Best RN to BSN Programs in Georgia, Ranked (2026)

All 10 Georgia RN to BSN Programs, Ranked

Scored on in-state tuition (55%) and institutional graduation rate (45%). Every confirmed Georgia completion program carries both figures, so all 10 are ranked below. How we rank.

1. 1st in Georgia

   Georgia Southern University

   Statesboro, GA · Public Fully online $4,488 annual in-state tuition 55% institutional graduation rate 363 degrees a year 74.4 score

   Georgia Southern accepts up to 29 previously earned nursing credits toward the 120 required for the degree, leaving 10 asynchronous courses that can be finished in as few as two semesters.

   Georgia Southern's RN to BSN program is built for nurses who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing and a current Georgia RN license or a multistate compact license. The program awards credit for up to 29 previously earned nursing credits toward the 120 credit hours needed for the degree, which leaves 10 courses covering community health, leadership and management, research, ethics, and the influence of social, economic and cultural values on health. Students can finish in as few as two semesters or take as long as five years.

   Coursework is delivered asynchronously so working nurses can complete assignments around their schedules, and the degree can be completed without ever coming to campus. Live sessions may be scheduled for course orientations, presentations by content experts, faculty office hours and student presentations. Admission requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, with provisional admission available between 2.70 and 3.0 for students who earn at least a B in their first six hours of nursing courses; applicants must complete Technology, Mathematics, Sciences and Field of Study courses with a C or better and have no more than 10 core credit hours remaining. Applications to the School of Nursing are preferred by April 1 for fall and Oct. 1 for spring, and Georgia Southern's application carries a $30 fee. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

   • 120 credit hours total
   • Up to 29 nursing credits accepted
   • 10 courses
   • Asynchronous online coursework
   • Georgia or compact RN license required

   Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Georgia Southern University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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2. 2nd in Georgia

   Augusta University

   Augusta, GA · Public Online $7,064 annual in-state tuition 49% institutional graduation rate 162 degrees a year 68.7 score

   Five of the upper-division nursing courses are delivered through eMajor under a collaborative agreement with other RN-BSN programs in Georgia, with the remaining courses taught by Augusta.

   Augusta University Online's RN to BSN serves active RNs who hold an associate degree in nursing and want to keep working while they finish the bachelor's. Classes are asynchronous with no set class times and a part-time course load. Students must complete 60 credit hours of general core requirements before they apply; once admitted, they receive 36 credit hours toward the major and must earn another 30 credit hours to complete the degree. In-state tuition is listed at $306 per credit. Five upper-division nursing courses (Professional Nursing Practice, Health Assessment, Community and Population Nursing Care, Nursing Research Application, and Leadership & Management) come through eMajor under a collaborative agreement with other RN-BSN programs in Georgia. Augusta teaches the rest, including Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Healthcare Information Technology in Nursing, Quality and Safety in Professional Nursing, Policy, Ethics, and Advocacy in Professional Nursing, Collaborative Nursing Care, Community Health Nursing Clinical, and Leadership & Management Clinical.

   Admission requires documentation of an active and unrestricted RN license in the state of Georgia and an associate degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN-accredited program. Applicants apply through NursingCAS and submit official transcripts from each college attended showing a GPA of 2.8 or higher in prerequisites and NUR courses, two professional references from an employer or an academic or professional contact, current CPR certification, a current resume or CV, and a written statement of 300 words or fewer on academic challenges, successes and grades. The curriculum is built around the AACN Essentials, which cover leadership, informatics, population health and evidence-based practice. Students complete a capstone project with clinical hours in their own areas of interest, including settings outside acute care. Transfer credit is evaluated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, with a full evaluation report available in POUNCE once a student is accepted and all official transcripts have arrived.

   • Georgia RN license required
   • 30 credits after admission
   • Asynchronous, no set class times
   • $306 per credit in-state
   • 5 courses via eMajor

   Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Augusta University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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3. 3rd in Georgia

   Dalton State College

   Dalton, GA · Public Online $2,616 annual in-state tuition 25% institutional graduation rate 37 degrees a year 61.9 score

   Eligibility is pegged to how recently the applicant finished their associate or diploma program: graduates of the past four years qualify directly, while earlier graduates must document 1,000 hours of practice within the last three years.

   Dalton State College offers the RN-BSN as an online degree for nurses who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing. Admission turns on the recency of that prior credential. Applicants who graduated from an ASN or diploma program within the past four years are eligible on that basis alone; those who graduated more than four years ago must document 1,000 hours of practice within the last three years. The program is administered by the Department of Nursing in the School of Health Professions.

