Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
To meet today's high demand for BSN-prepared nursing professionals, the University of North Carolina Wilmington offers an accredited Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program completely online.
Program Overview
Learn more about our RN to BSN online program
The UNCW School of Nursing has been educating exceptional nurses for over four decades, as demonstrated by its accomplished alumni. In this online RN to BSN program at UNCW, you will learn from faculty with real-world nursing experience. Coursework includes a study of contemporary issues that affect professional nursing practice, gerontological nursing, community health nursing and core concepts of leadership and management.
Additional courses may be required. Please view required coursework.
In this RN to BSN online program, you will:
- Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully compete and advance into high demand healthcare areas that serve an increasing aging population
- Understand how to conduct nurse-led research in clinical issues
- Obtain a foundation for career advancement into administrative, research, consulting and teaching
- Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully compete and advance into high demand healthcare areas that serve an increasing aging population
- Understand how to conduct nurse-led research in clinical issues
- Obtain a foundation for career advancement into administrative, research, consulting and teaching
This CCNE-accredited RN to BSN program will equip you to step into a variety of roles, including:
- Case Management Nurse
- Travel Nurse
- Perinatal Educator
- ICU Nurse
- Case Management Nurse
- Travel Nurse
- Perinatal Educator
- ICU Nurse
Also available:
The School of Nursing at UNCW also offers the online MSN Nurse Educator program. View all of our online healthcare and nursing programs.
Accreditation:
The baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Tuition
UNCW tuition is affordable
Designed to be affordable and convenient, our tuition is an outstanding value and far less of a financial investment than many other North Carolina universities. We also offer pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.
| Program | Tuition Per Credit Hour | Total Tuition & Fees* |
|---|---|---|
| RN to BSN (in-state residents) | $211.14 | $6,334.20 |
| RN to BSN (out-of-state residents) | $967.56 | $29,026.80 |
In order to make an accurate residency determination on applications for any higher education institution in North Carolina, and in compliance with state law, the University of North Carolina system now requires students to request residency classification from the new Residency Determination Service (RDS). RDS is the entity responsible for all new classifications of residency in North Carolina. Since this form and questionnaire are controlled by the State of North Carolina, and they have dedicated individuals to assist you, we would recommend you call RDS with questions you have about the process or questionnaire. Please see the contact information below:
Local number: 919-835-2290
Toll-free number: 844-319-3640
Fax number: 919-835-2427
Email: [email protected]
*Estimated tuition and fees are for the full program of study, presuming students are enrolled part-time. Please note the above amounts are estimates of tuition and fees only, based on current tuition rates (2025-2026). Textbooks, class materials, and future tuition and fee increases are not included. Additionally, university tuition is subject to change on an annual basis at the discretion of the UNC System Board of Governors.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Add these important dates to your calendar
The RN to BSN online program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring several start dates each year. You can get started anytime!
Please note that sessions frequently fill ahead of published deadlines. Application cycles are open until the sessions reach capacity. Due to high demand, there is no advanced notice of application closures.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/27/25 | 8/28/25 | 10/12/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/27/25 | 9/27/25 | 10/22/25 | 10/23/25 | 10/7/25 |
| Spring 1 | 1/12/26 | 12/13/25 | 12/13/25 | 1/14/26 | 1/15/26 | 3/1/26 |
| Spring 2 | 3/9/26 | 2/14/26 | 2/14/26 | 3/11/26 | 3/12/26 | 4/26/26 |
| Summer 1 | 5/11/26 | 4/18/26 | 4/18/26 | 5/13/26 | 5/14/26 | 6/28/26 |
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 6/6/26 | 6/6/26 | 7/1/26 | 7/6/26 | 8/16/26 |
Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Check out the qualifications for our bachelor’s in nursing program
Here's a checklist of what you'll need to begin the admission process for your RN to BSN degree online:
Admission Requirements:
- Associate’s degree in nursing
- Cumulative GPA 2.4
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Online application and $80 application fee
- Current, valid, and unencumbered nursing license
- Associate's degree in nursing from an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.4 cumulative college GPA
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended, including official high school transcript and each post-secondary institution attended
- If applicant is under the age of 21, the applicant must meet the UNC system high school minimum course requirements (applicants who have completed 24 hours of transferable undergraduate credits are exempt from this requirement)
Note: Applicants who have already completed a bachelor’s degree are not required to submit their high school transcript or diploma
Official transcripts from all colleges/universities are required. Electronic transcripts are preferred and can be emailed to: [email protected]. Transcripts can also be mailed directly from the institution(s) to UNCW at this address:
University of North Carolina WilmingtonOffice of Undergraduate Admissions
601 South College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403-5904
Have a question? Call us at 855-306-4734.
Military Transcripts: If applicable, request Military Transcripts to be sent to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts can be requested as follows:
- For Air University Transcripts, please review instructions here
- For Community College of the Air Force, please contact the CCAF Registrar's Office at 334-649-5080 or mail your request to:
CCAF-DES
100 South Turner Blvd
Maxwell-Gunter, AL 36114 - Joint Services Transcripts (JST): Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine military transcripts can be requested by visiting the JST website.
Courses
Read about the online UNCW RN to BSN classes
The RN to BSN online curriculum is comprised of 9 core courses and 1 elective. To meet the residency requirements, a minimum of 31 credit hours must be completed at UNCW.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate health assessment skills as a part of the nursing process, and core nursing skills using foundational clinical judgement.
