An online RN to BSN is a bachelor's completion degree for nurses who already hold an RN license, typically through an associate degree or diploma. It converts earlier coursework and clinical experience into a four-year credential. In Ohio, that credential increasingly decides promotions and access to MSN programs in Ohio or leadership roles, so the RN to BSN programs Ohio nurses compare are no longer a side option. A bsn degree in ohio can be finished in as little as ten months or stretch across five semesters.
The real tension is between speed, cost, and fit. Tuition runs from under $8,000 total at some public schools to far more at private colleges, so affordable RN to BSN online programs deserve a close look, and clinical rules and transfer credit vary widely.
The Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Ohio, Ranked
Ohio's strongest online RN to BSN options cluster around hospital-affiliated colleges and public universities, and every school below delivers the degree online so working nurses can keep their schedules and their paychecks. Each entry pairs an online-first format with what the institution is actually known for, from small-cohort teaching to statewide transfer pathways. Read for accreditation, start dates, and clinical requirements, because those three details decide fit more often than the order of this list does.
How we ranked these
- Earnings ten years after entry
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Online delivery capacity
- Nursing accreditation status
- Net price after aid
- 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
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
#1Columbus, OH · ~$10,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working RNs who prefer small class sizes
Mount Carmel College of Nursing is a hospital-affiliated, Roman Catholic college in Columbus built entirely around nursing and health science, which keeps classes small and faculty focused on clinical practice. Its online RN-BSN completion program is CCNE accredited and admits licensed RNs without an entrance exam, with full-time students finishing in roughly two to three semesters and part-time options for nurses who need a slower pace. The school graduates 54% of students. Expect a cohort-style experience capped at 25 to 30 students per course, plus military-friendly support for veterans.
- CCNE accredited RN-BSN completion program
- Admission requires a current, active RN license
- No ACT or SAT entrance exam required
- Full-time track finishes in two to three semesters
- Part-time study available for working nurses
- Classes capped at 25 to 30 students
- Small student-to-faculty ratio with faculty mentors
- Military-friendly college with veteran support
Ohio State University
#2Columbus, OH · $17,000/yr (est. net price)
Best for: ADN students starting BSN coursework early
Ohio State University is the largest public university in the state, and its online RN to BSN is one of the few Ohio pathways that lets ADN students begin BSN coursework before they finish the associate degree. The CCNE-accredited program runs 24 credits across eight asynchronous courses, with full-time students finishing in about a year and part-time students in about 15 months. The school graduates 88% of students. Path2BSN agreements with seven Ohio community colleges make this a natural fit for nurses already studying in the Columbus region.
- CCNE accredited; current term runs through June 30, 2036
- 24 credit hours across 8 courses
- Full-time track about 12 months; part-time about 15 months
- Asynchronous online courses with no textbooks to purchase
- Rolling admissions with spring, summer, and fall starts
- Concurrent enrollment for Ohio ADN students through Path2BSN
- Clinical projects completed in the student's local community
- 2.0 GPA minimum and a $60 application fee
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
#3Cincinnati, OH · $20,000/yr (est. net price)
Best for: Nurses applying prior credits toward a BSN
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science is a small, Catholic, hospital-affiliated college in Cincinnati whose catalog centers on nursing and allied health. Its fully online RN to BSN completion program requires 120 total credits and runs in accelerated seven-week sessions, with coursework in nursing research, leadership, and a capstone, plus credit transfer for prior education. The school graduates 73% of students. Nursing accreditation was not confirmed in the records we reviewed, so verify the program's current status with the college before applying.
- Fully online RN to BSN completion program
- 120 total credits required for the degree
- Accelerated seven-week course sessions
- Coursework in nursing research, leadership, and a capstone
- Credit transfer options for prior nursing education
- Unencumbered RN license required for admission
- No ACT or SAT required for RN applicants
- Financial aid and scholarships available
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
#4Cincinnati, OH · ~$18,000/yr (est.)
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a Cincinnati college tied to The Christ Hospital, a relationship spanning 120 years that gives students access to a large regional medical center. Its CCNE-accredited RN to BSN is 100% online with no mandatory login times, and both full-time and part-time tracks accommodate hospital schedules. The school graduates 56% of students. Coursework builds on existing RN practice and leans into leadership, evidence-based practice, and patient-centered care.
- CCNE accredited RN to BSN program
- 100% online coursework
- No mandatory login times
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
- Affiliated with The Christ Hospital, a regional medical center
- Curriculum emphasizes leadership and evidence-based practice
- Current RN license required; no ACT or SAT needed
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
#5Canton, OH · $24,000/yr (est. net price)
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a Canton college sponsored by Aultman Hospital, and its BSN completion path is designed for RNs who already hold an associate degree or diploma. The CCNE-accredited program is 100% online and lets students set their own study schedule, with completion possible in as little as five semesters at a flat per-credit rate and minimal fees. The school graduates 53% of students. Fall and spring starts, with deadlines in August and December, keep entry points predictable.
