RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program)

Go from RN to BSN online at a remarkably low cost.

Aspen University’s online RN to BSN completion program is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who are looking to enhance their career mobility without an on-campus class requirement.

Flexibility is our priority because we know how tough it is to balance education and an already busy life. That’s why we designed interactive, flexible, and facilitated online courses that can be tailored to your schedule. Courses start every 2 weeks and are only 8 weeks long, which means that in as little as 12 months, you could add BSN to that empty space on your name badge.

CCNE accredited and awarded EEQ certification; our RN to BSN program offers a comprehensive online education that builds on initial nursing preparation with coursework to enhance professional development, prepare for a broader scope of practice, and provide a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence care delivery. 

Learn and receive 1-on-1 support from respected nursing leaders and instructors that are specifically trained in online-first education.

Network while you learn, and once you’ve graduated, you will join a community of over 7,000 Aspen University BSN graduates who are making a positive impact in the healthcare field across the country. 

Program Learning Goals:

It is intended that Graduates of the Aspen University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will learn or be able to do the following:

  1. Generalist Nursing Practice: Apply the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed to provide high quality patient-centered health care across the lifespan and function as a leader in health care environments. (Baccalaureate Essential I, II, IX; UMBO 3)
  2. Evidence-based Practice: Demonstrate that one’s professional nursing practice is grounded in current research. (Baccalaureate Essential III; UMBO 4)
  3. Patient Care Technology: Utilize patient care technology while managing resources efficiently and effectively when planning, implementing and evaluating interventions to achieve optimal health outcomes for diverse populations (Baccalaureate Essential IV, UMBO 5)
  4. Healthcare Policy: Exhibit an understanding of healthcare policies, including financial and regulatory, that impact the role of the nurse and the healthcare system. (Essential V; UMBO 3).
  5. Population Health: Recognize the leadership role of the nurse in health promotion and disease prevention for individuals, families and communities. (Baccalaureate Essential II, VII; UMBO 2)
  6. Value Systems and Ethical Behavior: Develop a personal and professional value system that is ethical and demonstrates cultural competence and sensitivity. (Baccalaureate Essential VII, VIII; UMBO 1, 2)
  7. Inter-professionalism: Demonstrate communication and collaboration among and between healthcare professionals who are critical to delivering high quality and safe patient care. (Baccalaureate Essential VIII; UMBO 2)

Why More Nurses Are Choosing Aspen

Coursework is
100% Online
Complete your BSN in
as little as 12 Months

RN to BSN Courses

Our RN to BSN curriculum consists of the 10 courses outlined below. Since you’ll be learning from nurse educators with extensive experience in diverse healthcare settings, you will be able to immediately put your new knowledge into your nursing practice. Our RN to BSN program also offers students the opportunity to delve into a variety of essential healthcare topics while simultaneously gaining insight into related healthcare fields.

    This undergraduate-level course acclimates students to the academic community by developing and refining the knowledge and skills needed to read and critically analyze scholarly texts, write essays of increasing complexity, and practice stages of the composing process. Students are introduced to principles of effective written communication and critical reading, with a focus on invention, drafting, revising, editing, and self-assessment of written scholarly work. While a number of citation and formatting styles exist in scholarly writing, this course focuses on application of the basic rules of the American Psychological Association (APA) style.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Data Interpretation and Analysis
    • Professional Writing Skills
    • Research Methods

    Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing analyzes the impact of economic, demographic and technological forces on health care delivery, and the concerns relating to ethical, legal, and social issues that influence nursing practice. A historical background gives perspective to current nursing problems, and future trends are considered in terms of their impact on roles and practice. Issues impacting professional nursing are examined within a framework set forth by the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) five core competencies on quality and healthcare. The potential transformation of nursing practice in response to societal changes will be explored as well as the new opportunities these challenges have for career development.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Professional Communication Skills
    • Ethical Nursing Practice
    • Cultural Competency
    • Strategic Career Development

    Concepts and Theories in Nursing provides an introduction to theory and reasoning in nursing. The significance of theory for nursing as a profession is explored, thus providing students with a foundation for professional nursing practice and research. This course provides an overview of theory, theory development, important nursing theories and nursing theorists, as well as a method for critiquing theory. Students are guided to develop a foundation of reasoning skills that are necessary to integrate the components of knowledge, skills, values, meanings, and experiences into nursing practice.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership
    • Application of Nursing Theory
    • Data Interpretation

    This undergraduate-level course provides students with an introduction to health care informatics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Foundational concepts of health care informatics are explored, including theoretical underpinnings of health care informatics; use of information systems in a variety of health care settings; the e-patient and participatory informatics; quality, usability, and standards related to health care informatics, legal and ethical implications for practice; and emerging technologies.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Ethical Nursing Practice
    • Resource Management
    • Information Systems Application

