Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Your RN License Counts. Your BSN Starts Here.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

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At a Glance

Advance your nursing career with the University of Oklahoma’s online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). Designed for registered nurses, this CCNE-accredited degree completion program strengthens leadership, population health, evidence-based practice, and care coordination skills while you continue working full-time.

With 120 total credit hours required for the BSN, you can transfer up to 60 hours of prerequisite coursework and receive 30 hours of Advanced Standing for your RN licensure—allowing you to complete your degree in as few as 12 months full time or 24 months part time. This streamlined pathway builds on your existing knowledge while preparing you for advancement, specialty roles, and graduate study.

Offered through OU’s Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, the program delivers 100% online, asynchronous coursework designed for working nurses. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the curriculum, equipping you to manage increasingly complex client needs across diverse healthcare settings.

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:

12 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.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

About the RN to BSN Online Program

The University of Oklahoma’s online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed exclusively for registered nurses who want to advance their education while continuing to work. This degree completion pathway builds on your prior nursing education and professional experience, awarding 30 credit hours of Advanced Standing for RN licensure.

To earn the BSN, students complete a total of 120 credit hours, including a minimum of 60 hours of prerequisite coursework and 30 hours of upper-division OU nursing coursework. This structure allows you to move efficiently through the program while strengthening the knowledge and skills needed for expanded professional roles.

Offered through the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, the curriculum expands practice beyond bedside care to include leadership, population health, community health, care coordination, healthcare systems, research, and evidence-based practice. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the program, preparing you to manage increasingly complex client needs across diverse healthcare settings.

The program is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format designed for working nurses, including those with rotating shifts, nights, and weekend schedules. Courses are taught by expert nursing educators, and clinicians or Nursing experts with advanced clinical and academic experience.

Whether you are pursuing career advancement, preparing for graduate nursing education, or completing the degree you began earlier in your career, The University of Oklahoma’s RN to BSN program provides a streamlined and professionally focused pathway to earning your BSN.

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 nursing education, you will build the competencies healthcare employers value most. Graduates are 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.

Whether you want to lead care teams, improve client outcomes, strengthen quality and safety initiatives, or advance into specialized or leadership roles, OU’s RN to BSN program provides a strong foundation for long-term professional growth.

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 salary figures reflect earnings for professionals in these roles. Starting and median salaries vary based on position, employer, experience, and geographic location.

Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

Whether you are advancing within your organization, preparing for graduate nursing education, or expanding your impact on client care and healthcare systems, OU’s RN to BSN program provides a strong foundation for continued professional growth.

Course Details

OU’s online RN to BSN program builds on your existing nursing education and professional experience, focusing on advanced competencies that expand your scope of practice. You will complete 30 credit hours of upper-division nursing coursework in areas such as leadership, community and population health, complex care coordination, and evidence-based practice—without repeating foundational skills you have already mastered.

Courses are delivered in a fully online, asynchronous format designed for working registered nurses. Experiential learning is embedded throughout the curriculum, with an emphasis on real-world application and problem-solving that allows you to immediately apply new knowledge in your current role.

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. The courses below outline the upper-division nursing coursework required for the RN to BSN program, along with prerequisite courses needed for degree completion and progression.

The courses below outline the upper-division nursing coursework required for the RN to BSN program, along with prerequisite courses needed for degree completion and progression.

Upper-Division Nursing Courses (33 Credit Hours)

Interdisciplinary Leadership and Healthcare (3)
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).

Interdisciplinary Leadership and Healthcare

Credit Hours: 3
This course reviews cultural humility and interprofessional competence in health care. It provides the opportunity to learn how interprofessional health professionals can utilize cultural humility to address health disparities among an increasingly diverse population while providing the highest quality of care.

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.

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.

Why Choose OU Online for Your RN to BSN

OU Online delivers high-quality, career-focused programs built for working professionals—combining the flexibility of a 100% online format with the academic excellence of a flagship public university. Offered through the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, this program is designed to help you:

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 at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing who bring advanced academic preparation and extensive professional experience to the classroom. Faculty understand the demands of modern nursing practice and design coursework that translates directly to your role as a nurse. Their mentorship prepares you to:

Lead teams and manage complex care environments
Apply evidence-based strategies to improve client outcomes
Navigate healthcare systems and contribute to professional leadership

Faculty expertise spans hospital leadership, community health, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice, ensuring graduates gain skills relevant to today’s evolving healthcare environment.

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.

Flexible Format

The RN to BSN program is delivered 100% online in a flexible, asynchronous format built for working nurses. Study on your schedule—before or after shifts, on days off, or during breaks—without putting your career on hold.

Most students complete the program in as few as 12 months full time or 24 months part time, progressing at a pace that fits their lives. Whether you take one course at a time or a fuller course load each term, OU Online provides a pathway to advance your nursing career without sacrificing full-time employment 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.

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

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.