15 Best Online Nursing Programs for Non-nurses

Nursing is a lovely career, but sadly, many young people who are interested in studying this degree find it challenging to do so due to their busy job schedules or even because of the stress of taking a physically demanding course.

In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 15 best online nursing programs for non-nurses who wish to become registered nurses.

Many institutions in the world offer online nursing programs for non-nurses and with these programs, one can start a career in nursing and graduate as a Registered Nurse through online studies.

These programs are very much flexible and stress-free and can be completed in just a few semesters, It provides a legitimate and recognized pathway for non-nurses to pursue a rewarding career in nursing.

You can begin a successful career as an entry-level RN in the nursing business by using the knowledge you’ve gained from completing online nursing programs to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (RN).

Students enrolled in online programs receive the same fundamental education as those attending in-person classes in subjects including family nursing, medical-surgical nursing, nursing informatics, and health assessment among many others.

If you are a non-nurse aspiring to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the field of nursing to become a fully registered nurse, this article is definitely for you!

Who is a non-nurse?

Non-nurse are individuals who do not hold a nursing license or the professional credentials needed in the field of nursing.

Anyone who has not completed the education, training, and licensing requirements needed to practice as a registered nurse is required as a non-nurse.

This set of people needs to complete a nursing program, such as an accelerated or second-degree program, to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become a licensed nurse.

Top 20 Best Online Nursing Programs for Non-nurses

The following institutions listed below offer the best online nursing programs for non-nurses:

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh

Kent State University

Capella University

Grand Canyon University

University of Texas at Arlington

Marymount University

Emory University

Herzing University

Wilkes University

Chamberlain University

Methodist College

Roseman University of Health Science

Marian University

Northeastern University

#1. University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh

Program Length: 12 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $46,500

Location: 800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901, United States

The University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh offers a 12-month accelerated BSN program which is designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees from other academic filed that are seeking to earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree.

The College of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh offers three accelerated BSN cohorts each year which take place in February, May, and October. This accelerated program was the first of its kind in the United States and still the best to date.

UW Oshkosh College of Nursing has graduated over 1,000 accelerated nursing students who are registered nurses today equipped with experiences and educational backgrounds.

This nursing program consists of nursing theory offered 100% online, a clinical rotation completed in or near students’ home community, and one on-campus residency consisting of a two-week lab/clinical combination.

The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Click here to apply

#2. Kent State University

Program Length: 15 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $12,000

Location: 800 E Summit St, Kent, OH 44240, USA

Kent offers an accelerated BSN program that is designed to develop students who already hold a bachelor’s degree but are interested in acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

This program has a hybrid format that combines online and in-person learning, takes 15 months to complete, and is partially online.

ABSN at Kent College of Nursing helps students to understand their role in society and prepare them for graduate studies. The nursing program emphasizes professional knowledge, skills, and compassionate nursing practices which helps their students to graduate with a substantial foundation of nursing knowledge for clinical practice.

Graduates of this school automatically meet the educational eligibility requirements that are needed to take the National Certification and Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

You will receive hands-on training at Kent in their cutting-edge simulation lab, as well as clinical experiences at important hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout northeastern Ohio.

The following are the admission requirements for Kent College of Nursing:

A cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher
A minimum science prerequisite GPA of 2.75, and a minimum grade of C in each course/equivalent: Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, Microbiology, and Chemistry.
A college-level algebra course (or higher) with a minimum grade of C.

Click here to apply

#3. University of Texas at Arlington

Program Length: 15 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $11,050

Location: Arlington, Texas

University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing is the third on our list of online nursing programs for non-nurses. The School College of Nursing offers an online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.

The program is designed to prepare competent, self-directed practitioners of nursing who can assume increasing responsibility and leadership in the delivery of nursing care.

This program is for non-nurses who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are seeking to earn a degree in nursing.

It is an online program which means a majority of the coursework is delivered online, thereby allowing students to access lectures, assignments, and learning materials at their convenience.

The program is very much flexible and hence the best for individuals with daily commitments and work responsibilities.

Additionally, it incorporates clinical experiences that allow students to learn practical knowledge through clinical rotations that will provide them with chances to apply their theoretical understanding in authentic healthcare settings.

Students will be able to work with seasoned nurses and other healthcare professionals in the real world thanks to the experience they will get during the clinical rotation.

The College of Nursing is one of the country’s largest producers of registered nurses and the largest in Texas with the common mission to advance global health and the human condition through transdisciplinary collaboration by engaging in high-quality teaching, research, scholarship, practice, and service to prepare a diverse population of health professionals and to reduce health disparities.

