Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Your RN License Counts. Your BSN Starts Here.

START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.

At a Glance

Advance your nursing career with OU’s online, CCNE-accredited Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). Designed for working RNs, the program develops leadership, population health, evidence-based practice, care coordination and complex client care skills through 100% online, asynchronous coursework and experiential learning.

Transfer up to 60 prerequisite hours plus 30 hours of Advanced Standing for your RN license toward the 120-hour BSN. Complete the degree in as few as 10 months full time or 24 months part time, preparing for career advancement, specialty roles and graduate study through OU’s Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing.

Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

10 to 24 months

Credit Hours:

120

Time Commitment:

Approximately 10 to 15 hours per week, depending on course load

start dates

Fall, Spring, Summer

cost

OU’s online RN to BSN degree is an investment in your future, and OU Online is committed to making that investment accessible and transparent.

Tuition and fees for the program are $330 per credit hour.

Books and additional materials are not included.

Scholarship opportunities are available for new and returning students.

START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.

About the RN to BSN Online Program

Through 100% online, asynchronous coursework, the University of Oklahoma’s online RN to BSN program helps you finish your degree without stepping away from your job as a registered nurse.

Offered through the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, the program builds on the license and experience you already have, moving your coursework beyond client care into leadership, population health, and care coordination. Classes are built around real nursing schedules, so you can study nights, weekends, and around your shifts and earn the bachelor’s degree you set out for.

RN to BSN Practicum (Practice Experiences)

As part of the program, you’ll complete 112 practicum hours spread across five courses, directly applying what you learn to real client care and healthcare systems work.

Explore Practicum Details

What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s in Nursing?

OU’s online RN to BSN program prepares registered nurses to expand their professional practice beyond direct client care and step into roles that require stronger leadership, coordination, and decision-making skills. Whether you are advancing within your current organization or preparing for graduate school, you'll be equipped to support increasingly complex client needs across hospitals, community and public health settings, long-term care, and healthcare systems. Career opportunities include:

  • Charge Nurse
  • Clinical Nurse Educator
  • Quality Improvement Coordinator
  • Home Health Clinical Manager
  • Director of Nursing
  • Client Safety Officer
  • Nurse Manager
  • Case Manager
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Hospice and Palliative Care Coordinator
  • Nurse Informaticist
  • Healthcare Quality Consultant

Earning your BSN also prepares you for graduate-level nursing programs and advanced roles such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator, and nurse leadership or executive positions.

Industry Insights: Nursing Workforce Outlook

Registered nursing continues to be one of the most stable and in-demand careers in healthcare, and BSN-prepared nurses are increasingly positioned for advancement. Healthcare employers across hospitals, community health organizations, and complex care environments now prefer or require a BSN for leadership, specialty, and care coordination roles.

  • Average Starting Salary: Approximately $65,000 annually for registered nurses
  • Median Pay: $93,600 annually for registered nurses
  • Job Outlook: 5% projected growth through 2034—faster than average for all occupations
  • Job Opportunities: Approximately 189,100 openings annually due to growth and workforce transitions

Across the industry, employers are strengthening expectations around BSN-prepared nursing staff. Many healthcare systems have adopted “BSN-preferred” or “BSN-required” policies, while Magnet-designated hospitals prioritize a highly educated nursing workforce.

Research continues to link BSN education to stronger client outcomes, including lower mortality rates and improved quality of care. As healthcare systems manage increasingly complex client needs, a BSN is more than a credential—it is a key driver of both career mobility and care excellence.

The median pay figures reflect earnings for professionals working in these occupations and may represent mid-career compensation. Entry-level salaries vary based on role, employer, experience, and geographic location.

Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Back

Program Outcomes: What You'll Learn

Program Outcomes: Nursing Expertise for Career Growth

OU’s online RN to BSN program prepares registered nurses to expand their professional practice, strengthen accountability, and advance within increasingly complex healthcare environments. Grounded in CCNE accreditation standards, the curriculum builds competencies in leadership, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and quality improvement.

