RN to BSN
Advance your nursing degree and expand your career opportunities.
Program overview
Our RN to BSN program builds on the knowledge and experience of licensed registered nurses and those nearing completion of an associate or diploma program. You’ll strengthen your ability to provide evidence-based care while preparing for roles in management, education, advanced practice and other career opportunities. Earning your BSN positions you for professional growth in a field that values lifelong learning and excellence in patient care.
Ranked No. 5 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, the program combines high-quality coursework with personalized attention and flexible full- or part-time study. We make the degree accessible and affordable by using open and university-provided resources in all courses, eliminating the need to purchase textbooks. You’ll learn from expert faculty at a university recognized for academic excellence.
Application deadline
Summer 2026
Deadline: April 30
Autumn 2026
Deadline: June 30
Second application window for Autumn 2026 opens July 1.
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Online
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24 credit hours
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12-15 months
Eligibility requirements
- An associate degree in nursing or nursing diploma from an ACEN or CNEA accredited program
- If you’re in the process of completing your associate degree, it must be conferred by the start of the RN to BSN program
- Beginning Autumn 2026
- Ohio-based students entering the last semester of an accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program are eligible to apply for concurrent enrollment
- Out of state students may apply while degree or diploma is still in progress, but must receive it by the start of your term of admission
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
- For all undergraduate coursework from any college or university
- Current or former Ohio State students must also have an Ohio State GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Reside in an authorized state
- An active and unrestrictive RN license in the state where you practice by the start of Nursing Advancement 4240
- International student credentials
- Hold an active unencumbered RN license to practice in the United States or a Credentials Evaluation Service Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
- Graduate Entry students only beginning Autumn 2026
- Option for students who completed the pre-licensure portion of the program but not the Master of Science in Nursing
- An active unencumbered RN license and live in an authorized state
- No completed graduate work can fulfill undergraduate requirements
Students transferring from another accredited RN to BSN program are welcome to apply. Our policy allows for a maximum of four RN to BSN credit hours to be considered for transfer credit.
You will complete a 12- or 15-month plan of study that builds on the education and skills obtained during your previous education. Coursework is completed entirely online, asynchronously, meaning on your own time. You must complete 21 credit hours of core nursing courses and one three credit hour nursing elective at Ohio State.
To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, you must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework for residency status at Ohio State, 120 credits hours total, and fulfill all the general education requirements.
Completing the general education requirements may increase your time to graduation.
Sample schedules
Semester 1
- NRSADVN 2440
- NRSADVN 4600
Semester 2
- NRSADVN 4780
- NRSADVN 4520
Semester 3
- NRSADVN 4240
- NRSADVN 3430
Semester 4
- NRSADVN 4402
- Nursing Elective (3)
Semester 1
- NRSADVN 2440
- NRSADVN 4780
- NRSADVN 4600
Semester 2
- NRSADVN 4240
- NRSADVN 4520
- NRSADVN 3430
Semester 3
- NRSADVN 4402
- Nursing Elective (3)
- NRSADVN 2440 Foundations and Contemporary Issues for Registered Nurses (3 credits)
- NRSADVN 3430 Cultural Competence in Health Care: US and Global Contexts (3 credits)
- NRSADVN 4240 Concepts in Community Health Nursing (4 credits)
- NRSADVN 4402 Evolving Concepts in Leadership and Management (5 credits)
- NRSADVN 4520 HealthCare Informatics (2 credits)
- NRSADVN 4600 Interprofessional Concepts
- NRSADVN 4780 Evidence Based Practice: Transforming Healthcare
- Nursing Elective (3 credits)
- Additional courses to reach 30 credit hours completed at Ohio State (6 credits)
- Additional courses to reach 120 credit hours, if needed
- Nurse Coaching Graduate Certificate Courses
- Nursing 7342 Motivational Interviewing
- Nursing 7343 Intro to Nurse Coaching
- Nursing 7345 Advanced Nurse Coaching
General Education (GE) Requirement
An overview of the GE requirements can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Education website. There are online options for all GE requirements. For assistance with determining if a course taken at another institution will satisfy a general education requirement, contact the Ohio State Office of Undergraduate Admission at askabuckeye@osu.edu.
Consider pursuing one of the following online undergraduate nursing certificates to fulfill coursework:
Allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status. You can track the status of your application through your applicant center. Direct questions about application materials to OnlineEnrollment@osu.edu.
- Deadline
- Submit your application and all required materials by the posted deadline.
- Decision
- Decisions are made on a rolling basis — about one month after you submit your application.
- You will be notified through your Applicant Center and by email from Graduate and Professional Admissions.
- Accept offer
- Within two weeks of notification accept your offer online.
- The offer of admission will be cancelled two weeks prior to the start of the semester if you have not responded to your offer.
- You will receive a virtual admissions packet with next steps.
- Newly admitted students are required to pay a $100 acceptance fee.
- This fee is waived for current Ohio State students.
How to apply
Complete the online application. Once submitted, all responses are final and cannot be changed
- Application fee: $60, due at submission
- Essays: The application includes essay questions you must answer
- You can start, save, and return to your application to work on essays in multiple sittings
Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes college coursework completed in high school that appears as transfer credit. Ohio State transcripts are not required.
Official transcripts must be sent directly by the institution:
- Email: gpadocs@osu.edu
- Mail:
The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
You may upload a copy of an official transcript with your application. These are considered unofficial but sufficient for initial review. Web-based grade reports or other online documents are not accepted.
If admitted, you must provide official transcripts sent directly from your previous institutions.
For more submission details, visit Graduate and Professional Admissions.
For questions, call 614-292-9444 or email gpadmissions@osu.edu.
International applicants must meet Ohio State’s English proficiency requirements.
Applicants must submit all application materials by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline to be considered for admission.
Contact
FAQ
The program has projects embedded in specific courses. The projects require the use of nursing clinical judgement and can be completed in communities or organizations close to your location.
If you need to modify your curriculum plan, reach out to your academic advisor.
Undergraduate Admissions can help determine how non-nursing courses transfer and if they will fulfill general education requirements.
Students must reside in the US to attend the RN to BSN program. US students must also reside in a state where Ohio State is authorized to offer distance learning nursing programs. Learn more about eligibility.
Ohio State offers a tuition assistance program for employees and eligibility is based on your employment status. Consult with your Human Resources representative for more information.
Yes, there is a required online orientation due before the first day of class. There may also be the opportunity for an in-person orientation for students depending on the start term and although not required, it is highly recommended.
Students are admitted on a rolling basis for spring, summer or autumn semester.
Attend Ohio State while completing your last semester at an Ohio associate degree or diploma program.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at The Ohio State University College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.