Click here to apply

#4. Capella University

Program Length: 9 months to 14 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $15,000

Location: Atlanta on Peachtree Street.

Capella University is an accredited online university that offers many nursing programs online through two competency-based formats – GuidedPath and FlexPath.

With FlexPath, students can complete an RN-to-BSN program in 9 months and also earn MSN in 14 months. The school is well known for its flexible learning options and student-focused approach.

The RN-to-BSN program, BSN, MSN, DNP, Certificate program, and individual courses are among the online nursing programs they provide.

The BSN program is designed for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. It will help them be ready for the NCLEX-RN and give them the greatest overall education in nursing theory, practice, and research.

Registered nurses can complete their education and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing through the RN-BSN program, which is designed for those with an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma. This program improves registered nurses’ career prospects and lays the groundwork for advanced nursing roles.

The MSN program is for non-nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, MSN programs at Capella College of Nursing are designed to prepare students for advanced nursing practice roles.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted accreditation to the College of Nursing. Students may access course materials, lectures, and assignments whenever it is convenient for them thanks to their online learning environment.

Click here to apply

#5. Grand Canyon University

Program Length: 14 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $340 per credit – $725 per credit

Location: 3300 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017, United States

This is the fifth on our list of online nursing schools for non-nurses, this school is the number one best nursing college in Arizona out of the 7 nursing schools currently in Arizona.

This school College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers many online degree programs available to students from all around the world. These degree programs help students to foster best practices and patient care success.

The accredited online nursing program offered at this school will help you to gain knowledge in community health, healthcare management, and professional nursing practice, they also offer specialized programs that will help prepare you for your desired field.

Grand Canyon University’s online nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) with their graduates being eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become fully registered nurses.

They offer undergraduate online nursing programs, graduate online nursing programs, doctoral online nursing programs, postgraduate online nursing programs, and online nursing degrees for military servicemembers and spouses.

Click here to apply

#6. Marymount University

Program Length: 16 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $71,890

Location: Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University College of Nursing program is the sixth on our list of online nursing programs for non-nurses. This college of nursing offers a variety of accredited online nursing programs.

At Marymount, students are advised and allowed to choose a program that best aligns with their goals and passions for patient care so there won’t be regret in the future.

The online program Marymount University College of Nursing offers includes the following:

Bachelor’s Programs for Aspiring Nurses

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Master’s Programs

Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner

Doctoral Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice

Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Programs

Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner

The experienced professors at Marymount support students by providing clinical placement services which help them to concentrate on working and studying.

The accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a full-time program that allows students to learn through online coursework while applying their knowledge in clinical settings and during an on-campus residency. It is specifically created for non-nurses and not for hired nurses.

Because the institution is very committed to assisting students in making an impact and achieving their career goals, their ABSN students had a 90% NCLEX pass record for five years straight.

Click here to apply

#7. Emory University

Program Length: 15 months

Degree Sought: Distance ABSN

Estimated Tuition: $1,656/hour

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Emory University College of Nursing is one of the nursing schools that provides an online DABSN program for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing, just as the other universities mentioned in this article.

The DABSN program provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to become registered nurse. The online program combines online coursework with hands-on experience and clinical experiences to ensure students are well-prepared academically.

This program covers a wide range of nursing topics such as health assessment, nursing ethics, adult health, pediatric nursing, and mental nursing.

If you are interested in being part of the Emory University College of Nursing online program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a non-nursing field.

This program is a full-time program that can be completed in a short time via the Internet, mostly designed for students who plan to work outside the Atlanta metro region while students within the Atlanta metro region are advised to apply to Emory’s residential program.

Click here to apply

#8. Herzing University

Program Length: 36 months

Degree Sought: BSN

Estimated Tuition: $715 per credit.

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Herzing University is the eighth on our list of online nursing programs for non-nurses, Herzing School of Nursing offers an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing that is designed for non-nurses.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Herzing University is a 120-credit undergraduate pre-licensure program that prepares students for a career as registered nurse in a maximum of three years.

The program equips students with fundamental knowledge and skills in family nursing, medical-surgical nursing, nursing informatics, health assessment, and much more.

Some benefits of this university nursing program include a career-focused curriculum, flexible schedule, virtual services, lifelong support, and rolling admissions.

Click here to apply

#9. Wilkes University

Program Length: 12 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $61,665

Location: 84 W South St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, USA

One of the quickest online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs in nursing is offered by Wilkes University College of Nursing. It is created to provide you with the guidance and practical experience you need to change your profession and, as a registered nurse, change lives.

This school’s students have extensive clinical exposure in a range of specializations, which teaches them how to apply nursing concepts in varied healthcare settings.

