Online RN to BSN Programs in New York

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in New York

1. University of Rochester

• Program: Online RN to BS
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Length: 4 Semesters
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

UR’s Online RN to BS hits our #1 New York spot for a bevy of reasons! The School of Nursing has tight connections with the University of Rochester Medical Center. It achieves superb national rankings. 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.

2. 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

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.

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

Need an NYS option that’s 100% online? Have a look at UB’s 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. Pace University

• Program: Online RN-BS
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

Pace’s 100% Online RN-BS is the brainchild of the Lienhard School of Nursing. The School has a strong local reputation and clinical affliations with all kinds of empoyers in the New York area, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York-Presbyterian, Montefiore Medical Center, and Westchester Medical Center. You can even take up to 12 credits at the graduate level to get a head-start on further studies—the school offers MSN, DNP & PhD programs.

5. 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

Looking for a cheaper option than UR? 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.

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 Canton

• Program: Online RN to BS
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: Yes
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

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

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 College

• 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

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 suggest part-time plan of study is 15 months/4 semesters. Be sure to apply for the Nursing RN-BS Tuition Grant.

2. D’Youville College

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 9 Months
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No (Only Ontario Residents)

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.

RN to BSN Scholarships in New York

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 for traditional, 4-year BSN programs in New York. This is always a good quality marker.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 (e.g. SUNY Brockport’s 100% Online RN to BSN and UB’s 100% Online RN to BS) and private universities (e.g. Dominican College’s 100% Online RN to BSN and Pace’s 100% Online RN to BS in Nursing). 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 almost always have to complete practicum/fieldwork hours 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 a ton 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:

• Mercy College’s Online RN to BS to MS: In this program, up to nine graduate credits are substituted for undergraduate credits. After 120 credits, you’ll earn your BSN and then tackle an MS in Nursing Education or an MS in Nursing Administration.
• 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 College’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 (e.g. Pace). 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.