What's the Real Total Cost of an Online RN to BSN Program?
April 2022

What’s the Total Cost of Online RN to BSN Programs?

What's the Total Cost of online RN to BSN Program?

Cost of Nursing School

The total cost of online RN to BSN programs is the bottom line for deciding which online nursing program is the best fit for you! You should consider all of the costs, such as tuition and fees, location, and what kind of experience you might have as a student there. However, when you are a working RN and are choosing between online schools to earn your BSN, it is just as important to find the total cost of attendance. 



Cost and Location

While the location question is out of the way with online schools, none of us are immune to the dreaded question of the total cost. Just as you may have experienced while earning your RN, your BSN degree may require you to purchase specific items. Of course, some of these items improve your overall educational experience. But, other expenditures are essential to get the most out of your education. The following is a list of fees associated with your online RN to BSN program that you should know before you start school shopping. Then, when you are ready to choose your Program, check out our Top 50 most affordable online RN to BSN programs currently available.


What’s The Deal With Online Technology Fees?

As you probably know from paying for services and devices in this high-speed era, convenience is not cheap. Between paying for your phone, computer, and internet, hotspot fees, and maybe even a Wi-Fi booster, you’ve now racked up quite the bill.

Similarly, colleges and universities that can provide online services also incur expenses. To make attending more convenient for students, schools have invested a lot of money into technology and Informational Technology services that make online education possible. In many cases, they have hired instructors and professors specifically trained in this unique methodology. The total cost to nursing students may include technology or distance learning fees per credit hour tuition and miscellaneous material requirements.


Compare Technology Fees As “Apples to Apples”

Some schools charge these technology fees per credit hour plus additional required fees. Other schools roll the technology fee into the cost of tuition. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your chosen program’s total costs. When comparing institutions, consider the itemized expenses included in the published total cost amounts. Since the format is not standardized, you may need to put some time into finding the total cost of online RN to BSN programs so you can view them in an apples-to-apples comparison.

Initially, the thought of charging students for advanced computing and technology may seem unnecessary. Still, when you think about the massive infrastructure that goes into implementing and maintaining such a fast, convenient way to learn such important material, all without needing to come to campus. The value of an online RN to BSN program begins to stand out from its traditional on-campus counterparts.


Additional Nursing Fees

Other fees that apply specifically to nurses are things like textbooks. Students also need lab coats and scrubs for clinical instruction in medical tools such as stethoscopes and watches. In addition, proper shoes, and the coveted nursing pin that shows completion of a course of study, all have to figure in the total cost to the student.

Textbooks and graduation materials are still required. However, an online program can change the amount of other expenses. For example, not needing to wear scrubs to classes, not paying lab fees associated with the on-campus study, and not paying for immunization records that on-campus students pay. Like with the differences in amounts different schools charge for technology fees, these costs can vary greatly. Many students find that second-hand items can reduce some of the total material cost. Additionally, with the advent of eBooks and online publications, textbooks can be acquired at a much lower price point, especially if you are willing to shop around and weigh all of your options.


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