RN to BSN Degree
RN to BSN Degree
journey today.
Obtaining your Bachelor of Science in Nursing can position you to broaden your understanding of best practices in nursing, prepare you for graduate study and equip you for leadership positions in which increasing levels of education are expected.
This nursing program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Our university counselors provide an upfront time to completion, as long as you follow the schedule provided, and our degree program calculator can provide you with a general estimation of the cost of attendance.
If you are a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree or diploma certificate in nursing, Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) online program can prepare you for expanding professional roles in the healthcare system of tomorrow.2
Complete Your Degree
Complete core nursing coursework in 14 months.1
5-Week Classes
With most classes being five weeks long, this helps you accelerate your degree completion.
90 Credits Transfer
Our complimentary, unofficial Lopes Credit Evaluation service will help you estimate your GCU transfer credits.3
Explore just a few of the many reasons to choose GCU’s accredited online RN to BSN program:2
Accredited
GCU is a regionally accredited institution and has remained fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission for over 50 years.
Affordable
GCU is a low-cost provider of nursing education and offers affordable tuition at a rate of $340 per credit for all students to help make quality college education attainable for all.4
Advocates
All our students are guided by a dedicated university counseling team, whose goal is to provide seamless educational advocacy, transparency and integrity with the student’s best interest in mind, all while guiding you toward graduation.
In your BSN courses, you will receive instruction from practicing nurses in the field who will share their knowledge and experience in the areas of clinical patient care, healthcare management, professional development in nursing practice and leadership. You can gain valuable experience through hands-on and academic course curriculum that can be directly applied to a nursing job post-graduation.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing have found nurses with this degree are well-prepared to meet today’s healthcare demands. BSN nurses are also prized by many entities for their skills in critical thinking, leadership and case management and for their ability to practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.5
Launched in the 1990s by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Magnet Recognition Program identifies hospitals committed to excellence in healthcare for both patients and nurses.6 Many magnet hospitals seek BSN-prepared nurses to staff their nursing positions.
Degree programs from GCU are crafted with curricula that is taught with a Christian worldview in mind. This means that while you are expanding your knowledge and skills at the baccalaureate level, you also have the opportunity to develop important qualities and characteristics that come along with being a servant leader, such as compassion, respect for human dignity and high ethical and moral standards.
Nurses with a BSN may apply their advanced knowledge and skills to position themselves for possible career advancement, a variety of workplace options and the chance to grow and develop in a field they may find rewarding.
This degree may be valuable for those seeking:
Job Opportunities
According to a recent survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 77.4% of employers express a strong preference for BSN program graduates, while 40.6% of hospitals and other healthcare settings are requiring new hires to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing.7
Career Advancement
The knowledge that you can gain in this program can prepare you for various jobs in the healthcare field. More and more clinical nursing positions require a nursing degree. Get ahead of the curve while opening doors to opportunities in nursing.
Workplace Options
Depending on your area of interest, you may be prepared to work in hospitals, ambulatory care centers, health service organizations or rehabilitative settings. Ultimately, what you are taught in an RN to BSN degree program can help you position yourself to pursue a career you are passionate about.
90.52%
GCU’s NCLEX average pass rate in 20228
79.91%
National NCLEX pass rate in 20228
The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, the master’s degree programs in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Grand Canyon University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
GCU is also institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an independent accrediting body that provides high educational standards for comprehensive institutional review.
For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university licensures, please visit our Nursing Accreditation and Regulations page
Affordable Professional Development for Nurses
This program at GCU has a competitive rate of tuition that is comparable to other popular online nursing options for students. Our goal is to provide a high-quality nursing education for current nurses at a cost that is affordable for all students.
#2
GCU is ranked as the second-best nursing college in Arizona for 2024, according to Niche.com9
77.4%
Percentage of employers express a strong preference for BSN program graduates7
Quality Education That Can Help Give You an Edge
The RN to BSN program at GCU is ideal for busy adult learners, with a one-course-at-a-time design that allows you to continue working while earning your degree in as little as 14 months.1 Our program is different than competency-based programs; you won’t be required to take multiple courses simultaneously or proctored exams.
While completing your nursing education advancement, you’ll become a part of our online learning community at GCU.2 With this comes various resources and a dedicated university counseling team to aid you in your online learning journey.
Higher Education for Registered Nurses FAQs
If you’re hoping to set yourself up for potential advancement in the nursing field by earning your bachelor's degree, read through some frequently asked questions to learn more about this program.
Most of the core courses are five weeks in length. The core courses can be completed in 14 months. Students that transfer in the maximum of 90 credits, including six upper division, may be able to complete the core courses in as little as 12 months.1 Residency requirements require undergraduate students to complete at least 30 semester credits of coursework in a GCU program. The upper division credits requirement for a baccalaureate degree requires a student to earn a minimum of 36 semester credits in upper division (300 or above) courses.
The clinical and healthcare principles you will be taught in a BSN program include:
GCU’s RN to BSN degree program is designed to allow you to continue working as a nurse while you are enrolled in the online or evening program.2 This way, you can further your education without sacrificing your career.
If you have a busy work schedule, enrolling in an online program may be a great option for you.2 GCU’s online programs are convenient and flexible, while helping you receive an education to help you meet your goals.
Students enrolled in the RN-BSN program at GCU receive exposure to community and public health content in their Health Promotion and Population Health course and have an opportunity to apply their learning by way of a community teaching project. Students seeking public health nurse certification in the state of California (CA) have the option to enroll in an additional course that meets the requirements of CA certification. Students are encouraged to contact their individual boards of nursing to obtain specific information regarding additional content and clinical requirements to obtain community/public health certification in their state.
A BSN can also be a steppingstone toward potentially gaining entry to other healthcare careers that are not necessarily patient-care-focused. For instance, after earning your BSN, you may be eligible for entry into an MSN with a public health emphasis program, where you can shift your focus toward public health and community health advocacy.
Other options may include careers in nursing education and nursing informatics. Earning an MSN degree may be helpful to pursue these career paths.
This degree can prepare students for a variety of career paths in nursing. Graduates can take their knowledge and skills beyond the bedside. Graduates may also have the opportunity to transition into leadership positions within the healthcare system. The critical thinking skills, knowledge of evidence-based practices and exposure to research principles gained in this program are valuable and applicable in many nursing roles.
This type of program is designed to challenge you to apply what you’re learning to your nursing practice. Juggling school, work and your personal life can be challenging. GCU can help you get back on track. Visit the online Student Success Center to review all the resources available to help you succeed.
Advance in Healthcare
If you’re looking to position yourself for possible advancement in the healthcare field by earning this degree, fill out the form on this page to get in contact with a university counselor.
- The entire program requires 120 credits.
Clinical, practicum and immersion hours completed locally.
- Service offered on business days only.
- Cannot be used in conjunction with other GCU scholarships or awards.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. Retrieved April 2019.
- Wolters Kluwer. (2022, Sept. 13). History of the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program. Retrieved Oct. 2022.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). Employment of New Nurse Graduates and Employer Preferences For Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurses, Retrieved Oct. 2022.
- Arizona State Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Arizona NCLEX Pass Rates. Retrieved March 2023.
- Niche. (n.d.). Grand Canyon University Rankings. Retrieved March 2024.