- Based on the quarter system; 1–3 courses per 10-week quarter
- 1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
- Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
- Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or quarter
RN-to-BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Get ready to help improve the quality of care for your patients with the online Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-to-BSN from Capella. Designed for licensed RNs, this program can help streamline your path to a nursing degree. It integrates the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials for Professional Nursing Education to help equip you with the latest nursing standards to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.
At a glance
- Online
- FlexPath available
- CCNE accredited
- 9 Core courses
- 180 Total quarter credits (135 max transfer)
With FlexPath, you can complete your RN-to-BSN program in under 9 months for less than $10,000.*
*Based on fastest 25% of students. Your program length and cost will vary by transfer credits, the per-session cost and how quickly you complete courses. Books, supplies and other fees apply.
Explore RN-to-BSN courses
- This degree requires a total of 90 program points in FlexPath or 180 quarter credits in GuidedPath
- You’ll need to complete nine core courses in addition to general education, foundational and elective courses
Show all descriptions
NURS4035
Enhancing Patient Safety and Quality of Care
6 quarter credits
Learners build and demonstrate the skills necessary to contribute to the quality improvement of health care and patient safety. Learners analyze elements of successful quality improvements as well as factors that lead to patient safety risks. In addition, learners identify organizational interventions to promote patient safety and facilitate quality improvement processes to achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. For BSN learners only. Prerequisite: NURS4015, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4025.
6 quarter credits
NURS4025
Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making
6 quarter credits
Learners interpret research and apply an evidence-based practice model to make informed decisions in care planning. Learners analyze the relevance and effectiveness of evidence in the processes of clinical reasoning and judgement to support interventions that result in desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. For BSN learners only. Prerequisite: NURS4005, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4015.
6 quarter credits
NURS4045
Nursing Informatics: Managing Health Information and Technology
6 quarter credits
Learners leverage technology to effectively and efficiently achieve desired patient, systems, and population outcomes. Learners develop and demonstrate generalist nursing practices needed to manage health information and patient care technologies. Learner also develop strategies to improve security of patient information. For BSN learners only. Prerequisite: NURS4025 or NURS6011, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4035 or NURS6016.
6 quarter credits
NURS4055
Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice
6 quarter credits
Learners analyze the community and public health milieu, with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention within a variety of community settings. Learners apply principles of community and public health, health promotion, and epidemiology, to create environments that improve health and safety. Learners also examine leading health care indicators, health policy, and emergency preparedness. For BSN learners only. Prerequisite: NURS4035 or NURS6016, completion of or concurrent registration in NURS4045.
6 quarter credits
NURS4065
Patient-Centered Care Coordination
6 quarter credits
Learners apply the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the unique biopsychosocial attributes and situational context of each individual patient while recognizing the patient as full partner in all health care decision making. Learners collaborate and adapt practices to support patient-centered care and defend decisions based on the code of ethics for nursing. Learners are required to complete 40 practicum hours. For BSN learners only. Special permission is required for registration. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning. Prerequisite: NURS4035 or NURS6016, completion or concurrent registration in NURS4045
6 quarter credits
Try FlexPath for yourself
In our nongraded, noncredit-bearing FlexPath Trial Course, you’ll explore online self-paced learning, experience the courseroom and view a sample assessment.
What you’ll learn
In this specialization, students will be given opportunities to build knowledge, skills and decision-making abilities in line with the 2021 AACN Essentials for professional nursing education. The curriculum emphasizes contemporary nursing standards, equipping students to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.
Students will be given opportunities to gain a deep understanding of nursing concepts, allowing them to deliver exceptional care across all patient demographics and healthcare systems. The comprehensive practicum experience focuses on evidence-based practice to help prepare students for various healthcare settings. The program also emphasizes leadership and evidence-based nursing practices, teaching how to promote health and prevent disease in individuals and communities.