- CCNE accredited BSN completion program
- 100% online with a self-paced study schedule
- Finish in as little as five semesters
- $315 per credit hour with minimal additional fees
- Fall deadline August 15; spring deadline December 19
- Fall and spring start terms
- Open to RNs with an associate degree or diploma
- Designed for working registered nurses
Mercy College of Ohio
#6Toledo, OH · $18,000/yr (est. net price)
Mercy College of Ohio is a Toledo institution focused on health professions, with ties to Mercy Health that can translate into debt-free education for eligible employees. Its CCNE-accredited RN to BSN is online, cohort-based, and can be finished in about a year full-time, with fall, spring, and summer starts and four clinical practice experiences arranged in the student's own community. The school graduates 56% of students. Up to 39 RN credits transfer, and an MSN Fast Track lets strong students bank graduate credit at undergraduate rates.
- CCNE accredited online RN to BSN
- Full-time completion possible in about one year
- Start dates in fall, spring, and summer
- Four clinical practice experiences arranged locally
- Up to 39 RN credits may transfer
- MSN Fast Track lets students earn graduate credit at undergraduate rates
- Mercy Health employees may qualify for debt-free education
- Cohort-based structure
Youngstown State University
#7Youngstown, OH · ~$13,000/yr (est.)
Youngstown State University is a public university in northeast Ohio with a long record of preparing nurses for the region's hospitals and clinics. Its CCNE-accredited RN-BSN Online Completion runs 28 credits across nine courses and can be finished in roughly 10 months, with block transfer credit for an ADN or ASN and an active RN license. The school graduates 50% of students. Four start dates a year keep entry flexible for nurses balancing shifts and family.
- CCNE accredited online RN to BSN completion
- 28 credit hours across 9 courses
- Finish in about 10 months
- Four start dates per year
- Block transfer credit for ADN or ASN plus an active RN license
- 2.0 GPA minimum and a $45 application fee
- Military benefits and financial aid accepted
- Core courses include informatics, community health, and a capstone
Inside Our Scoring: What Put These Ohio Schools on the List
What actually separated the programs on this list from the rest of the best nursing schools in Ohio? Before you act on any ranking, a short disclosure is fair.
The filter, then the score
Eligibility came first: an Ohio program had to offer RN to BSN online programs or a hybrid format to be considered at all. Campus-only completion tracks were set aside, no matter how strong the school. Qualifying programs then earned a composite score that rewards online delivery and layers in baseline institutional quality signals: graduation rate, net price, student retention, and published federal College Scorecard outcomes such as earnings and debt where they exist for nursing graduates.
What the numbers can and cannot tell you
Graduation rate and net price describe the whole institution, not the RN to BSN track specifically, and most completion students arrive with an associate degree and a license already in hand. Earnings and debt figures appear only where the federal data has been published; for some Ohio nursing programs, it has not been.
The score also leaves out three things working nurses care about deeply: per-credit tuition for the completion sequence, clinical or practicum requirements, and how generously a school accepts transfer credit. Each gets its own treatment further down this page.
Quick Answers: Clinical Hours, 6-Month Claims, and Dual ADN-BSN Enrollment
Three questions come up more than any others when Ohio nurses compare RN to BSN options. Here are straight answers based on what schools actually publish, so you can separate realistic timelines and requirements from marketing language.
Do 6-month RN to BSN programs actually exist, or is that a marketing claim?
Will an online RN to BSN in Ohio still ask me to complete clinical or practice hours?
Can I begin BSN coursework while I'm still finishing my ADN in Ohio?
What Ohio RN to BSN Programs Cost, and How to Shrink the Bill
When comparing rn to bsn programs ohio tuition, keep in mind that the published tuition and average net price columns below come from 2024 federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data and describe a typical full-time undergraduate year. RN to BSN students usually pay per credit only for the nursing courses left after transferring their ADN work, often 24 to 30 credits where schools publish it. That is why a public program at roughly $275 to $315 per credit can cost far less overall than its sticker price suggests, while private nursing colleges may post higher tuition yet use aid to pull net price below a public university's. To find the cheapest rn to bsn online route for your situation, start with employer tuition assistance (common at Ohio health systems, and some hospital-affiliated colleges offer reduced or debt-free tuition to their own staff), confirm whether a prorated Pell Grant or Ohio state aid still applies at part-time enrollment, transfer every credit you can, and ask each school for its current per-credit rate plus any separate online course fees before you commit.
