How To Choose the Right RN to BSN Program: 10 Tips

Being a nurse is a vital job that requires plenty of passion, commitment, and education. That means striving to get the highest quality of education as you move up in your career. Because of this, Registered Nurses (RNs) who want their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) must be very careful when choosing their program - but how do they know what to look for?

Check out the top tips for how to choose an RN to BSN program today below so you can figure out what you need to be looking for in your next university.

Top Tips for How to Choose an RN to BSN Program That Suits Your Needs

Here are 10 tips that can help you narrow down your RN to BSN program choices to find the program that's best for you, from checking accreditation to

1. Check Your School's Accreditation and Reputation

It's required that you complete an accredited nursing program if you want to become a nurse or renew your licensure, so the first step in choosing an RN to BSN program is to make sure it's accredited.

From there, check the reputation of the school as a whole - schools with a good reputation or that are well-known for their strong nursing programs are better than schools that haven't been heard of before or don't have programs that employers would recognize.

You can move on to more considerations once you've eliminated programs without accreditation or a good reputation.

2. Consider Affordability and Financial Aid

Next, take a look at the total cost of the program and how much financial aid is usually available to students. Make sure the program you want to be part of is within your budget, or that you can get financial aid to help cover more costly programs.

Many nurses work during their program, but you don't want to have to depend on the money you make from work for your education because that makes it more likely that you won't complete your program due to income issues.

3. Look at Programs Specifically for Working Adults

Speaking of working nurses, one great tip for how to choose an RN to BSN program is to look for ones that are specifically made for working adults - they'll be more flexible and provide more options for class times and formats.

Programs that are designed for traditional students can sometimes be harder for working adults to succeed in, so you should choose a program designed for your needs and circumstances to get the best chance of success.

4. Are Online Classes Available?

Is it important to you that you be able to study and complete classwork at home? Then, you want to make sure the RN to BSN program you choose has online classes available for nursing students. Some nursing programs are offered entirely online, which means you're no longer limited by what programs are within traveling distance of you.

Alternately, if you learn better in person, check and make sure that all the classes you want to take have in-person or hybrid learning formats that you can take advantage of.

5. Look at Clinical and Career Opportunities in the Area

If you're going to be taking classes and working in a new area to complete your desired RN to BSN program, look for the clinical and career opportunities that are available in the area before you apply to the program.

This way, you'll know what work is available to you as a nurse, as well as what kind of clinical experiences you'll be able to have during your program - clinical experiences can make or break your nursing specialization abilities, and doing clinicals at a reputable hospital or clinic is important to future employers.

6. What Kind of Faculty Are Part of This Program?

If you're really interested in a program after considering the first five tips, it's time to dig a bit deeper. Start by asking about student-to-faculty ratios in classes and what experience the faculty running your program have.

This will help you determine how much one-on-one assistance and support you'll get during your program, and you can find out what nursing experience your instructors will be able to impart on you. If none of the faculty are trained nurses, it might be time to look for a different program.

7. What Kind of Support is Available During This Program?

Whether you're taking classes online or in person, you'll want to find out what support is available to you as a nursing student when you're choosing your program.

Are there tutors or faculty members available to assist you outside of classes? Does the school provide resources like virtual library access? What kind of career advisement do soon-to-be graduates receive as part of the program?

The more support you can receive in your program, the more likely you are to succeed during your education and after it.

8. How Long Will It Take to Complete This Program?

Are you short on time or do you want to take it easy during your program - as easy as nursing school can get, at least?

Find out how long it takes most students to complete the RN to BSN program you're considering and compare that to your desired timeline. If you want to complete your BSN quickly, focus on accelerated programs, but if you want to take your time and focus on learning everything you can, you may want to consider programs that allow part-time participation.

9. What Are the NCLEX Pass Rate and Graduation Rate For This Program?

In addition to the amount of time it takes to graduate, you need to find out how many students who enter the program you're considering have actually graduated - this will help you see how difficult your desired program is and whether or not all students are being given the tools they need to succeed.

Another indicator of nursing success is the NCLEX pass rate for your RN to BSN program - whether it's a requirement to enter the program or graduate from it, the more students passing the NCLEX on their first attempt, the better the program is likely to be.

10. What Employment Opportunities Have Graduates of This Program Pursued?

Finally, what work have graduates been able to find after completing the program? If program alumni are working in major hospitals or well-known clinics, you know that you'll be sought-after after you graduate from the program.

But if students are having a hard time finding work after they've completed their nursing program, maybe you should look for a different RN to BSN program to pursue.

Find the RN to BSN Program That Meets Your Needs Today

Now that you know all about the best tips for how to choose an RN to BSN program, it's time to start narrowing down your options for a nursing program today so that you can start using your career advancement to make a difference in the healthcare industry tomorrow.