Best RN BSN Programs + Online Options in Indiana
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Credit: pawel.gaul | E+ | Getty ImagesIndiana is commonly called the “Hoosier” state. It is in the Midwest and has a true small town charm. It is also home to the Indianapolis 500, stunning caves, gorgeous forests, and Amish pies. This means that if you live, study and/or work here, you are guaranteed to have great time.
The state is known to have some of the best nursing schools in the country, particularly when it comes to nursing degree programs. Some 21,000 jobs have recently been added to the field of health care and it is likely that more will be added soon. This is because there is still a significant shortage. One of the ways the state wants to address this is by increasing job satisfaction for their nurses. Additionally, more scholarships are being developed to give people the opportunity to become nurses.
If you want to become part of this exciting workforce, then you should take the time to contact at least five different schools. Each these schools in Indiana offers different programs, has different admission requirements, program lengths, tuition fees and more. In order to help you get started in your search, here are the top Indiana BSN degree programs.
At Anderson University, students can take part in a nursing program that is known as one of the best of the best. It is a fully accredited program that allows students to take the NCLEX-RN examination. Ensuring that graduates are able to pass this exam is the top priority of the school and this shows in the fact that they had a 100% pass rate in the 2010-2011 cohort.
The curriculum of the program is all about liberal arts, analytical skills and other expertise needed in the profession of nursing. Students also have to be committed to delivering Christian service. Graduates are true generalist nurses who can deliver care to patients in a direct and indirect manner. Their patients can be individuals, but may also be entire families, communities or even populations.
• Campus: Anderson, IN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: Four years
• Online availability: No
• Degree requirements: High school or GED
• Programs: BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
Bethel College is a Christian liberal arts college and Christian values are instilled on all their students. The curriculum ensures that graduates are able to provide holistic care in the full range of health care settings. The school currently offers a BSN program, as well as an RN to BSN program. Many of those who take part in the RN to BSN program obtained their RN license by completing an associate’s degree at Bethel College.
• Campus: Mishawaka, IN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: NLNAC
• Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: 120 credit hours for BSN, 20 months for RN to BSN
• Online availability: No
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, RN if applicable
• Programs: RN to BSN, BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
Goshen College’s Nursing Department has a highly rated BSN degree program. Students are encouraged to show a commitment to their professional education and to come back to complete their master’s degree at a later stage. The emphasis is on the discipline of nursing and its link to liberal arts. Students are able to gain all the necessary knowledge and skills to become the best they can be, both professionally and personally. Graduates are ready to take on entry level positions in various health care settings. The curriculum itself looks at nursing theories, intercultural perspectives and scientific principles. Additionally, it incorporates Christian ethics. Graduates are committed to intellectual inquiry and often return to specialize in a certain field of nursing.
• Campus: Goshen, IN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: 4 years for BSN, 19 months for RN to BSN
• Online availability: No
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, RN if applicable
• Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
At Indiana University Kokomo, students are able to hone their critical thinking skills and take part in clinical and laboratory procedures throughout the length of the degree program. Students take part in true clinical immersion and they also take part in a capstone project in the sixth semester. During this time, students can work together with true professionals in the field. Additionally, the school offers an RN to BSN program for those who already have an associate’s degree in nursing and who have already passed the NCLEX-RN exam. This program can be completed fully online.
• Campus: Kokomo, IN
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: Varies depending on chosen track
• Online availability: Yes for RN to BSN
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, RN if applicable
• Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
The School of Nursing at Marian University has a range of programs at the undergraduate level that lead to a BSN degree. The programs have resulted in one of the most respected educational frameworks in the state. These include liberal arts and produces graduates who have all the required clinical competencies. The goal is to make sure graduates are able to play an important role in improving health care across the state, country and globe.
• Campus: Indianapolis, IN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: Varies depending on chosen track
• Online availability: Some hybrid and online classes
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, RN or bachelor’s degree if applicable
• Programs: BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
At Purdue University, students have to be committed to becoming the best possible nurse. This means they have to be compassionate, have the necessary technical skills, be educated both scientifically and in liberal arts, and have the heart of a nurse. Only then will they have the necessary power to be able to positively change people’s lives.
Nurses are the largest single group of workforce in the entire country. The role, which was that of a handmaiden originally, has changed tremendously and nurses are now part of the most important health care providers of all. Graduates of the program, therefore, are able to seek employment in all the different parts of the health care industry. Indeed, graduates find employment in neonatal intensive care units, surgery rooms and health clinics in the community to name but a few. The college ensures all graduates fully understand just how exciting and unlimited their opportunities for work are.
• Campus: West Lafayette, IN
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances
• Minimum time commitment: Four years for BSN, 87 credits for accelerated BSN
• Online availability: No
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, SAT/ACT, bachelor’s degree if applicable, interview
• Programs: BSN, accelerated BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
The nursing program at the University of Southern Indiana is designed to make sure the health care needs of local, regional and national populations are fully met. Graduates become experts in evidence-based practice, education, research and service by using the most state-of-the-art technology. The learning environment fostered by the faculty members focuses on holistic care where students learn to be culturally sensitive. Additionally, they will learn about global health problems and how they can serve as solution providers. Graduates become pivotal in the shaping of the new and modern health care environment. Furthermore, the program is designed for those who are committed to lifelong learning and wish to continue on to earn their master’s degree or even their doctorate degree in nursing.
• Campus: Evansville, IN
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: Varies depending on residency and whether students are on or off campus
• Minimum time commitment: 120 credit hours for BSN, 32 hours for RN to BSN
• Online availability: Yes for RN to BSN
• Degree requirements: High school or GED, SAT or ACT, personal statement, ADN and RN license if applicable, TOEFL if applicable
• Programs: BSN, RN to BSN
• School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid