Kansas hospitals increasingly tie promotion and Magnet-status staffing goals to bachelor's-prepared nurses, and most working RNs finish that degree at night, on weekends, or between twelve-hour shifts rather than on a traditional semester clock. That reality shapes which program actually fits a paycheck and a schedule better than any prestige ranking does.
Seven Kansas institutions currently run an online or hybrid RN to BSN completion track, a mix of public universities and three private colleges, each with its own pacing, transfer rules, and per-credit pricing.
The gap between the cheapest and priciest of those seven runs into the thousands, and that spread, not the format itself, is what actually separates a smart enrollment decision from an expensive one.
Inside the Scoring Formula Behind This Kansas Ranking
Eligibility for this ranking began with one non-negotiable test: a Kansas nursing program had to be genuinely available through online or hybrid delivery, not just marketed as online. After that filter, schools were ordered by a quality composite, not by price or speed alone.
What Went Into the Composite
The composite weights four factors in plain terms. First, online/hybrid delivery eligibility was the entry test. Second, institution-wide graduation and retention rates signaled whether students tend to persist and finish. Third, average net price after aid approximated what a typical student actually pays. Fourth, College Scorecard completer outcomes captured employment and earnings signals where available.
Two limits matter. Graduation rate and net price reflect the whole institution, not only students in RN to BSN online programs. Program-level earnings exist for some Kansas schools but not all, so cross-school earnings comparisons remain uneven.
What the Ranking Does Not Claim
A higher rank does not mean a program is cheaper, faster, or higher-paying. It means the program cleared the online-delivery bar and scored well across the composite at the time of review.
To re-weight the list for your situation, start with the factor you care about most. If cost controls your decision, sort by net price after aid. If speed matters, look for 12-month full-time paths and review transfer-credit limits under RN to BSN Requirements. If you are bringing many credits, prioritize schools with generous articulation and prior-learning review.
Best Online RN to BSN Schools in Kansas
Below are the online-delivery-eligible RN to BSN programs in Kansas, ordered by a mixed quality composite rather than by sticker price or speed. Each entry notes the delivery format, what distinguishes the program, and one concrete figure drawn from federal and program data, plus intake timing wherever it is confirmed. Several Kansas programs are adjusting cohort structures for 2026-27, so confirm current admission status with the school before you apply.
How we ranked these
- Earnings ten years after entry
- Graduation and retention rates
- Program completion volume
- Accreditation and curriculum relevance
- Scheduling flexibility for working nurses
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
University of Kansas
#1Lawrence, KS · $12,000 – $30,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working RNs near the Kansas City metro
The University of Kansas is the state's flagship public research university, and its School of Nursing runs an online RN to BSN for licensed nurses that builds on prior nursing education. Coursework covers pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and evidence-based practice, capped by a clinical leadership practicum. Kansas community college students have a defined route in: Johnson County Community College reports that KU RN to BSN students in the Fall 2026 cohort enroll part time at about six credits per semester and finish in roughly two years, with the full-time 12-month option expected to return in Fall 2027. Note that the final 30 degree hours must be completed at KU, and online tuition is charged at a flat per-credit rate with no out-of-state surcharge.
- Online BSN completion for licensed registered nurses
- Coursework in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment
- Leadership, community health, and healthcare policy content
- Clinical leadership practicum applies skills in real settings
- No ACT or SAT entrance exam required
- Final 30 degree hours must be completed at KU
- Flat per-credit online tuition with no out-of-state surcharge
Fort Hays State University
#2Hays, KS · ~$13,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Self-paced learners juggling rotating shifts
Fort Hays State University is a public regional university in Hays with one of the most flexible online RN to BSN paths in the state. The CCNE-accredited program runs entirely online in 8-week sessions, awards advanced standing credit for RN training, and can be finished in as few as three semesters across 30 credit hours. Admission requires an active RN license and a minimum 2.5 GPA, and Kansas community college graduates receive guaranteed admission through a pathway with the Kansas Association of Community Colleges. Estimated online cost is about $4,134.75 per semester for 15 credits at a $275.65 per-credit online undergraduate rate, subject to annual Kansas Board of Regents approval, and residents of Tennessee, Alabama, and Washington are not eligible.
