Rhode Island's online RN to BSN programs advertise finish lines of 12 to 15 months, a pace that sounds simple until you are working three 12-hour shifts a week. Employers increasingly prefer BSN-prepared nurses, yet rotating schedules make a fixed campus class night hard to keep.
Only fully online programs are covered here. Hybrid formats are excluded. Expect an independent ranking, tuition math, realistic timelines, and the CCRI to RIC pathway.
The price spread is wide: average net price after aid runs from $9,478 at Rhode Island College to $36,967 at Salve Regina University.
4% Online RN to BSN Programs in Rhode Island, Ranked
Every program below can be completed entirely online, with no hybrid sessions or on-campus attendance required for coursework. Only Rhode Island schools that clear that bar appear in this list. Four qualified, and they differ sharply on price, pace, and how much credit they will award for your ADN or diploma.
How we ranked these
- Earnings ten years after entry
- Institution-wide graduation rate
- Fully online coursework requirement
- Credit transfer and completion pace
- Program accreditation status
- 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 Rhode Island
#1Kingston, RI · ~$21,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working RNs seeking research-driven coursework
The University of Rhode Island brings a research university's rigor to online nursing study in Kingston, and its RN to BS track is built for licensed nurses who want evidence-based practice and leadership depth rather than a quick credential. The program was recently reinstated, and a new fully online pathway with the Community College of Rhode Island gives eligible CCRI nursing students conditional admission during their first semester. Entry asks for a 2.6 cumulative GPA and an associate degree or diploma from an ACEN-accredited nursing program, and a reduced RN to BS rate took effect for the 2026-27 year. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,942, the school graduates roughly 73% of its students, and the average net price after aid is around $21,440, an institution-wide figure rather than a nursing-only quote. It fits RNs who want research-driven coursework from a recognized New England university.
- Fully online coursework with no campus visits required
- 2.6 minimum cumulative GPA for admission
- Associate degree or diploma from an ACEN-accredited nursing program
- Conditional admission pathway for CCRI nursing students
- Reduced RN to BS tuition rate for 2026-27
- Admits RNs in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York
- CCNE accredited
Salve Regina University
#2Newport, RI · ~$37,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Asynchronous learners wanting frequent start dates
Salve Regina runs its RN to BSN from Newport as an asynchronous online degree with six start dates a year, which makes it the most schedule-flexible option here. Nurses with an associate degree or diploma receive 58 transfer credits for prior nursing education and complete only 30 credits at Salve, finishing in as few as 12 months. Admission requires an active, unrestricted RN license and a 2.7 GPA, and employees of partner institutions pay a preferred tuition rate. Tuition and fees run about $50,100 before aid, the average net price after aid is around $36,967 institution-wide, and the school graduates roughly 77% of its students. It suits nurses who want frequent entry points and a direct path into an MSN or DNP.
- Asynchronous online classes with six start dates per year
- 58 transfer credits awarded for prior nursing education
- 30 credits minimum completed at Salve Regina
- Complete in as few as 12 months
- Rolling admissions with fall, spring, and summer starts
- Pathway into Salve Regina's MSN and DNP programs
- 2.7 GPA and active, unrestricted RN license required
- Military benefits and employer reimbursement supported
Rhode Island College
#3Providence, RI · $9,000/yr (est. net price)
Best for: Cost-conscious ADNs transferring within state
Rhode Island College in Providence is the value play on this list: in-state tuition and fees of about $11,300 and an average net price after aid near $9,478, both institution-wide, sit well below the private options, and the school graduates about 48% of its students. Nursing courses are delivered fully online with fall and spring starts, no traditional clinical rotations, and credit granted for prior coursework and work experience, so an ADN can finish in as little as one year. Students apply through the transfer application, which suits the many CCRI graduates who continue within the state system. It fits cost-conscious ADNs who want a straightforward online bachelor's without leaving the public system.
- Nursing courses delivered fully online
- Finish in as little as one year
- No traditional clinical rotations required
- Credit awarded for prior coursework and work experience
- Apply as a transfer student; fall and spring starts
- Coursework in healthcare finance, leadership, and population health
- CCNE accredited
New England Institute of Technology
#4East Greenwich, RI · ~$36,000/yr (est.)