   The coursework concentrates on ground that associate-level preparation generally does not cover in depth. The college describes the degree as providing foundations for quality improvement and research, nursing informatics, and health care policy, and frames it as a direct step toward advanced practice in nursing. It also points to roles a BSN opens up beyond the bedside, noting that BSN-prepared nurses work as educators and supervisors, may facilitate instruction for nursing assistant and LPN programs, and often serve in hospitals as educators running staff continuing-education seminars.

   • Online degree
   • ASN or diploma in nursing required
   • 1,000 practice hours if ASN is over four years old
   • Covers informatics, health policy, and quality improvement
   • Positioned as preparation for advanced practice

   Nursing accreditation on file: ACEN. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Dalton State College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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4. 4th in Georgia

   Georgia Highlands College

   Rome, GA · Public Online $2,424 annual in-state tuition 21% institutional graduation rate 40 degrees a year 60.2 score

   The only hands-on requirement is a single 45-hour Leadership Practicum that students arrange at a site of their own choosing, and full-time students can finish the coursework in two consecutive semesters.

   Georgia Highlands College offers the RN to BSN Completion program as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing delivered through GHC Online. The degree totals 120 credit hours, and the program can be completed in two consecutive semesters full-time or four or more semesters part-time. Courses are scheduled in both 8-week sessions and 16-week terms. The college describes all coursework as self-paced and on the student's own time, with one scheduled obligation for new students: a one-hour virtual live orientation.

   Applicants must hold a current, valid license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States, and need a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 to be considered. Students may still have up to three general education courses outstanding when they begin the BSN nursing (NURS) major courses. The clinical component is a 45-hour Leadership Practicum, and students choose where they complete it. The page lists hospitals, home health care, nursing homes, doctors' offices, community centers, outpatient care facilities, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment and suppliers, government and military, and educational facilities as settings where nursing careers continue.

   • 120 credit hours
   • 45-hour Leadership Practicum
   • Two semesters full-time
   • U.S. RN license required
   • 2.5 minimum GPA

   Nursing accreditation on file: ACEN. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Georgia Highlands College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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5. 5th in Georgia

   South Georgia State College

   Douglas, GA · Public Online $2,424 annual in-state tuition 16% institutional graduation rate 21 degrees a year 57.8 score

   RN-BSN students at SGSC may complete their preceptor learning experiences in the facilities where they are already employed, and the HESI A2 entrance exam is not required.

   South Georgia State College's RN-BSN program is designed for nurses who already hold an RN license and want to finish the baccalaureate degree, with a curriculum built to move students from an Associate of Science in Nursing to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The degree totals 120 semester credit hours: 60 hours of core requirements (Core IMPACTS), 30 hours of credit for previous ASN coursework, and 30 semester credit hours for degree completion. At least 30 program credits must be completed in residency at the school. The School of Nursing delivers the program in an online format, and students are required to complete it within 24 months of entering. Graduation requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale with no grade lower than a C, and a minimum grade of C is required in all science and general education courses in the nursing curriculum.

   Applicants must be fully accepted to the college, have three or fewer core classes remaining, earn a C or better in all core classes, exit all credit-level learning support courses, and be licensed in Georgia as a Registered Nurse with no current public or private disciplinary actions by the first day of enrollment, verified against the state roster of RNs. The HESI A2 exam is not required. The early decision deadline is April 15, and additional qualified applicants are reviewed after May 15. Associate degree or diploma graduates from non-NLN-accredited schools outside Georgia who graduated more than four years ago and have fewer than 1,000 clinical practice hours must pass validation testing covering Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Adult Health, and Psychiatric Nursing, plus a psychomotor skills evaluation by BSN faculty, before acceptance. Once admitted, students complete a Clinical Health Information Packet before their first nursing course and complete clinical agency orientation at the facilities where they will do preceptor learning experiences; major clinical facilities require a PSI background check and urine drug screen.

   • Online format
   • 120 semester credits total
   • 30 credits for prior ASN coursework
   • Georgia RN license required
   • Complete within 24 months

   Nursing accreditation on file: ACEN. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about South Georgia State College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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6. 6th in Georgia

   Thomas University

   Thomasville, GA · Private nonprofit Fully online $11,400 annual in-state tuition 28% institutional graduation rate 13 degrees a year 53.8 score

   Eight-week online classes support an RN-to-BSN plan as short as 12 months.