- Explain the role of evidence-based practice in creating an individualized holistic plan of care.
- Utilize informatics and healthcare technology to document the delivery of basic nursing care.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the values, attitudes, and characteristics required of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse for professional nursing practice.
- Discuss the use of health models and evidence-based practice for improving health outcomes of individuals and communities.
- Integrate knowledge from other disciplines with nursing theories and evidence to guide the development of professional nursing practice.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Assess older patients’ health care and end-of-life needs through altruistic concern while supporting autonomy and respecting human dignity.
- Demonstrate professional values based on integrity, accountability and responsibility by engaging in clinical reasoning skills for care of older adults.
- Promote health practices of older adult patients within the appropriate cultural context and clinical setting.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze how evidenced-based practice and principles apply to population focused care.
- Analyze community health indices and nursing's professional role in the community health setting.
- Design interprofessional interventions that address epidemiological and community health needs.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Assess the organizational components of an agency.
- Evaluate models of nursing care delivery.
- Discuss legal and ethical responsibilities in nursing management, delegation, and supervision.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in analyzing health policy processes.
- Examine health and social policy issues through progressive critical analyses, discussions, and written assignments which are supported by appropriate scholarly evidence and citations.
- Appraise patient health care needs within the appropriate cultural context, across the lifespan and in a variety of healthcare settings.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Distinguish the difference between research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement.
- Apply the steps in the research process to support evidence-based practice that promotes, protects, and restores health for patients.
- Delineate the role of the baccalaureate graduate in the research process.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss key concepts associated with pathophysiology.
- Describe the systematic evidence research review process and development of clinical practice guidelines.
- Relate the use of clinical practice guidelines to patient safety and decreased risk of harm.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Validate the evolution of personal and professional perspectives of individual and population centered care in the context of nursing theory and professional standards.
- Examine the correlation between public perception of nursing and the profession’s ability to influence policy and promote health.
- Incorporate evidence-based solutions when addressing organizational and professional challenges.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss the relevance of historical study of nursing as a means to educate professional nurses about the contemporary professional identity and practice role of the nurse.
- Recognize select historical works as evidence-based data illustrating the evolution of professional nursing practice in America.
- Describe how the historical analyses provide contextual explanations for the contemporary professional identity and practice role of the nurse.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Examine strategies that facilitate engagement and lifelong learning in professional nursing.
- Demonstrate qualities of scholarly writing used to advance nursing practice through presentation and publication.
- Utilize effective planning to advance professionalism in nursing.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify holistic approaches to palliative care that support autonomy and respect for human dignity.
- Integrate the concepts of interprofessional care through the development of teamwork and collaboration while demonstrating the role of professional nursing practice in end-of –life /palliative care settings.
- Utilize clinical reasoning skills to develop a palliative and/or end-of-life care plan using the values of integrity and professional responsibility for all populations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Distinguish between selected complementary and alternative therapies in healthcare.
- Demonstrate knowledge of a range of global perspectives that influence complementary and alternative therapies.
- Enhance skills in wellness and health promotion through researching, writing, and teaching about a selected complementary and alternative therapy topic.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss the meanings of culture, ethnicity, religion, and socialization and their contribution to health beliefs and practices.
- Discuss the diversity, demography, and economics, existing in contemporary society.
- Conduct a cultural assessment of a person from a different cultural group other than one’s own.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Examine principles of human genetics and genomics and their application in nursing practice and education.
- Understand the role of genetics and genomics in the development, detection, prevention, and treatment of disease.
- Examine evidence base of legal and ethical concerns in relation to genetics and genomics in nursing.
Students can take these courses prior to enrolling in the RN-BSN program. These courses are not required for admission. Please use the use the transfer articulation tool to determine how your community college courses transfer to UNCW and to ensure you're taking the correct course. For more information, contact [email protected].
Composition
- ENG 101 (College Writing and Reading I)
- ENG 201 (College Writing and Reading II)
Or the equivalent course requirements.
Lifetime Wellness
- WPA/L101 (Physical Activity and Wellness)
- UNCW’s WPA/L 101 includes both physical activity and wellness.
- This course can potentially be waived if you are over 55 years of age, or if you have military service that included Basic Training.
Mathematics and Statistics
- STT 210 (Introduction to Statistics with Applications in the Health Sciences Application), OR one of the following: STT 215, PSY 225, QMM 280
World Languages and Cultures
(Proficiency at 201 level or higher)
- SPN 120 (Fundamentals of Spanish)
- SPN 201 (Intermediate Spanish I)
Aesthetic, Interpretive, and Literary Perspectives
- ENG 110 (Introduction to Literature)
- THR 121 (Introduction to Theatre)
- MUS 106 (Exploring Music)
Historical and Philosophical Approaches
- HST 105 (American History: United States), OR the equivalent course requirements.
- PAR 215 (Bioethics), OR PAR 101, 115, 205, 211
- HST 106 (United States Since 1865)
Scientific Approaches to the Natural World
- BIO 201 (Principles of Biology: Cells)
- CHM 101 (General Chemistry)
Understanding Human Institutions and Behaviors
- PSY 105 (Introductory Psychology)
- ECN 125 (Survey of Economics), OR ECN 221, OR SOC 105
- SOC 105 (Introduction to Sociology)
RN-BSN Biology Requirement
- BIO 240 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I)
- BIO 241 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II)
- BIO 246 (Microbiology)
RN-BSN Lifespan Development Requirement
- PSY 223 (Lifespan Development)
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.
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