Best 300 BSN Nursing Schools In the United States

Spring Hill College is located in Mobile, Alabama.  Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third oldest Jesuit college in the US.  They boast that their student to faculty ratio is 13:1.  In addition, nursing students comprise 9% of their student population, which is pretty outstanding when their are 46 majors available.

Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas.  Carr College of Nursing was founded in 1975; their graduates are now working throughout the world.  Carr College of Nursing produces nurses who are not only prepared for entry-level nursing positions, but are also Christian servants.  Their students have the opportunity to join a Health Care Missions Program, with local and international experiences.

Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California.  Sonoma State University offers “pre-licensure BSN” and “post-licensure” BSN programs. The pre-licensure program is designed for traditional BSN students, where as the post-licensure BSN program is designed for students who hold an ADN degree and their RN license.

Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania.  In terms of undergraduate programs, they offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  They also are extremely proud of the fact that their faculty to student ratio is 8:1 in the clinical setting.  Their faculty and nursing students regularly volunteer in clinics for underserved populations.

Colby-Sawyer College is located in New London, New Hampshire.  They offer a BSN program and a MSN program.  Colby-Sawyer has a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), which allows students to do the majority of their clinical rotations onsite at their facility.  They also actively seek the graduates of Colby-Sawyer for employment.

Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, Ohio.  They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN completion program.  Their RN to BSN program is just 12 months; students meet once weekly for 4 12-week terms, in addition to two clinical experiences.

The University of Tennessee – Martin is located in Martin, Tennessee.  UTM offers a traditional BSN program and an online BSN program.  UTM also recognizes nursing student excellent with Sigma Theta Tau (Pi Tau Chapter), which is an international honor society for nursing.

MacMurray College is a private Christian institution located in Jacksonville, Illinois that offers a four-year, CCNE accredited BSN program, as well as an online RN to BSN program. MacMurray’s BSN program is a unique program that integrates a liberal arts core while preparing graduates for professional nursing practice, graduate education, and ongoing career development.

The program’s focus lies in the extensive development of students’ knowledge, values, and competencies that ensure they can provide safe, high quality nursing care for diverse populations in various settings. The coursework further equips students with the clinical reasoning, communication skills, understanding of healthcare policies and systems, and management technology necessary to be a strong member of a healthcare team.

To be admitted to the MacMurray’s nursing program, the applicant must met the following minimum requirements: 2.75/4.00 high school GPA, ACT composite of 20 or 1020 on the SAT, 2 semesters of chemistry with a grade C or better within the last 5 years. Students can enroll twice a year, in the fall or spring semester.

Texas State University is located in San Marcos, Texas.  The St. David’s School of Nursing is ranked #2 of the “Best Nursing Schools in the State of Texas.”  Their most recent 2016 BSN graduates had a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate.  They offer a traditional BSN program, with 100 students being admitted yearly.

Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky.  EKU offers a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  They also have a wide variety of post-graduate options for those who want to continue their education after graduating with their BSN degree.

University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky.  Their College of Nursing had over 1,500 students enrolled in 2015.  They offer a traditional BSN, an LPN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  The mission of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing is to promote health and well-being through excellence in nursing education, research, practice and service while fostering diversity and inclusion.

The Mississippi University for Women offers a 4-year BSN program in addition to an Advanced Placement RN to BSN program, ideal for registered nurses who are interested in advancing their nursing careers. Though the school’s name implies that it offers single-sex education, since 1982 men have been welcome to attend.

The school’s BSN program focuses on preparing students to be skilled leaders who are agents for change in illness prevention and patient care. Those who graduate from the program will have a comprehensive educational foundation that opens the doors to opportunities for further study, such as a master’s degree in nursing.

The BSN program is aware of the continually changing world, and places a focus on the prevention of illness, maintenance of health, and a responsibility for managing long-term and terminal disruptions to health.   Additionally, the Mississippi University of Women emphasizes the nurse’s role as a client advocate and an important liaison on healthcare teams. Students can enroll in the summer, as well as in the fall.

