Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university. Physically located in Phoenix, Arizona, Grand Canyon University, or GCU, offers a 100% online RN to BSN degree. To complete the program and received your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you should first begin by looking at what credits you already have that could potentially transfer towards their RN to BSN program. You can potentially take over 90 credits which can shorten your completion time of the degree.

Grand Canyon University’s RN to BSN program aims to help registered nurses increase the level of their clinical healthcare knowledge. The program’s curriculum aims to try and highlight the knowledge most registered nurses possess and maximize that through their BSN program. You’ll experience courses that touch on different patient care theories, strategies in health management, and even look at nursing leadership theories. The aim of this knowledge growth is so that when you complete the program you are able to take on new duties in your current hospital role (or whichever career path in healthcare) while understanding healthcare structure better.

The BSN program at Grand Canyon is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and according to their site tries to pair their program standards to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Each state is different for their degree requirements though so we encourage you to look at required accredidation to make sure the Grand Canyon BSN program will suffice for your needs.

Tuition Cost and Expected BSN Program Completion Time

Grand Canyon University offers dynamic tuition cost based on the type of student you are. As we’re talking about the online RN to BSN program, the average per credit cost is $470. If you believe that achieving your BSN degree is a stepping stone to achieving a graduate level degree, you should also research the average per credit cost of that too ($500 for various online nursing programs).

It should be noted that whle the total degree requirements is 120 credits, the cost can vary from student to student based on things like transfer credits and specific state requirements. Grand Canyon offers a degree counselor to help walk you through your specific state requirements which is encouraged. If you’re able to bring in the full 90 transfer credits into the BSN program, it will have dramatic affects on the total tuition cost you might expect.

Grand Canyon Program Length

Just like the tuition cost can vary (depending on the amount of transfer credits you have) the program length may also vary. While the GCU RN to BSN program page says that online courses are generally 5 weeks, they also say that courses like College Mathematics (MAT-144) typically require 7 weeks. You will need to do research into your transfer credits and if you will run into any of these courses that extend past the general 5 week guideline that Grand Canyon places on the RN to BSN program.

As this is about the online program, it is important to note that Grand Canyon offers flexibility in the timing you decide to complete courses and the program itself. Your ability to take on the courses in a timely manner will aslo have an affect on how long the course is. We recommend speaking to a school advisor to work out how long you can expect to see your program last.

Potential Career Options

It should be noted that there is not a guarantee that every graduate of the RN to BSN program is guaranteed a new job or even employment for that matter. However, as you hopefully progress in your nursing career, you might expect to see some of these nursing jobs as possibilities (this will also vary depending on your specific state requirements):

• Case Managers: For some, completing an RN to BSN program might help them gain a more “administrative” position with a more regular schedule and work hours. Case Managers might not see any bedside care and almost experience more of an office job out of it.
• Nurse Recruiter: This is another interesting potential role for BSN grads because it deals more in going to job fairs and trying to recruit new nurses to work at your healthcare facility. You will have to not only have a strong nursing knowledge base but be able to evaluate candidates too (as your professional judgment is being exhibited daily).
• Research Nurse: Whether it be private pharmaceutical firms or government research being conducted, many trials will see human subjects as a part of their testing. Research nurses need to be well versed and experienced with emergency situation responses and be able to work with people that are being treated as test subjects.

These are only a few career paths you might potentially aim for once completing your RN to BSN program and Grand Canyon University. Each role is different and so is each company. Many roles will require a BSN degree but also want certain years of experience out of their job candidates. Do your research to see what else you might need to gain in tandem with your BSN degree for certain career paths.

Curriculum You Might Expect at Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon University does a good job of breaking down the different nursing knowledge curriculum and what you will learn in their program. You might expect to learn about various ways and methods to ascertain a family medical history which can be a common challenge in nursing (and is often crucial for correct diagnosis). You might also learn about various nursing leadership theories like transformational leadership which looks at things like patient safety and avoiding medical error. Applying these kinds of leadership theories to the nursing/healthcare environment can help in your everyday interactions with coworkers and patients.

You might also expect to hear and analyze various healthcare related data and statistics in the Grand Canyon RN to BSN program. They will likely take data compiled from the healthcare industry and develop theories or practical application in a clinical setting.

Grand Canyon University offers an exciting and insightful RN to BSN program. It’s important that you conduct research specific to your state requirements and desired future career requirements before taking the leap. Contacting a Grand Canyon University enrollment specialist might help aid in this process. Enjoy your exciting new academic path and where it might take you!

