Top 10 Accelerated RN to BSN Programs

The University of Central Florida's online RN to BSN program gives registered nurses a flexible pathway to advance their careers. This standout program enhances clinical skills, critical thinking, and leadership abilities while offering flexibility to accommodate busy schedules.

UCF's curriculum integrates nursing theory, evidence-based practice, and community health. These education pillars allow graduates to emerge prepared for diverse and complex healthcare challenges while ready to tackle leadership roles. UCF's reputation, accreditation, and commitment to accessibility make it one of the best RN to BSN programs in Florida for working RNs.

UW Madison is the state's flagship public institution with a standout RN to BSN bridge program that working RNs can complete in 18 months. The university designed this accelerated BSN bridge program to build upon the scientific knowledge and technical skills students learn in ADN programs. This flexible online option allows working RNS to advance their careers through primarily online, part-time coursework.

UW Madison's 30-credit accelerated ADN to BSN program enhances students' nursing knowledge through didactic training and clinical rotations. BSN classes include foundations of professional nursing practice, community health nursing, and chronic care management. Before graduation, BSN students tackle a 60-hour capstone clinical experience.

Students can complete the accelerated RN to BSN program at Ohio State University in a single year. Ohio State students must complete at least 30 credits at the institution, which they can do online. Prospective students must hold an ADN and active RN licensure.

Throughout this accelerated RN to BSN program, students tackle essential courses such as:

• Contemporary Issues for Registered Nurses
• Cultural Competence in Healthcare
• Concepts in Community Health Nursing
• Healthcare Informatics

To complete this program, students must graduate with at least 120 credits.

Based in beautiful Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University offers an accelerated pathway toward a BSN degree for working nurses. This accelerated RN to BSN program takes about one year, and students must complete their last 30 credits at App State.

Utilizing both synchronous and asynchronous deliveries, students complete coursework on a part-time schedule. They tackle courses like nursing informatics, nursing care of older adults, health assessment, and nursing research. 

Prospective RN to BSN students must hold an ADN degree with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Additionally, applicants must have an active and unencumbered RN license.

Penn State World Campus is a leader in quality online programming and is home to a one-year RN to BSN bridge program. Students can access online, hybrid, and in-person options and complete classes in 7-week sessions. Required courses include:

• Integrated Concepts in Nursing Practice
• Advanced Health Assessment for The Registered Nurse
• Health Concepts for Adults With Complex Healthcare Needs
• Introduction to Nursing Informatics

In addition to classroom requirements, RN to BSN students must complete a 45-hour capstone clinical experience before graduating.

The University of North Carolina-Wilmington offers a quality online RN to BSN program that students can complete in 12 months. This flexible and affordable bridge program allows working nurses to develop skills that prepare them for careers as nurse administrators, teachers, and healthcare leaders. Core nursing courses include:

• Health Assessment for Registered Nurses
• Professional Nursing Practice for the Baccalaureate Nurse
• Population and Community Health Nursing
• Leadership and Management in Nursing

Before graduating, RN to BSN students must complete a professional nursing capstone. Applicants must possess an active, unencumbered RN license with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

As the first college to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the best nursing schools. It also provides a standout accelerated RN to BSN program tailored to working nurses' needs. Taking full-time online learners only nine months to complete, students tackle 27 credits of seven-week courses. UC's required RN to BSN classes include topics such as:

• Informatics for Professional Nurses
• Transitions to Baccalaureate Education in Nursing
• Gerontological Nursing Practice
• Nurse as a Professional Leader and Manager

Prospective students must have an active and unrestricted RN license and a minimum 2.5 GPA. 

Pensacola's University of West Florida is a public institution that's home to a quality 1-year ADN-to-BSN program. With no on-campus requirements, this flexible and affordable bridge program leans on management, policy, and practice to educate the next generation of nursing leaders. UWF RN to BSN students must complete at least 32 credits of major classes, including: 

• Care of the Older Adult
• Essentials of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
• Health Education in the Community
• Law and Ethics in Nursing

Nursing students complete about 45 hours in a clinical environment alongside traditional coursework. Applicants must have active registered nursing licensure and at least a 2.75 GPA.

To ensure maximum flexibility, George Washington University offers a 100% online RN to BSN program that utilizes an asynchronous delivery. Because students can complete coursework at their own pace, the work-life-school balance becomes much more manageable. GWU's 21-credit online bridge program covers essential courses such as:

• Nurses’ Role in Healthcare Policy
• Dynamics of Nursing Leadership
• Principles of Nursing Research
• Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality

GWU applicants must have at least 84 transferable credits, hold an ADN, and provide official transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additionally, prospective students must include two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a short statement of purpose.

Based in Statesboro and established in 1906, Georgia Southern University offers an RN to BSN program that students can complete in just two semesters. 

This flexible, 100% online bridge program allows working nurses to transfer up to 91 credits. Students must complete their final 29 credits at GSU. Required RN to BSN courses include:

• Professional Nursing Practice
• Complex Nursing Concepts
• Nursing Research Applications
• Complementary Therapeutic Modalities

Before graduation, accelerated RN to BSN program students must complete clinical experiences focusing on community health, leadership, and management. Applicants must hold a current Georgia or reciprocal RN license with a minimum 3.0 GPA.