10 Affordable Online Degrees in Nursing 2025

Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career by getting a bachelor's degree? There are many ways to make this happen - including online degrees for working nurses.

But busy working professionals don't necessarily have time to compare degrees and figure out which one is the best and most affordable, so we're here to provide you with a list of ten of the most affordable online nursing degree programs in the United States.

List of the Most Affordable Nursing Degrees Online

These programs are primarily for nursing students who already have their registered nursing (RN) license in their state, so keep this in mind when applying.

1. Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University (App State) is a public university in Boone, North Carolina that's accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

App State's Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is 30 credit hours and can be completed part-time online in either one, two, or three years - depending on the Flex Program you choose on enrollment.

Tuition for this program is only $204 per credit hour for North Carolina residents.

2. The University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is a public university in Adelphi, Maryland that's part of the University System of Maryland. It's accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Students with an associate's degree in nursing can use UMGC's RN to BSN program to advance their careers in clinical research and public health or prepare for nursing graduate study without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

Most undergraduate programs at UMGC are $318 per credit hour for Maryland residents.

3. Utah Tech University

Utah Tech University (UTU) is a public university in St. George, Utah that offers master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The online RN to BSN completion program at UTU is the ideal program for busy working nurses who want to advance in their careers without having to slow down in their actual work. The program takes three semesters on average to complete and has six start dates throughout the year.

Regardless of residency status, this program costs $255 per credit hour in tuition, and 25 credit hours are required to complete the program.

4. Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University (LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It offers in-person and online degrees with accreditation from the SACSCOC.

LSU Online offers an RN to BSN program for nurses with an RN license who want to learn about and prepare for nursing leadership positions. Graduates from the program enter positions such as:

• nurse educator
• health policy nurse
• nurse recruiter
• forensic nurse
• nurse health coach

Tuition is $325 per credit hour for this program, and the program is 30 to 120 credit hours, depending on the prior education and transfer credits of the student participating.

5. Purdue Global

Purdue Global is the online university of Purdue University that's located in Indiana. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it offers online degree programs to working adults.

PUG's online program allows students to complete their BSN in as little as 18 months with full-time study. Students can customize their program through certification-granting electives and choosing their own clinical practice experience locations.

This program is between 90 and 130 credit hours and has a tuition rate of $315 per credit hour.

6. Franklin University

Franklin University is a private university with a main campus in Columbus, Ohio. It serves nontraditional adult students through primarily online degree programs and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Franklin University's online RN to BSN program is all about helping nurses become BSNs in as little time as possible so they can go back to serving their community with the proper skills and education required.

To ensure this, Franklin University's 120 credit hour program allows up to 75% of credits to be transferred so the entire bachelor's can be completed in as little as a year at the low cost of $298 per credit hour.

7. Capella University

Capella University is a private online university in Minnesota that offers over 1,500 online classes and 45 degrees for students. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Working nurses who want to streamline their career advancement and education can benefit from Capella University's FlexPath RN to BSN program - a way to complete a BSN in as little as nine months on your own time and at your own pace.

Students who complete their RN to BSN at Capella in under a year spend less than $10,000 on it.

8. City University of New York

The City University of New York (CUNY) is the public university system of New York City; it's accredited by the MSCHE. The School of Professional Studies (SPS) provides online degree programs to career-minded individuals.

CUNY SPS's online nursing bachelor's program helps registered nurses gain the credentials and skills necessary to become healthcare leaders.

Students of this program learn about and gain skills in:

• health assessment
• leadership and management
• nursing research
• care of culturally diverse populations
• global health and policy
• nursing informatics

Tuition at CUNY is $305 per credit hour for New York residents and $350 per credit hour for all other undergraduate online students.

9. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois that was originally founded by the state's governor to educate teachers. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

At NIU, nurses with an associate's degree can complete their BSN online through a customized path that puts their personal success at the forefront of their education plan. The program is 120 credit hours, but allows transfer credits that can reduce the costs of and time spent on the degree.

Tuition for this program is $360 per credit hour.

10. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four public research university campuses that make up the University of Colorado system. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UCCS's online BSN program allows two major pathways: the ADN (associate's degree in nursing) to BSN path for current ADN students who want to fast-track their way into completing a BSN, and the RN to BSN path for working nurses who want to earn their BSN while continuing to work full-time in the field.

Students pay $367 per credit hour in tuition for this program regardless of residency status.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree in Nursing Cost?

According to Forbes, a BSN degree can cost anywhere between $20,000 and $100,000 to complete, depending on factors such as whether the program is online or in-person, whether you have in-state or out-of-state tuition, and whether the school is private or public.

Online RN to BSN programs tend to cost less than full bachelor's degree programs, but they have an equally large cost range that makes it hard to pin down an exact average.

However, because many of the programs above offer discounted tuition rates for online RN to BSN programs, you can be assured that they're some of the most affordable online nursing degree programs available.

How To Make an Online Nursing Degree Affordable

Many colleges already provide discounted tuition rates to nursing students pursuing their bachelor's degrees online, but you can save even more with some of these strategies:

• Transfer credits - especially in the case of RNs, transferring credits can greatly reduce the number of credit hours required for a degree and, therefore, lower tuition.
• Attend classes full-time - tuition rates are often reduced for full-time students compared to part-timers.
• Apply for financial aid - the FAFSA can provide you help getting federal scholarships or grants to pay your tuition that you don't ever have to pay back.

Is an Online Nursing Degree Worth It?

Online nursing degrees are worth it because they allow actively working nurses or busy individuals to still get a stellar education in nursing without having to be constrained by attending physical classes.

Online nursing degree programs allow future nurses to save time and money while still getting a quality education.

Find an Affordable Degree in Nursing Online Today

Now that you know how to make your nursing program more affordable, the ways it benefits you to get a degree online instead of in person, and what some of the most affordable online nursing degrees in the U.S. are, it's time to start your RN to BSN degree today so you can begin making an impact on the healthcare field tomorrow.