Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year undergraduate degree preparing students for professional nursing careers and eligibility for the NCLEX licensing exam.
Careers open to registered nursing graduates
Institutions awarding this level in registered nursing (1,246)
Source: IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education). IPEDS records the field and level of each award, not its exact title.
- Western Governors University · Salt Lake City
- Chamberlain University-Illinois · Addison
- Capella University · Minneapolis
- Grand Canyon University · Phoenix
- The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington
- Aspen University · Phoenix
- Ohio University Lancaster · Athens
- Galen College of Nursing-Louisville · Louisville
- West Coast University-Los Angeles · North Hollywood
- West Coast University-Orange County · Anaheim
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center · Lubbock
- West Coast University-Ontario · Ontario
- University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington
- University of Central Florida · Orlando
- NUC University · Bayamon
- Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis
- Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester
- University of Phoenix-Arizona · Phoenix
- East Tennessee State University · Johnson City
- The University of Texas at Tyler · Tyler
- Azusa Pacific University · Azusa
- Nightingale College · Salt Lake City
- Chamberlain University-Texas · Houston
- Samuel Merritt University · Oakland
- Keiser University · Fort Lauderdale
- Purdue University Northwest · Hammond
- University of South Florida · Tampa
- Oakland University · Rochester Hills
- Texas Woman's University · Denton
- Kent State University at Kent · Kent
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville
- Adelphi University · Garden City
- Drexel University · Philadelphia
- Boise State University · Boise
- Walden University · Minneapolis
- Arizona State University Digital Immersion · Scottsdale
- New York University · New York
- Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia
- Loyola University Chicago · Chicago
- Denver College of Nursing · Denver
- William Paterson University · Wayne
- Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff
- Long Island University · Brookville
- University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque
- University of Maryland, Baltimore · Baltimore
- Post University · Waterbury
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe
- Nova Southeastern University · Fort Lauderdale
- University of Kentucky · Lexington
- Rasmussen University-Florida · Ocala
- Weber State University · Ogden
- University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa
- Chamberlain University-Georgia · Sandy Springs
- University of Massachusetts Boston · Boston
- Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences · Draper
- Molloy College · Rockville Centre
- Oregon Health & Science University · Portland
- University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham
- University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati
- Baylor University · Waco
- Nevada State University · Henderson
- Marian University - Indiana · Indianapolis
- Mississippi University for Women · Columbus
- The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso
- Minnesota State University, Mankato · Mankato
- East Carolina University · Greenville
- Washington State University · Pullman
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston · Houston
- University of South Alabama · Mobile
- Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton
- University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center · Oklahoma City
- Barnes-Jewish College · Saint Louis
- Xavier University · Cincinnati
- Georgia Southern University · Statesboro
- University of Nebraska Medical Center · Omaha
- Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick
- California State University, Fullerton · Fullerton
- Concordia University · Saint Paul
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette
- Northeastern University Professional Programs · Boston
- Mercy University · Dobbs Ferry
- University of West Florida · Pensacola
- Roseman University of Health Sciences · Henderson
- The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston · Galveston
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh
- Holy Family University · Philadelphia
- West Coast University-Miami · Doral
- College of St. Scholastica · Duluth
- Chamberlain University-New Jersey · North Brunswick
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences · Boston
- University of Memphis · Memphis
- Northwestern State University · Natchitoches
- University of Rhode Island · Kingston
- Liberty University · Lynchburg
- University of Arkansas · Fayetteville
- Linfield College · McMinnville
- South Dakota State University · Brookings
- Quinnipiac University · Hamden
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · San Antonio
- University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh · Oshkosh
- James Madison University · Harrisonburg
- Mercy College of Health Sciences · Des Moines
- University of Toledo · Toledo
- Montana State University · Bozeman
- University of Mississippi · Oxford
- Creighton University · Omaha
- Chamberlain University-Florida · Jacksonville
- Regis University · Denver
- California State University, San Marcos · San Marcos
- University of Michigan–Flint · Flint
- Concordia University Texas · Austin
- West Coast University-Dallas · Richardson
- Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe · Tempe
- Texas A & M University-College Station · College Station
- George Washington University · Washington
- University of Arizona · Tucson
- University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago
- University of Louisville · Louisville
- University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver
- Rutgers University-Camden · Camden
- Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw
- Duquesne University · Pittsburgh
- Radford University · Radford
- University of South Carolina Upstate · Spartanburg
- University of St. Thomas - Texas · Houston
- Mount Carmel College of Nursing · Columbus
- Utica College · Utica
- Sacred Heart University · Fairfield
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee
- Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global · Marion
- University of Portland · Portland
- University of Connecticut · Storrs
- University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia
- College of Mount Saint Vincent · Bronx
- University of Miami · Coral Gables
- National University · San Diego
- Chamberlain University-Arizona · Phoenix
- University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia
- Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville · Knoxville
- Grand Valley State University · Allendale
- Seattle University · Seattle
- Western Carolina University · Cullowhee
- South College · Knoxville
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans · New Orleans
- Clemson University · Clemson
- Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus
- Towson University · Towson
- Madonna University · Livonia
- SUNY Brockport · Brockport
- Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights
- University of Iowa · Iowa City
- University of Florida · Gainesville
