Online RN to BSN Programs in Virginia

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Virginia

1. University of Virginia

• Program: Hybrid RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 2 Years (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

UVA’s Hybrid RN to BSN is chock-full of benefits. Qualified Virginia Community College System (VCCS) students are automatically admitted. UVA Health System employees may be eligible for a tuition advance. And RN to BSN graduates are guaranteed a job interview with the UVA Medical Center. Better yet, the School of Nursing earns top 20 rankings and superb student reviews for its nursing graduate programs (e.g. BSN to DNP). It also offers a number of scholarships. If you can manage a “once per month” visit to Richmond, Fairfax, or Charlottesville, this program should be on your shortlist.

2. Virginia Commonwealth University

• Program: Online RN to BS
• RN to BSN Credits: 32
• Length: 6 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

Add VCU’s 100% Online RN to BS to your list of public research university options! This part-time program includes online coursework and team activities, virtual clinical experiences, and a Clinical & Management Decision-Making capstone. At VCU, you’ll find a School of Nursing with great student reviews for nursing faculty, solid national rankings for graduate nursing programs, and sturdy ties to the VCU Medical Center—a Level I Trauma Center & Magnet facility. In-state tuition rates are reasonable; out-of-state tuition rates are pricey.

3. George Mason University

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

GMU’s Online RN to BSN is a worthy contender to UVA. The School of Nursing runs the largest BSN program in the state and offers well-reviewed post-BSN graduate pathways (e.g. BSN to DNP). It maintains tons of useful connections to local hospitals & community clinics (e.g. Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics). And it’s flexible—you can choose an accelerated or part-time format. In-state tuition rates are manageable; out-of-state rates are pricey. The Comprehensive Health Assessment course includes labs—ask the RN to BSN program coordinator if these require in-person visits.

4. James Madison University

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

JMU’s 100% Online RN to BSN is built for convenience. Part-time, full-time, and co-enrollment options for VCCS students are available. Coursework is online & asynchronous, with a Community Health practicum that can be completed in your local area. And in-state and out-of-state tuition rates are almost identical. As an extra bonus, the School of Nursing offers RN to BSN Financial Aid, Scholarships & Awards (e.g. Farrell Scholarship) and maintains strong NCLEX pass rates for its traditional BSN.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Virginia

Virginia is not a super-affordable state for Online RN to BSN students—many programs are in the $13,000-$14,000 range. For this Cheapest VA ranking, we set the bar at $10,000. We’ll award honorable mentions to ODU and UVA Wise. Their in-state tuition rates for Virginia residents just came in over this threshold.

1. Liberty University

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

With a minimum 30 credits, Liberty’s 100% Online RN to BSN is the cheapest program in Virginia. And if you are a service member, veteran, or military spouse, you may be eligible for a significant Veteran/Military Tuition Discount. Keep in mind that total tuition will go up if you need to tackle additional prequisities. See the section on Degree Information for a Degree Completion Plan.

2. Radford University

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

If you have all of your prerequisites in hand, tuition for Radford’s 100% Online RN to BSN is just under $10,000. This speedy program is the same price for in-state and out-of-state students and there are no hidden fees.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Virginia

Need to get your Virginia RN to BSN done in a hurry? Check out these accelerated options. These speedy online programs also appear in our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. UVA Wise

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

UVA Wise’s Online RN to BSN is 100% online and relatively affordable for Virginia residents who commit to a full-time schedule. If you move quickly, you can finish the degree in 2 semesters; part-time options are also available. This is a great program for Appalachia RNs—coursework include titles such as Health Promotion in Rural Appalachia, Appalachian Culture and Health, and Rural/Public Health.

2. George Mason University

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

GMU’s 30-credit Online RN to BSN can be done & dusted in 2 semesters (e.g. 5 courses per semester). Part-time options are also available. Most RN to BSN classes are 7 weeks long; standard semesters at GMU are 15 weeks long. Coursework is 100% online, but home-based practicums may be included—check with the program coordinator. Admission to the RN to BSN is twice a year (fall or spring).

