2026 Best Online Nursing Degrees

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry. Online nursing degrees offer a flexible way for RNs to advance their careers and increase job opportunities. These programs vary in cost, schedule, and format, with some requiring in-person residencies and others offering accelerated options for faster completion. 

Nursing is one of the most popular majors, and hundreds of schools now offer nursing degree programs virtually. Students typically learn to assess health conditions, develop comprehensive care plans, educate patients and the public about health, monitor admissions and discharges, and supervise staff.

Some programs have concentrations so students can tailor their studies to a focused area of practice, such as family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, hospice, or public health.

Online nursing programs require students to complete much of their coursework remotely and then engage in on-site clinical practice activities at approved healthcare facilities near their homes.

The best type of nursing degree depends on which type of nurse a student wants to become. Those who are eager to enter the workforce may want to consider becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN). Students can enter these careers with only a nursing certificate or diploma, which typically takes one year to achieve.

For those who want to become registered nurses — taking on more responsibility and earning higher salaries than LPNS and LVNs — a two-year associate degree in nursing may be a better choice. Generally speaking, a nurse's earnings increase with their level of education, so a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing may be the best option for some. The most common online nursing programs are RN-to-BSN programs for RNs who have earned either a certificate or an associate degree and now want to complete a bachelor's degree in nursing. However, there are also online BSN programs for students who are not yet RNs and have no previous nursing education.

BSN programs prepare students for professional nursing practice. Coursework helps students develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, research, education, and leadership.

Some classes will involve hands-on, experiential learning activities, and most nursing programs online require a practicum in which students work in a supervised healthcare setting to gain a required number of clinical hours.

Some of the most common nursing courses include those below.

• Community Health: In this course, students learn how to care for individuals, families, groups, and high-risk populations in community health settings. They learn to care for patients of all ages by recognizing physical, psychological, social, and cultural needs in order to provide interventions as needed. The course often requires hands-on application of concepts as students work in various community health environments.
• Evidence-based Practice: This course provides nursing students with a systematic process for using current evidence and data to make decisions about patient care. Students learn how to research health literature, identify relevant qualitative and quantitative data, and analyze this information to make informed decisions.
• Health Assessment, Education, and Promotion: Students transition to a higher level of nursing practice in this course, where they learn to conduct a comprehensive physical examination, including collecting, organizing, interpreting, and recording patient data. They also explore the role of nurses as educators by learning to use health education and promotion strategies and to overcome patients' barriers to change.
• Health Informatics: Health informatics faculty introduce students to the latest information technology used in nursing practice. Students will use these tools to communicate data and other knowledge to inform patients and work with them to manage their care.

There are two main types of online bachelor's programs in nursing: direct-entry BSN, RN to BSN, and second-degree BSN. Each degree combines information-based classes with on-site clinical experience. Many online nursing programs also come with an accelerated option.

The table below highlights typical prerequisites, the average time to completion, and additional links for each degree.

Direct-entry BSN | High school diploma | Four years
RN to BSN | RN license | One to two years
Second-Degree BSN | Non-nursing bachelor's degree | Two to three years

Bridge Programs

Online nursing bridge programs may help nurses with existing credentials gain a higher degree in less time. For bachelor's students, the relevant program is the RN-to-BSN path. These programs usually require one year of work as an RN, but some programs allow students to submit an essay on nursing topics instead.

Bridge programs also generally require that nurses transfer 60 credits of general education and nursing courses. Applicants must have completed foundational courses in physical sciences, math, social sciences, and humanities.

Accelerated Nursing Programs

Accelerated and second-degree programs might help students to graduate college early by giving credit for previous experience or letting them take more classes in less time. Second-degree programs in nursing are designed for students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing area.

Accelerated programs are intensive and generally have high admissions standards.

Most second-degree programs in nursing advise incoming students not to hold a job while completing the program, as the coursework and clinical practicums are very demanding.

Career goals, specialization, and relevant experience will dictate which online nursing programs may suit you best. You'll need to decide how far you want to go with your career and what your plans are for the future. Once determined, you can start looking at specific schools and programs and what they have to offer that will help you meet your goals.

Below are some other factors to consider when choosing an online nursing program.

Accreditation: Accreditation ensures program curriculum, faculty, and learning outcomes meet state and national standards and is necessary for licensure. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) programmatically accredits many traditional bachelor's and master's programs, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits those online. Either is accepted for licensure. The US Department of Education can help identify accredited nursing programs.

Cost: It's important to choose an affordable program that meets educational and career goals while mitigating any student debt that you may incur. Earning transfer credits at a community college can help save money. Along with federal financial aid, students often choose to apply for private scholarships to help offset costs. You might also consider the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining a nursing license.

Degree Level: Students should pick the level appropriate to their background and career goals. It may help to look at several careers to note the degree requirements and research employers of interest to find out what they specifically want in a healthcare worker.

