Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Tennessee

1. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 34
• Length: 3 Semesters (Full-Time); 4+ Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

UT’s 100% Online RN to BSN is not the cheapest program in our Best rankings, but it comes with a great reputation! The College of Nursing earns national plaudits for its graduate programs (check out the BSN to DNP tracks). Faculty are active in research and practical, interdisciplinary projects (e.g. HIPP). BSN students are eligible for nursing scholarships & awards. And the Online RN to BSN is relatively flexible. You can study full-time or part-time, complete clinical courses virtually or in your geographic area, and start in spring or fall. GE requirements are already fulfilled for graduates of any Tennessee Board of Regents institution.

2. University of Memphis

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 31
• Length: 3-4 Semesters/12 Months+
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes (Except California)

UofM’s 100% Online RN to BSN has a similar feel to UT (and it’s cheaper). It’s offered by the large & well-respected Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON). It’s available in full-time or part-time formats. And it can be shortened—Credit by Examination (CBE) may be earned for three RN-BSN courses (e.g. Pharmacology). UofM is a big public research university and LCON has established a lot of useful healthcare partnerships & clinical affiliations. It also offers specific RN to BSN Scholarships. If you’re interested in the possibilities of graduate work, be sure to check out the nationally ranked MSN programs.

3. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• Program: Online RN-BSN Gateway
• RN to BSN Credits: 27
• Length: 4 Semesters/16 Months (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

UTC’s 100% Online RN-BSN Gateway is a worthy addition to our Best TN rankings. The CCNE-accredited School of Nursing earns outstanding NCLEX & certification pass rates. It runs an innovative Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders (CANDL) for advanced practice nursing students in the FNP program. It offers plenty of graduate pathways, including the DNP. And it has developed a sturdy RN to BSN program that culminates in Professional Nursing in the Health Care System and a Senior Experience.

4. East Tennessee State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3-5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

ETSU’s 100% Online RN to BSN is another solid public choice. NCLEX pass rates can be hit or miss, but the College of Nursing earns respectable national rankings for its MSN and it offers a number of nursing scholarships. It’s also known for its expertise in rural healthcare. The College is part of the ETSU Academic Health Sciences Center and it runs various Nurse Managed Health Centers.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee can be pricey for RN to BSN students. Many programs in our Best TN rankings are between $13,000-$15,000. For this affordable TN ranking, we only included programs that were under $10,000—anything else was out. If you’d like to explore much more affordable options, check out the list of Cheapest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Tennessee State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

To come up with the cost of TSU’s 100% Online RN to BSN, we used the Undergraduate E-Campus tuition rate. If you’re a Tennessee RN who can finish your program in two semesters (15 credits per semester), the price is reasonable. Out-of-state tuition rates are much higher. Be sure to include the mandatory per credit nursing fee in your calculations. It applies to AASN, upper-division undergraduate, and all graduate nursing courses.

2. Austin Peay State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

The total tuition price for APSU’s convenient, 100% Online RN to BSN is manageable for in-state students; out-of-state rates are much higher. We love the fact that APSU includes all mandatory fees in its sample budget. We’re also pleased to report that it offers School of Nursing Scholarships and Non-Traditional Scholarship Opportunities. If you want a cheap’ish program with 5 start dates, full-time or part-time pathways, and a choice of elective, you’re in the right place.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee

To make it into our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs, Tennessee schools had to offer plans of study that could be completed in under 3 semesters/1 year. 2 semesters is a high-octane schedule—be prepared for a big time commitment.

1. Tennessee State University

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

TSU’s ACEN-accredited Online RN-BSN is offered in a 2-semester plan of study that involves 5 courses in the first semester, including a Health Assessment Lab, and 6 courses in the second semester, including a Community Health Nursing Clinical. If you’d prefer an easier schedule, you might choose to take 3-4 courses per semester.

2. Austin Peay State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 4 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

APSU’s Online RN to BSN can be tackled on a full-time schedule (2 semesters) or part-time schedule (4 semesters). On a full-time calendar, you’d take 5 courses in the first semester and 5 courses in the second semester, including a Leadership for RNs course with a clinical practicum. There are 5 start dates per year and the program is 100% online.

3. East Tennessee State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3-5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

ETSU’s Online RN to BSN is available in a full-time schedule (2 semesters) or part-time schedule (3 or 5 semesters). Full-time students take 4 courses in the first semester and 5 courses in the second semester, including an RN Practicum. RN to BSN students are admitted in fall, spring, and summer semesters. The program is 100% online.