New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich launched one of Rhode Island's first fully online RN to BSN programs and structures it part-time for nurses working full schedules. Coursework blends clinical decision-making with healthcare technology, and the capstone practicum can be completed at your current workplace. Students finish in as little as 14 to 15 months but may stretch the plan to 36 months, with classes averaging about 15 students and a personal advisor assigned from day one. Tuition and fees run about $37,275 before aid, the average net price after aid is around $16,668 institution-wide, and the school graduates roughly 60% of its students. It suits working nurses who want a technology-forward curriculum and a workplace-based capstone.
- 100% online with no on-campus requirements
- Part-time option; complete in 14 to 15 months or extend to 36
- Capstone practicum can be completed at your current workplace
- Average class size of about 15 students
- Personal advisor and faculty mentor assigned from day one
- Blends clinical decision-making with healthcare technology
- 2.7 GPA minimum with some prerequisite coursework
- Recognized as a Top 50 Best Value Online Nursing Program
Rhode Island RN to BSN Tuition: Per-Credit Rates and Fees Side by Side
Using 2025-2026 figures from Rhode Island College's RN to BSN FAQ, Salve Regina University's online RN to BSN page and catalog, and the University of Rhode Island's online program pages, Salve Regina is the cheapest RN to BSN program in Rhode Island on total tuition, at an estimated $9,240 for nurses from partner institutions and $11,190 for everyone else. RIC's $396 in-state estimate works out to roughly $11,880 for its 30-credit minimum. RIC also publishes a separate $974 out-of-state estimate, while Salve Regina and URI each list a single per-credit rate. Part-time RIC students pay an added $25 per-credit School of Nursing fee, so ask every school about technology, program, or graduation fees before you compare sticker prices. New England Institute of Technology also offers an online RN-to-BS program, but its current per-credit rate could not be confirmed, so request a 2026 cost sheet from its admissions office.
| School | Sector | Per-Credit Tuition | Credits Taken at School | Estimated Program Tuition | Notable Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island College | Public | $396 in-state estimate; $974 out-of-state estimate (2025-2026) | 30 minimum (22 nursing, 8 elective) toward 120 total for the BSN | About $11,880 in-state or $29,220 out-of-state for 30 credits (calculated from per-credit estimates) | $25 per credit School of Nursing fee for part-time students |
| Salve Regina University | Private | $373 (2025-2026) | 30 minimum toward 125 total; 58 credits awarded for prior RN preparation | $9,240 for nurses from partner institutions; $11,190 for non-partner institutions | N/A |
| University of Rhode Island | Public | $631 (2025-2026) | N/A (120 total credits required for the BSN) | N/A | N/A |
How Do Public and Private Rhode Island Schools Compare on Net Price After Aid?
Average net price after aid runs from $9,478 at Rhode Island College to $36,967 at Salve Regina University. The two public universities come in well below the two private schools. These are institution-wide averages for aided students, mostly undergraduates, so they work for comparing schools but are not the RN to BSN price; for program-specific cost, go back to the per-credit tuition table above.
How Your ADN or Diploma Credits Transfer, and How Fast You Can Really Finish
The fastest timeline on a program page and the timeline you will actually live are often different numbers, and the gap comes down to what you bring in the door. Transfer rules decide most of it.
Transfer Limits and What Remains
Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island both accept up to 90 transferred credits. At RIC, a 120-credit degree leaves 30 credits to complete: 22 in nursing plus 8 electives, with 37 credits awarded for your RN license. URI's online core is 24 credits, and at least 30 credits must be earned at URI.
Salve Regina counts 58 credits automatically for RN preparation, leaving 64 of 122 credits before any additional transfer, with 30 in residency. New England Institute of Technology requires the last 34 credits at NEIT. Its transfer rules are conditional: science courses need a C+ and must be within 3 years, English needs a C+ within 10 years, and transcripts are due within a week. Salve's and NEIT's remaining nursing totals, and NEIT's transfer maximum, are not clearly published, so ask admissions directly.
Three Completion Scenarios
- CCRI ADN graduate, general education done: This is the cleanest case. At RIC, 7-week courses and a fall start can finish by summer, about 12 months.
- ADN holder missing general education: The 120-credit total still applies. Missing courses add semesters, and a spring start at RIC pushes completion to the end of the following fall.