Morehead State University is located in Morehead, Kentucky.  They have a variety of nursing option.  They have an ADN degree, a paramedic to ADN option, a post-licensure program (this allows an RN to become a BSN) and a pre-licensure program (this allows a traditional student to become a BSN).

Trinity Christian College is a private Christian college located in Palos Heights, Illinois. The nursing school offers a four-year BSN program that comes with an integrated minor in science. Trinity’s nursing program is the only nursing school in the Chicago area with a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2015 and 2016 and has continued to earn that perfect score each consecutive year.

The program prepares students academically and clinically for the patient’s physical, spiritual, and mental needs. The coursework incorporates knowledge from the humanities and the natural, social, and nursing sciences to cultivate a holistic understanding of nursing care. The program offers small class sizes and state-of-the-art facilities, providing a comprehensive and hands-on experience grounded in a Christian environment. Trinity Christian College’s nursing program has an excellent reputation in Illinois, attracting a strong, albeit small yet dedicated group of students. The college offers a robust program and is accessible to most interested students with an 88% acceptance rate.

Saint Anselm College is located in Manchester, New Hampshire.  They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. They have a state-of-the-art simulation lab, with the latest in simulation technology, including Simbaby, Simman, Birthing Mother and a Pyxis.  They also are proud to boast that they have 8 to 1 student to instructor ratios.

The University of Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida.  University of Tampa offers a BSN program and a MSN program.  Their BSN program is highly competitive and students are accepted for fall, spring and summer semesters.  Their program is designed for students without nursing credits.

California State University – Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California.  For BSN nursing, they offer a traditionl nursing program, designed for students without a prior nursing license, and a “registered nurse student” program which is designed for students already holding an RN license.  They also offer a DNP program.

Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.  The Hunt School of Nursing has had an ADN program since 1965 and has expanded to include a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program, an MSN program, which includes either education, FNP, or administration, and a DNP program.

Western Governors University is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.  They offer many options for nursing students, from the bachelor’s level to master’s level.  They offer a prelicensure BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  WGU is a non-traditional university and their education is based on competencies, which means that their approach allows the students to learn things they do not already know, taking into consideration past education and work experience.

Montana Tech is located in Butte, Montana.  They offer two BSN programs – a pre-licensure and a post-licensure.  The pre-licensure program is for students without a prior degree.  The post-licensure program is for students with a prior RN degree.  Montana Tech’s nursing program is the first four-year nursing program to be approved by Montana in the past 78 years.

Luther College is located in Decorah, Iowa.  They offer a BSN program and a Direct Entry Program.  The Direct Entry Program allows a high school senior to apply for entrance into the program their freshman year of college.

University of South Carolina is located in Columbia, South Carolina.  USC has been rated #1 in the nation by US News and World Report for their online education Master’s programs.  They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program, in addition to a wide variety of post-graduate options.

Sentara College of Health Sciences is located in Chesapeake, Virginia.  Sentara College is a division of Sentara Healthcare; it seeks to educate healthcare professionals in a variety of careers, but especially nursing.  Not only do they offer a BSN program, but they offer an online RN to BSN program, an option for LPNs to join their BSN program and they also allow for early entrance into the program for college freshman.

Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, Florida.  Their nursing department offers a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a freshmen direct admit program, which allows high school seniors to apply for the nursing program and gain entrance into the nursing program their freshmen year of college.

Allen College is located in Waterloo, Iowa.  Allen College is unique in that it is a college that provides only healthcare education.  The following degrees are available: Associate of Science in Radiography, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education degree programs.

Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina.  Their nursing department offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an accelerated BSN program (allowing a student with a prior bachelor’s degree to obtain a BSN degree) and an RN to BSN program, which is an online program.  Their programs are also offered at Biltmore Park Towne Square in Asheville, North Carolina; this location offers only a selection of majors, nursing being one of the few.