On successful completion of this program, you should be able to:
- Lead people and processes to improve patient, systems and population outcomes
- Make clinical and operational decisions based upon the best available evidence
- Transform processes to improve quality, enhance patient safety and reduce the cost of care
- Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes
- Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes
- Implement patient-centered care to improve quality of care and the patient experience
- Integrate professional standards and values into practice
- Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based strategies to create effective written and oral communications
How much does the BSN cost?
The total cost of your degree will depend on your learning format, academic performance and other factors. See FlexPath and GuidedPath cost information below.*
A self-paced learning format that helps put you in control. Take courses at your own speed and move on to the next course whenever you’re ready.
- Enroll in one or two core courses at a time and complete as many as you can in 12 weeks
- 2 Capella quarter credits = 1 program point
- Set your own deadlines, no courseroom discussions
- Pay a flat tuition fee per 12-week billing session
- $3,530 per 12-week billing session
- $125 resource kit
- 90 total program points
- 68 max transfer points
- $32 background check
- $2.99 CastleBranch service fee
$14,120
TYPICAL PACE 9 months
$21,180
SLOWER PACE 15 months
*This is only an estimate, effective July 7, 2025, and is subject to change.
Capella is committed to transparency in tuition and pricing. You will be responsible for costs in addition to tuition, which may include your resource kit, travel expenses and practicum costs. Compliance requirements are determined by the practicum sites and may pose an additional cost.
By the end of your first billing session or quarter, you must complete a background check through CastleBranch, a third-party vendor.
As of February 13, 2025, CastleBranch imposed a service fee of $2.99, which is subject to change at their discretion.
Your tuition amount will vary depending on your unique circumstances such as your program specialization, transfer credits, any applicable tuition discounts and how quickly you complete courses. Books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other expenses are not included. Tuition estimates shown for the FlexPath learning format assume average number of credits and are based on:
- “Typical pace” (median speed of FlexPath students)
- “Slower pace” (speed of fastest 75% of FlexPath students)
New or recently revised program estimates are based on comparable programs. Military Tuition Assistance is not available for the FlexPath learning format. Review program-specific fee amounts in our University Catalog.
Get the details
Find out more about financing and payment options to help you complete your program. Federal aid also is available to help manage the costs of higher education.
Connect with an enrollment specialist to further discuss the cost of the program and explore your eligibility for scholarships and discounts.
A structured learning format with an active peer community and faculty guidance. We’ll set the schedule, you meet the deadlines.
- $375 per 1000-2000 level credit $400 per 3000-4000 level credit
- $125 resource kit
- 180 total quarter credits
- 135 max transfer credits
- $32 background check
- $2.99 CastleBranch service fee
$18,000
MAX TRANSFER CREDITS 18 months
$22,250
AVERAGE TRANSFER CREDITS 24 months
*This is only an estimate, effective July 7, 2025, and is subject to change.
Capella is committed to transparency in tuition and pricing. You will be responsible for costs in addition to tuition, which may include your resource kit, travel expenses and practicum costs. Compliance requirements are determined by the practicum sites and may pose an additional cost.
By the end of your first billing session or quarter, you must complete a background check through CastleBranch, a third-party vendor.
As of February 13, 2025, CastleBranch imposed a service fee of $2.99, which is subject to change at their discretion.
Your tuition amount will vary depending on your unique circumstances such as your program specialization, transfer credits and any applicable tuition discounts. Books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other expenses are not included. Tuition estimates shown for the GuidedPath learning format depend on the number of credits accepted for transfer.
New or recently revised program estimates are based on comparable programs. Review program-specific fee amounts in our University Catalog.
Get the details
Find out more about financing and payment options to help you complete your program. Federal aid also is available to help manage the costs of higher education.
Connect with an enrollment specialist to further discuss the cost of the program and explore your eligibility for scholarships and discounts.
Are there scholarships available for bachelor’s degrees?
Your education is an investment in your future. There are more ways to save than you might think.
Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Accreditation and recognitions provide evidence that we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, student services and fiscal stability.
See all our accreditations and recognitions.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Capella University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
What are the BSN admission requirements?