Through this program, you’ll learn how to:

  • Provide safe, competent, and ethical care to individuals, families, and populations across healthcare settings and the lifespan
  • Collaborate effectively as a member of the nursing profession and within interdisciplinary healthcare teams
  • Apply current evidence to inform clinical decision-making and improve client outcomes
  • Evaluate nursing practice and contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives
  • Integrate healthcare technology and information systems to support safe, effective, and confidential client care
Program Outcomes: What You'll Learn

Course Details

Your upper-division coursework builds directly on what you already know as an RN. Across 30 credit hours, you'll strengthen your practice in leadership, community and population health, care coordination, and evidence-based practice, with real-world application built into every course so you can put new skills to work in your current role right away.

To earn the BSN, you will complete 120 total credit hours, including prerequisite coursework, Advanced Standing credit for RN licensure, and upper-division nursing courses through OU. Courses are delivered in a fully online, asynchronous format designed for working registered nurses. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the curriculum.

The courses below outline the upper-division nursing coursework and prerequisite courses required to complete your BSN.

Upper-Division Nursing Courses (30 Credit Hours)

  • Innovations for the Registered Nurse (3)
  • Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse I (3)
  • Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice (3)
  • Professional Nursing Formation for the Registered Nurse I (2)
  • Community & Public Health for the Registered Nurse (4)
  • Complex Care for the Registered Nurse (5)
  • Navigating Transitions & End of Life Care for the Registered Nurse (2)
  • Leadership & Healthcare Management for the Registered Nurse (5)
  • Professional Formation for the Registered Nurse II (3)


Prerequisite Courses

  • General Chemistry (5)
  • Microbiology (5)
  • Human Anatomy (4)
  • Human Physiology (4)

Expand each section below to view detailed course descriptions, credit hours, and topics covered for both upper-division nursing courses and prerequisite requirements.

Note: NURS courses have prerequisites for course progression. Science courses (Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology) must be completed prior to enrollment in experiential learning courses (NURS 4094, NURS 4125, NURS 4112, NURS 4115).

 

For complete curriculum information, including required courses and degree requirements, visit the program’s official Courseleaf page: View the full curriculum.

Innovations for the Registered Nurse

Credit Hours: 3
Innovation in healthcare delivery, quality improvement, client safety, healthcare technology and informatics, Lean and Six Sigma, change implementation, sustaining improvements.

Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice

Credit Hours: 3
Research methods, quantitative and qualitative research, research critique, evidence-based practice models, literature search and appraisal, translating research into practice, quality improvement methodologies.

Community & Public Health for the Registered Nurse

Credit Hours: 4
Population health principles, community assessment, epidemiology, health disparities, social determinants of health, public health systems, community partnerships, and health promotion/disease prevention programs.

Navigating Transitions & End of Life Care for the Registered Nurse

Credit Hours: 2
Care coordination across healthcare settings (hospital to home, acute to long-term care), care transitions, discharge planning, palliative care, hospice, end-of-life care, advance care planning, and bereavement support.

Professional Formation for the Registered Nurse II

Credit Hours: 3
Professional advocacy, healthcare policy, political action, nursing's role in policy development, legislative process, professional organization involvement, leadership in nursing profession.

Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse I

Credit Hours: 3
Advanced health assessment building on RN's existing assessment skills, incorporating comprehensive physical examination, health history interviewing, psychosocial assessment, cultural assessment, and assessment across lifespan.

Professional Nursing Formation for the Registered Nurse I

Credit Hours: 2
Professional identity development, ANA Code of Ethics, Nursing's Social Policy Statement, professional standards, reflective practice, and portfolio development.

Complex Care for the Registered Nurse

Credit Hours: 5
Managing clients with complex, chronic, comorbid conditions requiring care coordination across providers and settings. Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and evidence-based management of complex illnesses.

Leadership & Healthcare Management for the Registered Nurse

Credit Hours: 5
Nursing leadership theories and principles, healthcare systems, healthcare economics and finance, quality and safety, change management, conflict resolution, delegation, staffing and scheduling, budgeting, regulatory compliance.

Why OU

Why Choose OU Online for Your RN to BSN

OU Online combines the flexibility of a fully online program with the academic excellence of a flagship public university. The RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and offered through the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, giving you a respected degree backed by expert faculty and real support, without putting your career on hold.

  • Advance without putting your career on hold – Study online at your own pace while maintaining full-time employment
  • Earn a respected, accredited degree – OU’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Prepare for the next step – Strengthen your qualifications for leadership roles or graduate nursing education

With personalized support, expert faculty, and a curriculum emphasizing leadership, evidence-based practice, and complex care coordination, OU Online equips you to thrive in today’s dynamic healthcare environment.

