Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Tulsa, OK

It can feel intimidating to enter a new profession. Program developers at Tulsa, Oklahoma know this and have designed ADN and BSN transition programs with this new-career anxiety in mind. With flexible schedules and online classes, nursing programs in Tulsa make starting a career a bit less stressful.

LPN to RN Programs

Hospitals, medical centers, and senior care facilities need the help of Licensed Practical Nurses to assist with patient care. LPNs, however, can take on potentially more rewarding job duties by becoming RNs. In addition to receiving higher compensation, RNs are more involved in direct patient care. Oklahoma State University outside of Tulsa gives LPNs with an active license the opportunity to get their RN in an efficient, cost-effective manner. By making the most of their recent training, LPNs can make every credit count at OSU’s LPN to RN bridge program.

ADN Programs

Two-year associate degree programs allow students to enter the field of nursing directly from the ground level. With low barriers to entry, these Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs tend to include general education courses as well as hands-on and theoretical nursing coursework. Since 1971, Tulsa Community College has been offering a locally recognized nursing education program that prepares students to sit for the NCLEX. The ADN program has a pass rate of 84%, which rivals the state’s pass rate.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Launch your nursing career with a bachelor’s degree and you can likely enter the workforce at a higher salary than those with an associate degree. A BSN also allows you to take on greater patient responsibilities from the gate allowing you to have an instant effect on patient care. Rogers State University outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma offers a traditional BSN program that focuses on the ethics of nursing and patient-focused care. It also hones in on the use of contemporary information technology systems so graduates are prepared to enter today’s workforce.

Find out more about Oklahoma Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Tulsa, OK

Earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree becomes less strenuous when you are given a straight-forward path to completion. Due to the big demand for nurses with advanced capabilities, more universities are offering no-frills, just-the-facts bridge programs so Registered Nurses can earn their BSN fast and at times that are convenient to them.

RN to BSN Programs

Registered nurses who want to get ahead in their careers without taking time away from work can benefit from "bridge" RN to BSN programs. Built specifically for busy nurses, these bridge programs offer expedience and flexibility, two features that are required for today’s adult students. Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma offers an  RN to BSN program for interested students. It offers working nurses the ability to take courses so that they can earn their degrees without slowing down their careers.

Learn more about Oklahoma RN to BSN Programs.

List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs

Claremore, OK

Rogers State University

  • RN to BSN - Nursing RN-to-BSN

    Online Learning - Website

    • 4-Year program
    • 120 total credit hours
    • Financial aid available
    • 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio
    • 99% small class sizes
    • 80%+ receive financial aid
    • U.S. News most affordable
    • Low in-state tuition online

Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

  • RN to BSN - RN to BSN

    Online Learning - Website

    • 120 total credit hours
    • 2.5 GPA minimum
    • Prerequisite courses required
    • Advanced standing for RN license
    • Portfolio review for prior credits
    • Capstone course required
    • Leadership and management focus
    • Cultural considerations in care
*Data obtained from: NCES IPEDS 2025 database. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Tulsa, OK

Advanced practice registered nurses and nursing administrators in Tulsa, OK are stepping up to take on high-level roles in healthcare.  Nurses often work chaotic schedules, and in the past, this has been a barrier for returning to school. Today, universities offer MSN, post-graduate certificates, and doctorate programs at times that are conducive to non-standard work shifts. As a result, more nurses are continuing their education.

MSN Programs

Master’s degree programs train and educate veteran nurses to become administrators or advanced practice nurses, who take on broader roles in healthcare. Those nurses seeking to mentor, teach and inspire others can begin their advanced education at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a faith-based institution of higher education. The MSN offering has an education and an administrative track and offers some distance learning options.

Find out more about Oklahoma Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Post-Master's Certificate Programs

Nurses with advanced degrees who seek to enter a specific area of care can earn a post-graduate certificate. As specializing becomes more common across healthcare, nurses with a specialty can earn a higher wage and become sought-after by preferred employers. These specialties often require their own examination. The University of Oklahoma offers the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate in a mostly distance learning setting (though some on-campus attendance is required). It prepares students for the AANP - FNP primary care certification exam.

Find out more about Oklahoma Post-Master's Certificate Programs.

DNP & Ph.D. Programs

To affect the larger field of healthcare rather than individual patient care, nurses must earn a terminal degree such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a Doctor of Philosophy. By becoming industry leaders, nurses can become researchers as well as and university deans or professors. The University of Tulsa offers multiple DNP degree specialties.

Find out more about Oklahoma DNP Programs.

List of APRN (MSN, DNP, & NP) Programs in Tulsa

Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

  • BSN to MSN - Nursing, M.S.N.

    Concentration: Public Health Global Vision - Online Learning - Website

    • Online program format.
    • Public Health Global Vision concentration.
    • 30 total credit hours.
    • 18 core course hours.
    • 9 specialization track hours.
    • 3 capstone course hours.
    • Requires BSN degree.
    • Unencumbered RN license needed.
  • MSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, D.N.P.

    Campus Based - Website

    • Full-time enrollment
    • Extensive simulation and skills lab training
    • Faculty-arranged clinical placements
    • Eligible for ANCC board exam
    • Prepares for acute and critical care practice
    • Course load: 7-12 credits per semester
  • MSN to DNP - D.N.P. Specialist Certificate in Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

    Online Learning - Website

    • 18 total credit hours
    • 6 total courses
    • 3.0 GPA minimum
    • 600 clinical hours
    • Work experience required
    • Prerequisite courses required
    • Fully online format
    • Designed for licensed APRNs
  • MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice

    Concentration: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Online & Campus Based - Website

    • 4 concentration options
    • 100% licensure pass rate
    • Taught by practicing experts
    • State-of-the-art simulation labs
    • Hands-on clinical experiences
    • Nationally ranked by U.S. News
  • MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice

    Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner - Online & Campus Based - Website

    • 4 concentration options
    • 100% licensure pass rate
    • State-of-the-art simulation lab
    • Hands-on clinical experiences
    • Taught by practicing experts
    • Faculty and preceptor matching
  • MSN to DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice

    Concentration: Nurse Anesthesia - Online & Campus Based - Website

    • 4 concentration options
    • 100% licensure pass rate
    • Ranked #1 in Oklahoma for 2023
    • Ranked 109th nationally by U.S. News
    • State-of-the-art human patient simulation
    • Hands-on facilitated clinical experiences
    • Matched with faculty and preceptors
    • Taught by practicing experts
  • MSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner

    Online & Campus Based - Website

    • Prepares for American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
    • Clinical rotations in underserved clinics
    • Faculty-arranged clinical placements
    • Eligible for ANCC and AANP exams
    • Interdisciplinary primary care focus
    • Full-time, 6-12 credits per semester
    • D.N.P. project required
*Federal data source: IPEDS 2025, administered by NCES.