Breckinridge School of Nursing is a for-profit Nursing School offered through ITT Technical Institute.  The school offers a 100% Online RN to BSN option with classes starting year round.  Courses are offered in 6 week or 12 weeks blocks depending on the course.  There is also one clinical preceptor class that must be taken during the final quarter of study.

Cost: $426 per credit.  This cost does include books and other fees.  However, the actual cost is a bit more confusing.  The entire Online BSN program consists of 180 credits.  Of these 180, 36 of them are listed as “Unspecified General Education courses” and another 60 of them are listed as “Unspecified Core courses”.  Assuming that a typical RN satisfies the requirements for General Education and Core courses, this leaves 84 credits that need to be taken from Breckinridge.

Total Cost: $35,784 = $426 x 84.  This is a minimum.  The true cost, based on how many credits you are allowed to transfer, is most likely significantly higher.

Time to Completion: The average full-time student takes 6-9 Quarters, or 18 to 27 months.  Part-time options are also available.

Start Date(s): There are several rolling start dates throughout the year.

Clinical Requirement: Yes, there is one preceptor clinical requirement the final quarter of the program.  During this time, you will complete 120 clinical hours in a healthcare setting.  You are required to find, organize, and setup a preceptor and clinical setting.

Accredited: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools

Sacred Heart University is a private Catholic university located in Connecticut.  The online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing can be completed completely online or through a traditional on-campus completion program.  Classes are offered through six modules that are 8-weeks long.

SHU offers both an online RN to BSN option and an on-campus RN to BSN option.  Both options are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE.

Cost: SHU is a semester school and each semester credit costs $515.  To graduate with your BSN, you must complete 56 credit hours from Sacred Heart.  This brings tuition to $28,840.  Additionally, there is a $50 application fee.

Total Cost: $28,890 = $515 x 56 credit hours + $50

Time to Completion: 12 months

Start Date(s): 6 start dates throughout the year

Accreditation: CCNE

Sacred Heart University RN to BSN Program

The online RN to BSN option can be completed in as little as 12 months.  Sacred Heart University offers a rolling cohort option of six modules that are each eight weeks long.  As a result of this setup, SHU is able to offer up to six start times for the program each year.  Any module that you have not completed can be started again whenever that module is available, assuming you have met all of the prerequisites.  When it comes down to it, what this means is that you can start and stop your degree with the completion of each module.  If you do not take any breaks or time off, then your BSN can be completed in 12 months.

Sacred Heart University’s online RN to BSN program offers a generous credit transfer policy for prior degrees and your prior RN license.  That being said, you will still need to complete 56 credits from SHU to graduate with your BSN.  At the current rate of $515 per credit hour, this brings the total tuition price to close to $29,000.

When considering any RN to BSN option, don’t forget to investigate all additional fees including, books, one-time and per-term fees, and the cost of the general application.  For instance, Sacred Heart University requires you to carry malpractice insurance while enrolled in the RN to BSN program.  The cost of this insurance is not included in tuition or in any set fee, but will be contingent on you, your location, and going rates for malpractice insurance.  Remember to be an informed consumer and shop around.

Other Nursing Programs at Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University also offers a direct RN to MSN option.  When enrolled in this program, you complete your BSN, but immediately continue on with your MSN.  This is an attractive option for anyone that is considering getting an MSN any time in the future.  It is often easier to keep going with school when you are already in school mode.

Sacred Heart University also offers an online RN to BSN to MSN Program.  This program takes the student straight from RN to Master of Science in Nursing while earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing along the way.  The cost of the program is $515 per credit hour for the BSN portion and $620 per credit hour for the MSN portion.

Explore more online RN to BSN Programs.

Drexel University

Drexel University is a private university located in Philadelphia, PA and offers a 100% online RN to BSN completion program, as well as, a RN to BSN hybrid program.   The hybrid option offers the same coursework as the online BSN program, but has an on-campus component of 2-4 sessions each quarter.  Of note, the online BSN program does require up to four live chats during each term.  For either the online or hybrid programs, there is a total of 180 credits needed for graduation with a possibility to transfer 133 credits.  This leaves a minimum of 47 credits that need to be taken through Drexel University.

Additionally, if you hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, there is a RN to MSN degree program offered.

Curious about BSN hybrid programs?  Go to Online and Distance Learning Defined

*If you are considering Drexel University, but live in Maryland see the special considerations note below.

