Online Direct Entry BSN Programs: Exploring Top Schools
Direct-entry BSN programs give you the opportunity to hit the ground running after high school and start a new career with hands-on training and experience from your first semester at a college or university. In this guide, we highlight some online direct-entry BSN programs, discuss the positives and challenges of earning a degree this way, and answer some questions you may have about how these programs work.
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School Spotlights: Explore Top Direct-Entry BSN Programs Online
If you are accepted into a direct entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, you can enroll right after high school graduation and immediately register in nursing courses within the first two years of study. This means there is no waiting for an additional two years before you begin any nursing-centered classes.
Many direct-entry BSN programs offer students support and guidance, including counsel and ideas for financial aid. The programs are also mostly hybrid, which means a mix of in-person and online courses. High quality nursing programs are also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring they meet quality standards set by state nursing boards.
We’ve spotlighted three universities below that offer the best direct-entry BSN nursing programs, all of which are CCNE-accredited.
Traditional BSN – California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
CSUF calls its direct-entry course the Traditional BSN. This track to a degree takes 96 units over the course of eight semesters in four years. The program prepares students to pursue their California Registered Nurse (RN) licenses. The Traditional BSN is also highly competitive with a limited number of acceptances every year. Study plans commonly include both general education and nursing courses that start immediately in the first semester, while the program concludes with a nursing capstone and clinical. CSUF has many healthcare partners, giving students access to placement sites within a 50-mile radius from campus.
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $149,440 in four years, for residents
Admission Requirements:
- Proof of completion of select college-prep courses
- Write and turn in an essay
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Conduct an interview with nursing school faculty
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High School Direct Entry in Nursing – University of Hawai’i at Manoa
The four-year direct-entry BSN program at this university prepares graduates to meet licensure requisites set forth by the Hawaii Board of Nursing. Academic support throughout the program is highly touted as a plus by the university. There are specific criteria students must meet to stay in the program, including maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA, earning a B-grade minimum in some science classes, and obtaining a C grade or better in all other courses. The curriculum includes everything from anatomy and physiology to courses on topics such as family health, research, psychiatric care, and genetics in its 120-credit program.
Mode: On-campus with some hybrid options
Cost: $84,840 in four years, for residents
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA by end of junior year in high school
- Submit a personal statement and resume
- English language proficiency
Freshman Direct-Entry Option Pre-Licensure BSN – University of New Mexico (UNM)
Motivated high school seniors who meet certain criteria are guaranteed admission into UNM’s freshman direct-entry BSN program. It differs from some programs in that you take prerequisites only in your first year. But after that, you take science and nursing courses for the remaining time. Some coursework is conducted in a hospital or clinical setting. Students will receive support and guidance from advisors and school staff and have the option to participate in research projects. All courses are taught with evidence-based nursing at the forefront, while leadership behaviors and the latest technology are also a part of advanced courses.
Mode: On-campus with some hybrid options
Cost: $40,600 in four years, for residents
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 3.5 GPA in high school
- Submit short essay
- Send two letters of recommendation
- Supply transcripts with HS math, biology, and chemistry courses
Pros and Cons of Direct-Entry Nursing Programs
Getting a fast-track into a professional nursing career, and folding the basic RN training into a BSN program, can definitely be beneficial to your future. At the same time, there are challenges that you will have to face as you take this intense path. Here’s a look at what to consider.
Pro: Save Time and Money
Once admitted to a direct-entry BSN program, students take the general education courses much faster instead of spreading those out across four years. This means students can complete what’s required for the program and still retain faster progress than some other bachelor’s degree programs. Plus, students won’t need to wait until their sophomore or junior year of college to apply to a nursing program — and this is a huge savings on tuition costs.
Pro: Receive Hands-On Training Right Away
Enrolling in a direct-entry BSN program will allow you to get hospital or clinic experience sooner in your degree journey. Students enrolled in accelerated programs are required to complete clinical hours as part of the main curriculum, and many programs offer placement at various locations around campus. Some educational institutions, such as the College of Nursing at the University of New Mexico, even have dedicated spaces for simulations and skills labs.
Pro: Graduate and Start Working Sooner
By earning a bachelor’s degree in four years, there is a world of more lucrative job opportunities open to you, including more advanced and higher-paying roles than Registered Nurses (RNs) often see. That open door is vital, since clinicians with advanced nursing degrees are in great demand across the United States. This is partially fueled by an aging American population and partially by a rising number of retired healthcare workers creating a higher demand for nurses.