Applicants to the BS in Nursing, RN-to-BSN program must provide the following information for admission:
- Associate degree in nursing from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency or an internationally recognized institution
- Your official transcripts, with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- A valid, government-issued form of photo identification
- RN license verification and work experience acknowledgement form that verifies your current, unrestricted RN license (or its equivalent) to practice in the United States
- Admission application (no application fee required)
- A background check and additional core compliance requirements
SAT and ACT are not required for admission.
Capella University is not currently accepting applications for the BSN program from Washington residents.
FlexPath admission requirements
Applicants for our FlexPath self-paced learning option must also meet the following criteria:
- High school diploma or equivalent and 45 transferable college credits.
- The recommended minimum GPA is 2.8 OR at least 100 applied transfer college credits. If GPA is below 2.8 and less than 100 applied transfer college credits, those may be considered if providing additional documentation for review.
Transition to FlexPath: Applicants whose GPA is below the FlexPath admission threshold may be considered once they successfully complete at least two GuidedPath courses (or 8 credits, whichever is greater). Those students will also need to meet the requirement of 45 transfer credits to be approved for the transition into FlexPath.
Accelerated Master’s Pathway (AMP) admission requirements
- To qualify for an AMP option, you must submit transcripts from all previous higher education institutions, have received a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on all previous college coursework, and have no fewer than 24 total eligible transfer credits.
- Once enrolled in a GuidedPath AMP option, you must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.8 and receive no more than one grade of “C” in any master’s-level course to remain enrolled in the AMP option.
- Once enrolled in a FlexPath AMP option,* you must earn a minimum “Proficient” evaluation on all competencies in your program to remain enrolled in the AMP option. If you fall below this threshold, you’ll be automatically changed into the associated non-AMP undergraduate offering.
- When you have successfully completed the requirements for your bachelor’s degree program and your degree has been awarded, you may apply to the master’s degree program that corresponds with your chosen AMP option. You’re not guaranteed admission into a corresponding master’s degree program and you must complete a separate application for admission to the program.
*Students enrolled in the Capella RN-to-BSN AMP program in the FlexPath learning format will become ineligible to enroll in the MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization if they progress through certain coursework in any of the following courses: NHS-FP6004, NHS-FPX6004, NHS-FP6008, NHS-FPX6008, MSN-FP6011, NURS-FPX6011, MSN-FP6016 or NURS-FPX6016. FlexPath courses cannot be transferred into the MSN-AGPCNP or MSN-FNP specializations. To learn more, contact a Capella coach or call enrollment services at 1-866-736-1751.
International student requirements
If you live outside the U.S. or aren’t a U.S. citizen, you may be considered an international student.
To meet the requirements for Capella admission, you must:
- Earn the minimum score on an acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
- Attend an internationally recognized institution
- Provide transcripts for evaluation
Learn more about international student admissions.
What support does Capella offer online students?
Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of a bachelor’s student. We’ve structured the experience in manageable pieces to help you earn your degree with support from faculty, staff and online resources.
Faculty spotlight
Marisha (Marissa) Grimley, DNP, RN, PHN
Program Director, BSN
Articles and resources
Expand your perspective on academic and career topics with articles and resources from Capella University.
How does FlexPath work?
There are so many things that make FlexPath unique. Learn more about what you can expect to see as a FlexPath student.
7 ways Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society membership benefits nursing students
Discover how a Capella education and membership in Sigma Theta Tau can help promote professional development in nursing.
Continuing education with no tuition costs
Build skills, work toward licensure renewal and meet CE requirements when you earn contact hours through on-demand nursing webinars.
What can you do with a BSN degree?
Your education can help you reach your professional and personal goals. While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here are some ideas and examples for a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-to-BSN.
Job titles to explore*
- Assistant nurse manager
- Case management registered nurse
- Home health registered nurse
- ICU registered nurse
- Nurse manager
- Oncology registered nurse
- Registered nurse
- Registered nurse case manager
Employment settings to explore*
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Home healthcare services
- Miscellaneous ambulatory healthcare services
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
- Offices of physicians (except mental health specialists)
*These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.