New York RN-BSN Programs: Affordable & Fast Options for 2025

On This Page:

Looking for the best Online RN to BSN programs in New York? We can help! Use our New York listings and Online RN to BSN rankings to explore all of your options. Find links to the cheapest and fastest programs, as well as info on NY RN to BSN scholarships. And get answers to New York State FAQs, including details on the “BSN in 10” law.

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in New York

1. Stony Brook University

Program: Online RN Baccalaureate Program (RNBP)
RN to BSN Credits: 60
Length: 2 Years (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
NCLEX Pass Rates: 91.30%

Stony Brook’s rigorous Online RN Baccalaureate Program (RNBP) is a good choice for folks who are serious about their careers—graduates of the School of Nursing emerge with low debt rates & high earning potential. The program is longer than others in our Best NY rankings, but it contains plenty of clinical practicums and a lot of intriguing coursework (e.g. Social Justice in Healthcare). Successful entrants are also granted a conditional seat in a Stony Brook Nurse Practitioner graduate program.

2. CUNY Hunter College

Program: Online RN-to-BS
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 7 Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
NCLEX Pass Rates: 87.50%

Are you a New York RN? Check out CUNY Hunter’s Online RN-to-BS. It’s the brainchild of the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, which is adjacent to the VA Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital, and NYU Langone Medical Center. Along with useful career connections, you’ll get an urban BSN program that’s packed with real-world coursework and 45 clinical hours in Promotion of Wellness in the Community.

3. University at Buffalo

Program: Online RN to BS
RN to BSN Credits: 32
Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 6 Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 96.80%

Appearing at #3 in our rankings is UB’s flexible Online RN to BS. It’s open to in-state and out-of-state residents. It’s built on asynchronous coursework, with no campus visits. And it’s available on a full-time or part-time basis, with multiple start dates. If you’re part of the SUNY system, you can take advantage of SUNY Seamless Transfer. The School of Nursing also offers a BS to DNP pathway for further graduate study.

4. University of Rochester

Program: Online RN to BS
RN to BSN Credits: 32
Length: 4 Semesters
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 80.10%

UR’s Online RN to BS appears in our rankings for a bevy of reasons. The School of Nursing has tight connections with the University of Rochester Medical Center. It’s well-known outside of the state. And the RN to BS is packed with deep-dive coursework (e.g. genetics) and useful field hours. UR’s standard tuition rate is super-expensive, but this private research university offers plenty of tuition discounts to UR employees, RNs at URMC affiliate organizations, and RNs who live or work in the Finger Lakes region.

5. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Program: Online RN-to-BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 33
Length: 6 Semesters (Suggested); Up to 5 Years (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: 100%

SUNY Delhi has gone out of its way to create a flexible Online RN-to-BSN. You can choose from 5 start dates throughout the year. You can earn credit for work experience. You can choose a 6-semester format or take up to 5 years to complete your degree. And you can chat to a practicum coordinator at any time about how to arrange practicums in a hospital or agency near you. But wait, there’s more! The School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence. Tuition rates are reasonable. And reviews are generally positive—RN-to-BSN alumni say faculty are supportive and courses are challenging.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in New York

Online RN to BSN programs in New York are not particularly cheap. Once you factor in mandatory fees, even public university options like CUNY and SUNY can be pricey. To appear in our New York rankings, we decided that the total cost of the Online RN to BSN had to be under $10,000. But you’ll find lower prices in our list of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Program: Online RN to BS
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: 88.90%

SUNY Canton’s ACEN-accredited Online RN to BS is offered at a special online tuition rate. Even when you factor in the mandatory comprehensive fee, it’s still manageable for both in-state and out-of-state students. We’ve used 1 year as an estimate for finishing 30 credits. If you take longer than that, the price will go up.

2. CUNY School of Professional Studies

Program: Online RN to BS in Nursing
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
Cost Info: Tuition & Fees
NCLEX Pass Rates: N/A

The in-state tuition rate for CUNY SPS’s Online RN to BS in Nursing is fairly reasonable, but there will be additional per term and one-off fees. Plus the program is only open to New York State RNs. The core of the Online RN to BS in Nursing is 30 credits. If you need to add non-nursing courses to reach the 120 credits necessary for a BSN, your costs will go up.

Note: Earning an AAS from a local community college (e.g. Bronx)? CUNY SPS has established articulation agreements to allow for maximum credit transfers.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in New York

It’s difficult to find many Online RN to BSN Programs in New York that are less than 12 months. Most public and private options are at least 3 semesters. We did find two moderately expensive options in NY—you can compare them with our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Daemen University

Program: Online RN to BS
RN to BSN Credits: 36
Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 4 Semesters (Part-Time)
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes
NCLEX Pass Rates: N/A

Daemen’s 100% Online RN to BS is expensive, but it’s also fast. On a full-time schedule, students can complete the program in 2 semesters. This would involve 5 courses/18 credits in the first semester and 4 courses/18 credits in the second semester. The suggested part-time plan of study is 15 months/4 semesters. Be sure to apply for the Nursing RN-BS Tuition Grant.