Cost:  For the online BSN program, each credit is $591 ,or $493 if you qualify for a tuition discount from a qualifying employer.  With a minimum of 47 credits, this brings the total tuition cost to $27,777 or $23,171.  There is also a one-time equipment fee of $175.  If you are accepted into the program prior to Spring 2014, these tuition rates do not change, but will be locked throughout your completion of the program.

Total Cost: $27,952 or $23,346.  This does not include books

Time to Completion: Approximately 6 terms, but this is dependent on how many credits you are able to transfer and how many classes you take per term.  Both the online and hybrid BSN programs are part-time and students do not follow along with a set cohort, but can take classes on a PRN, or as needed basis.

Start Date(s): Four start dates throughout the year.  Not all classes are offered each quarter.

Clinical Requirement: NURS 375 is a 40 hour community health requirement that cannot be completed in a hospital.  There are also two other options for completing a second clinical practicum in a hospital setting, but the are not required for degree completion.

Accredited: NLN-AC & CCNE

* Note from Drexel.com:

Students taking an online course with a clinical component or practicum CANNOT do the clinical or practicum portion of the course within the state of Maryland at this time. If you are a licensed Registered Nurse (R.N.) you may complete a clinical or practicum in Virginia and Delaware which share in a Nurse Compact for Licensure with Maryland. Students who reside in Maryland may continue to take online courses at Drexel University, but they must do the clinical portion of the course in another state. If you have already made arrangements to do clinical in Maryland, please contact your Academic Advisor or Director of Clinical Education immediately to help you find a new clinical site. Drexel University is in the process of applying for a Certificate for Approval to Operate in Maryland.

Interested in other Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania? Go here

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Chamberlain School of Nursing  is a for-profit school which offers a 100% online degree completion program.  Chamberlain is headquartered in Downer’s Grove, Illinois, but has campuses in numerous locations across the US. So for those registered nurses that might not have many academic options for earning a BSN degree close to them, Chamberlain could be an appealing option.

The aim of the program is to prepare graduates for their future professional careers in the nursing field. Their RN to BSN courses are offered every 8 weeks which can offer you flexibility in trying to time out the best start date for your schedule. Their program will not just focus on increasing your nursing knowledge but actually look at the practical ways that knowledge can be applied in a variety of different job functions. If you already have a current RN license approved by the state you live in, you could see up to 77 proficiency credits applied to your BSN degree journey before you even begin. Each state can be different though so conduct your own research to verify what credits can and can’t be applied.

Tuition Cost and Course Length for Chamberlain

Understanding the tuition cost and the “other expenses” you might expect are important to combine for a more holistic view of your Chamberlain RN to BSN cost. According to their website (as of 2016) you can expect the following costs:
RN to BSN Tuition Cost of Chamberlain

• Nursing Courses: $14,160
• Your Liberal Arts Courses: $590 Per Credit Hour

Additional Expenses to Consider

• The Application Fee to the Program: $60
• Student Service Charge: $150 Per Session
• Books and other Course Supplies: $125 Per Session
• Resources Fee for Courses: $50 Per Course

These prices and descriptions come directly from the website but you should make sure to understand what each cost is and how many times you can expect to see it applied. You’ll see that some expenses are shown as fees per session, a one-time fee, and even a per course fee. You should try to figure out your expected BSN program length (based on what you think you can do from a typical course load) to better understand the frequency of these expects costs.

Chamberlain University offers a unique PDF that actually breaks down the total cost of the program and obtaining each of the degrees that they offer.  Follow this link if you want to see a more detailed cost breakdown.  However, not all of the tuition cost information is contained in this PDF, but the total cost is available as listed below.

Expected Course Length

Chamberlain College of Nursing also offers a BSN completion program available at any of its on-campus facilities.  Additionally, Chamberlain offers a RN to MSN degree program.  This option allows students to move from an RN to MSN in one semester less than if a student were to complete the RN to BSN and then a BSN to MSN.  The cost of the RN to MSN program is roughly double the price of the RN to BSN.  The total cost can be found via the link noted above.

Since 100% of the Chamberlain RN to BSN program is online, you’ll see the length vary depending on how many courses you can take in a session and how long it takes you to complete said courses. Chamberlain mentions that there isn’t a mandatory amount of times that you have to “go” to class (login) but that some courses require minimum amounts of logins per week.

The length of the program will also vary depending on whether you come in with any applicable transfer credits or not. Trying to understand whether your previous courses will count towards your Chamberlain degree is instremental in better determining the length of time for completion.

Chamberlain offers a guide to BSN degree completion on their website so you can match up your expected course load and better understand how many months or years degree completion might take. It is also important to take those estimates and apply them to the aforementioned expenses section so you have a better estimate of total degree cost.

Potential Job Outcomes of RN to BSN Graduates

Each state is different and every person is different. Earning your BSN offers no guarantee of a job or specific type of job but becoming familiar with potential roles is important to note. Here are a few different options you might try to explore after completing the Chamberlain RN to BSN program:

• Privatized Hospitals: Working within hospitals as a nurse can offer a dynamic day to day work environment. You’ll likely see a variety of sickness and injuries that can be different every day. You’ll have to start considering what areas might be available like a maternity ward, emergency section, or even potentially the administrative side of things.
• Home Care: This is pretty dynamic in the type of patient(s) you could have. There are some children whose parents are unable to administer the correct medical care so a home care nurse is necessary. Adults might also need a home care nurse because they’re unable to take care of themselves due to an injury, illness, or age. There are some nurses that enjoy home care because it allows them to really connect with patients due to the setting.
• Geriatrics Nurse: If you go down this career path, the one thing that stands out is the age of your patients will typically fall into a pretty standard range. Comparing this to an emergency room nurse that sees a wide variety of patients, geriatric nurses will typically see only elderly people in their daily care.
• Oncology Nurse: Many might consider this to be a very challenging role in nursing due to the types of patients you see that are facing cancer (a disease many associate with being life-ending). However, many nurses in this field find that extending a level of compassion as well as their physical nursing skills is very rewarding with the patients they administer to.

As we stated before, earning a BSN will not guarantee a specific job or even employment. But you should be prepared to explore the variety of different job roles within nursing that you might be able to attain.

Other Chamberlain RN to BSN Program Highlights

As you continue to do your research on different online BSN programs, you’ll need to pay close attention to the benefits each program offers. Chamberlain highlights some of their major differentiators being 24/7 technical support. As the program is 100% online, technical issues and challenges can be something you encounter. Chamberlain offers this support for their enrolled students which could be helpful.

Chamberlain also prides their program around the ability for students to submit questions and somebody within the nursing faculty will respond to your question within 24 hours. The ability to have this quick turnaround time to your questions could be beneficial in expanding your knowledge base in nursing during the RN to BSN journey. Earning your RN to BSN will offer exciting new changes in your life and choosing the right online program is very important so you find the one that fits your learning style. Look at the cost, benefits, and expected courses at Chamberlain during your evaluation to determine if their program is the right fit for you!

As a final note, according to education requirements and restrictions students residing in North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, or Puerto Rico are not able to complete the RN to BSN online degree or the RN to MSN degree.

[business_directory category=”chamberlain-college-of-nursing” text=”description” display=”url” single_link=”no”]

Villanova University is a private Catholic university located in Pennsylvania.  Villanova offers a 100% online RN to BSN option and a combination online and on campus option.  Due to certain education restrictions, the online program is not available to residents of Minnesota and Alabama.

Cost: Villanova University requires 60 Nursing credits for the RN to BSN degree.  Credits are billed at $546 per credit hour for a total of $32,760.  Additionally, there is a one-time $600 fee for your capstone course.  There may also be a $300 general fee per year, and a $150 student health fee per year.

Total Cost: $34,260 = $32,760 + $600 + $300 x2 + $150 x2 (This does not include books)

Time to Completion: Approximately 2 years

Start Date(s): Fall

Clinical Requirement: Yes, 2 clinical practica that can be completed at your place of employment or another site.  Clinical hours cannot be paid hours.

Accredited: CCNE, ANCC

Western Governors University is a 100% online university based in Utah that offers a unique competency based education.  The key difference in their education is you end up paying for time rather than the number of credits you need.  This means that you pay a flat fee tuition every 6 months and you can complete as many units in that block of time as possible.  So if you complete one unit or twenty during that six months, you will pay the same tuition rate. We try to keep figures and costs as up to date as possible but as with any RN to BSN program, be sure to check with the admissions staff at WGU as their costs and credit requirements among other items may have changed since the publication of this review.

In case you missed it, this means that it is possible to complete your BSN at Western Governors University in as little as 6 months!  And for less than $4,000* (although this is not going to be possible for every student).

As mentioned, the other unique feature of WGU is they do not offer credits, but offer Competency Units.  This means that when you apply all prior education and experience will be translated into their Competency Units.  Their website states that the average RN applying to the program will transfer 50 units out of the total 120 units needed for graduation.  This idea of competencies means that during the program you will not take classes and earn grades, but will meet competency requirements to show that you understand the material.  This most often will mean taking a test or writing an APA paper.