Indiana University – Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana.  They offer a traditional BSN program.  They also offer an online RN to BSN program.  They also offer a BA/BS to BSN program, which allow those already holding a bachelor’s degree to become a BSN.

Avila University is a  private university in Kansas City, Missouri that offers a CCNE accredited BSN program. This four-year baccalaureate track is designed around four pillars: discover, understand, participate, and assume. “Discover” entails the understanding and appreciation of the human responses and varied perceptions of life experiences; “Understand” focuses on the comprehension of the nursing role in socially and globally responsible health care; “Participate” encourages teamwork to achieve optimal patient-centered care, and “Assume” addresses and prepares students for the prospective nursing roles that graduates will assume.

Avila’s BSN program includes preparation in the liberal arts, behavioral, biological, and natural sciences, communication, technology, and inquiry based thinking. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the the values of caring and continuous professional development, and recognition of varied perceptions of and responses to life experiences that people encounter. Senior Avila Nursing Students complete a trauma simulation using the school’s high fidelity simulators. Students may enroll in the program in the fall.

 

Delta State University is a public university in Cleveland, MS, in the Mississippi Delta. Established in 1924, Delta State has blossomed into a diverse college with a plethora of offerings for its students. The Robert E. Smith School of Nursing has several programs. They offer a BSN track, in addition to the following online offerings: RN to BSN, MS in Nursing, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Delta State prides itself for its skilled faculty within the nursing school, who have various nursing specialities and are committed to providing high quality education in the classroom, online, as well as in clinical environments. Simulation practicals are also incorporated into the program, facilitated by their extensive Skills and Simulation Labs. These labs include a variety of mannequins, supplies and equipment, including mannequins with abdominal, heart, lung sounds, wounds, and nursing care applicability. Students may enroll in the fall and in the spring.

Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina.  The Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) is unique in that their only BSN program is an accelerated BSN (ABSN) – it is designed for adult learners with a prior bachelors degree.  DUSON’s primary focus is on educating nurses to advanced degrees; in fact, aside from the ABSN degree students, they graduated their last BSN students in 1983.

Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. WKU offers a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program.  The second degree BSN program allows students with a prior bachelor’s degree to become an RN in 4 semesters.  This program is separate from the RN to BSN program..

Brigham Young University is located in Provo, Utah.  BYU offers a BSN program.  They have a clinical simulation laboratory where they can practice nursing skills prior to working with actual patients.  As part of their global health course, students have the opportunity to travel to distant areas, such as Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, and Ghana.

University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa.  Their College of Nursing offers a BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  For the BSN who chooses to continue his or her education, they also offer an extensive graduate program.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.  They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program.  Their RN to BSN program is offered entirely online; at this time, their online program is available only to PA residents but they are seeking to expand to non-PA residents in the very near future.

William Carey University is a private, Christian school that offers three tracks towards earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). They have a pre-licensure BSN program, LPN Advanced Placement program, and an RN to BSN program. On the graduate level, WCU offers an MSN, an MSN and MBA dual program, and a Doctor of Philosophy, which concentrates on Nursing Education and Administration.

William Carey operates on a trimester system, meaning that there are fall, winter, spring, and summer trimesters, each being 10 weeks long. WCU’s BSN program takes six trimesters to complete, and students can enroll in the fall and in the spring.

The LPN Advanced Placement program is an opportunity for LPNs to strengthen their educational and career advancement. The program is part time, allowing working nurses to incorporate further education into their schedule. The part time program takes ten trimesters, or thirty months to complete. Students can enroll in the fall only. The RN-BSN program is an online program to meet the needs of working RNs and takes twelve months to complete. Students may enroll in the fall and in the spring.