2. D’Youville University

Program: Online RN to BSN
RN to BSN Credits: 30
Length: 9 Months
Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No
NCLEX Pass Rates: 75.90%

On a full-time schedule, D’Youville’s 100% Online RN to BSN can be tackled in 9 months. There are 7 mandatory courses (22 credits), but you must complete 30 credits at D’Youville in order to meet NYS residency requirements. Most courses are 8 weeks in length and there are up to 6 start dates per year. D’Youville will only consider New York RNs or Ontario residents for this program.

RN to BSN Scholarships in New York

Statewide Scholarships for New York RN to BSN Students

There are tons of national scholarships for RN to BSN students in circulation. But there are also specific nursing scholarships & grants for New York State residents. Here are some award avenues worth exploring…

NYS Nursing Organization Awards

Members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) should be sure to apply for the annual Secor Scholarship. It’s open to students who are seeking a baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing.
New York RNs who wish to further their careers in home or community-based care should also check out the Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship from the Community Health Care (CHC) Services Foundation.

NYS Regional Nursing Scholarships

Regional organizations are another great source of funding for the BSN (e.g. Rochester Area Community Foundation Scholarship Database). For instance, if you’re fortunate enough to live in the Rochester area, you can apply for the:

Kathleen McElligott Hall Memorial Scholarship: Available to students in upstate New York State who wish to continue their education in the field of nursing.
Women’s Week Scholarship: Aimed at mature female residents of Monroe and Genesee counties who are returning to higher education.
University of Rochester 50% Finger Lakes Regional Scholarship: 50% RN to BS tuition discount for nurses who live or work in the 18-county Western NY region.

NYS Healthcare System & University Partnerships

Before investing in an Online RN to BSN program, talk to your employer. Many New York State hospitals & healthcare systems have established partnerships with local universities. You may be eligible for tuition discounts, loan forgiveness, and/or specific awards. For example:

UR offers a 55% Affiliate Professional Development Grant and a School of Nursing Tuition Grant for UR Employees that covers the full cost of tuition.

Individual New York hospitals also offer their own scholarships (e.g. CVPH Employee Scholarships). Some of these awards will be for employees; some will be open to local residents. Check with your local hospitals.

University Scholarships for New York RN to BSN Students

First things first—if you’re applying to an Online RN to BSN program from a public university in New York, check out the databases of CUNY System Scholarships and SUNY System Scholarships. Then follow the links below to find nursing funding from your chosen campus. For example, SUNY Brockport has a lot of Department of Nursing Awards.

Under each NY school, we’ve also included links to university-wide scholarships. But check that online, upper division students are eligible to apply. Some baccalaureate awards will be reserved for “traditional” 4-year undergraduate students.

Adelphi University

Adelphi Scholarships & Grants

CUNY Hunter College

CUNY Lehman College

CUNY School of Professional Studies

D’Youville University

D’Youville Scholarships

Daemen University

Pace University

Roberts Wesleyan College

Roberts Grants & Scholarships

Russell Sage College

Sage Institutional Aid & Scholarships

Saint John Fisher University

Siena College

Stony Brook University

SUNY Alfred State College of Technology

Alfred State Scholarships

SUNY Brockport

SUNY Canton

Canton Scholarships

SUNY Delhi

Delhi Scholarships

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Downstate Scholarships & Grants

SUNY Empire State College

Empire State Scholarships

SUNY Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale Scholarships

SUNY Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh Foundation Scholarships: Filter by Department of Nursing
Plattsburgh Scholarships, Grants & Loans

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Trocaire College

University at Buffalo

University of Rochester

Upstate Medical University

Utica College

RN to BSN Requirements in New York

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. So unless you’re in the process of earning your New York State RN license in order to apply, you won’t have many dealings with NYSED’s Office of the Professions. But feel free to examine NCLEX pass rates. They are always good quality markers.

Public Programs with NYS RN License Requirements: You’ll notice that many CUNY and SUNY schools in our New York listings will only accept applicants who either a) have a current New York State RN license; or b) are in the process of earning one. There are exceptions—check the admissions requirements and any fine print on state authorizations to learn if you’re eligible.

Private Programs with NYS RN License Requirements: Most private universities will be open to out-of-state RNs (e.g. Adelphi, Dominican, Mercy, etc.). One major exception is the University of Rochester. It states that it wants to see Online RN to BSN candidates with RN licensure from New York State. Pacific College of Health and Science— which is for-profit, NYS-approved & ACEN-accredited—is also looking for New York RNs.

BSN in 10 Law: In December 2017, New York passed the BSN in 10 law. This requires any new RNs to attain a bachelor’s degree within 10 years of initial licensure. BSN in 10 does not apply to nurses who were already holding an RN license in New York State at the time the law was passed. See the FAQs below for more details.

