Top Accredited Online Nursing Programs (2025)
A 2025 shortlist of reputable, accredited online nursing programs—RN-to-BSN, MSN/FNP, and DNP—plus how to verify accreditation, state authorization, and real time-to-degree.
Looking for an online nursing program you can trust? Start with accreditation, then compare costs, timelines, and state authorization. Below you’ll find a concise 2025 shortlist across RN-to-BSN, MSN/FNP, and DNP tracks—followed by a quick vetting checklist so you can verify details before you apply.
First things first: accreditation (what matters)
- Programmatic accreditors: CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) and ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) are the major U.S. accreditors for nursing degrees.
- Why it matters: accreditation supports licensure/advanced certification eligibility, employer recognition, and graduate-school pathways.
- How to verify: check the school’s nursing page and confirm on the accreditor’s site; look for the CCNE or ACEN statement on the specific program page.
RN-to-BSN (post-licensure) — credible, fully online options
- Western Governors University (WGU) — CCNE-accredited, competency-based format; designed for working RNs and often finished quickly with transfer credit.
- Arizona State University (ASU Online) — CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN with a well-known university brand; concurrent enrollment pathway available with select community colleges.
- Penn State World Campus — CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN from a flagship public; fully online with established support for adult learners.
- University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) — CCNE-accredited RN-to-BSN designed for working nurses; streamlined clinicals embedded in professional practice.
Good fit if: you’re a licensed RN seeking a faster bachelor’s completion with broad employer recognition.
MSN & Nurse Practitioner pathways (online/hybrid)
- University of Cincinnati — MSN FNP (online) — CCNE-accredited family NP track with multiple starts per year.
- Duke University School of Nursing — MSN (distance-based with required intensives) — nationally recognized, CCNE-accredited graduate pathways.
- Frontier Nursing University — MSN (NP/Midwifery) — ACEN-accredited programs with long experience in distance advanced practice education.
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing — DNP Advanced Practice — CCNE-accredited NP tracks delivered primarily online with planned campus immersions.
Good fit if: you’re advancing to APRN roles (FNP, AGPCNP, etc.) and can complete local precepted clinical hours with occasional campus immersions.
DNP (practice doctorate) — leadership & advanced practice
- Johns Hopkins University — DNP — CCNE-accredited executive and APRN pathways; online coursework with scheduled in-person components.
- Duke University — DNP — distance-based, CCNE-accredited leadership and clinical options; designed for working nurses.
How to vet any online nursing program in 10 minutes
- Accreditation: confirm CCNE or ACEN on the program page and, if needed, on the accreditor’s website.
- State authorization: check your state’s eligibility and any clinical restrictions (some programs list a state map).
- Format & time: note term length (8-week vs 16-week vs competency-based), required credits, and typical time-to-finish for students like you.
- Clinical placement: verify who secures preceptors and the number of hours required; ask about local site approval.
- Total cost: multiply per-credit tuition by required credits and add mandatory fees (tech, proctoring, graduation).
FAQs (quick answers)
RN-to-BSN vs pre-licensure BSN online? Most fully online BSN options are RN-to-BSN (for already-licensed RNs). Pre-licensure BSN programs usually include on-site clinicals and may be hybrid or location-limited.
Do NP/DNP programs require campus visits? Often yes—short intensives for skills/simulation—while didactics remain online.
Will my state/board accept this degree? Check the program’s state authorization page and your state board of nursing; some states have additional rules for clinical placements.
Bottom line
Pick programs that are clearly CCNE- or ACEN-accredited, transparent on state authorization, and realistic about clinicals and timelines. The schools above are solid starting points—verify details for your state, compare total cost, and choose the path that advances your role with the fewest surprises.
