13 Best Online RN to BSN Programs In Georgia

Are you a licensed Registered Nurse at the associate degree level who desires to enhance your career skills and salary by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree?

If this is your goal, then finding RN to BSN programs online can help you achieve your dream.

Fortunately, the state of Georgia is full of RN to BSN programs, which may also be called accelerated or degree completion programs.

The Top Georgia RN to BSN Programs Online

The University System of Georgia, which connects all the state's public universities, has instituted an eMajor Nurse Collaborative.

This arrangement allows 13 of the state's universities to collaboratively deliver a set of common courses and affordable online RN to BSN programs.

These Georgia RN to BSN degree programs are completely online:

1. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

With campuses in Tifton and Bainbridge, ABAC's School of Nursing and Health Sciences boasts a 100% employment rate among graduates.

In addition to the state RN to BSN program, ABAC offers a bridge track to enable practical nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists to become registered in just one year.

2. Albany State University

Albany State's College of Nursing is part of the Darton College of Health Professions since its consolidation with Darton State College. The university offers a wide range of nursing education programs.

In addition to the USC eMajor Nurse Collaborative, the school has Healthcare-Professional-to-RN bridge programs in Albany and Cordele and both generic and accelerated BSN programs.

3. Clayton State University

The School of Nursing in Clayton State's College of Health provides a wealth of resources and programs, with several BSN programs (including the RN to BSN) as well as a double BS in nursing and health care management.

Once you've completed your BSN, Clayton State also offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

4. College of Coastal Georgia

CCG's School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers the RN to BSN program with a challenging curriculum but lots of personal attention to help working professionals achieve their bachelor's degree.

The curriculum focuses on learning professionalism, ethics, informatics, community health, disease processes, evidence-based practice, and leadership.

5. Columbus State University

Studying at Columbus State will put you in the midst of much expertise since the School of Nursing is home not only to an online RN to BSN program and a traditional BSN program.

If you'd like to continue your studies with a specialty, the school's MSN program boasts tracks to train you as a Nurse Educator, Nurse Informaticist, Nurse Leader, or FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner).

6. Georgia Highlands College

In addition to its RN to BSN completion program, the Atrium Health Floyd Department of Nursing at Georgia Highlands College in Rome and Cartersville provides programs to bridge LPNs to RNs and paramedics to RNs.

The mission of the nursing school is to develop nurses who display professional, ethical behaviors, strong interpersonal communication skills, clinical decision-making abilities, and leadership in diverse settings.

7. Georgia Southern University

The School of Nursing at Georgia Southern University is part of Waters College of Health Professions. It offers degrees from the bachelor's to the doctoral level. You'll receive individual advising.

Designed for working RNs, the online RN-BSN program provides credit for up to 29 hours of previous nursing courses. You can choose to attend full- or part-time, with individualized clinical hours

8. Georgia Southwestern State University

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is home to an online RN to BSN program, among several others. One of the highlights of this program is its individualized nature. A professional nursing advisor will work with you to develop an individual plan of study.

When you complete your online RN to BSN degree, you may be interested in continuing with GSSU's online MSN program.

9. Georgia State University

At the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State offers a large nursing faculty that is a thriving hub for nursing education from the associate to the doctoral level, with many options.

Of the six online nursing programs that GSU provides, the RN to BSN online program began in 2022 when GSU joined the USG's eMajor Nurse Collaborative.

You can complete your BSN in just three semesters. The university offers flexible part-time options if you need to juggle work and family life with school.

10. Gordon State College

Gordon State's School of Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences, in Barnesville, is home to a dynamic series of nursing programs from associate and bachelor's to post-baccalaureate programs such as PhD, MSN, MD, DVM, DDS, and PharmD.

The RN to BSN completion program is delivered via a combination of online (synchronous/asynchronous) instruction and clinical experiences. You should be able to complete the program in three consecutive semesters.

11. Middle Georgia State University

MGSU's RN to BSN program requires 30 credit hours of upper-level nursing courses as well as a number of general education liberal arts courses and pre-nursing science courses.