- Fully online, CCNE-accredited RN to BSN
- 30 credit hours across 10 courses, finish in as few as three semesters
- Courses delivered in 8-week sessions
- Three start dates per year: fall, spring, summer
- Minimum 2.5 GPA plus an active, unencumbered RN license
- Advanced standing credit awarded for RN training
- Guaranteed admission for Kansas community college graduates
- Not open to residents of Tennessee, Alabama, or Washington
Pittsburg State University
#3Pittsburg, KS · $16,000/yr (est. net price)
Best for: ADN students who want an early start
Pittsburg State University offers a fully online, CCNE-accredited RN to BSN for nurses who hold an ADN or diploma, organized as upper-division nursing coursework across three semesters. Students can study full time and finish in as little as 12 months, or spread the work across a part-time schedule. Coursework covers critical care, pediatrics, oncology, and other specialty areas while strengthening leadership, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice. A distinctive ADN to BSN jumpstart option lets students begin BSN coursework while they are still completing the associate degree.
- Fully online, CCNE-accredited RN to BSN for ADN or diploma nurses
- Three-semester upper-division nursing curriculum
- Full-time completion in as little as 12 months, or part-time
- ADN to BSN jumpstart begins coursework during the associate degree
- Specialty content in critical care, pediatrics, and oncology
- Emphasis on leadership, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice
Washburn University
#4Topeka, KS · ~$15,000/yr (est.)
Washburn University in Topeka delivers an online RN to BSN with no on-campus residency, taught by experienced nurse faculty through eight-week sessions that add up to completion in about 18 months. The CCNE-accredited curriculum focuses on leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety, with research opportunities available. A practical draw for returning nurses: previously earned credits never expire, and the program applies a program-wide tuition reduction. The next listed cohort begins January 2027 with a December 1, 2026 priority deadline, while the prior August 2026 start carried a July 1, 2026 priority deadline, and applicants complete the university application followed by the School of Nursing RN to BSN application.
- Fully online RN to BSN with no on-campus residency
- CCNE-accredited program
- Eight-week sessions, completion in about 18 months
- Previously earned credits never expire
- Coursework in leadership, quality improvement, and safety
- Reality-based instruction from experienced nurse faculty
- Program-wide tuition reduction applied
University of Saint Mary
#5Leavenworth, KS · ~$23,000/yr (est.)
The University of Saint Mary is a private Catholic university in Leavenworth with a CCNE-accredited online RN to BSN designed for working nurses. The 125-credit program accepts up to 96 transfer credits and covers gerontological nursing, informatics, research, leadership, pathophysiology, population health, and palliative care, with an emphasis on clinical decision-making. Graduates can continue into the university's MSN or MSN-FNP with a tuition discount.
- CCNE-accredited online RN to BSN for working nurses
- 125 credit hours, with up to 96 transfer credits accepted
- Gerontological nursing, informatics, research, and leadership
- Pathophysiology, population health, and palliative care courses
- Tuition discount toward the MSN or MSN-FNP
- Fully online courses with faculty support throughout
Baker University
#6Baldwin City, KS · ~$25,000/yr (est.)
Baker University, a private institution in Baldwin City, runs an online ADN to BSN bridge for registered nurses who already hold an associate degree. Terms run eight weeks with starts in January, May, and August, and students can move between full-time and part-time pacing to finish in as little as one year. A leadership capstone is completed in the student's own community, and the university awards credit for prior ADN coursework while offering career advising and scholarship support.
- Online ADN to BSN bridge for RNs with an associate degree
- 8-week terms starting in January, May, and August
- Full-time or part-time pacing, finish in as little as one year
- Leadership capstone completed in your own community
- Credit awarded for prior ADN coursework
- Students can pause studies for up to 12 months
- Personal career advising and scholarship opportunities
Rasmussen University-Kansas
#7Topeka, KS · ~$24,000/yr (est.)
Rasmussen University Kansas, based in Topeka, offers an online RN to BSN built around its Empowered Learning format, which lets nurses accelerate or slow their pace as work demands change. The 70-credit, 17-course curriculum can be completed in roughly 12 to 18 months, with eight start dates a year and in-person clinicals the university helps arrange locally. Estimated total tuition is about $24,650 before grants and self-directed assessments, which can reduce that figure, and an accelerated MSN pathway is available for graduates.