Students work with the university clinical placement team which offers a high-quality placement experience that meets the University and national guidance for clinical requirements and prepares you for success in your future practice.

The hands-on patient care component of the nursing degree, which must be practiced on actual patients in clinical settings, will provide you the opportunity to put what you have learned in theory into practice as a student at this nursing institution.

You are required to complete a minimum amount of clinical hours as a student at this esteemed nursing college as determined by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Click here to apply

#10. Chamberlain University

Program Length: 36 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $699 per credit

Location: Addison, IL.

Chamberlain University School of Nursing online program is the tenth on our list of online nursing programs for non-nurses. This school of nursing has a long history of successful online nursing and healthcare professions.

They educate, empower, and embolden healthcare professionals in other to help them advance the health of people, families, communities, and nations. This school of nursing offers online degrees from Chamberlain University’s main campus located in Addison, IL.

The online programs they offer include BSN online, RN to BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology NP, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Public Health, and Master of Social Work.

Click here to apply

#11. Methodist College

Program Length: 12 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $598

Location: Peoria, IL.

This college offers one of the best online nursing programs for non-nurses known as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Second Degree. The program is a weekend and online program for people who hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing but want to become registered nurses.

For anyone with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, they also provide a Master of Science in Nursing Preliminary program. After completing this program, students will become licensed nurses, and those who get a Master of Science degree are eligible to pursue doctoral studies or professional opportunities.

Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree are qualified to sit for the national licensing exam known as NCLEX-RN.

Click here to apply

#12. Roseman University of Health Science

Program Length: 18 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $60,000

Location: Henderson, Nevada.

The Roseman University of Health Science is among the school that offers online nursing programs for non-nurses. There are two learning modality options available at Roseman University of Health Science – the hybrid-online option and the on-campus option.

They have four different cohorts which start per year in two different campus locations which admit a higher number of qualified students and graduate them in less than 18 months.

Unlike other nursing programs, the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing offered at the Roseman University of Health Science doesn’t necessarily require a non-nursing degree, all you need to apply to this school is a minimum of 54 credits from an accredited post-secondary institution and a cumulative CPA of 2.75 or higher to begin your admission process into this noble institution.

Click here to apply

#13. Marian University

Program Length: 16 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $895

Location: 3200 Cold Spring Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA

The online Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program offered at Marian University is a 16-month program designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline.

This program is available both on campus and online, either way, both are full-time programs that allow students to complete their nursing degree in a rigorous, yet accessible, learning format that best fits their lifestyle and educational preferences.

In the online classes, you will be opportune to learn from instructors as they solve problems, practice what you learn, join group discussions, and take exams.

Their online prerequisite courses include the following:

convenient,
can be taken in five-week terms or eight-week sessions,
taught by faculty committed to your success,
backed by a respected academic institution,
comprehensive and efficient; and
available during 12 start times throughout the year.

Click here to apply

#14. Northeastern University

Program Length: 16 months

Degree Sought: Accelerated BSN

Estimated Tuition: $1,222 per credit hour

Location: 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Northeastern University ABSN program makes it easy for and possible for students with a minimum of 62 non-nursing college credits to complete their degree in the ABSN program offered in this school.

You can complete this program and get a respectable Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in as little as 16 months. In North Carolina, this is the first and only ABSN program that offers students this transfer option.

The program is comprised of online classes, in-person labs as well as clinical rotations that will take place around the Burlington, MA, or Charlotte, NC area

In just four semesters, full-time students must finish a demanding combination of on-campus and online coursework.

Their blended online learning approach combines academic coursework with hands-on learning. The program is tough but prepares students to be a confident and practice-ready nurses.

Application requirements include the following:

A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution for students at our location near Boston
A non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 62 college credits from an accredited institution for students at our Charlotte location
Prerequisite course completion with a “C” grade or higher
Ability to meet all university technical standards
A personal statement
3 letters of recommendation
A video essay

Click here to apply

FAQs

Is an associate’s degree better than a bachelor’s degree in nursing?

An associate’s degree in nursing can lead to a rewarding nursing career but a bachelor’s degree in nursing generally offers a more comprehensive education, increased career options, and better prospects for professional growth.

Are online degrees in nursing legitimate and recognized by employers?

Yes, An online nursing degree’s credibility and recognition are influenced by things including accreditation, school quality, and employer perceptions. You can maximize the likelihood that your degree will be acknowledged and valued by companies in the nursing sector by selecting a reputable and authorized online nursing program.

Is online RSN better than on campus?

The decision to enroll in an online or on-campus Registered Nurse (RN) program depends on personal preferences, circumstances, and learning preferences. Both options have pros and drawbacks.