HEGIS Code: 1203.10
- Fall 2025 Priority Extended Deadline: April 15, 2025
- Fall 2025 Regular Extended Deadline: July 9, 2025
The RN to BS in Nursing online degree program provides registered nurses with the academic credential necessary to retain relevance and positions them to advance in the field. Through the flexibility of online study, students of this program build on prior knowledge gained at the associate's degree level, and explore pressing issues related to today's changing global healthcare environment. The program is designed to assist students in developing intellectual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry essential to professional development.
Dedicated CUNY faculty and expert practitioners draw on the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to help students develop and demonstrate competency in:
- Health assessment
- Leadership and management
- Nursing research
- Care of culturally diverse populations
- Global health and policy
- Nursing informatics
Career and Academic Prospects
The RN to BS in Nursing program prepares licensed registered nurses to assume leadership positions in acute care, as well as community-based and long-term care settings. Students gain the expertise needed to meet the challenges of the evolving healthcare system, as well as the knowledge and experience required to move forward into graduate level studies and advanced practice nursing.
Completion Rates
CUNY SPS RN-BS benchmark for program completion rates:
75% of students will complete the RN- BS program within five years. Using CCNE guidelines for calculating these rates, the five-year completion rates are:
- 2019-2024 = 94%
- 2018-2023 = 96%
- 2017-2022 = 96%
Job Placement Statistics
Undergraduate program outcome: 80% of RN-BS alumni will report employment as a RN within twelve months.
- 2023 = 89%
- 2022 = 92%
- 2021 = 78%
Accreditation
The RN to BS in Nursing at CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
This program is registered with the New York State Education Department.
Nursing Dual/Joint with Queensborough Community College
Qualified students enrolled in the Queensborough Community College AAS in Nursing degree program have the opportunity to seamlessly transition to the BS in Nursing degree program at CUNY SPS. Students interested in this program can learn more here.
Articulation Agreements
Articulation agreements are formal agreements between CUNY SPS and two-year colleges and universities, allowing students to transfer the maximum number of credits with ease to our RN to BS in Nursing program from institutions with which we have an established transfer process in place.
- Borough of Manhattan Community College - AAS in Nursing (PDF)
- Bronx Community College - AAS in Nursing (PDF)
- Hostos Community College - AAS in Nursing (PDF)
- Kingsborough Community College - AAS in Nursing (PDF)
- Queensborough Community College - AAS in Nursing (PDF)
Prior Learning Assessment
Credit for non-collegiate learning is a credit recommendation for college-level learning acquired outside of a college or university.
View Pre-approved Nursing Certifications
The American Council on Education (ACE) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service(NCCR) have evaluated college-level training programs, credentials, and licenses from the military, government, and the public sector that may be eligible for college credit at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.
CUNY SPS also awards credit for currently reviewed licenses and certifications in the fields of Health Information Management, IT, Project Management, Real Estate, Business, and Emergency Medical Technician.
For more information about credit for non-collegiate prior learning please contact us pla@sps.cuny.edu.
Prospective students and applicants may schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to obtain an unofficial credit evaluation for an undergraduate degree program.
Admissions Criteria
To qualify for admission to the RN to BS in Nursing program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Associate's degree in nursing from the City University of New York or from a non-CUNY regional accredited credit-granting institution with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students with an overall GPA below 3.0 but above 2.5 may be considered for admission via Career Kickstart, which offers admission for a maximum of six credits during the first semester of enrollment.
- Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse, or eligibility to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination - RN (NCLEX-RN). Students who do not currently hold an RN license may apply to the program in the last semester of their pre-licensure program in anticipation of licensure. Unlicensed students who meet the eligibility criteria will be admitted on a case by case basis and will be required to obtain their RN license before beginning their second term in the program. If you are a non-New York State resident, please contact the Office of Admissions directly.
- Nurses who hold a nursing diploma from a non-credit granting institution may also apply. Diploma applicants will be awarded 36 credits for their nursing education, if they have passed the NCLEX-RN and have an RN license to practice, and will be required to complete nursing program and general education coursework to be awarded the BS in Nursing degree.
- All University policies regarding skills and proficiency testing, grading, transfer credit, and degree completion will apply.
The online application requires students to complete a personal essay that will help us understand your educational goals and readiness to return to college.
Residency Requirement*
In order to enroll in the RN to BS in Nursing program, students must provide documentation of one of the following categories:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Permanent Residency
- Granted asylum, refugee status, temporary protected status, withholding of removal, deferred enforced departure, deferred action status by the U.S. Government, deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or permanently residing in the United States under color of law (PRUCOL)
*International students may enroll in fully online degree programs. However, our online programs do not qualify for student visas.
Students may view the Undergraduate Nursing Student Policies Handbook (PDF).
See a full list of the online nursing programs offered at CUNY SPS.
Application Deadlines
- Fall 2025 Priority Extended Deadline: April 15, 2025
- Fall 2025 Regular Extended Deadline: July 9, 2025
