Clarion University has the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN program in Pennsylvania.
RN-to-MSN.org recently announced this ranking.
"This ACEN-accredited and 100 percent Online RN to BSN is offered at a special tuition rate. Clarion is a public university, but prices are the same for in-state and out-of-state RN to BSN students. Discounts will be applied to your account in the form of an RN-BSN Waiver each semester," RNtoMSN.org stated on its website.
The ranking comes as no surprise to Clarion University nursing faculty who have worked to make this degree affordable.
"We are pleased to receive this recognition as the No. 1 Most Affordable Online RN-BSN program in Pennsylvania. Over the past several years, we have done several things to make the program more affordable and allow for a seamless progression for graduates of diploma or associate degree nursing programs," said Dr. Deb Kelly, chair of the Department of Nursing. "Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement as an incentive for their registered nurses to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. One of our goals was to minimize the out-of-pocket expenses that students would have to incur while completing their BSN degree. In addition to offering a tuition waiver which dramatically reduces the cost of program, the faculty worked to reduce the number of upper-level nursing courses from 33 to 30 by combining the content in some areas."
The nursing faculty also moved to an accelerated format, Kelly explained. Classes are offered in a seven-and-a-half-week format, which allows students to complete the program much faster than they could in a 15-week format. Clarion also offers a generous credit for prior learning and find that many students enter the program with their general education requirements met, so they only have the 10 nursing courses to complete.
"I believe that one of the real benefits of the program is how flexible it is," Kelly said.
Students can progress at their own pace.
According to Kelly, some students will take one course every seven-and-a-half weeks, while others will take two each seven-and-a-half weeks. Students also have the ability to take a term off. Additionally, there are six start dates each year, so students do not have to wait until a certain time of year to start the program.
"Employers have shared with us that when the students complete Clarion University's RN-BSN program, they are prepared to be leaders," Kelly said.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completion program builds upon the knowledge of registered nurses and continues their education completely online giving students a convenient edge.
The program aims to provide educational experiences designed to promote scientific inquiry, creative thinking, critical judgment and personal development. This establishes the basis for a variety of BSN learning activities that focus on professional nursing practice.
"I am proud to be able to work with such an innovative group of individuals who constantly remain student focused. The creative efforts of all the nursing faculty have allowed Clarion University to offer a rigorous, comprehensive ladder of programs at a reasonable cost to students and their families, maintaining quality even throughout the challenges of the pandemic," said Dr. Gwyneth Price, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services.
To learn more about this online program visit www.clarion.edu/rn-bsn or contact Lynne Lander Fleisher at lfleisher@clarion.edu.