Keeping with the theme of not offering credits but competencies, all graduates of Western Governors University’s RN to BSN program will receive a 3.0 grade point average.  If you are considering a graduate degree, please keep this in mind.  Or try the WGU RN to MSN option.

Cost*: $3,250 every six months, plus $350 for a one time Consolidated Nursing Program Fee.  According to their website, the average time to completion is 18 months.  This means the total cost for tuition is $9,750.  Additional fees include a $145 Resource fee per six-month term, a $65 application fee, a $42 criminal background check, and a $50 immunization tracking fee for California residents only.

Total Cost*: $10,642  (This does not include textbooks)  Obviously, your actual cost may be less or more depending on how many 6 month semesters you take to complete the program.

Time to Completion*: Average is 18 months

Start Date*(s): The RN to BSN Program can be started at the beginning of every month

Clinical Required*: There is no clinical requirement for the RN to BSN Program.  However, if you are enrolled in the BSN completion program, then there is a 90 hour clinical requirement that can be completed in a community health setting.

Accreditation: CCNE

Western Governors University RN to BSN Affordability

In the world of online RN to BSN programs, you have literally thousands of options.  Some programs are expensive, some take forever, some have clinicals.  Western Governors University RN to BSN program offers none of these.  Assuming you are a Registered Nurse with all of the required college courses necessary to become a Registered Nurse, then you should have no trouble transferring credits to WGU and getting started on your BSN.

Western Governors University online RN to BSN offers a unique payment system.  Instead of paying for each class and credit hour that you take, you pay for each 6 month semester that you take.  During this six months, you can complete as many classes as you possibly can.  According to WGU, most nurses are able to complete the program in about 18 months.  Some take longer and some take less, but 18 months is the average.  If you need to go part time, no problem.  Are you a speed demon looking to get done as quickly as possible, then you might be done in 12 months?  Maybe 6 months?

Along with this unique fee structure, is Western Governors University’s flat rate fee.  Each semester costs the same amount.  As mentioned you can take as many classes as you want during the six month semester and pay the same price.  This means that during the average 18 months it takes most nurses to finish the program, the average tuition price is around $10,000.  Be aware, that this price does not include books.

If all that were not enough, the online RN to BSN program at Western Governors University does not have a clinical requirement.  This means that if you are already a busy hardworking RN, then you do not need to take additional time of unpaid work at a clinical site.  No redundant work requirements!

To recap, the online RN to BSN program offered by Western Governors University is an excellent choice for the already busy RN.  It is a financially affordable reality.  It has a unique program structure that allows for part-time flexibility, or a fast-paced get-done-quickly approach.  And finally, you don’t need to spend extra time in a clinical setting working for free!

Scholarships for Western Governors University

If you are thinking about attending Western Governors University or you are currently enrolled, then you need to visit WGU’s Scholarship page.  This is the general scholarship page, but WGU does offer specific Nursing scholarships.  Check out the list below and find some great deals.

WGU Nurses Lead the Way Scholarship – A $500 (5 available) Scholarship for Nurses and currently enrolled Western Governors University students.  Application deadline is April 14, 2014.  However, this scholarship will most likely be available next year as well.

WGU Community College Partner Scholarship – A $2,000 Scholarship available to new students from a community college partner school.  This scholarship is available to all Nursing students, but the application deadline is 60 days after enrollment.  If you are on the ball and think you might complete the online RN to BSN in 6 months, then this one scholarship can pay for over half your costs!  See the Scholarship and list of schools here.

WGU Institutional Partners Fund – A $2,000 Scholarship available to new students that work for a company that is affiliated with WGU.  See the list here and find out if you qualify.

WGU Healthcare Partners Fund – Similar to the scholarship above, this $2,000 Scholarship is available to new students that work for a healthcare company that is affiliated with WGU.  Go here.

Western Governors University also offers specific Military Scholarships here.

Finally, Western Governors University offers an awesome Scholarship search tool.  This tool allows you to input your own criteria and variables and gives you a more personalized list of potential scholarships.  This is not an exact science and some of the scholarships may not actually be right for you.  But for the motivated scholarship searcher, this is an excellent resource.  Try the Scholarship Search Tool.

* Be sure to check with the admissions staff at WGU as their costs and credit requirements among other items may have changed since the publication of this review.