    N492 Community Health Nursing I provides a solid foundation in community and public health nursing concepts and interventions for individuals, families, and communities. Various roles of the nurse are explored in relation to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention with target populations across the lifespan. The impact of political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural concerns on the health of populations is examined. Health promotion and disease prevention concepts are integrated into the multifaceted role of population-focused, community-oriented nursing practice. It is anticipated that at least 30 field experience hours will be required to complete the health promotion project. This course requires 30 hours of field experience. This course must be completed successfully before beginning N493. **Note: Field experience hours must be documented and approved appropriately prior to course completion to successfully pass the course.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Ethical Nursing Practice
    • Cultural Competency
    • Data and Impact Analysis
    • Preventive Care Strategies

    This undergraduate-level course focuses on how healthcare policies, financial issues, regulations, legislative actions, businesses, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders influence healthcare in the United States and the world. Students will develop a solid understanding of the broader context of healthcare, including how patient care services are organized and financed, and how reimbursement is structured. Students will learn how healthcare policy is both developed and changed, and how that process can be influenced by healthcare professionals as well as lay and special advocacy groups. Students will be encouraged to participate in the political process and advocate for patients, families, communities, their profession, and changes in the healthcare system as needed. Advocacy for vulnerable populations with the goal of promoting social justice is discussed.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Leadership
    • Professional Collaboration
    • Healthcare Advocacy
    • Policy Development and Analysis

    N493 Community Health Nursing II builds upon the foundation provided in N492 Community Health Nursing I. From a theoretical and scientific framework, the concepts of epidemiology and disease transmission, comprehensive assessment of risk factors and health problems, program planning and intervention, environmental health, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team are explored. The clinical component focuses on developing and evaluating health promotion programs, family assessment, community assessment, and community-based home care within the context of the community. The nursing process is applied with the goal of promoting and preserving the health of populations. This course requires 80 hours of field experience.**Note: Field experience hours must be documented and approved appropriately prior to course completion to successfully pass the course.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Data Interpretation and Analysis
    • Project Development and Management
    • Ethical Nursing Practice
    • Preventive Care Strategies

    Essentials of Nursing Research introduces the steps of the research process and the role of research in the practice of professional nursing. The methods and analytical tools required to critically evaluate nursing research literature are emphasized. Quantitative and qualitative approaches are highlighted. The focus of this course is on accessing and analyzing current nursing research literature to enable the professional nurse to apply research to current practice and issues. The skills of using technology to locate research information are developed, and the essential role of databases is explored. An understanding of ethical research practices is explored. This course prepares students to be critical consumers of evidence based research, and serves as a foundation for graduate-level nursing research courses.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Research Methods
    • Data Analysis and Interpretation
    • Technical Skills

    Health Assessment focuses on the complete health assessment, the nursing process, and its relationship to the prevention and early detection of disease in diverse patients across the life span. The process of health assessment is introduced, including: interviewing, history-taking, and physical assessment. Health assessment occurs within the context of the family and community and incorporates cultural and developmental variations and needs of the patient. Normal findings and cultural and age variations are emphasized. Incorporated throughout the course is the importance of communication and collaboration with patients and health care professionals. This course prepares the professional nurse to apply the concepts, knowledge and skills necessary to complete a health assessment for patients in all age groups, emphasizing the major elements, sequence and methodology of health assessment. This course also serves as a foundation for a graduate-level health assessment course.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Data Collection and Analysis
    • Diverse Populations and Cultural Competency
    • Leadership

    N496 Nursing Leadership and Management provides broad and comprehensive coverage of leadership and management theories and processes that are critical to the creation of a work environment that is efficient, cost-effective, and committed to quality nursing care. The emphasis is on understanding the key skills employed by highly successful nurse leaders/managers such as critical thinking, effective communication, conflict resolution, successful delegation, team building, controlling resources, quality improvement, stress management, utilization of information technology, and leading change. Students are engaged with opportunities to participate in learning activities that integrate knowledge about the activities, roles, and responsibilities of nurse managers/leaders and enable students to practice conceptual, technical, and interpersonal management and leadership skills. This course prepares the student for an entry position into the professional nurse manager role and serves as a foundation for graduate-level leadership and management courses. It is anticipated that at least 10 field experience hours are included in this course.This course requires 10 hours of field experience. This course satisfies the proctored exam requirement for this program.**Note: Field experience hours must be documented and approved appropriately prior to course completion to successfully pass the course.

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    What career-relevant skills will I be learning?
    • Collaboration Through Leadership
    • Effective Communication Skills
    • Critical Thinking
    • Resource Management

For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.

