Key Takeaways:
- Five online RN-to-BSN options with flexible pacing and multiple start dates.
- WGU offers competency-based, flat-term pricing to accelerate and save money.
- ASU provides brand recognition, 7.5-week courses, and possible concurrent enrollment.
- Purdue Global, TESU, and Liberty emphasize predictable terms, generous transfer, or faith-based support.
- Credit-hack gen-eds via ACE-recommended providers like Study.com, Sophia, and StraighterLine to reduce time and cost.
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5 Flexible Pathways to Earn a BSN Degree Online
Want a BSN without quitting your job or relocating? Here are five credible online RN-to-BSN options (plus one proven credit hack!) to help you finish faster and spend less.
1. WGU: Accelerate with Competency-Based Learning
Western Governors University (WGU) is built for self-starters.
Instead of marching through weekly lectures, you progress as soon as you can prove mastery. That can turn experience at the bedside into speed in the classroom.
WGU also pairs each student with a dedicated mentor and uses American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials to shape the curriculum, signals employers understand.
The big advantage is term-based pricing: a flat tuition of $8,755 per six-month term means the faster you finish, the fewer terms you pay for.
2. ASU: Big-Name Credibility, Flexible Pacing
If you want research-university prestige with online convenience, Arizona State University (ASU) offers a structured RN-to-BSN designed for working nurses.
Expect leadership, population health, and evidence-based practice with options that respect your previous nursing associate degree (ADN) learning.
Notably, ASU allows “concurrent enrollment” so motivated students can begin the BSN while finishing the associate degree. Courses run 7.5 weeks with five start dates per year, and the 36-credit program is about $6,178 (residents) to $12,320 (non-residents) total.
3. Purdue Global: Predictable Terms, Clear Planning
Prefer a steady cadence you can map around shifts and family life? Purdue Global uses clearly defined 10-week terms, so you always know the start and end of each block.
The program is transfer-friendly and, for full-time RNs, can be completed in about five terms (roughly 13 months). Tuition is $4,062 per term, making cost planning straightforward, especially if you can consolidate into fewer terms.
4. TESU: Maximize Transfer and Prior Learning
Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is a long-time home for adult learners, including military students, who bring credits, certifications, and on-the-job knowledge.
TESU emphasizes flexible starts throughout the year and accepts up to 90 transfer credits into the BSN, ideal if you have a patchwork of prior coursework. Tuition for the RN-to-BSN is $311 per credit, which can translate into major savings when you transfer in bulk.
5. Liberty University: Faith-Based, Fast-Moving
Liberty University’s online RN-to-BSN suits students who want accelerated blocks and a mission-oriented curriculum.
With an RN license, Liberty guarantees at least 39 transfer credits. Courses are offered in 8-week blocks with multiple start dates, and motivated students who transfer well can finish in about a year.
Tuition lists at $330 per credit; strong transfer plus an aggressive study pace can shrink both time and total cost.
How to Choose Your Best-Fit RN-to-BSN (3 steps)
🗺️ 1. Map requirements: List remaining BSN gen-eds, support courses, and upper-division nursing. Mark anything you can take via ACE-approved providers.
⚙️ 2. Pick your format: Competency-based (sprint), term-based (steady rhythm), or high-transfer (credit-max). Choose what fits your life.
💰 3. Price the finish line: Estimate total cost by terms or credits, then subtract whatever you can complete through Study.com before enrolling.
Credit-Hack Your BSN Gen-Eds: Finish Faster and Pay Less
If you want to finish your BSN faster and for far less money, you can “credit-hack” your general education and prerequisite courses using low-cost, ACE-recommended providers. Here’s a simple five-step process to follow.
1. List Your Remaining Gen-Eds
Start by identifying every general education, prerequisite, and support course you still need for your BSN. Having a complete list makes it easier to decide which classes you can complete through alternative credit options.
2. Verify ACE Acceptance
Before you take any outside courses, confirm with your target school that they accept ACE-recommended credits and find out which specific subjects they’ll allow you to transfer in.
3. Take Alternative Courses
Complete low-cost, self-paced courses through trusted ACE providers such as Study.com, Sophia Learning, or StraighterLine. These options allow you to move quickly through gen-eds and save on tuition.
4. Send Your Transcripts
Once you finish each class, submit your official transcripts or ACE registry records directly to your university. This ensures your completed credits are evaluated promptly.
5. Apply the Credits Toward Your Degree
Work with your advisor to apply the transferred credits to your degree plan. Once they’re added, you’ll likely eliminate multiple semesters’ worth of coursework—shortening both your timeline and overall tuition.
💡Pro tip: Study.com offers flat monthly pricing, so finishing multiple courses in the same month can significantly maximize your savings.
From RN to BSN, On Your Terms
You don’t have to choose between your RN job and a BSN. Pick the format that fits your life: competency-based sprint, steady 10-week terms, or a high-transfer path. Then front-load gen-eds with ACE-recommended courses to reduce cost and time.
Shortlist two or three programs, verify transfer policies, and map what you can complete via Study.com or similar. That combination moves you from “I wish I could finish my BSN” to actually cross the finish line.
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