3. Norfolk State University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 33
• Length: 2 Semesters (Full-Time); 3+ Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Only with Compact License

On a full-time schedule, this ACEN-accredited Online RN to BSN can be tackled in 2 semesters/9 months. Semesters will be split into 4 terms; you’ll take 2-3 courses per term. There is one clinical course: Providing Nursing Systems for Families, Groups and Communities Lab. It requires 90 contact hours and it’s taken in term 3 for full-time students.

4. Radford University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 10 Months
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Yes

Radford’s 100% Online RN to BSN is available on a 10 course/10 month schedule. Courses are 7 weeks in length (e.g. 2 courses per month) and there are 6 start dates per year. In addition to the usual RN to BSN credits, the curriculum includes a Nursing Leadership and Management course with in-person elements—you’ll be able to shadow a nurse leader in your home community—and a final clinical & capstone.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Virginia

RN to BSN Requirements in Virginia

RN Licensure: RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. Virginia colleges & universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—your RN license. For instance, all students in UVA Wise’s Online RN to BSN must have successfully completed the NCLEX-RN exam prior to enrolling in upper division clinical nursing courses.

• If you need any help with state licensure, visit the Virginia Board of Nursing.
• The Board also posts a list of Approved Nursing Education Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates in Virginia. Pass rates don’t apply to RN to BSN programs, but they’re a helpful quality marker. Any School with consistently poor results should be avoided!

State Authorization: Coming from out-of-state? Double-check that you’re eligible to apply. Most Virginia universities are happy to accept RNs who live in any state that participates in NC-SARA, but there are a few odd exceptions. For example, ODU’s Online RN to BSN is not available in Washington State.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Any 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Virginia?

Yes. A large number of schools in our VA Online RN to BSN listings are 100% online, with no campus visits required. BSMCON, Hampton, Liberty, Mary Baldwin, Radford—the list goes on and on!

Just remember that 100% online programs may still have “on-the-ground” practicums for certain courses (e.g. Community Health) and/or your capstone project. These can be completed in your local area.

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

It depends on what you mean by “clinicals.” As a rule, Virginia Online RN to BSN programs contain practicums in areas such as leadership & community/public health. You’ll usually be able to tackle them in your home area or place of employment. For example:

• Regent’s Online RN to BS in Nursing includes 45 practice immersion hours in Health Assessment, Nursing Leadership & Management, and Community and Public Health Nursing.
• JMU’s Online RN to BSN incorporates a 45-hour community clinical experience during one summer semester. This consists of 35 direct contact hours and 10 indirect hours.
• Hampton University’s 100% online Accelerated RN to BS contains practicums for Leadership & Management for Registered Nurses and Transition Theory.

Check the curriculum section and talk to the RN to BSN program coordinator about how practicums are handled—you may be expected to find a local preceptor.

Do I Need to Have Statistics to Apply for Online RN to BSN Programs in Virginia?

Not necessarily. Some schools require statistics before enrollment (e.g. Sentara’s Online RN to BSN and VCU’s Online RN to BS Completion Program). Some schools don’t. For instance:

• UVA’s Hybrid RN to BSN includes an introductory statistics course as part of the RN to BSN program.

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

We had trouble finding any Online RN to BSN to MSN programs in Virginia that were currently available. However, certain schools may be willing to let you take MSN-level coursework during your BSN. This will save you time & money if you eventually decide to earn a graduate degree.

For instance, Regent has developed a Fast-Track Graduate Pilot: RN to BS in Nursing Students. During the BSN, eligible students can enroll in two graduate-level nursing courses. These credits will fulfill undergraduate requirements and also count towards an MSN at Regent.

Do Virginia Universities Have RN to BSN Agreements with Community Colleges?

Absolutely. In fact, public research universities like UVA, JMU, and ODU guarantee admission to all qualified Virginia Community College System (VCCS) graduates.

We should also point out that Virginia is heaving with co-enrollment programs. In this scenario, students earn an Online BSN while concurrently enrolled in an AAS program at a partner community college. Examples include:

• GMU’s Co-Enrollment BSN Program (Non-Veteran) and Co-Enrollment BSN Program (Veteran)
• ODU’s Concurrent Enrollment Nursing Program
• Radford’s Co-Enrollment Option
• UMW’s BSN Academic Partnership Plan (BSN-APP) with Germanna Community College (GCC)
• VCU’s Co-Enrollment Partnerships