“Aspen has been a blessing. They helped me pursue my goals by having classes that worked within my busy schedule. Everyone I came in contact with exuded positivity.”
Coretta Hunter
RN, BSN

Cost & Time to Completion

The Best Fit for Working Nurses

We understand the difficulties in pursuing your BSN when you have a demanding work schedule. The 8-week courses at Aspen University allow you to complete your program in as little as 12 months. 

This self-paced RN to BSN program format is perfect for working nurses who want to upgrade their skills and knowledge as quickly as possible without sacrificing their schedule.

Our Monthly Payment Plan Makes Us Different.

Paying for your BSN shouldn’t be complicated. Our Monthly Payment Plan makes it easy for working nurses to finance their RN to BSN program.

Pay $325 per Month

The monthly payment plan is a private education loan with a 0% fixed rate of interest (0% APR) and no down payment. Each month you’ll make one payment of $325 for 40 months.

 

Tuition Rates

$11,850 Tuition
$1,150 Fees
$1,500
Estimated
Textbook
Costs
$14,500
The total cost of your degree program will vary depending upon the number of courses you take, course retakes (if applicable), transfer credits awarded, fees incurred and the cost of textbooks.

Ways to Finance Your BSN

Students who have served, or are currently serving in the United States Military and their legal spouses are eligible to receive a Military Affiliation Discount from Aspen University.

Aspen University is currently approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid for the BSN program.

Aspen University maintains employee tuition discount partnerships with a large and growing number of organizations. Tell your advisor where you work and ask them to check for you prior to enrolling.

Aspen offers several payment plans for students to fund their education.

Earn Your BSN with Confidence

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Aspen University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE).

Aspen University’s RN to BSN program has been awarded EEQ certification.
Essential Employability Qualities Certification (EEQ CERT) is granted by The Quality Assurance Commons after a rigorous process of external and independent review. EEQ Certified programs foster a distinctive set of attributes in their graduates and completers. These qualities are intended to prepare students to make important contributions in their workplaces. The eight Essential Employability Qualities are communication, thinking and problem solving, inquiry, collaboration, adaptability, principles and ethics, responsibility and professionalism, and learning. Programs participating in EEQ CERT are scored on five categories that represent a comprehensive and integrated framework for employability – Student EEQ Preparation, Career Support Services, Employer Engagement, Student and Alumni Engagement, and Public Information.

“It was a no-brainer. Everyone at Aspen was so responsive. They have a great financial plan where I paid $250 per month, and they are fully accredited.”
Carol G.
RN, BSN

Admission Requirements

Application – A completed application.

Official Transcripts – Official transcripts for all previous college credit earned.

Minimum GPA Requirement – Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) or diploma in nursing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater from the ADN/ASN/diploma granting institution.

Nursing Experience – A minimum of one year of nursing experience completed within the past five years.

Registered Nurse Licensure – Current, unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in the United States, a US territory, or Canada. Registered nurses licensed outside of these areas are not eligible.

Ready to take the next step?
Still have questions?

Career Outlook

With an aging population and the retirement of the baby boomer generation; nurses are more crucial than ever before. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing employment is projected to surge by 6% by 2033.

The American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN) reported that 84% of new BSN graduates had a job offer at the time of graduation and 96% of BSN graduates had a job offer within 6 months of graduation.

In addition to your Bachelor’s degree, further education through an MSN program can provide you with valuable specialization and can enhance your career prospects. Programs like Aspen’s MSN in nursing informatics, nurse education, and nursing leadership and management are great options for nurses seeking to add depth to their skills and experience.

Average Registered Nurse Annual Salary

$86,070

Data pulled from US Bureau of Labor Statistics in Fall 2024. Salary can vary widely depending on geographical location and role.

RN to BSN Frequently Asked Questions

    Aspen University’s convenient & affordable RN to BSN program is the perfect way for registered nurses who already possess an associate degree (ADN) or diploma in nursing and a valid license to take their career to the next level.

    Your current, unrestricted RN license is worth 60 credits for the RN to BSN program. The degree requires a minimum of 120 credits; with at least 30 of the credits completed at Aspen University.

    No, an RN might have a 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 provides nurses who hold an associate degree with the opportunity to advance their education online, all while continuing in their professional role as a nurse.

    Yes, Aspen’s RN to BSN program has 100% online coursework and no mandatory login times, which means you can work towards your BSN on your schedule.

    The RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months.

    The Future of Nursing report by the National Academy of Medicine in 2011 recommended increasing the percentage of nursing with a baccalaureate degree to 80% by 2020 as they cited a significant association between the educational level of RNs and outcomes for patients in the acute care setting, including mortality rates. A growing number of hospitals that have been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program favor BSN for employment.

    Yes! The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Aspen University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE).

    Our online application is free. Considering the RN to BSN program at Aspen? Apply! The online application is straightforward, and we are here to help at every step.

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