4. Lincoln Memorial University

• Program: Online RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 29
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); Part-Time Schedules Available
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

With a full-time plan of study, LMU’s ACEN-accredited Online RN-BSN can be completed in 2 semesters. You’d take 5 courses in the first semester and 5 courses in the second semester. This program is available online, but some seat courses are also offered at three LMU locations: Main Campus (Harrogate), Cedar Bluff (Knoxville), and Tampa (Florida).

RN to BSN Scholarships in Tennessee

RN to BSN Requirements in Tennessee

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. That means Tennessee universities will expect you to hold—or be in the process of earning—your RN license. For instance, at ETSU, new ADN or ASN graduates are allowed to take one semester of BSN nursing courses, but they must pass the NCLEX-RN before being allowed to proceed. It’s a similar story at TWU.

• If you need any help with state licensure, the Tennessee Board of Nursing can assist.
• The Board also posts a list of State-Approved Educational Programs and annual stats on NCLEX Pass Rates. NCLEX pass rates only apply to pre-licensure programs, but they’re a helpful benchmark. Interestingly, some big-name schools (e.g. UofM) fall behind lesser known ones.

State Authorization: Coming from out-of-state? Make sure you’re eligible to apply.

• A few TN programs (e.g. King) are only willing to consider RNs with a valid multi-state license.
• And Tusculum limits its Online RN to BSN to Tennessee RNs.

When in doubt, check the admissions section & fine print on state authorization and talk to the RN to BSN program coordinator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Choose a 100% Online RN to BSN in Tennessee?

You bet! Tons of programs in our state listings and Best rankings are 100% online. You can choose a degree from a big public research university, a Christian school, or a private college. Just be aware that you may be required to complete practicums & on-the-ground capstone work in your local community or place of employment.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, we noticed that Belmont’s program is hybrid; Tusculum’s degree has minimal campus meetings; and UTC’s offering includes a 1-day orientation on campus. Universities are adapting to a COVID-19 reality, so some of these elements may go online in the future.

Are There Any Online RN to BSN to MSN Programs in Tennessee?

Online RN to BSN to MSN pathways are designed to allow you to earn a BSN and an MSN in a shortened time-frame. This option also saves you money on graduate work.

• We had trouble finding any programs in Tennessee, but there are options that skip the BSN and go straight to the MSN (e.g. UU’s Online RN-MSN and ETSU’s Online RN-MSN for non-nursing BA/BS holders).
• If you’re interested in an MSN, but need a BSN for employment purposes, ask the RN to BSN program coordinator if any of your BSN-level credits can be substituted for MSN-level credits. When you do eventually decide to apply for an MSN, you’ll be ahead of the game.
• You can also explore our national listings of RN to BSN to MSN Programs.

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

Maybe. A number of Tennessee schools (e.g. Bethel, ETSU, APSU, etc.) list Statistics as a prerequisite for the RN to BSN.

If you don’t have Statistics on your academic transcript, ask if you can take it during your RN to BSN. For example, in UofM’s 100% Online RN to BSN, MATH 1530: Statistics can be completed once students have been admitted into the program.

Are There Any “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN Programs in Tennessee?

It depends on what you mean by “clinicals.” Although Tennessee Online RN to BSN programs don’t contain ADN-level clinical training, they will include practicums & community health clinical experiences. CCNE regulations about BSN programs are pretty strict on this matter.

In 100% online programs, clinical projects & practicums can be completed in your community in local facilities. You’ll see this in UT’s 100% Online RN to BSN, which has clinicals in Population Health, Global Health Perspectives, and Health Assessment.

Are There Ways to Shorten the Length of My Online RN to BSN?

Yes. In our research, we noticed that a few Tennessee schools offer ways for experienced RNs to avoid unnecessary coursework. For instance:

• In TWU’s 100% Online RN-BSN, RNs can challenge up to 12 credit hours through proficiency testing (Health Assessment, Pharmacology, and Advanced Nursing).
• In UofM’s 100% Online RN to BSN, RNs can substitute Credit by Examination (CBE) for three RN-BSN courses—Health Assessment & Lab, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology (NURS 3000).

Do Tennessee Universities Have Agreements with TN Community Colleges?

Yes. If you are a graduate of—or currently enrolled in—a TN Community College, you should ask about streamlined pathways into an Online RN to BSN program. For example, at UT, General Education (GE) requirements for the Online RN to BSN are already fulfilled for graduates of any Tennessee Board of Regents institution.