- Online RN to BSN for licensed, unencumbered RNs
- 70 credit hours across 17 courses
- Finish in as few as 12 to 18 months
- Eight start dates per year
- Full-time and part-time pacing through Empowered Learning
- Transfer up to 134 credits
- In-person clinicals arranged locally by the university
- Military benefits and employer tuition reimbursement accepted
Cost Comparison: What a Kansas RN to BSN Really Costs
Advertised per-credit rates rarely tell the whole story, so the table below pairs each school's published tuition and fee details with the institution-wide average net price reported to the U.S. Department of Education. Read those two numbers differently: net price is a campus-wide average of what all undergraduates pay after grants and scholarships, not a quote for an RN to BSN student, while the per-credit and credit-hour columns are what you would actually multiply out. Where a school has not published a current program-specific rate for its online completion track, the cell is marked N/A rather than estimated.
| School | Credits Required | Published Per-Credit Tuition (Online) | Mandatory Fees Noted | Residency Differential Online | Estimated Program Tuition and Fees | Institution-Wide Average Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hays State University | 30 | $226.88 | Not included in the per-credit rate; textbooks, uniforms, equipment and program lab fees are billed separately | Same rate for Kansas and out-of-state residents | $6,806.40 tuition only, before fees | $12,569 |
| Washburn University | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $15,280 |
| Pittsburg State University | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A (a separate source lists roughly $4,200 per year for Kansas residents and $9,872 per year for nonresidents, not confirmed as the online RN to BSN rate) | $15,784 |
| University of Kansas | 30 to 35 online nursing credits | $383.10 | $100 course fee and $80 e-learning fee per credit, plus a $168.49 RN to BSN fee in fall and spring | One online rate published; no in-state or out-of-state differential shown | About $16,761 at 30 credits (tuition and fees $16,593 plus the RN to BSN fee), excluding books | $18,059 |
| University of Saint Mary | 125 total, up to 96 transfer credits accepted | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $22,519 |
| Rasmussen University-Kansas | 70 | $345 | N/A | Single online rate | $24,650, or about $14,690 with grants and self-directed assessment savings | $23,980 |
| Baker University | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $25,301 |
Can You Finish a Kansas RN to BSN in 12 Months?
Yes, but only at certain schools, and only if your course load matches the marketing. Newman University advertises a 12-month accelerated completion, and Wichita State University offers a 12-month path alongside its standard 18-month track, both built on 8-week terms rather than traditional 16-week semesters. That pacing means back-to-back coursework with little breathing room between sessions, since 8-week blocks compress the same material into half the calendar time.
Accelerated Versus the Realistic Timeline
Most working RNs do not choose the Fastest RN to BSN Programs. Washburn University runs a 2-year online track in 8-week sessions with no accelerated alternative listed. The University of Kansas is currently enrolling part-time only, 6 credits per semester, which stretches completion to roughly 2 years for students starting in fall 2026 (a 12-month full-time option is expected to return in fall 2027). Wichita State allows students up to 6 years to finish part-time, which is the kind of cushion nurses juggling shift work actually use.
Why Credit Totals Change the Math
Required credits vary by school: Washburn's program totals 30 credit hours, Wichita State's runs 31, and KU requires 120 total semester credits toward the BSN, with 30 coming from KU nursing coursework and up to 31 accepted through portfolio review for RN to BSN of an accredited associate's degree. The more transfer and articulated credit a school accepts upfront, the fewer terms you need to sit through.
Is 12 Months Realistic on Three 12-Hour Shifts?
For most nurses working three 12-hour shifts weekly, a 12-month accelerated schedule is demanding but not impossible if your personal life has flexibility elsewhere. It works best in 8-week blocks with one course at a time. None of the four programs described here run a fully self-paced, competency-based model. All use fixed 8-week or semester-length terms with set start and end dates.
Kansas by City
Explore other Kansas related topics
What Kansas RN to BSN Programs Require From Applicants
Kansas programs share a common core of admission requirements, but the supporting documents vary school by school. Confirm specifics with each nursing office before you build your application file.
- Active, unencumbered RN licenseWashburn asks for an active, unencumbered license in your state of residence, Fort Hays State and the University of Kansas require current U.S. licensure, and Wichita State requires an active RN license. KU allows students coming through certain community college partnerships to enroll while licensure is still in process.
