Online RN-to-BSN programs, accredited and ranked by debt
If you are a registered nurse with an associate degree or diploma, an online bachelor's completion program can add a BSN while you keep working. Here are the accredited, fully online options, ordered by what graduates borrowed.
- 111
- accredited, fully online BSN programs with at least 20 graduates a year and a reported debt figure
- $18,106
- median loan debt for the typical program in this list, against $22,678 for programs that are not fully online
- 84
- of the 111 are public universities; 8 are for-profit
What the data shows
- Federal data lists 189 schools whose BSN program is offered entirely online and 353 more that offer some of it online, out of 1117 schools with a BSN program. 155 of the 189 fully online programs hold ACEN or CCNE accreditation.
- Among the 111 accredited programs with at least 20 graduates a year and a debt figure, the typical program’s median loan debt is $18,106, compared with $22,678 for BSN programs that are not fully online. The range runs from $6,509 (Capella University) to $37,500 (Nightingale College).
- Federal data does not separate RN-to-BSN completion programs from other bachelor’s programs. Fully online BSN programs are mostly completion programs for working nurses, so we treat them that way, but check each school’s page to confirm. Pay one year out mostly reflects the RN pay the graduates already earned, so we do not rank on it.
15 lowest-debt accredited online BSN programs
Ordered by median loan debt of graduates, lowest first. Debt is what completers borrowed across the whole program, so it is a fair cost signal when programs are similar in length. Pay is median earnings one year after graduating.
| # | School | Median loan debt | Pay 1 year out | Graduates a year | Accredited by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN, For-profit | $6,509 | $94,212 | 7,779 | CCNE |
| 2 | New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, NM, Public | $8,500 | $91,241 | 49 | CCNE |
| 3 | Florida Gateway CollegeLake City, FL, Public | $9,855 | $80,825 | 40 | CCNE |
| 4 | California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, CA, Public | $10,000 | $116,349 | 165 | CCNE |
| 5 | Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce, FL, Public | $10,370 | $81,877 | 92 | ACEN |
| 6 | Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, UT, Private | $10,737 | $91,037 | 5,885 | CCNE |
| 7 | Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville, FL, Public | $11,000 | $81,085 | 43 | ACEN |
| 8 | University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, KY, Private | $11,033 | $80,606 | 88 | CCNE |
| 9 | Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell, OK, Public | $11,296 | $82,386 | 134 | ACEN |
| 10 | Pensacola State CollegePensacola, FL, Public | $11,298 | $75,009 | 42 | ACEN + CCNE |
| 11 | Seminole State College of FloridaSanford, FL, Public | $11,500 | $85,453 | 70 | ACEN |
| 12 | Mayville State UniversityMayville, ND, Public | $11,557 | $78,359 | 26 | ACEN + CCNE |
| 13 | McKendree UniversityLebanon, IL, Private | $11,676 | $74,224 | 70 | CCNE |
| 14 | Post UniversityWaterbury, CT, For-profit | $11,777 | $91,128 | 300 | CCNE |
| 15 | Texas A&M University-VictoriaVictoria, TX, Public | $11,817 | $90,119 | 29 | CCNE |
15 largest accredited online BSN programs
Size is graduates a year. Big programs have more students to learn from and usually more established placement processes, but not always more support.
| # | School | Median loan debt | Pay 1 year out | Graduates a year | Accredited by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN, For-profit | $6,509 | $94,212 | 7,779 | CCNE |
| 2 | Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, UT, Private | $10,737 | $91,037 | 5,885 | CCNE |
| 3 | Nightingale CollegeSalt Lake City, UT, For-profit | $37,500 | $79,165 | 896 | CCNE |
| 4 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC, Public | $12,550 | $80,708 | 775 | CCNE |
| 5 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, NH, Private | $12,625 | $92,774 | 569 | CCNE |
| 6 | Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN, For-profit | $13,373 | $93,886 | 437 | CCNE |
| 7 | The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX, Public | $14,777 | $75,043 | 392 | CCNE |
| 8 | Weber State UniversityOgden, UT, Public | $14,582 | $70,949 | 377 | ACEN |
| 9 | University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL, Public | $13,000 | $82,644 | 367 | CCNE |
| 10 | Purdue University NorthwestHammond, IN, Public | $18,106 | $84,230 | 346 | ACEN |
| 11 | University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR, Public | $23,791 | $76,529 | 342 | CCNE |
| 12 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH, Public | $18,749 | $78,002 | 336 | ACEN + CCNE |
| 13 | East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC, Public | $19,625 | $80,015 | 325 | CCNE |
| 14 | Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA, Public | $22,874 | $83,575 | 323 | CCNE |
| 15 | University of MemphisMemphis, TN, Public | $20,000 | $77,155 | 321 | CCNE |
How to choose
Confirm it is a completion program. You need an active RN license. Ask how many credits transfer from your associate degree or diploma, since this sets both time and cost. Some schools accept a block of credits automatically.
Ask about practicum. Many programs include a community or leadership practicum that you complete near home, sometimes at your workplace. Find out who arranges it and whether your employer can count.
Check the pace and the calendar. Self-paced and cohort programs feel very different. Eight-week terms can be fast but heavy if you work full time. See the quickest route to a BSN.
Verify accreditation and state approval. ACEN or CCNE accreditation matters if you plan to continue to a master’s degree. See accredited programs by state and what accreditation means.
Ask your employer. Many hospitals reimburse tuition, and some partner with specific schools. A BSN also matters for roles such as nurse manager and for magnet-recognized hospitals. See how to pay for nursing school and online nursing classes.
Common questions
Is an online RN-to-BSN program a real BSN?
Yes, when it is accredited. The degree is the same Bachelor of Science in Nursing that on-campus students earn. An RN-to-BSN program builds on your existing RN license and associate degree or diploma, so it usually takes 12 to 24 months and does not require you to retake the NCLEX.
How do you rank these programs?
We include programs that federal data lists as fully online, that hold ACEN or CCNE accreditation, that graduate at least 20 students a year and that report a median loan debt. The first table orders them by lowest median debt. We do not publish a composite score, because the federal data does not cover online-specific quality such as clinical placement support.
Is accreditation required?
For licensure of a new nurse the program must be approved by the state board. For a graduate degree or a federal program, accreditation by ACEN or CCNE is the usual requirement, and many employers ask for it. See accredited programs by state on our accredited page.
Where does the data come from?
Program counts and delivery method come from the federal IPEDS survey (2024 completions); debt and pay come from the College Scorecard; accreditation from the public ACEN and CCNE directories, collected November 2026.
Sources: IPEDS (programs, delivery method, graduates), College Scorecard (debt, pay), ACEN and CCNE directories (accreditation). Seedata sources and methodology. AACN counted 92,447 students enrolled in RN-to-BSN programs in fall 2025.