- Diploma nurse: Diploma programs often carry fewer college-level credits, so expect more general education to make up. Ask each school how it evaluates a diploma transcript before assuming the same RN-license credit applies.
Course Length and Pacing
RIC and URI both run 7-week courses, which lets you take one class at a time and still move steadily. Salve's 7-week format is confirmed only for its broader professional studies offerings, not every RN-to-BS course. NEIT does not state a course length.
Are 12 to 15 Months Realistic?
Treat them as best-case. RIC's one-year claim assumes a fall start and no missing general education. URI's 15 months covers only the 24 core credits, not other outstanding requirements. Salve advertises 12 months, and NEIT's current guidance of 14 to 15 months is a part-time estimate. Nurses working full-time shifts with gaps in their prerequisites should plan on longer. For options built around speed beyond Rhode Island, the fastest RN to BSN programs guide is a useful next read.
From CCRI to RIC: The Direct Online Route for Associate Degree Nurses
Can you move straight from the CCRI nursing program into a BSN without hunting for a transfer path? Since 2025, yes. The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College set up a pathway that routes CCRI associate degree graduates into RIC's fully online RN to BSN program.
How the Pathway Works
RIC's RN to BSN program is built for working nurses. Eligibility centers on holding an Associate Degree in Nursing from CCRI. You apply through RIC's Transfer Application and identify RN to BSN as your program. Admission comes first, since you must be admitted before registering for the required nursing courses.
Launch announcements describe the pathway as affordable, but neither school has published a per-credit rate or total cost for it. Confirm current tuition with RIC before you commit.
Credits and Timing
An active RN license earns you 37 transfer credits for your prior nursing coursework. Additional general education or elective credits may also transfer, up to RIC's 90-credit limit. The degree requires at least 120 total credits, including 40 general education credits spread across distribution areas.
The program itself is 30 credits: 22 nursing and 8 elective. Students can start in fall or spring. Finishing in as little as 12 months is possible, with a fall starter done the following summer and a spring starter done at the end of the next fall. That pace assumes you take the 30 program credits in sequence and have already met your remaining general education requirements.
Who Benefits Most
This route fits CCRI graduates who want to keep momentum after passing the NCLEX. If you finish your general education credits first, as RIC recommends, you can move into the nursing sequence with fewer loose ends and a shorter path to the 120-credit mark.
The published sources do not say whether a Rhode Island license is required or whether earlier CCRI graduates qualify. They also describe no separate guaranteed-admission form or application deadline for this pathway. Ask CCRI advising and RIC admissions to confirm both before you plan your start term.
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What You Need to Apply, and When Classes Start
Admission to an online RN to BSN in Rhode Island is mostly about proving you're already a nurse, or about to be. Here's what to gather, school by school.
- RN license, and options for new gradsURI requires a current, unrestricted RN license, either a U.S. compact license or one from your state of residence. CCRI students in their final semester of RN courses can apply before licensure but must show an unencumbered license by the end of their first URI semester. NEIT accepts an active, unencumbered license from any U.S. state or territory, documented before your third term. Salve Regina asks for a current license in good standing. At RIC, confirm licensure timing with admissions.
- ADN or diploma eligibilityURI, Salve Regina, and NEIT accept either an associate degree or a nursing diploma from an accredited program. URI specifies ACEN accreditation.
- Minimum GPAURI sets a 2.6 cumulative GPA. Salve Regina and NEIT require 2.7, and NEIT expects you to keep a 2.7 to stay in good standing.
- Transcripts and transfer stepsRIC applicants use the Transfer Application and can receive 37 credits for prior nursing coursework. NEIT requires BIO 107, BIO 127, BIO 122, PS 140, SO 203, and a humanities elective, or equivalents, each at C+ (77%) or better.
- Start termsRIC starts in fall or spring. Salve Regina offers six start dates a year across fall, spring, and summer. URI's next posted deadline is November 24, with classes beginning January 5, 2027.
- Out-of-state limitsURI Online currently admits only U.S. citizens or permanent residents living in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or New York. If you live elsewhere, confirm eligibility with any school before applying.
Rhode Island RN Licensure and Your Compact Privileges
Top Program-Level Earnings Among Rhode Island BSN Completers
Federal outcomes data tracks what graduates of each school's bachelor's nursing program earn after finishing.