Exam Pass Rates: The NCLEX was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) as a way for nursing graduates to prove competency and earn state licenses. Most schools post NCLEX pass rates on their websites, allowing students to gauge the quality of their nursing programs by how many students pass on the first try.

Support for Online Learners: It can be challenging to complete a nursing program online without staff and faculty nearby. Therefore, it's essential to consider what kind of support for online students is available. For example, schools may offer writing and tutorial services online, library services and access to librarians, tech support, and opportunities to engage with other students through online clubs and associations. It's also important to ask about the best way to contact faculty and how quickly they typically respond.

Graduates can become registered nurses with a nursing certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree. This career pays median wages of $93,600 per year and features a 5% growth rate in new jobs through 2034.

Online BSN programs typically prepare students to pass their nursing certifications, including the NCLEX exam, and to obtain a license to practice nursing. Each nursing degree option also opens the door to different specializations. Prospective nurses who want to pursue a particular area of focus should pick a program that allows them to reach their desired level of specialization. We've listed a few specializations below.

Cardiac Care Nurse: These heart specialists provide care to patients during hospital or outpatient stays, including monitoring ongoing cardiac conditions. A large part of their work involves educating patients on the best ways to take care of themselves. RNs typically need one of several specialty certifications to find work as cardiac care nurses.

Geriatric Nurse: Geriatric nurses specialize in working with older adults. They perform assessments, administer medications, and prepare and update nursing plans for their patients, among other tasks. RNs can become geriatric nurses with only an associate degree, but some states require a BSN and possibly additional certification.

Pediatric Nurse: Pediatric nurses are RNs who work with children. They provide routine check-ups, administer medications and immunizations, and conduct screenings for developmental conditions. Many states require pediatric nurses to have a BSN, and some require them to obtain special certification in addition to their nursing licenses.

To legally practice as a nurse, all nursing candidates in the U.S. must first graduate from an accredited nursing program. They must then apply for an RN nursing license from their state nursing board, which requires passing the NCLEX, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

There are two types of examinations — the NCLEX-RN, which is for registered nurses, and the NCLEX-PN, which is for practical nurses. The tests are designed to ensure that nursing professionals have the appropriate healthcare and professional knowledge before they begin working with patients and handling sensitive healthcare information. Nursing students can find more details about the contents of the exams on the NCSBN website.

In addition to passing the appropriate NCLEX exam, nursing candidates must meet their state's board of nursing requirements to obtain licensure. Some states also require licensed nurses to complete continuing education hours during each license renewal period to demonstrate their knowledge and update their skills. Students can check with their state board to learn more about their specific licensing requirements.

Requirements for renewing a nursing license vary by state, but in most cases, nursing licenses need to be renewed once every two years. Some states set a specific deadline for renewal, such as the nurse's birthday.

Almost every state requires nurses to complete a documented number of continuing education hours, called CEUs or "contact hours," in order to maintain their licenses. The number of contact hours required may vary depending on whether the nurse works full or part time. If a license lapses, delinquency fees may occur. However, fees can be avoided if nurses request to have their licenses put on inactive status during their time away from work.

Approximately two-thirds of the states in the U.S. have entered into the Nurse Licensure Compact. This interstate agreement allows nurses who qualify for the multistate license to practice on-site nursing, telenursing, and nursing education in any of the states in the NLC without obtaining separate licenses for each state.

A bachelor's degree in nursing can open up many career opportunities. However, there are some specific advantages and disadvantages students may want to explore when deciding whether to pursue a BSN, particularly through distance learning.

Potential Benefits

• This degree has the potential to pay off in terms of salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary is $93,600 for RNs with bachelor's degrees, as compared to licensed nurses with associate degrees who earn a median annual salary of $62,340.
• The BLS predicts that about 189,100 new jobs for registered nurses will emerge over the next decade through 2034, and a bachelor's degree could help make graduates more competitive in the job market.
• Earning a BSN online allows students to choose from a broader range of schools without moving to a new location. It also means that they can complete coursework on their own schedules and fulfill requirements for clinical hours at healthcare facilities close to home.

Potential Drawbacks

• A BSN requires two additional years of education beyond an associate nursing degree, which means a higher cost for the degree and more time out of the workforce are required.
• As with other distance-learning programs, some online nursing students may feel somewhat disconnected from their peers, and they may not always reap the rewards of sharing information and experiences with classmates, which often occurs within the classroom environment.
• Some nursing jobs require long shifts during nontraditional hours, especially when working in a hospital or emergency care environment. Aspiring nurses who want a more traditional work schedule may prefer a career in a physician's office.

It depends on how much nursing education you already have. If you have an associate degree in nursing (ADN), you might finish an RN-to-BSN program in 1-2 years. Administrators design traditional BSN programs to take four years with a full-time schedule, but most college students take more than four years to finish.

Accredited online colleges are legitimate — not to mention increasingly respected — so make sure to only consider schools with institutional accreditation. These institutions work to ensure that their online programs feature the same level of quality as on-campus offerings.