Lincoln University is a public university in Jefferson City, Missouri. Founded in 1866 as an institution for black Americans, Lincoln University continues to uphold its traditions as a historically black college. They offer an AAS, BSN, and RN to BSN bridge program. All three nursing degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), in addition to full approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The AAS nursing program has a part-time evening curriculum. Having classes during these timeframes is specifically designed for active duty military personnel who don’t have conventional schedules. Each fall, Lincoln University enrolls a class of 40 students into its AAS program, comprising of 50% military, or military affiliated students, as well as 50% civilian students. Licensed practical nurses may be eligible to enroll with advanced standing.

The BSN degree prepares students in a multitude of ways for their roles in diverse healthcare settings. Lincoln University’s program focuses on leadership, community, and excellence within the nursing field. The program offers on campus classes, in addition to online courses.

The RN-BSN track is a hybrid program that offers online general education courses and nursing courses on-campus. For those who hold an ADN and wish to further their education, Lincoln’s hybrid program may be a good fit. Those enrolled in the hybrid program must participate in on campus activities, projects, and presentations.

University of New Hampshire is located in Durham, New Hampshire.  UNH offers a BSN program.  Their nursing department has a simulation laboratory that offers its students a clinical experience; the sim lab has mannequins, task trainers and other clinical equipment.  Nursing students who excel and maintain a high GPA are considered “honors in major” students and graduate with Honors in Nursing on their diploma.

The University of Southern Mississippi has multi-level nursing programs within their CCNE accredited College of Nursing and Health Professions. They offer a 4-year BSN program, an online RN to BSN program, as well as various programs on the master’s and doctorate levels. On the master’s level they offer nursing degrees with different specializations, including Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. On the doctorate level, USM offers nursing degrees with concentrations on clinical nursing, leadership, and anesthesia. The master’s level concentrations are applicable to the doctorate level as well.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions places a strong emphasis on innovative and evidence-based learning and teaching. USM has cultivated an academically robust nursing school that challenges its students with ethical and legal implications, professionalism, research, and leadership. The program also has a simulation lab, giving students hands-on experiences with high-fidelity mannequins.

Students can enroll in the fall, though eligible transfer students can  enroll in the spring.

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing is located in Richmond, Virginia.  They offer a traditional BSN degree and an online RN to BSN degree.  The online program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis and is designed with the working nurse in mind.  The college has a Clinical Simulator Center, which offers an 8-bed Med/Surg unit, an adult critical care unit, a pediatric unit and a maternal/child unit.

Carson-Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee.  They offer two avenues towards a nursing degree – the traditional BSN degree, which is 8 semesters over 4 years, or the accelerated BSN degree, which is 8 continuous semesters.

College of Coastal Georgia is located in Brunswick, Georgia.  Their nursing department offers an ASN program, a prelicensure BSN program, which is designed for student without an RN license and an RN to BSN program, designed for students already holding their RN license.

University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida.  Their post-graduate programs for nursing are highly awarded by US News & World Report – their doctorate of nursing program is rated #38, while their master’s of nursing is rated #40 in their respective divisions.  For a bachelor’s level of education, they offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, and an RN to BSN program.

Lander University is located in Greenwood, South Carolina.  The William Preston Turner School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an online RN to BSN program and an MSN for Clinical Nurse Leader program.

University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana.  They offer a BSN program and a RN to BSN program.  Their nursing programs are unique because they partner with local hospitals and specifically, partner with certain nursing units – Designated Education Units (DEUs).  These DEUs allow students to spend a duration of their clinical practice with the same staff to “ensure consistency with clinical skill progression.”

West Texas A&M University is located in Canyon, Texas.  They also a BSN program.  They also two options for RNs seeking advanced degrees: an RN to BSN program and an RN to MSN program.  They also offer an LVN to BSN degree option.

University of Nevada – Las Vegas is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.  UNLV offers a BSN program as well as various graduate level nursing programs and post-graduate certificates.  They also offer an RN to BSN pathway; if elected, they may take three courses within the MSN program, which would ultimately shorten the graduate pathway by six to nine credits.