| School | Sector | Published In-State Tuition and Fees (2024) | Average Net Price (2024) | RN to BSN Per-Credit Tuition | Estimated RN to BSN Program Tuition | Cost-Saving Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Private | $22,080 | $10,420 | N/A | N/A | Finish in 2 to 3 semesters; part-time option; military friendly |
| Youngstown State University | Public | $11,113 | $12,767 | $275 | $7,700 (28 credits) | Block transfer credit for ADN/ASN; military benefits accepted; 10-month format |
| Ohio State University | Public | $13,244 | $17,339 | N/A | $18,000 to $22,000 (estimate, subject to change) | No textbooks to purchase; tuition assistance for Ohio State staff; concurrent enrollment for Ohio ADN students |
| Mercy College of Ohio | Private | $19,470 | $17,989 | N/A | N/A | Up to 39 RN credits transfer; Mercy Health employees may receive debt-free education; graduate credits at undergraduate rate |
| The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Private | $16,836 | $18,378 | N/A | N/A | Full-time and part-time tracks; no mandatory login times |
| Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | Private | $15,470 | $19,622 | N/A | N/A | Credit transfer allowed; scholarships available; seven-week sessions |
| Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Private | $20,230 | $24,204 | $315 | N/A | Flat per-credit rate with minimal additional fees |
How Long an Online RN to BSN Takes in Ohio, From Fast-Track to Part-Time
Working Ohio nurses are timing the BSN around compressed online terms rather than traditional semesters, so the answer depends on how many courses you can stack while working. For an RN who can take accelerated five- or seven-week courses back to back, 9 to 12 months is a realistic full-time window for the Fastest RN to BSN Programs; part-time learners should plan 15 to 24 months.
What changes the pace
The biggest accelerators are transfer credit and course format. Ohio State's online RN to BSN is asynchronous and described as 12 months full-time or 15 months part-time, with 24 credits completed at OSU. Ohio University says students with an active Ohio RN license can complete its 100% online BSN in one year using five-week nursing classes, though most take longer: about 50% finish in two years and 70% in five years.
2026-2027 start terms and deadlines
- Ohio State: November 30, 2026 application deadline for 2026-2027; confirm the term before applying because OSU pages have listed conflicting windows in the past.
- Ohio University: eight start dates per year, so pacing can shift quickly; no general admission deadline is published.
- University of Cincinnati: spring, summer, and fall starts, with a November 15, 2026 deadline for the January 11, 2027 class.
- Kent State: August 7, 2026 deadline for 2026-2027.1
Part-time reality for shift workers
If you take one course per session while Working Night Shift in Nursing School, expect 15 to 24 months. Cincinnati's 27 core nursing credits run in seven-week blocks, except Statistics, Focus on Community, and Capstone, which are 14 weeks. Cincinnati also combines coursework with an in-person precepted clinical experience, which can add scheduling time. Ohio University's most direct core path is one course per session; Rapid Completion students may take two concurrently.
Explore other Ohio related topics
From ADN to BSN in Ohio: What Does the Typical Path Look Like?
Most Ohio RN to BSN students follow the same basic sequence, though timing varies by school and by how much transfer credit you bring in. Use this path alongside the clinical hours, transfer credit, and timeline sections on this page to plan your own route.
Before You Apply: Admission and Accreditation Checklist
Admission rules for Ohio RN to BSN programs are set school by school, not statewide. Use this checklist to confirm each requirement directly with the programs you're considering.
- RN license statusMost programs expect an active, unencumbered RN license. Ursuline accepts an Ohio RN license or a compact multistate license. Students still finishing an ADN have conditional options only. Ohio State allows concurrent enrollment but requires licensure before a specific upper-level course. Ohio University may admit you as a pre-major before the NCLEX, but you must be licensed to graduate.
- Nursing degree and GPAYou'll need an associate degree or diploma from an approved or accredited nursing program. Ohio State specifically requires ACEN or CNEA accreditation. A 2.0 minimum GPA is common at schools like Ohio University and Ohio State, while Ursuline sets the bar at 2.5.
- Programmatic accreditationConfirm the BSN program holds CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA accreditation by searching the accreditor's own directory, not just the school's website.
- Transcripts, prerequisites, and deadlinesSend official transcripts for credit evaluation. Prerequisites vary. Ohio University requires English composition before major admission, and its 2026 catalog lists psychology, anatomy and physiology, and chemistry. Ask whether your school requires statistics, and note each start-term deadline.
- State authorizationOhio University and Ohio State require residence in an authorized state. If you might move, confirm your new state is covered before enrolling.