Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Format: Online

HEGIS Code: 1203.10

Application Deadlines
  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: November 4, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024

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

CCNE Accreditation SealThe 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.

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.

Meet our Faculty

Estimated number of adjunct faculty teaching in the program: 40

Margaret Reilly
Professor, PhD, DNS, APRN, CNE
CUNY Graduate Center
Academic Director – Undergraduate & Graduate

Patricia Bartley-Daniele
Associate Professor, PhD, FNP-BC
Nursing Education - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Faculty Advisor MS in Nursing Education
Undergraduate & Graduate

Kenya Harris
Professor, EdD, Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology
St. John’s University Nursing

Jan Oosting
Associate Professor, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Undergraduate

Anne Marie Leveille-Tulce
Assistant Professor, PhD, Nursing
CUNY Graduate Center
Undergraduate and Graduate

Kathleen Marsala-Cervasio
Associate Professor, PhD, EdD, ACNS-BC
EdD, Educational Leadership Northcentral University
PhD, Kensington University
Undergraduate and Graduate

Lilly Mathew
Associate Professor, PhD, Nursing
University of Arizona
Undergraduate and Graduate

Linda Paradiso
Associate Professor, DNP, Nurse Executive
Old Dominion University
Undergraduate and Graduate

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 or nationally accredited credit-granting institution with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • 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.
  • 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

  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: November 4, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Regular Deadline: December 2, 2024
Apply Now

Student/Alumni Profiles

Dominique Wu

RN to BS in Nursing

"I would love to work in a cardiac unit at a hospital. Everything about the heart fascinates me: its anatomy and surrounding structures; the way it beats and pumps blood; the effect of heart diseases on lungs, kidneys, and many bodily functions."

Luisa Marin

RN to BS in Nursing

"My goal as a nurse is to help reach and maintain a harmonious physical and mental state, and to help patients work on themselves and improve their relationship with the environment."

Elena Davarashvili

RN to BS in Nursing

"I feel that I have the ability to inspire and motivate people to become Nurses based on my own personal example."

Baly Cooley

RN to BS Nursing

"I learned that rather than being a liability, my age was a blessing, as my work ethic, professionalism, and ability to self-manage were vital to my success at going to school and working simultaneously."

Recent News About Bachelor of Science in Nursing

CUNY SPS Nursing Professor Dr. Olga Kagan

Empowering the Next Generation of Nurse Leaders & Innovators

November 01, 2024

Higher Education Digest

In an engaging and personal interview., CUNY SPS Nursing Professor Dr. Kagan shares her professional trajectory and insights on the most significant challenges faced by today's healthcare leaders.
CUNY SPS online bachelor's ranked 12 in US by Intelligent.com

The Top 48 Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs

October 10, 2024

Intelligent.com

CUNY SPS' online bachelor program was recently ranked #12 on Intelligent.com's 2025 listing of the nation's best online bachelor's programs. Several additional programs were also ranked highly by Intelligent.com, including the online RN-to-BSN program (# 4) and the online master’s in Data Science program (#12). The Sociology BA also earned enthusiastic recognition in addition to the School receiving high marks as a leader in higher education for veterans.
CUNY SPS Nursing Professor Dr. Jennifer McIntosh publishes in Mental Health Nursing Journal

Visitation Restrictions in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings: A Call for Connected Healing

October 03, 2024

Issues in Mental Health Nursing

CUNY SPS Academic Community Leader and Nursing Assistant Professor Dr. Jennifer McIntosh recently published in the Taylor and Francis' 'Issues in Mental Health Nursing Journal.' The article, "Visitation Restrictions in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings: A Call for Connected Healing," was published on July 19, 2024.
CUNY SPS Alum and 50 under 50 Inductee Phara Souffrant Forrest

A League of Their Own

September 06, 2024

CUNY SPS Blog

CUNY proudly presented its inaugural “50 Under 50” alumni list this past August. CUNY SPS alum and "50 under 50" inductee Phara Souffrant Forrest (BS Nursing ‘20), who currently serves as a representative for the 57th District in the New York State Assembly, shares the impact of receiving this honor.