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

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Find an LA Online RN to BSN that suits your time & budget! Browse through our rankings of the best, cheapest, and fastest Online RN to BSN programs in Louisiana. Use our state listings to choose between public & private options. Explore Louisiana RN to BSN scholarships & healthcare tuition discounts. And get answers to FAQs, including details on 100% online programs.

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Louisiana

1. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4+ Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 98.60%

ULL’s 100% Online RN to BSN is an incredibly popular choice in Louisiana—more than 50% of RNs in the state choose this challenging & well-reviewed program! That’s probably because it’s convenient (e.g. 4 start dates), relatively affordable, and backed by a big name. ULL’s LHC Group – Myers School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence with great NCLEX pass rates and an Online MSN. We like the fact that the Online RN to BSN is thoughtfully planned—the curriculum includes unique coursework in disaster training. Better yet, there’s no expiration date for General Education (GE) credits.

2. McNeese State University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 10 Months (Full-Time) or More
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.40%

McNeese’s College of Nursing & Health Professions has come up with a practical Online RN to BSN that’s both speedy and cost-effective! It’s even more inexpensive if you qualify for the Preferred Tuition Rate for RNs from partner healthcare agencies. Plus there’s a special Online RN to BSN Scholarship for RNs from specific Louisiana DRA parishes. Best of all, reviews from former nursing students are positive, with praise for the challenging curriculum & fraternal atmosphere.

3. Nicholls State University

Program: Online RN-BSN Articulation
RN to BSN Credits: 28
Length: ~12 Months
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
NCLEX Pass Rates: 92.54%

Joining the list of great state options is Nicholls’s Online RN-BSN Articulation program. Unlike some other schools, Nicholls gives you plenty of opportunities to customize your plan of study. The program includes mandatory electives, but you’re also allowed to substitute an additional 4 hours of nursing elective courses for the Preceptorship Experience in Professional Nursing. The College of Nursing offers a range of intriguing electives (see the Nursing section in Courses of Instruction). You may wish to ask if you can include 500-level courses—this will give you a head-start on graduate studies!

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Louisiana

Louisiana is a highly affordable state for Online RN to BSN programs! For our Cheapest LA rankings, we’ve featured degrees that are under $9,000 in total tuition. You’ll see it pop up in our rankings of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country. If you’re willing pay a little more, you could also consider McNeese (which is even cheaper with the Preferred Tuition Rate), ULL, Southeastern Louisiana, and Nicholls State!

1. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 89.73%

NSULA’s 100% Online RN to BSN is offered at a flat tuition rate. Prices are the same for in-state and out-of-state students; military & dependents are eligible for a heavily discounted military tuition rate. There are no mandatory fees, but there will be a one-time application fee.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Louisiana

Our Fastest LA rankings are limited to Online RN to BSN programs that take less than 1 year/3 semesters to complete on a full-time schedule. You’ll notice that many other programs in Louisiana will take 12 or 14 months. If you’d like to investigate extra-quick options, check out our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. McNeese State University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 10 Months
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 95.40%

On a turbo-charged schedule, McNeese’s 100% Online RN to BSN takes 10 months. Accelerated classes are 7-weeks long, with a 1-week break between each course. So you might end up taking two BSN-level courses—including practicums—every two months (10 courses = 30 credit hours). There are 6 separate start dates every year.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Louisiana

Statewide Scholarships for Louisiana RN to BSN Students

Louisiana Nursing Organization Scholarships

Aspiring Louisiana RN to BSN students should start with state & city nursing organizations. A number of associations offer scholarships for continuing education. Examples include:

Louisiana Community Foundation Scholarships

We also recommend you find your local Community Foundation in Louisiana and ask about education awards. Although most foundations save their funds for recent high school graduates, there are exceptions. For example, the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) offers the Jo Ellen Smith Scholarship to nursing students.

Louisiana Healthcare System & University Partnerships

Do you work for a Louisiana hospital or healthcare system? Talk to your HR representative about your education dreams! As an employee, you may be eligible for tuition reimbursement, tuition discounts, loan forgiveness, and a whole lot more. For example:

HCA Healthcare RN to BSN Tuition Discounts are available for a number of schools. HCA Healthcare also offers tuition reimbursement and scholarships for dependents.
Ochsner Health offers generous tuition assistance to employees seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Some LA universities even offer partnership discounts for Online RN to BSN programs. For instance:

McNeese has a Preferred Tuition Rate for RNs from partner healthcare agencies.
FranU offers special Tuition Benefits to FMOLHS employees.

University Scholarships for Louisiana RN to BSN Students

With the exception of ULL and Southeastern, we didn’t find a lot of internal aid for online nursing students at Louisiana universities. And many institutional scholarships are only open to “traditional” 4-year undergraduates. However, we did unearth some tuition discounts that might be of use!

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Louisiana State University

LSUA Financial Aid

Loyola University-New Orleans

Online Financial Aid

McNeese State University

Nicholls State University

Nicholls State Scholarships

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Southeastern Louisiana University

Southern University and A&M College

Southern Internal & External Scholarships

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

RN to BSN Requirements in Louisiana

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. That means Louisiana universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license. Some LA schools may allow you to apply before you have passed the NCLEX exam. Check the admissions section for details.

The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) can answer any questions you may have about state licensure.
LSBN also posts a list of Board-Approved Schools of Nursing and publishes NCLEX pass rates for individual Louisiana schools in its Annual Report.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of state?

We’re happy to report that almost all Louisiana Online RN to BSN programs are open to RNs with a valid U.S. license. But it never hurts to check the fine print on state authorization!
One outlier was Nicholls State’s Online RN-BSN Articulation—Nicholls wants to see documentation of an unencumbered & unrestricted Louisiana RN license.

Louisiana Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

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

Absolutely. Almost all—if not all—Online RN to BSN programs in our Louisiana listings are 100% online with no on-campus requirements. And they are all CCNE- or ACEN-accredited. So you can truly have your pick!

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

Because of CCNE and ACEN accreditation regulations, Online RN to BSN programs in Louisiana will contain on-the-ground practicums. But fear not! These experiences won’t be like your associate degree or diploma in nursing clinicals. In Louisiana, BSN-level practicums tend to focus on fieldwork in two areas: Community/Public Health Nursing and Leadership & Management. You’ll typically be able to tackle practicums in your local community and current workplace.

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

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