Nursing is one of the most highly-respected and highly-valued career paths in the professional sphere. Whether you’re looking to pursue a position assisting the elderly, working in nursing administration, saving lives in an ER, aiding in medical research and advancement, or anything in between, your desire to become a registered nurse is one to be admired. Below we’ve compiled a list of the best cheap nursing schools’ degree options to help you gain the skills and certification necessary to do your registered nursing job well.
These convenient online programs are offered through reputable and affordable online rn schools, making it simpler and easier to transform your nursing dreams into a reality.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Methodology
All schools considered for these rankings
- Are regionally or nationally accredited
- Offer at least one fully online nursing degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
- Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.
Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in July of 2022.
2023 Most Affordable Online Nursing Degrees
| Rank | School | Average Net Price |
| # 1 | Tallahassee Community College | $3,809 |
| # 2 | Florida SouthWestern State College | $7,950 |
| # 3 | Great Basin College | $8,467 |
| # 4 | East Georgia State College | $8,969 |
| # 5 | The University of Texas at El Paso | $9,000 |
| # 6 | Clayton State University | $11,663 |
| # 7 | Georgia Southwestern State University | $11,831 |
| # 8 | Broward College | $12,351 |
| # 9 | Columbus State University | $12,385 |
| # 10 | University of South Carolina-Aiken | $12,387 |
| # 11 | Albany State University | $13,520 |
| # 12 | Southern Utah University | $13,578 |
| # 13 | Washburn University | $14,339 |
| # 14 | Georgia Southern University | $15,571 |
| # 15 | Montana Technological University | $15,814 |
| # 16 | Metropolitan State University | $16,044 |
| # 17 | University of Arkansas | $16,507 |
| # 18 | University of West Georgia | $16,588 |
| # 19 | Fitchburg State University | $16,806 |
| # 20 | Cleveland State University | $16,943 |
| # 21 | Tarleton State University | $20,307 |
| # 22 | Southeastern University | $26,640 |
| # 23 | Hampton University | $26,824 |
| # 24 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $26,859 |
10 Best Affordable Colleges for Online Nursing Degrees
1. Tallahassee Community College
Average Net Price: $3,809
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
Tallahassee Community College is a public college that was founded in 1966. It is located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida and is considered to be an average size school with 11,914 students. This community college offers one of the best online nursing programs, which is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This degree is specifically for individuals who have already earned their Registered Nurse (RN) license as well as possess an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ADN). The entire nursing program is 120 credit hours, and a few of the courses that students will be required to pass are Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, Cultural Issues in Nursing, Leadership/Management in Nursing, Nursing Research/Evidence-based Practice, Population-based Nursing, Nursing Informatics, and more.
2. Florida SouthWestern State College
Average Net Price: $7,950
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
Florida SouthWestern State College is a public college that opened its doors in 1962. It can be found in the city of Fort Myers, Florida, and is considered to be a large institution with an undergraduate population of 16,576. This university is home to one of the best online nursing programs, the RN to BSN degree. Individuals who have a diploma or an Associate of Science in Nursing are welcome to apply for this online nursing program. The objective of the nursing program is to assist students with advancing in their educational and career goals while they continue to work. Several of the courses that students are required to complete are Informatics for the Health Professional, Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice, Pharmacology and Alternative Therapeutics, Nursing Research, Advanced Health Assessment, Multicultural Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Leadership in Nursing Practice, and more.
3. Great Basin College
Average Net Price: $8,467
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: NWCCU
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
Great Basin College is a public college that was formed in 1967. It is located in Elko, Nevada, and is considered a small school with a student body of 3,451. With this small enrollment, the college proudly boasts a small teacher-student ratio of 15 to 1. For those interested in an online nursing school, Great Basin College offers a fully remote RN to BSN program. The objective of this nursing education program is to further educate individuals who have an associate degree and desire to advance their nursing education while continuing their careers. All admitted nursing students have the option of pursuing the nursing program part-time or full-time, as it offers full flexibility and convenience.
4. East Georgia State College
Average Net Price: $8,969
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
East Georgia State College is a public college that was established in 1973. It is located in Swainsboro, Georgia, and is a small college with around 2,000 undergraduate students. This college offers a completely online RN to BSN bridge program. The program is only available to working nurses who are transferring at least 30 credit hours in nursing courses, which will add to the 120 credit hours for the entire program. The following courses are mandatory for nursing students enrolled in the online RN to BSN bridge program at East Georgia State College: Transition into Professional Nursing, Health Assessment, Nursing Research, Ethics in Nursing, Best Clinical Practices in Nursing, and more.
