Are Online Nursing Degrees Respected?

What To Look For in an Online Nursing Degree Program

There are several things to look for in an online nursing degree program, including accreditation and the type of school. These will help you determine if a school is legitimate and respected.

They can also help you determine which school is best for you. We've broken down what to look for below.

Accreditation

There are two types of accreditation to look for when looking at online nursing programs: institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation is accreditation that applies to the college or university as a whole.

An institution can be regionally or nationally accredited, but regional accreditation is generally preferred. If your program is designed to lead to licensure, it should also be programmatically accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Reputation

A school's reputation can give you an idea of how good a program is and how much a potential employer will respect your degree. Some schools are highly respected, and some are not respected at all.

You can learn more about a school's reputation by looking at ranking lists such as the ones published by Forbes and the U.S. World and News Report. You can also read reviews about the school and its nursing programs on sites like Google and Reddit.

Nonprofit Vs. For-Profit Degrees

In general, nonprofit degrees are viewed more favorably than for-profit degrees. This is because for-profit schools have a reputation for putting profit over education.

All public schools are non-profit, and most private nursing schools are nonprofit as well. You can learn more about whether a college or university is nonprofit or for-profit by searching online.

Graduation Rates

Graduation rate is the number of first-time, full-time students who graduate from an undergraduate program within a certain time frame: three years for associate degrees and six for bachelor's degrees. Again, this is only for first-time, full-time students, so these stats are not available for master's degree and doctoral degree programs, and won't be a good indicator for schools that primarily cater to adult or returning students.

Differences Between Online Nursing Degrees and Traditional Nursing Degrees

In-person nursing programs are the traditional type of nursing educational program. Students have set class times and come to campus for lectures and labs.

Online students don't usually need to visit campus. Instead, they do their coursework online. The professor sets due dates for assignments, and students can finish these assignments at a time that works for them.

Some nursing programs allow students to complete the program at their own pace. Depending on the degree you're earning, you may also need to complete clinical experiences. These typically must be done in person and cannot be completed online.

Benefits of Earning Your Nursing Degree at an Online School

With nursing being such a hands-on field, you may be wondering what the benefits and viability of an online nursing degree are. Many nursing programs, especially those that are designed to lead to licensure, require students to complete clinical hours. These give students hands-on experiences in patient care.

Some online programs have partnerships with medical systems and help online students find clinical experiences near them. Others require students to secure their own clinical experiences. If you are already a registered nurse (RN) and are pursuing your Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) or a nursing practice degree, you may be able to complete your clinical hours in your place of employment, meaning more convenience and flexibility for your schedule.

Featured Online Nursing Schools

Several colleges and universities offer online nursing programs. These programs are most commonly RN to BSN programs or nursing practice programs.

We've listed some of the best online nursing schools below. We've also included what types of online nursing degrees these programs offer.

1. East Carolina University

East Carolina University is a public university regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It offers several online nursing programs accredited by the CCNE.

Nursing degrees offered online at ECU include:

• RN to BSN
• Nurse Midwifery - MSN
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - MSN
• Nursing - DNP
• Nursing - PhD

2. Indiana University-Purdue Global Indianapolis

Indiana University-Purdue Global Indianapolis (IUPUI) is a public university in Indianapolis. It's regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its nursing programs are accredited by the CCNE.

The following nursing degrees are offered online at IUPUI:

• RN to BSN
• Nursing Education - MSN
• Nursing Practice - DNP
• Nursing Science - PhD

3. Ohio State University

Ohio State University is a public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers a handful of online nursing degrees with accreditation from the CCNE.

Nursing degrees offered online at OSU include:

• RN to BSN
• Family Nurse Practitioner - MSN
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner - MSN
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - MSN
• Nursing Practice - DNP

4. University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida is a public university in Orlando. It's regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and its nursing programs are accredited by the CCNE.

Nursing degrees offered online at UCF include:

• RN to BSN
• Nurse Educator - MSN
• Nursing Leadership and Management - MSN
• Nursing Practice - DNP
• Nursing - PhD

5. University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It offers a few online nursing degrees that are accredited by the CCNE.

The following nursing degrees are offered online at UW-Madison:

• RN to BSN
• Population Health Nursing - DNP
• Systems Leadership and Innovation - DNP