Con: Competitive Entry Requirements
Nursing is a really competitive field, and not everyone will be able to get into a direct-entry program. Quality direct-entry BSN nursing programs commonly limit the number of students they admit and often won’t allow students to defer their admission. For example, CSUF’s traditional BSN program has previously admitted only 40 students in its fall semesters. Stronger requirements with GPA and high school prerequisite courses also limit the freshman class in BSN programs.
Con: Less Time to Explore Other Interests
With a tightly compressed program awaiting direct-entry students, you will be intensively working through the requirements to earn your degree in packed, full-time semesters if you want to graduate in four years. That can equal 14 to 17 credits a semester, where you will be spending less time in other fields of study that you may have wanted to explore. There is some play with electives, but not a lot.
Con: Rigorous Coursework
Pursuing any nursing degree takes time and dedication. Not only will you have a full schedule, but you’ll also need to continuously meet certain criteria to keep your place within the nursing program. Most programs require students to earn a B-grade or better in science classes, and a GPA about a C-grade is a common minimum for most programs. So, to prepare as a first-time college student, be sure you can fully commit to your studies before you decide on the direct admission option.
FAQs About Direct-Entry Online BSN Programs
You may need some more information before you decide to dive right into a direct-entry BSN program — and we can help. Below, we answer additional questions you might have regarding specific nursing courses, the potential costs, and what to do if you can’t get into a program.
Are there any special requirements to stay in the program once I’ve been accepted?
For most programs, there are definitely requirements to keep your place in them. You’ll likely need a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a grade of B or better in nursing courses, and at least a C in general education classes. However, each program varies, and some have specific requirements. For example, the direct-entry nursing program at Florida Southern College requires students to pass a final exit exam to meet the BSN major graduation requirements. There are other requirements for some programs right at the end that you will need to meet, including capstone projects and externships.
How long will it take me to complete my BSN?
For the programs above, and most direct-entry BSN ones, four years of full-time study or eight semesters is the standard. Most programs hover in the 110-120 credit area, so that means packed semesters are the norm. Because of that, there are some schools that will give you a five-year study plan option, where you may have a few semesters that are shorter than others, in order to give you some educational breathing room. It’s a detail you should explore during the admissions stage with the university of your choice.
What courses will I be taking?
Students are required to take both general education and prerequisite nursing classes, at least for the first two years of study. This might include courses in writing, history, statistics, chemistry, microbiology, and anatomy. As you progress through the program, you’ll be required to take more nursing-focused courses, such as foundations of clinical practice, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical nutrition, labs and research, and ethics.
Some direct entry BSN programs, like the one offered at Loyola University Chicago, require students to take nursing courses that focus on key study areas. These could include courses on medical and surgical practices, maternal and child healthcare, community/mental health, and nursing administration.
What if I’m not accepted into the direct-entry program?
If you get rejected from nursing school, do not fret, you can still apply to a pre-licensure BSN program later on. You might want to consider completing general education courses and nursing prerequisites for the first few years of study and then applying to the nursing program. A solid alternative might be an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program. After earning that degree, you can work as a nurse and attend an RN-to-BSN bridge program, depending on your career goals. No matter what the choice, you’ll need to always stay in good standing in any program due to its inherent competitiveness.
What is the average cost of a direct-entry program?
This is admittedly a tough one to answer, as credit-hour costs vary pretty widely between university programs. The range can be between $40,000 and $120,000 per complete four-year course, and the costs for out-of-state students are demonstratively higher. With direct-entry programs, though, you still save over regular BSN programs. You can take nursing courses faster within the program and likely won’t get stuck paying beyond the standard four years of full-time study for a bachelor’s degree. Since most universities that offer direct entry also place you in a study plan right away, it’s easier to ensure that quicker exit with a degree.
What is the difference between a direct-entry BSN and a pre-licensure BSN?
Each degree path is for a different audience. Direct-entry BSN programs allow high school seniors who already know they want to pursue a nursing career to directly enroll in a program immediately after they’ve graduated. This means they won’t need to wait until their sophomore or junior year of college to apply to a nursing program after meeting general prerequisites. Pre-licensure BSN programs are designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field outside of nursing. These accelerated programs allow students to earn their BSN degree while also working toward obtaining a master’s degree.
