A bachelor's degree in nursing typically takes four years to complete; graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN exam and meet state licensing requirements become registered nurses. Compared to an associate degree in nursing, which takes two to three years to complete, a BSN typically allows a registered nurse to move into more administrative and leadership positions.
Typical costs:
Tuition, fees, books and supplies for a traditional four-year BSN program can cost $40,000-$200,000 or more for all four years, depending on location; the reputation of the school; and whether the college is public, private not-for-profit or private for-profit. Room and board, transportation and personal expenses vary depending on individual circumstances, which can make total costs for a four-year, full-time BSN program about $90,000 to $250,000 or more.
For example, at the University of Washington[1] , four years of tuition and fees are roughly $49,600 for Washington residents and $127,884 for out-of-state students. The private West Coast University[2] estimates tuition, fees, books and supplies at $114,729 on its Texas campus and $143,692 on its three California campuses.
For students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing subject and want to become a registered nurse, an accelerated BSN program typically takes 11-18 months, and classes may be on campus, online, or a combination. Tuition, fees, books and supplies for an accelerated BSN can cost $17,000-$90,000 or more. Room and board, transportation and personal expenses can bring total costs to $40,000-$120,000 or more.
For example, at the University of Texas[3] , tuition, fees, books and supplies for the four-semester accelerated BSN program cost $17,381 for state residents; living expenses bring the total estimated costs to $41,357. At the private John Hopkins University[4] in Baltimore, MD, tuition and fees are estimated at $72,132 for the 13-month, summer-entry program and $73,249 for the 17-month, fall-entry program; estimated living expenses bring total costs to $101,764-$105,761.
For working registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing who want to complete the additional requirements for a BSN degree, RN-to-BSN programs can cost $8,000-$55,000 or more for tuition, fees, books and supplies, depending on whether classes are on campus (typically one day a week) or online with a flexible schedule (generally more expensive); the amount of credit given for previous coursework, experience or training; and the minimum number of credits that must be completed at the school offering the RN-to-BSN program.
For example, at the University of Texas[5] tuition, fees and books for a three-semester program (either on-campus or online, depending on start date) cost $8,890. In the private sector, at the not-for-profit Southern New Hampshire University[6] the online program can cost $10,000-$25,000 or more, depending on the credit the student receives for previous education and experience, and other factors. And at the for-profit University of Phoenix[7] estimated costs for tuition, fees and resources vary from $25,350-$50,917.
What should be included:
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides an overview of traditional BSN programs[8] , accelerated nursing programs[9] and nursing degree completion programs[10] .
Additional costs:
Taking the NCLEX-RN license exam typically costs about $200, and state license fees to become a registered nurse can add another $75-$200 or more, depending on the state. However, many schools include these costs in their estimated fees for completing the program.
Discounts:
There are a variety of nursing scholarship, grant and loan programs available. Filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid[11] is required before receiving most scholarships or financial aid.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing lists potential financial aid resources[12] .
Many healthcare employers will pay tuition costs for an employee to attend an RN-to-BSN program.
Shopping for a bachelor of science in nursing:
Search for BSN programs at DiscoverNursing.com[13] , or contact the state board of nursing[14] for a list of schools in that state.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides lists of RN-to-BSN programs[15] and accelerated BSN programs[16] , by state.
Ask about the school's accreditation, the sites where clinical practice is offered, the total number of clinical hours and the NCLEX-RN pass rate. The Kansas Association of Nurse Leaders lists questions to ask a potential nursing program[17] .
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