5. The University of Texas at El Paso
Average Net Price: $9,000
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 100 Percent
The University of Texas at El Paso is a public university that opened in 1914. It is located in the city of El Paso, Texas and is considered to be a large institution with an undergraduate population of 21,464. If an individual is looking to attend a nursing school online, the University of Texas at El Paso is a great option. It offers an online RN to BSN program that consists of 120 credit hours and is 100 percent online. This collegiate nursing education was created for working registered nurses who would like to earn a bachelor’s degree but are unable to commute to campus. Most of the students who enroll in this program will graduate within one year from the start date. The following are a few of the courses that nursing students will be required to pass: RN to BSN Role Transition, Nursing Informatics & Technology, Nursing Leadership & Management, Nursing in the Community, and more.
6. Clayton State University
Average Net Price: $11,663
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 42 Percent
Clayton State University is a public university that began educating people in 1969. It is located in Morrow, Georgia, which is less than 15 miles from the city of Atlanta. This university is considered an average size institution with an undergraduate population of 6,597. For individuals interested in attending a nursing school online, Clayton State University features a Master of Science (MSN) in Family Nurse Practitioner program in which students can earn entirely online. Throughout this program, students will successfully learn how to take care of adults, geriatric, and pediatric patients as well as their families. Individuals seeking to be admitted to the program must have already completed a BSN degree.
Additionally, Clayton State University also offers an online RN to BSN degree program. This program is for registered nurses who would like to accomplish their educational goals while continuing to work. Students enrolled in this program will learn how to take care of individuals in a profession that is constantly evolving. A few of the courses that are required in this program are Health Assessment, Interactive Communication, Leadership and Management, Professional Issues, and more.
7. Georgia Southwestern State University
Average Net Price: $11,831
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 67 Percent
Georgia Southwestern State University is a public university that started teaching students in 1906. This university can be found in the city of Americus, Georgia and is considered a small college with an undergraduate population of 2,467. According to U.S. News & World Report , the university ranked 31st for best undergraduate teaching in the country. Georgia Southwestern State University provides current nurses with an RN to BSN degree program, which is offered 100 percent remote. Majority of students who are admitted into this program will finish in one to two years. Upon completion of the program, students will have completed five non-clinical courses, one practicum, and two clinical courses.
Many of the students who graduate from the RN to BSN program go on to further their education by enrolling in the MSN program (Master of Science in Nursing), which is also offered online at Georgia Southwestern State University. The purpose of this MSN program is to educate registered nurses and prepare them for an advanced career in the ever-changing field of nursing. Graduates of the program will successfully know how to care for patients, whether as an educator, leader, nurse practitioner, or informaticist. Students who enroll in this program can expect to graduate within two years.
8. Broward College
Average Net Price: $12,351
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
Broward College is a public college that was developed in 1960. It can be found in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and is considered to be a large institution with an undergraduate population of 40,784. This college has implemented an RN to BSN degree program in which students can take courses online as well as on-campus. Students who enroll in this program will take one lecture course once a week, which will be held either in the day or evening hours during the week. The rest of the courses will be online. The goal of this program is to minimize the time students need to spend in the classrooms. The following courses must be completed to graduate from the program: Nursing Theory, Nursing Leadership Development, Research for Nurses, Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment Lab, and Pharmacology. The majority of individuals who pursue this program can expect to graduate within a 12 to 18-month timeframe.
9. Columbus State University
Average Net Price: $12,385
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 53 Percent
Columbus State University is a public university that opened its doors in 1958. It is located in Columbus, Georgia and is considered an average size school with an undergraduate population of 6,640. According to Niche, this university was ranked 17th for best value colleges in the state of Georgia. On U.S. News & World Report, it ranked 30th for top public schools in the United States. The School of Nursing at Columbus State University provides an online RN to BSN degree program for licensed registered nurses who already possess an associate degree. This program is perfect for individuals interested in continuing their career as a nurse while earning a bachelor’s degree. It offers full and part-time options, and most students graduate from the program within one year.
Additionally, the university also offers an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Students enrolling in this program will be able to choose a health science specialization, whether it be a nurse educator, nurse leader, nurse informatics, or family nurse practitioner. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to tackle any challenges that may arise while taking care of sick patients. The following are some of the courses that the nursing student will be required to enroll in: Theory for Graduate Nursing Practice, Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, and more. Depending on which specialization the student chooses to study, there will be additional required courses to complete.
10. University of South Carolina – Aiken
Average Net Price: $12,387
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 53 Percent
The University of South Carolina – Aiken is a public college that was established in 1961. It is located in the city of Aiken, South Carolina, and is considered to be a small institution with an undergraduate population of 3,344. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university ranked second for top public schools, sixth for best schools for veterans, and 13th for top regional colleges in the south. For individuals looking for the best nursing school online, the University of South Carolina – Aiken features an online RN to BSN in Nursing. This program consists of 31 credit hours and can be completed by most students within one year. The purpose of the program is to help current nurses earn bachelor’s degrees. Some of the courses that students enrolled in this program must take are Professional Nursing, Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, Ethical-Legal Issues in Nursing, Gerontological Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and more.