Missouri State University is located in Springfield, Missouri. The division of nursing offers two BSN tracks: a two-year BSN and a four-year BSN. The four-year BSN is akin to most traditional BSN programs. The two-year option is a transfer-friendly program, tailored to those who wish to complete their college career at Missouri State if they’ve already completed college credits. This also applies for those who have already earned an ADN degree or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students can enroll into the nursing program twice a year for full-time study.

During the four-year BSN programs, students will be immersed in a traditional college environment whilst still engaging with clinical programs. MSU’s program is community-based, giving students exposure to different local environments in which nurses practice. This provides a valuable overview of the possibilities a nurse’s future may hold. The program is selective, but student-centered, allowing students to receive an education from dedicated faculty members who take a student-centered approach.

MSU’s mission is to prepare graduates who are equipped with the skillset to provide excellent care with a deliberate approach in a multitude of settings. Additionally, there’s an emphasis on communication, critical thinking, and therapeutic nursing intervention skills, as well as the incorporation of a liberal arts core.

Thomas Edison State College is located in Trenton, New Jersey.  They have several degree options; there is a BSN option, an RN to BSN option, an RN to MSN option and an accelerated BSN option (available for students with a prior bachelor’s degree).  Thomas Edison State College has a rolling admission, meaning that students can enter any time of the year and go at their own pace through their chosen program.

Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas.  The Louise Herrington School of Nursing offers both undergraduate and graduate options for nursing students.  They offer a traditional BSN program and a FastBacc BSN program.  The FastBacc program allows a student with a prior bachelor’s degree to earn their BSN degree in 12 months.

East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina.  They offer several BSN degree options – a traditional BSN degree, an accelerated BSN degree (for second degree students), an an RN to BSN degree.  East Carolina University has been in existence since 1908, when it broke ground as a teachers training institution.

Tennessee Technological University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee.  The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing offer a BSN program, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) and an RN to BSN program.  Their RN to BSN program is an online program and is one of the most affordable options available, at $365 per credit hour for in-state tuition and $661 per credit hour for non-resident students.

California State University – Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California.  They offer a variety of BSN programs – a traditiona BSN program, an RN to BSN program and an LVN to RN 30-unit option, non-degree program.  The non-degree program serves the LVN who wants to work as an RN but may not have time to complete an ADN or BSN degree.  On the downside, they do not have a degree after completion and their nursing license may not transfer state-to-state.

Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama.  Their RN to BSN program also offers a pathway for students to enter directly into an MSN program, allowing the nurse to continue to their advanced nursing degree immediately following completion of their BSN degree.  Students can also take the majority of their coursework online.

Baldwin Wallace University is located in Berea, Ohio.  BWU offers an accelerated BSN program; this program is offered to students with prior college credits.  Their program is designed to be completed in 12 months, 3 semesters.  It is described as intense and students are advised that they will have little time for working during this timeframe.

Lincoln Memorial University is located in Harrogate, Tennessee.  They offer a variety of undergraduate options for their nursing students – an ASN program, a BSN program, and an RN to BSN program.  The RN to BSN program is offered completely online.

Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, Florida.  FGCU offers a BSN program.  At this time, they do not offer an RN to BSN program.  RNs may enroll in their program but they must attend the full program along with all other BSN students.  They do offer BSN to DNP , MSN to DNP, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner programs.

The University of Mississippi School of Nursing was founded in 1948, and has developed and expanded their offerings ever since. Today, their offerings are extensive. On the Bachelor’s level they offer a BSN, Early-Entry BSN, Accelerated BSN, and an RN-BSN program. On the Master’s level they offer an MSN and Post-Masters, RN-MSN, and RN-MSN Early Entry program. On the Doctoral level they offer a DNP, BSN-DNP, Post-Masters DNP Early Entry, PhD in Nursing, and BSN-PhD.

Their School of Nursing develops nurse leaders through evidence-based practice and research, innovative local partne