- Completed ADN or nursing diplomaAll of these programs are completion tracks built for licensed nurses who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5KU, Washburn, Fort Hays State, and Wichita State all set the bar at roughly 2.5. Fort Hays State will consider applicants between 2.00 and 2.49 for probationary admission, and Wichita State also looks for a C average across required coursework.
- Prerequisite general education courseworkKU expects 60 prerequisite credit hours before admission. Individual course lists are not published in the sources we reviewed, so ask each program directly which science and statistics courses must be finished before enrollment versus alongside it.
- Résumé and referencesWashburn requires a current résumé. KU applicants, including those transferring from Johnson County Community College, submit three references, and the JCCC pathway also calls for a professional résumé.
- Recent work experience (Wichita State)Applicants who completed an ADN five or more years ago must document 1,000 work hours within the last three years. Recent graduates are exempt.
- Clinical clearance before practicumFort Hays State requires clearance to be completed before its practicum course. Expect programs to verify immunizations, CPR certification, and background screening before you enter a clinical site, and budget time for those steps.
Transfer Credit Limits and Kansas Community College Articulation
Transferring a stack of community-college credits is not the same as transferring an active RN license, and Kansas programs treat the two categories very differently. Understanding those nursing school transfer requirements is what determines whether your BSN takes 12 months or 24.
How Much Actually Transfers
Most Kansas RN-to-BSN pathways sit on a 120-credit-hour BSN frame, with residency requirements carving out the final portion for the awarding school.
- KU: 30 residency hours must be completed at KU, and up to 31 nursing credits are awarded via portfolio review of an ACEN-accredited ADN or diploma program. Only transfer grades of C- or higher count toward graduation.
- FHSU: 120 total credits with 30 taken directly through FHSU. If you finished an AA or AS at a Kansas Board of Regents community college, general education is considered complete.
- Washburn: a 30-hour online upper-division track with no on-campus residency.
- Herzing Kansas: up to 70 semester credits accepted, including 24 block credits for RN licensure.
- JCCC to KU Medical Center partnership: a community college nursing partnership with 60 prerequisite liberal-arts credits before 30 to 35 online nursing credits.
What Usually Doesn't Transfer
Expired science prerequisites (anatomy, microbiology, chemistry often carry 5 to 7 year limits), courses graded below C-, and upper-division nursing residency hours generally cannot be waived, regardless of how strong the articulation agreement looks on paper.
Do This Before You Apply
Request an unofficial transfer credit evaluation from each program on your shortlist. It is usually free, and it tells you the two numbers that matter most: how many credits remain, and what tuition will actually cost.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Practicum Hours and Whether 'Fully Online' Is Actually Fully Online
"Fully online" rarely means zero in-person hours in an RN-to-BSN at the best nursing schools in Kansas. The real tradeoff is maximum schedule flexibility versus the practical leadership component that requires you to work with a preceptor, and each school handles that requirement differently.
Where the practicum hours land
The hour counts vary from zero to 60. Washburn's RN-to-BSN does not list a separate practicum or clinical-hour requirement, and it requires no on-campus residency. At the other end, Barclay College totals 60 clock hours across its second and third semester practicums, and it also requires no campus time beyond optional graduation or pinning. University of Kansas requires a 3-credit clinical leadership practicum, roughly 45 clock hours, at an approved site near home. Fort Hays State University embeds a required 32-hour in-person component with a BSN-prepared RN preceptor; if a site cannot be arranged near you due to out of state online nursing program licensure or facility restrictions, the school may assign you to Hays, Kansas. Wichita State's 2-credit nursing leadership practicum is arranged in an agency in your home state.
Precepted, not bedside clinicals
These are leadership and community health experiences, not traditional bedside rotations. You typically complete projects or observations under a preceptor who is often a BSN-prepared registered nurse or approved nursing leader. Many Kansas programs let you complete the practicum at a site near home or work, and some may allow your own employer if the site meets preceptor and contract requirements.
Paperwork that trips people up
Preceptor agreements, site affiliation contracts, and clearance deadlines are the common sticking points. For example, Fort Hays State may require a site contract, and your chosen preceptor must meet qualifications before hours begin. Submit forms early, because missing a deadline can delay your final semester.
From RN License to BSN: How the Kansas Enrollment Path Works
Kansas RN to BSN programs follow a predictable sequence, but the pace depends on how much of it you handle before the term starts. Here is the order the work actually happens in.