New York Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

What is New York State’s “BSN in 10” Law?

New York passed the BSN in 10 law on December 19, 2017.

BSN Requirement: The law stipulates that any New York nurses graduating from associate degree or diploma nursing programs must obtain a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure. That’s why you’ll see so many Online RN to BSN offerings in our New York listings.
Grandfather Clause: However, the BSN in 10 law contains a “Grandfather” clause. Existing RNs with an NYS license, students enrolled in a nursing program in New York State, and those with NYS nursing school acceptances pending in late 2017 were exempted from the requirement.

If you fall into the “grandfather” category, you have a choice. You don’t have to earn a BSN, but you may have trouble competing with recent graduates in the New York hiring market. In addition, the BSN is a standard job requirement for hospitals with Magnet designations.

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs Available in New York?

You bet. There are plenty of 100% offerings from public universities and private universities. Explore our listings for more details.

Keep in mind that 100% online refers to RN to BSN coursework—you won’t have to visit the campus for classes or exams. However, you will always have to complete practicums in your local community or place of employment. Online RN to BSN programs often include practicum hours in leadership, community health nursing, and/or capstone courses.

Note: If you’re willing to consider degrees with face-to-face elements, there are tons of ACEN-accredited Hybrid RN to BSN Programs in New York. Use the ACEN Accreditation Program Search to examine your options.

Can I Choose an Online RN to BSN to MSN Program in New York?

Yes. If you’re interested in graduate work, but you still wish to have the BSN listed on your résumé, there are plenty of options! Examples of fast-track Online RN to BSN to MSN programs in New York include:

CUNY SPS’s Accelerated Online RN to BS-MS: You’ll earn a BSN and MSN in Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, or Nursing Organizational Leadership in less time than it takes to complete two degrees separately.
Saint John Fisher University’s Fast-Track Online RN to BS to MS: Online RN to BS students at Fisher can petition to substitute graduate nursing courses from the MS for two undergraduate courses. This accelerated approach allows you to complete an MSN in less time.
Stony Brook’s Online RN Baccalaureate to Master’s Program: This degree path leads to a BSN and a MSN in your chosen specialty. There are some on-site requirements.
University of Rochester’s Hybrid RN to BS to MS: You can choose to pursue an MSN in leadership, education, or various NP specialties. Courses are offered in a blend of online and evening in-class sessions.

Is Statistics Required for New York Online RN to BSN Programs?

Probably. Statistics has become a standard prerequisites for Online RN to BSN programs at public universities in New York (e.g. SUNY Brockport) and private universities (e.g. Pace). Check the admissions requirements carefully.

However, you may not need to have statistics at the time of your application. Many NY universities will allow you to complete missing prerequisites during your RN to BSN program. You may even be able to earn those credits at another accredited institution.

Do I Need a New York RN License to Apply to NYS Online RN to BSN Programs?

It depends. A lot of CUNY and SUNY schools want to see Online RN to BSN applicants who a) have a valid New York State RN license; or b) are in the process of earning one. Even the University of Rochester—a private research university—has this requirement.

But out-of-state RNs still have options! Many private colleges are open to RNs who don’t live in New York (e.g. Adelphi, Dominican, Mercy, etc.). The public University at Buffalo will also consider out-of-state applicants who have an unencumbered U.S. RN license and a regionally accredited diploma or associate’s degree.

New York RN to BSN Online Schools

30 Schools Found

Adelphi University

College of Nursing and Public Health

Garden City, New York

RN to BS in Nursing

Offered Online

Online RN to BSN Programs in New York

1. Stony Brook University

2. CUNY Hunter College

3. University at Buffalo

4. University of Rochester

5. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

1. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

2. CUNY School of Professional Studies

1. Daemen University

2. D’Youville University

RN to BSN Scholarships in New York

Statewide Scholarships for New York RN to BSN Students

NYS Nursing Organization Awards

NYS Regional Nursing Scholarships

NYS Healthcare System & University Partnerships

University Scholarships for New York RN to BSN Students

Adelphi University

CUNY Hunter College

CUNY Lehman College

CUNY School of Professional Studies

D’Youville University

Daemen University

Dominican University

Mercy University

Molloy University

Mount Saint Mary College

Pace University

Roberts Wesleyan College

Russell Sage College

Saint John Fisher University

Siena College

Stony Brook University

SUNY Alfred State College of Technology

SUNY Brockport

SUNY Canton

SUNY Delhi

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Farmingdale State College

SUNY Plattsburgh

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Trocaire College

University at Buffalo

University of Rochester

Upstate Medical University

Utica College

RN to BSN Requirements in New York

New York Online RN to BSN Programs: FAQs

What is New York State’s “BSN in 10” Law?

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs Available in New York?

Can I Choose an Online RN to BSN to MSN Program in New York?

Is Statistics Required for New York Online RN to BSN Programs?

Do I Need a New York RN License to Apply to NYS Online RN to BSN Programs?