Faculty Expertise: Real-World Nursing Leadership

Learn from experienced nurse educators who bring real clinical practice and academic expertise into every course. Their backgrounds span hospital leadership, community health, and quality improvement, so what you learn reflects the healthcare environment you’re actually working in.

Robust Student Support

OU Online provides comprehensive support tailored to working professionals. Services include personalized academic advising, online tutoring, career development resources, and student wellness support. These resources equip adult learners balancing employment and education with the tools and guidance needed for academic success and professional growth throughout the BSN journey.

Global Alumni Network

When you earn your BSN from the University of Oklahoma, you join a global network of more than 250,000 alumni. This community includes healthcare professionals across hospitals, healthcare systems, and advanced practice settings, creating opportunities for mentorship, professional connections, and career advancement.

Why OU

Flexible Format

The RN to BSN program is delivered 100% online in a flexible, asynchronous format built for working nurses. Study around your shifts, days off, or breaks — not the other way around. Whether you take one course at a time or a full load each term, the RN to BSN program lets you set the pace that fits your life, without stepping away from full-time work or income.

Tailored Experience

The RN to BSN curriculum allows you to align coursework with your professional goals while building advanced competencies in leadership, evidence-based practice, and healthcare systems. Students explore topics relevant to hospital leadership, community and population health, quality improvement, and preparation for graduate nursing education.

Every course builds on existing nursing expertise while expanding professional scope, critical thinking, and the ability to manage increasingly complex care situations—preparing graduates for evolving roles in modern healthcare environments.

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your online RN to BSN degree is an investment in your future — and OU Online is committed to making that investment accessible and transparent.

Tuition and fees for the program are approximately: $330 per credit hour

Books and additional materials are not included.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help offset the cost. Our dedicated financial services team can help you explore funding options and navigate the financial aid process, so you can stay focused on your education and career goals.

A nonrefundable deposit of $250 is required upon admission to secure your place in the program. This deposit guarantees your spot in your first semester of courses and will be applied toward your first semester’s tuition.

*Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

** All newly admitted and continuing students are automatically considered for scholarships. No separate application is needed. Learn more about scholarships

Take the Next Step

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the online RN to BSN program at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is designed for registered nurses ready to advance their careers. Whether you are seeking promotion, preparing for graduate education, or completing the degree you began earlier in your career, this program provides a clear and achievable pathway.

To be considered, applicants must:

  • Hold a current, unencumbered RN license from Oklahoma or a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher based on all previously attempted college coursework
  • Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions*
  • Submit the NursingCAS application and $65 application fee

Note: Applicants residing in states not participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or in states where the program does not meet licensure requirements (e.g., California, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho, etc.), are not eligible for enrollment.

*Sealed official transcripts from all previous institutions should be sent directly to the University of Oklahoma.

Electronic submission (preferred): Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse  --> University of Oklahoma Norman – Health Science College or emailed to admissions@ouhsc.edu

If you are sending physical copies, please send to:

Transcript Evaluation

P.O. Box 26901, SU 300

Oklahoma City, OK. 73126-0901

Advanced Standing & Transfer Credit:

RNs are awarded 30 credit hours of Advanced Standing for prior nursing education. Transfer credit for prerequisite courses may also be applied toward the 120-credit-hour BSN, helping you complete the program efficiently.

Prerequisite Courses:

Science prerequisites—General Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology—must be completed prior to enrollment in experiential learning courses (NURS 4094, NURS 4125, NURS 4112, NURS 4115). An enrollment coach can provide guidance on course equivalencies and planning.

Application Timeline

Applications for Fall 2026 must be completed by July 1, 2026. Admissions decisions happen after NursingCAS application is verified (which can take several weeks) and all ApplyHSC and transcripts are also received and processed. There is a $65 application fee for NursingCAS. Once admitted, students have 10 days to pay a $250 enrollment deposit and must complete all enrollment steps prior to course registration.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Submit the NursingCAS application and pay the $65 application fee.

Step 3

Provide undergraduate transcripts for all prior institutions.

Back

START HERE

Share a few details and we'll connect you with an enrollment coach to discuss your goals and next steps.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.