Self-Paced Nursing Prerequisite Courses Online 2025

It has never been easier to earn a nursing degree online. Online learning platforms, such as accredited self-paced online colleges, make it possible to finish degrees, build essential skills, and even prepare for school by taking required nursing prerequisites. You can attend an online institution just to cover prerequisites and general education courses before transferring elsewhere for nursing school.

We welcome you to explore the most convenient programs for self-paced nursing prerequisites online. Continue reading to discover which schools offer these opportunities through distance learning for nurses.

What Prerequisites Do You Need for a Nursing Degree?

If you wish to qualify for admission to accredited online nursing programs, then you'll need to earn credit for certain courses first. Here's a quick list of important courses you'll take to get through most self-paced nursing prerequisites online:

• Microbiology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Biology
• Nutrition
• Chemistry
• Social science courses (such as developmental psychology)
• Other humanities (such as freshman composition courses)

Self-Paced Online Nursing Degree Programs

Below is a list of 10 programs with nursing prerequisites online, setting future nursing students up for success before proceeding to more advanced coursework.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University lets nursing students catch up on prerequisite courses, particularly in the field of biology. It offers several courses that satisfy most nursing school requirements, including Bio 101: The Living World. This early biology course helps students gain a foundation on everything from cell biology and genetics to macro biological systems and what it calls 'Biology Bootcamp.'

Program cost: $561 to $661 per credit hour

Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2. Pearson Online Academy

Pearson Online Academy is a private educational company that offers Introductory Biology through the self-paced platform Accelerated Pathways Global Digital Classroom. It claims to satisfy lower-level course requirements for many undergraduate degree programs, including nursing school. Its online software makes it easy for students to complete coursework straight from their smartphones.

Program cost: $855 per course

Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools (MSA)

3. University of Dakota

The Math 103 course at the University of Dakota is a three-credit self-paced college algebra course. This works well for those who struggle with math, given its self-paced tutorials through difficult concepts like polynomials and quadratic equations. Students can work at their own pace, with nine months to complete the course.

Program cost: $384.88 per credit

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

4. Southern California University of Health Sciences

Those missing statistics before going to nursing school can consider the Southern California University of Health Sciences. This school offers a self-paced, online statistics course, which you can complete within five weeks as long as you've already taken college algebra. This course is often required by nursing programs, veterinary programs, medical schools, and other healthcare tracks.

Program cost: $1,545.00

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

5. University of Rochester

The University of Rochester offers user-friendly pre-nursing coursework. Here, you can take courses at your own pace during four- to 12-week sessions. Students can use Rochester's online education format to complete the following courses: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Human Growth and Development, Nutrition, and Statistics.

Program cost: $384 per 1-credit online prerequisite course

Accreditation: CCNE

6. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences can help nursing majors finish microbiology before taking more advanced coursework. This online class follows an asynchronous delivery format, meaning you do not have to log into a web classroom at any specific time. It uses the Blackboard portal for course modules, which students can complete at their own pace for up to 15 weeks.

Program cost: $520 per credit hour

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

7. University of New England

The University of New England offers instructor-guided and self-paced science prerequisites for health professions on its online web portal. Students can take dozens of nursing prerequisites and electives in courses ranging from Chemistry and Immunology to Abnormal Psychology and Statistics.

Program cost: $440 per credit hour

Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

8. Portage Learning

Portage Learning offers a course in pharmacology, an important prerequisite you usually need before beginning a nursing career. With year-round enrollment start dates, BIOD351 (formerly NURS251) takes an average of eight to 10 weeks to complete. This course teaches pharmacology, nephrology, gerontology, pulmonology, and several other introductory nursing topics.

Program cost: $223 per credit hour

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSA-CSS)

9. Westcott Courses

Westcott Courses has an online self-paced class on pathophysiology, serving as an introduction to diseases and clinical medicine. Once you pay the course fee, there are no additional charges, and the digital textbook is free. Westcott Courses also offers multiple payment plans to handle the program costs.

Program cost: $555 per credit hour

Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

10. West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University can help you satisfy nursing school prerequisite requirements for those difficult chemistry courses. Its chemistry department allows a self-paced approach to two courses: CHEM 1411C and CHEM 1412C.

This is a smart way to get through chemistry coursework at a slower pace if you struggled with the subject in high school or other traditional college formats. It's also a great bargain with a low tuition rate of $50 per online course credit.

Program cost: $50 per credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

How We Rank Programs

Our team vetted each self-paced program to meet important criteria. We selected the programs above based on key indicators of quality, including:

• Accreditation: We recommend taking online courses through accredited nursing programs only.
• Program reputation: These colleges and universities have an excellent reputation in the academic and nursing communities.
• Self-paced programs: The courses and programs featured in our list allow nursing students the flexibility to take courses on their own time while working full time.

FAQs About Completing Your Nursing Prerequisites Online

You may have other concerns about the viability of self-paced online programs. These frequently asked questions will address some of those.

What Is the Fastest Way To Complete Nursing Prerequisites?

The fastest way to complete nursing prerequisites would be to consider either an accelerated nursing program or try to complete some of the coursework in high school or at a community college. High school students can take advanced placement (AP) courses to get a head start on college work. It's also more affordable to take general education courses at a community college before transferring to a four-year institution to complete your nursing degree.

Can I Become an RN Without Prerequisites?

No, because almost all nursing credentials require some prerequisite courses. This varies by program and institution, so you should check the degree requirements carefully before enrolling in any online nursing program. If you are unsure, then contact the program's faculty or staff to confirm which classes are mandatory and whether they accept online nursing prerequisite courses for degree completion.

Can I Take Nursing Prerequisites at a Community College?

Yes, many community colleges help nursing students complete prerequisite credit hours either through online classes or by attending them in person. Some community colleges offer a greater variety of health sciences courses than others, but almost all of them will let you take courses like chemistry, biology, and other early college-level fundamentals.

Earn Your Nursing Degree Today

Learn.org welcomes you to learn more about what it takes to complete a nursing degree at your own pace. Explore our database of bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctorate degrees, and certification programs at accredited colleges and universities to get started on your path to a rewarding nursing career today.