Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs

A BSN takes about four years and is the most common route to a registered nurse license for new students. Here is what the national and state data show, and where to compare programs near you.

Updated 14 November 2026

87.6%: of BSN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first try in 2025 (ADN: 86.1%)
1,117: schools award a nursing bachelor’s degree; 948 hold ACEN or CCNE accreditation
73%: of registered nurses held a BSN or higher in the 2024 workforce study

What the data shows

BSN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt 87.6% of the time in 2025, 1.5 points above associate degree graduates, though both fell from the prior year (91.9% and 90.6%).
46% of RNs in the 2024 study earned a BSN as their first nursing degree, up from 39% in 2015.
AACN counted 283,303 students in entry-level BSN programs and 92,447 in RN-to-BSN programs in fall 2025. Schools turned away 75,255 qualified applications to bachelor’s programs, citing insufficient clinical placement sites, faculty, preceptors, and classroom space, as well as budget cuts.
Of 1,117 schools with a BSN, 489 are public, 520 are private nonprofit and 108 are for-profit. The median net price is $18,902 a year, and the typical program’s graduates owe a median of $21,856.

BSN programs by state

Each state page ranks its programs by first-time pass rate and shows net price, debt and pay. 24 states have enough board data to rank. See the full state list for why others are missing.

Strongest large BSN programs

The 15 best pooled first-time pass rates among programs with at least 100 first-time test-takers over three years, in the 30 states that publish counts. Boards define reporting years differently, so use it to shortlist and compare inside your state.

Large BSN programs by pooled first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate
#	School	State	Pass rate	Test-takers	Net price a year	Median debt
1	Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Public	Texas	100.0%	249	$16,660	$20,000
2	The College of New JerseyEwing, Public	New Jersey	100.0%	196	$26,752	$24,250
3	Carroll UniversityWaukesha, Private	Wisconsin	100.0%	140	$24,205	$27,000
4	Morgantown Campus BSN program	West Virginia	100.0%	122	n/a	n/a
5	Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, Public	Kentucky	99.6%	265	$8,976	$18,000
6	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, Public	Florida	99.6%	245	$11,555	$18,163
7	Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, Private	Wisconsin	99.3%	143	$22,797	$25,245
8	Appalachian State UniversityBoone, Public	North Carolina	99.3%	138	$16,082	$12,500
9	Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, Private	Texas	99.3%	136	$27,943	$19,500
10	Hartwick CollegeOneonta, Private	New York	99.2%	122	$36,296	n/a
11	Cedar Crest CollegeAllentown, Private	Pennsylvania	99.1%	212	$23,513	$25,000
12	Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, Private	Pennsylvania	99.1%	117	$25,955	$26,862
13	Texas A&M University HSC College of Nursing	Texas	99.0%	680	n/a	n/a
14	Edgewood UniversityMadison, Private	Wisconsin	99.0%	101	$28,487	$21,935
15	California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, Public	California	98.7%	462	$9,426	$13,000

Four ways to earn a BSN

Traditional BSN. About four years, usually with two years of prerequisites and general education and two of nursing. Most students enter as first-time college students.

Accelerated BSN. 12 to 18 months for people with a degree in another field. See top accelerated programs.

RN-to-BSN. For nurses with an associate degree or diploma, often online. See accredited online RN-to-BSN programs.

LPN-to-BSN. Bridge programs for licensed practical nurses that credit prior training. Ask each school how many credits transfer.

If you are deciding between degrees, see the associate degree comparison, nursing degree requirements and how to choose a nursing school. Costs and aid are covered in how to pay for nursing school, and quality markers in what accreditation means.

Common questions

How long does a BSN take?

A traditional BSN takes about four years. An accelerated BSN for people with a prior degree takes 12 to 18 months, and an RN-to-BSN program for working nurses can be completed in 12 to 24 months.

Do you need a BSN to be a registered nurse?

No. Both associate and bachelor’s graduates take the NCLEX-RN and hold the same license. A BSN is preferred or required by many employers and is the base for graduate study. In the 2024 workforce study, 73% of RNs held a BSN or higher.

How do BSN graduates do on the NCLEX?

87.6% of BSN graduates passed on the first try in 2025, compared with 86.1% of associate degree graduates. Programs vary widely, so check the program’s own rate on its state page.

How are BSN programs ranked here?

By the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate published by the state board, pooled over three reporting years, for programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers. Net price, graduate debt and pay appear beside it. We do not combine them into one score.

Sources: state boards of nursing, NCSBN, AACN, IPEDS, College Scorecard, ACEN and CCNE. Data sources · Methodology.