records, health insurance, and medical malpractice insurance. Students are responsible for any costs incurred as a result of meeting these additional requirements.

Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions and walk you through the application process. Start by:

• Completing a free undergraduate application
• Providing previous institutions attended – so we can retrieve transcripts for you at no cost

Yes. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

No. An RN might have their BSN, but they are not the same thing. RN stands for registered nurse – a title given to a nursing professional who has completed educational and licensure requirements. While these requirements vary by state, all RNs must have at least an associate degree and pass an exam known as the NCLEX-RN.

The RN to BSN program gives nurses with associate degrees the opportunity to further their education online while they continue their lives as nursing professionals.

Yes, you can earn your RN to BSN online. Typically, nursing students will either earn their RN in an associate program or as part of their pre-licensure BSN degree.

As more and more healthcare employers are demanding their nurses be BSN-holders, earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing helps qualify you for more positions. If you’ve already completed an accredited associates program in nursing, the flexibility of our online BSN program could be a great way to help advance your career without missing shifts.

At Southern New Hampshire University, we take credibility seriously. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Our online BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).¹

We believe that nurses shine when they're out in the world – whether it's in an emergency room, a clinic or a residential care facility. This is why we have built our curriculum to include assignments that take students in to their communities through clinical practice experiences. Our nursing program accreditor, CCNE, defines clinical practice experiences as planned learning activities in nursing practice that allow students to understand, perform, and refine professional competencies.

The transformational capstone course includes 90 hours of practicum experience to demonstrate synthesis of the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired throughout the program. In addition, students will engage in a seminar process, develop a portfolio and complete a final project.

We believe these experiences are critical in shaping students who are looking to make an impact in their field. From conducting a community-based assessment and presenting it to a provider in the community setting to spending time with a healthcare leader, these experiences provide our nurses a global perspective of care.

The time it takes to complete an RN to BSN program depends on how many courses you take per term and your prior educational experience. But already having RN licensure means you’re well on your way to completing your BSN.

At SNHU, your unencumbered RN license alone is worth 45 credits of your BSN, and we accept up to 90 transfer credits. This means you can complete your RN to BSN program in as little as 1 year without having to cut back your shifts.

Salaries for nurses vary depending on several factors, including years of experience, level of education and industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses in May 2018 was $71,730.² In that same year, nurses in government ($78,390) and state, local and private hospitals ($73,650) were among the top earners. Ambulatory healthcare services ($68,320), nursing and residential care facilities ($63,990), and educational services in state, local and private sectors ($61,850) followed closely behind.²

For those looking to advance beyond a BSN, an accelerated RN to MSN program online can help position you for advanced practice or leadership roles. Learn more about types of nurses. 

¹ The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

² Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (viewed September 17, 2019)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (viewed September 17, 2019)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

³ Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," on the internet, at http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf (viewed online December 22, 2017).

⁴ According to a survey responses from over 9,200 SNHU online students conducted in the fall of 2019.