Kansas RN-BSN Programs: Affordable & Fast Options for 2025

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Speed your search for a Kansas Online RN to BSN! Our listings contain links to every accredited public & private program in the state. Compare rankings of the best and cheapest Online RN to BSN programs in Kansas. Apply for KS nursing scholarships & hospital discounts. And find answers to common FAQs.

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Kansas

1. University of Kansas Medical Center

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30-35
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); Up to 5 Years (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 84.50%

KUMC’s 100% Online RN to BSN comes with a thoughtful curriculum & great hospital connections. The School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence, a hub for innovative research (check out the KU Center for Health Informatics and special MS in Health Informatics), and the only school in the region to offer a PhD in Nursing. Alumni often end up at places like the Mayo Clinic, University of Kansas Health System, and Children’s Mercy. Better yet, KUMC has formal articulation agreements with community colleges throughout Kansas.

2. Fort Hays State University

Program: Online RN-BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4+ Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes—Check Acceptable States
NCLEX Pass Rates: 93.33%

Thanks to glowing reviews, FHSU’s super-affordable & 100% Online RN-BSN appears in our #2 spot. The Department of Nursing has created a convenient degree that includes 8-week courses, per semester start dates, and a focused leadership & management practicum that can be completed in your home community. Alumni love the program & note that it’s the real deal—you’ll work to earn your BSN! If you’re interested in a graduate degree, be sure to investigate the highly ranked Online MSN in Nursing Administration or Nursing Education.

3. Pittsburg State University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); Part-Time Schedules Available
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 87.80%

#3 in Kansas goes to Pittsburg State’s 100% Online RN to BSN. It’s efficient, affordable, and backed by faculty with experience. The Bradley School of Nursing has been in existence since the 1940s and it has a large & active alumni association. If you’re interested in graduate work, it also offers BSN to DNP options and a Nurse Practitioner Residency program.

4. Wichita State University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 31
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); Part-Time Schedules Available
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes—Check State Authorization
NCLEX Pass Rates: 84.43%

WSU’s 100% Online RN to BSN is the same price for all students, regardless of their state of residency. Better yet, it offers a special RN to BSN Scholarships! The School of Nursing is big enough to support a number of graduate programs and it has established connections to clinical facilities in both urban and rural areas. If you’re a local community college student, be sure to look at articulation agreements with Partnering Schools.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Kansas

The cheapest Online RN to BSN programs in Kansas come from public universities. Fortunately, these schools offer the same online tuition rates to in-state and out-of-state students. When you’re doing your price calculations, you may wish to compare these KS options with schools in our rankings of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Fort Hays State University

Program: Online RN-BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes—Check Acceptable States
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 93.33%

Even with one-off fees, Virtual College Tuition for FHSU’s 100% Online RN-BSN is nothing short of excellent. In fact, it often ends up being one of the cheapest programs in the nation! Don’t miss the section on Scholarships—you may be eligible for campus & transfer scholarships or FHSU forgivable loans.

2. Washburn University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes—Check State Authorization
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 79.72%

Tuition for Washburn’s cohort-based and 100% Online RN to BSN is pretty darn cheap for all RNs, regardless of their state of residence. Just remember to check the State Authorization section if you live outside of Kansas. You’ll also need to budget for small student fees during fall & spring terms.

3. Pittsburg State University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 87.80%

Because Pittsburg State’s Online RN to BSN is 100% online, all students pay the same online undergraduate tuition rate, no matter where they reside. RN to BSN students are also be eligible to apply for university scholarships.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Kansas

To appear in our Fastest rankings, Online RN to BSN programs have to clock in at less than 3 semesters/1 year on a full-time schedule. We didn’t find any KS Online RN to BSN degrees that met this requirement. Most programs—including ones in our Best and Affordable Kansas rankings—are at least 12 months. However, you will find self-paced and 2-semester pathways in the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Kansas

Statewide Scholarships for Kansas RN to BSN Students

Kansas Nursing Organization Scholarships

In your quest for state-based RN to BSN scholarships, start with Kansas nursing organizations & hospital associations. A number of them offer awards for education. Examples include:

Kansas City Area Scholarships

If you live in the Kansas City area, you may also be eligible for regional awards such as:

Kansas Community Foundation Scholarships

You also have the option to find your local community foundation in Kansas and inquire about scholarship opportunities. Most foundation awards will be reserved for recent high school graduates, but we have found examples of scholarships for adult learners. It never hurts to ask!

Kansas Healthcare System & University Partnerships

Do you work for a Kansas hospital or Kansas City healthcare system? Talk to your HR representative about your education plans. You may be eligible for all kinds of benefits. For instance:

Salina Regional Health Center employees receive a discount on Kansas Wesleyan University’s Online RN to BS.
MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) partners with many metro companies & organizations to provide tuition discounts.
Many Missouri schools in the Kansas City area offer discounts to local hospital employees—see our Missouri Online RN to BSN Programs guide for more info.

Individual hospitals in Kansas also offer specific scholarships & loan forgiveness programs to employees & dependents. Examples include:

University Scholarships for Kansas RN to BSN Students

Institutional aid in Kansas will depend on the school. Don’t be afraid to ask the RN to BSN program coordinator about your scholarship options! We’ve also included links to general university awards—just be aware that many of these scholarships will be limited to “traditional” 4-year undergraduates.

Emporia State University

ESU Scholarships

Fort Hays State University

Kansas Wesleyan University

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Pittsburg State University

Pitt State Scholarships

University of Kansas Medical Center

KUMC Grants/Scholarships

Washburn University

Wichita State University

RN to BSN Requirements in Kansas

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. Kansas universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license. If you’re still waiting to sit the NCLEX exam, you may still be able to apply. For example, at Wichita State, RN licensure is required within 8 weeks of program entry.

The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) can help answer any questions you have about state licensure.
It also posts recent NCLEX Pass Rates for KS programs. These statistics won’t apply to post-licensure degrees, but we like to use them as a quality marker.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of the state? Before you commit to a Kansas Online RN to BSN program, make sure you’re eligible to apply. A number of KS schools can’t accept students from certain states. For examples of this phenomenon, check out Washburn’s section on State Authorization and Wichita State’s section on State Authorization.

Kansas Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Kansas Available?

You bet. Almost all of the options you see in the KS listings are 100% online, with no on-campus requirements.

Can I Choose a “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN in Kansas?

Because of CCNE and ACEN accreditation regulations, Online RN to BSN programs always include fieldwork experiences. However, these won’t be like bedside clinicals for your associate degree or diploma. Instead, they’ll usually be focused on community health & leadership training. For instance, Washburn’s Online RN to BSN includes a Clinical Prevention & Population Health Management Practicum (45 hours) and a Leadership Capstone Practicum (45 hours).

Do I Need Statistics to Apply for Kansas Online RN to BSN Programs?

Probably. When we dug into admissions requirements & prerequisite lists for Kansas Online RN to BSN programs, statistics was listed as a standard requirement (e.g. FHSU, KUMC, Washburn, Wichita State, KWU, etc.). In the case of MNU, you’ll also need a prerequisite in Biblical Perspectives.

If you don’t have stats, ask the RN to BSN program coordinator if you can take it as a “co-requisite” during your degree. You may also be able to knock it off at a local community college before you start your program.