- Utah Tech University · Saint George
- University of San Francisco · San Francisco
- Nebraska Methodist College · Omaha
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas · Las Vegas
- Duke University · Durham
- West Chester University · West Chester
- Auburn University · Auburn
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University · Weatherford
- Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus · San Juan
- Jacksonville University · Jacksonville
- Stevenson University · Owings Mills
- Saint Louis University · St Louis
- Pace University · New York
- Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi
- University of Wisconsin–Madison · Madison
- San Jose State University · San Jose
- Midwestern State University · Wichita Falls
- University of North Florida · Jacksonville
- Aurora University · Aurora
- North Dakota State University · Fargo
- Florida International University · Miami
- Illinois State University · Normal
- Gwynedd Mercy University · Gwynedd Valley
- Cleveland State University · Cleveland
- Tarleton State University · Stephenville
- Pennsylvania Western University · California
- University of Utah · Salt Lake City
- Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond
- Felician University · Lodi
- University of Detroit Mercy · Detroit
- The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences · Cincinnati
- George Mason University · Fairfax
- Winona State University · Winona
- Belmont University · Nashville
- St. John Fisher College · Rochester
- Ecpi University · Virginia Beach
- Widener University · Chester
- University of Rochester · Rochester
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill
- Arkansas State University · Jonesboro
- Fairfield University · Fairfield
- University of Delaware · Newark
- San Francisco State University · San Francisco
- Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas · Las Vegas
- Stony Brook University · Stony Brook
- Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs
About
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a bachelor level degree typically completed over about four years of undergraduate study in the United States. It is offered by four-year institutions and accredited nursing programs recognized regionally and programmatically. This degree prepares students for professional nursing practice and is often required for registered nurse licensure through the NCLEX exam. The BSN provides foundational knowledge in nursing science, critical thinking, and clinical skills. It is designed for students aiming to enter the healthcare field as registered nurses or to pursue advanced nursing education. The BSN holds a respected position in the U.S. education system as a standard credential for nursing careers.
- Completed at four-year colleges or universities
- Accredited by regional and nursing-specific bodies
- Leads to eligibility for the NCLEX licensing exam
- Prepares for professional nursing practice
- Recognized prerequisite for graduate nursing programs
- Includes clinical experience components
How to get in
Admission to BSN programs generally requires a high school diploma or equivalent with a competitive GPA. Applicants often submit standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT through the Common App or directly to institutions. Some programs may require prerequisite courses in sciences and math completed in high school or at community colleges. Admission is selective, with some programs requiring interviews or essays. Financial aid applications like FAFSA are commonly used to support studies. Transfer agreements exist allowing students from two-year associate nursing programs to continue toward a BSN.
- High school diploma with strong academic record
- SAT or ACT scores often required
- Prerequisite courses in science and math recommended
- Selective admission with possible interviews
- FAFSA application for financial aid
- Transfer pathways from associate nursing degrees
Format and schedule
The BSN typically requires about four years of full-time study, accumulating credit hours as defined by the institution. The curriculum combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice in healthcare settings. Students engage in multiple clinical rotations to gain hands-on experience. Evaluations include exams, practical assessments, and clinical performance reviews. Some programs offer part-time or accelerated options, but full-time study is common. The structure ensures students meet competencies required for nursing licensure.
- About four years of full-time study
- Combination of lectures and clinical rotations
- Multiple supervised clinical experiences
- Evaluations through exams and practical assessments
- Some programs offer part-time or accelerated tracks
- Credit hours aligned with accreditation standards
What next?
Graduates with a BSN are eligible to take the NCLEX exam to become licensed registered nurses. Many enter the workforce in hospitals, clinics, or community health settings. The BSN also serves as a foundation for advanced nursing degrees such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Transfer agreements facilitate continuing education. Some graduates pursue specialized certifications or leadership roles in healthcare. The degree supports both immediate employment and further academic progression.
- Eligibility for NCLEX licensing exam
- Employment in diverse healthcare environments
- Pathway to graduate nursing programs
- Opportunities for specialization and certification
- Transfer agreements for advanced study
- Preparation for leadership roles in nursing
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a BSN and an associate degree in nursing?
The BSN is a four-year bachelor level degree offering more comprehensive education and clinical training than the two-year associate degree. It often leads to greater career opportunities and eligibility for leadership roles.
Can I enter a BSN program without prior healthcare experience?
Yes, most BSN programs accept students directly from high school or after completing prerequisite courses, providing foundational nursing education and clinical practice.
Is the BSN required to become a registered nurse?
While some states allow licensure with an associate degree, the BSN is increasingly preferred or required by employers and is necessary for many advanced nursing roles.
How do I apply to BSN programs?
Applications typically involve submitting high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and completing the Common App or institution-specific forms. Some programs may require essays or interviews.
Are there financial aid options for BSN students?
Yes, students can apply for federal aid through FAFSA, scholarships, and grants offered by schools or nursing organizations.
What kind of clinical experience will I get?
BSN programs include supervised clinical rotations in hospitals and healthcare settings, allowing students to apply theory to practice under professional guidance.
Can I transfer credits from an associate nursing degree to a BSN?
Many institutions have articulation agreements allowing students to transfer credits from two-year nursing programs to complete their BSN.
What career options are available after earning a BSN?
Graduates can work as registered nurses in various healthcare environments or continue education to specialize or pursue leadership positions.