Learn About Top Online RN to BSN Degree Programs in KS

Inside Kansas’ Online RN to BSN Programs

It may feel overwhelming to think about going back to school while juggling mounting work responsibilities and your personal life, but online RN to BSN programs in Kansas have your back. Designed for working professionals, these courses provide a flexible study schedule and relatively lower tuition. Earning your BSN in any format gives you access to better-paying jobs and a wider breadth of medical knowledge and advancement opportunities. Earning your BSN online can give you access to these benefits and so many more, particularly compared to other degree paths. Take a look below at some of Kansas’ RN to BSN schools that fit the bill.

Student Resources: Answers to Common Questions

Many Kansas-based online RN to BSN programs provide the same features, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to gather all the information you need to choose the right one for you. Here are some answers to the mostly commonly asked questions students like you have about RN to BSN online programs.

How will an RN-to-BSN program in Kansas prepare me for more opportunities?

First and foremost, BSN-prepared nurses are eligible for a greater number of positions, including advanced positions like nursing professor or researcher. With a BSN you will also be eligible to work at hospitals with a Magnet Recognition designation, which require nurse leaders to have a BSN at minimum. For higher positions in leadership or educational roles at hospitals and medical practices, many hiring teams strongly prefer or require a BSN. In fact, the Veterans Administration (VA)—the largest employer of nurses nationally—now requires BSN degrees for promotion from entry-level positions; they also provide scholarships to their employees to earn this certification.

How long is an RN to BSN program in Kansas?

Kansas RN to BSN programs are designed to be completed on flexible timelines, many of which are dictated entirely by the students taking them. Working nurses enrolled in the RN to BSN program at Kansas University can graduate in as little as one year of full-time study, or as many as five years of part-time study. You can expect to complete most programs within two years.

How much do RN to BSN programs in Kansas cost?

Online RN to BSN programs in Kansas are among the most affordable allied healthcare degrees. Online RN to BSN programs in Kansas are often affordable for a number of reasons. First, they can typically be completed in one year of full-time study, at a lower tuition rate than traditional in-person programs. Secondly, these online bridge programs often allow students to transfer credits over from their ADN programs, meaning students take—and pay for—fewer classes.

Washburn University has one of the lowest tuition costs in the country at just $261 per credit for both in and out-of-state students. Other schools like Fort Hays State University still offer affordable tuition rates but charge online students tuition rates associated with their state of residence. In-state students pay $187.80 while out-of-state students pay roughly three times as much. Most universities offer financial aid via the FAFSA, while many also offer need and merit-based scholarships. Wichita State University, for example, offers four different scholarships specifically geared towards nursing students including the Shirley E Hazen RN-BSN Endowed Nursing Scholarship.

What requirements do I need to meet to apply for admission to RN to BSN programs in Kansas?

The most important admission requirement to most RN to BSN programs online in Kansas is an active and unencumbered Kansas RN license. Some programs, like Wichita State University, may have slightly more flexible criteria which allow prospective students who do not yet possess an RN license to begin the program and obtain their licensure within the first semester of study. Other common requirements across programs in Kansas include a minimum GPA and an ADN. Additionally, many programs have prerequisites, but these are easily met by transferring credits over from your associate degree program.

What should I look for in an RN to BSN degree program in Kansas?

What you should look for in an RN to BSN program will inevitably be different than what someone else should, so be sure to consider what your priorities are, whether that be a flexible schedule, a low-cost or fast-track option, or an asynchronous course deliver format. In addition to your unique priorities, you should guarantee that the schools you are applying to are accredited, so that you can be confident in the quality of education you receive. RN to BSN programs online across Kansas offer all these options.

RN vs. BSN Career Outlook in Kansas

The medical industry is constantly evolving with new technologies and techniques for patient care, so to stay competitive and improve your skills, it’s important that you evolve alongside it – and continuing your education is one of the best ways to do so. Turning your RN into a BSN will help you hone your clinical skills and improve your job outlook.

Nurses with BSNs typically earn higher salaries than those with only ADNs. The difference often more than makes up for the cost of getting a BSN. On average, RNs in Kansas take home an annual salary of roughly $85,000, while BSNs earn an average salary of $92,000. Of course, your exact salary depends on your specific location, level of experience, and place of work, among other factors. An RN to BSN online program in Kansas will teach you how to practice medicine in a more competent and effective way. BSNs expand your skill set, allowing you to have a more positive experience with your patients and within the medical system you work in. BSN programs also offer specialty courses that allow you to concentrate on a specific sector of nursing. All in all, pursuing your BSN can bring you to advanced opportunities in your journey as a nurse.

Top Online RN to BSN Programs in Kansas

The schools below were chosen using a streamlined methodology to determine the best online RN to BSN programs in Kansas. This list is based on a combined overview of accreditation, academics, financial aid, tuition, faculty, career services, and academic counseling, with a full description of our methodology available below. Read on to explore the top education options for potential students like you.