In addition to its associate and BSN nursing degrees, Middle Georgia State also offers the distinctive online MSN Adult/Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate Post Master's.

12. South Georgia State College

The South Georgia State College RN to BSN program, part of the USG's eMajor Nurse Collaborative, is fully online and open to licensed RNs who want to complete a bachelor's degree.

In addition to its online RN-BSN program for licensed RNs, the SGSC School of Nursing (in Douglas and Waycross) offers an on-campus LPN-RN bridge program and ASN program.

13. University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia Leavitt School of Health is home to nearly two dozen degree programs at the bachelor's and master's degree levels.

This powerhouse of a nursing school is rich in expertise and human resources from which you'll benefit when you enroll in the RN to BSN program. The mentoring system will give you personal attention from someone experienced in your subject area who can help guide you.

What Is an RN to BSN Program?

An RN to BSN program enables students who have completed an associate degree in nursing--and then become licensed as a registered nurse (RN)--to return to school to complete the remaining two years of college to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN).

Most universities allow practicing nurses to enroll either part-time or full-time. The advantage of online classes is that you can study at your own pace while also holding a job.

In some cases, if a licensed RN brings a great deal of work experience, they may be able to earn credits based on experiential knowledge, which can enable them to complete their BSN even faster. Students without experiecne can still find fast-track RN to BSN programs online to earn their BSN in the shortest amount of time.

Why Is RN to BSN Important?

Scientific studies show that, statistically, nurses with more education do a better job. For this reason, medical practices and hospitals are more likely to prefer BSN nurses and pay them higher salaries than those with associate degrees.

The ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) has awarded five Georgia medical facilities 'magnet' recognition.

At magnet hospitals, 75% of nurse manager positions must be filled by BSN nurses, and these hospitals also prefer BSN nurses for direct care positions.

Studies of mortality rates at hospitals show a correlation between an increased number of BSN-educated nurses and a reduction in patient death rates.

For instance, researchers Mary Blegen and colleagues, publishing in the Journal of Nursing Administration in 2013, found a significant difference at hospitals where a higher percentage of RNs possessed baccalaureate degrees.

At these hospitals, patients statistically had 'lower congestive heart failure mortality, decubitus ulcers, failure to rescue, and postoperative deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and shorter length of stay.'

Requirements for RN to BSN Programs in Georgia

Georgia's statewide articulation plan, the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model, provides many BSN completion program options.

Most universities will grant you transfer credit for your lower-division nursing courses.

Most institutions offering RN to BSN degrees in Georgia will have the following admission requirements. Candidates should possess an active Georgia RN license and have:

• Graduated from an accredited Associate of Science in Nursing or a Diploma in Nursing program
• Fulfilled the requirements of Georgia's RN to BSN articulation
• Completed general education core requirements
• Qualified for admission to the university before applying to the RN to BSN program

If you don't meet all of these requirements, the easiest RN to BSN online programs often have lower barriers of entry or different guidelines.

What Are the NCLEX Pass Rates for Georgia's BSN Programs?

Administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a standardized test used by state nursing boards nationwide to assess whether a candidate qualifies to be a nurse.

In 2022, Georgia's nursing school graduates had an 82.58% NCLEX-RN pass rate statewide, while the national average was 79.90%.

Of the state BSN nursing programs we listed above, here are the ones for which we could find 2022 NCLEX pass rates:

• Middle Georgia State University 93.18%
• Georgia Southwestern State University 89.36%
• Columbus State University 87.18%
• Gordon State College 84.38%
• Georgia State University 83.69%
• College of Coastal Georgia 83.33%
• Georgia Southern University 80.99%
• Clayton State University 80.25%
• Albany State University 78.57%
• University of West Georgia 71.64%

Begin Your Online RN to BSN Program Today

If you're a Georgia resident and a licensed registered nurse, you have many opportunities through the state university system to complete your BSN degree online.

These online RN to BSN programs in Georgia can help you get to where you want to be in your career. Reach out to learn more!