5 Best RN to BSN Programs in Philadelphia – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Philadelphia has a reputation as a global medical hub, so healthcare employers prefer to work with BSN-prepared RNs. That means if you’re a registered nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing, you should be thinking about upgrading your skills and becoming a BSN. Most RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia can be completed in a year or less, and many offer online courses that you can easily fit around your existing job and family priorities. There’s no time like the present to get started! Learn more about the 5 best RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia for 2024 below.

Following are the 5 Best RN to BSN Programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Online & Campus) for 2024

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 5 best RN-to-BSN programs in Philadelphia (Online & Campus).)

1. Drexel University – Philadelphia

Type: Online

Nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing are much better prepared than ADN nurses because of the elaborate curriculum and extensive clinical hours of the BSN degree. If you are browsing through the best online RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia, then you can consider Drexel University as an option. The school of nursing at Drexel has had a long history of producing highly skilled nursing professionals. Furthermore, the college’s contribution to research activities in nursing, nutrition, and other fields has bought it generous research grants. The learning that happens in this climate of discovery can provide deeper insights into various aspects of patient care.

Even though its RN to BSN program is delivered online, it maintains a student to instructor ratio of 1:25 to ensure that you enjoy an individualized learning experience. To make the classes more interactive, the instructors also use a wide selection of teaching methods and other online tools. The program is delivered asynchronously allowing you to study at a time that fits in your busy schedule. The curriculum takes you through courses in genetics, leadership & care coordination, evidence-based practice, and systems thinking. Additionally, you will also have the opportunity to take up a 10-day long award-winning study abroad program that can be incorporated into a clinical course.

2. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing – Philadelphia

Type: Campus

Medical centers today are demanding a more highly qualified nursing workforce with a minimum of a BSN degree to meet the healthcare needs of the advanced healthcare system of the country. The University of Pennsylvania has been ranked among the best nursing schools in the nation, consistently over the last few years. Here you will be trained by experienced faculty, some of whom are nationally and internationally recognized researchers. This paves way for effective mentorship, allowing you to gain knowledge from experts in the field. Upon enrolling you will have access to classrooms that encompass interactive projection microscopes and IPads. Furthermore, its highly advanced simulation center features video systems to ensure supervised lab activities and latest mannequins of various genders, ages, and races that are capable of producing real-time responses and actions.

The college offers RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree an accelerated path to a bachelors in nursing through its second degree BSN. The curriculum comprises practical experiences in the form of simulation activities, mentorships, clinical, and community engagement programs, similar to those of a traditional BSN. Your theoretical training entails courses in psychological & social diversity, nursing of women & infants, pediatric & psychiatric nursing, scientific inquiry for evidence-based practice, nursing for young, middle-aged, & older adults, ethics, and pathophysiology.

3. Holy Family University – Philadelphia

Type: Campus

In addition to being better prepared to deliver nursing care practice, BSN graduates also benefit from enhancing their career potential by landing highly remunerative job positions. If you are interested in enrolling in any of the top RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia, then the Holy Family University will not disappoint you. The institution is a Catholic university that is well known in the community for its supportive learning environment and warm, lively, & inclusive campus setting. To make your educational experience as smooth as possible, the college maintains a student to faculty ratio of 11:1, providing you with the required individual attention. This RN to BSN program emphasizes management & leadership abilities, assessment skills, and nursing research.

Once enrolled, you can conveniently transfer a total of 75 credits if you are an ADN prepared RN and 90 credits if you are a registered nurse with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Most RN to BSN students at Holy Family by taking advantage of this easy credit transfer policy earn their BSN in about 15 months. Here you will take courses through a blended format, attending classes once a week. Some of the courses you take include social sciences, humanities, family assessment, research in nursing practice, leadership, nursing quality & patient safety, global health, and contemporary issues in nursing.

4. La Salle University – Philadelphia

Type: Online

Pursuing a BSN could be a wise investment to ensure stability in your nursing career as many employers now favor a BSN graduate over an RN with only an associate degree. If you are looking at enrolling in one of the best online RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia, then you could consider La Salle University’s RN to BSN pathway. As a program graduate not only will you improve your job prospects, but you will also achieve a solid foundation for future graduate studies. The college has been pioneering nursing education through its strong values, excellence in teaching, and the importance of service to the community & underprivileged. Being the largest and the second oldest Lasallian University in the country, the nursing school embraces faith-based values. Additionally, it has been ranked among the top regional universities in the northern region by the U.S News & World Report.

This RN to BSN program can be a perfect choice for working professionals as you can start with your education on any of the multiple start dates offered here. The curriculum requires you to complete 9 intensive courses. These include professional nursing practice & health information systems, nursing research, evidence-based practice, international public health nursing, nursing leadership, management, and organizational dynamics & safety strategies for healthcare delivery systems.

5. The Pennsylvania State University – Abington

Type: Hybrid

The pay-scale of registered nurses varies based on various factors such as years of experience, location of your workplace, and the job title you hold, but if you have completed your bachelor’s degree in nursing you will be more marketable and, in a position, to negotiate a higher salary. Being one of the well-known RN to BSN programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State University’s College of Nursing is one of the major educators of undergraduate nursing students in Pennsylvania. Here you will be trained by faculty, many of whom are Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing, endowed professors, and reputed researchers. This research-centric college has also spent more than 17 million dollars in research activities from the time of its formation. As an RN to BSN student, you can participate in any of these scholarly activities and enhance your critical thinking skills and evidence-based knowledge.

This RN to BSN program is a hybrid curriculum that employs a perfect balance of online classes and in-class instruction. Furthermore, you can also enroll in a part-time schedule and efficiently manage both your work and education. To qualify for admission, you need to have an associate degree or diploma in nursing, a minimum GPA of 2.0, and an RN license. The coursework entails 7 weeks of accelerated courses, some of which include nursing informatics, nursing forensics, family & community health concepts, health & environmental sustainability, and health concepts for adults with complex health care needs.