   Thomas University's RN-BSN uses eight-week online classes, with completion possible in as little as 12 months. Regional healthcare partnerships support precepted clinical experiences, with scheduling arranged around the student and preceptor. The online course format therefore sits alongside a practice schedule that needs separate coordination.

   Applicants need an associate nursing degree or diploma and at least a 2.5 GPA. Recent graduates may qualify for conditional entry before RN licensure, but must obtain an unrestricted RN license before progressing into practicum coursework. That distinction is especially important for a student moving straight from an associate program: conditional admission allows a start, not permission to complete the clinical sequence without licensure.

   • Eight-week online classes
   • As few as 12 months
   • Regional clinical partnerships
   • Clinical scheduling with a preceptor
   • 2.5 GPA for RN-BSN admission

   Nursing accreditation on file: ACEN. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Thomas University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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7. 7th in Georgia

   Mercer University

   Macon, GA · Private nonprofit Online, asynchronous $31,265 annual in-state tuition 70% institutional graduation rate 164 degrees a year 52.6 score

   Two 45-hour practica accompany Mercer’s three-semester or five-semester completion plans.

   Mercer's RN-to-BSN requires at least 32 nursing credits, with three-semester full-time and five-semester part-time plans. Classes are asynchronous online, and students attend an orientation day at the beginning. Fall, spring and summer starts offer several entry points without changing the nursing sequence's practice requirements.

   The program includes 90 clinical hours split evenly between leadership and population/global health practica. Those two 45-hour experiences are separate commitments to plan alongside online coursework. Applicants need an accredited associate nursing degree or diploma and an unencumbered Georgia RN license. The part-time option spreads the academic work, while the orientation and practica remain important dates and obligations to review before enrollment.

   • 32-credit nursing sequence
   • Three semesters full time or five part time
   • Asynchronous online classes
   • 90 total clinical practicum hours
   • Fall, spring and summer starts

   Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about Mercer University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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8. 8th in Georgia

   South University-Savannah

   Savannah, GA · Private for-profit $17,100 annual in-state tuition 9% institutional graduation rate 10 degrees a year 38.4 score Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, 2026-09-10.
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9. 9th in Georgia

   LaGrange College

   Lagrange, GA · Private nonprofit $34,460 annual in-state tuition 47% institutional graduation rate 21 degrees a year 38 score

   LaGrange releases prior nursing credits after successful completion of the first six BSN nursing credits.

   LaGrange's RN-BSN policies make the timing of prior-learning credit important. Nursing credit is held in escrow until the student successfully completes the first six credits of BSN nursing courses. A separate pharmacology challenge exam is available for one attempt; a student who does not pass takes the course instead. These are different credit mechanisms, not an automatic exemption from every nursing requirement.

   The linked RN-BSN pathway includes community health, leadership, and a capstone addressing global health and informatics. Students must maintain a valid Georgia RN license while enrolled in clinical nursing courses. When reviewing a transfer plan, distinguish credits already accepted from nursing credits awaiting release and any pharmacology coursework still required.

   • Prior nursing credit held in escrow
   • Credit released after six successful BSN credits
   • One-attempt pharmacology challenge exam
   • Community health and leadership coursework
   • Georgia RN license during clinical courses

   Additional program sources: lagrange.edu source 1 for LaGrange College (opens in a new tab)

   Nursing accreditation on file: ACEN. DAPIP, 2026-09-10. Learn more about LaGrange College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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10. 10th in Georgia

    South University-Savannah Online

    Savannah, GA · Private for-profit Online $17,100 annual in-state tuition 7% institutional graduation rate 133 degrees a year 37.5 score

    South’s online RN-to-BSN includes 150 clinical hours arranged at a local healthcare facility.

    South University's Savannah Online RN-to-BSN combines online classes with 150 hours of in-person clinical experience. The university arranges the clinical work at a local healthcare facility. This removes the need to treat the course-delivery label as a placement plan: students still need time to attend the assigned clinical experience.

    Coursework covers nursing research, assessment, community health and patient-care technology. Admission requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA and unencumbered RN licensure, including in the state where program assignments are completed. Qualifying educational routes include an accredited nursing associate degree or a nursing diploma combined with a bachelor's degree. A diploma alone should not be assumed to satisfy that latter entry route.

    • Online nursing classes
    • 150 required clinical hours
    • University-arranged local clinical site
    • 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement
    • Unencumbered RN license throughout enrollment

    Learn more about South University-Savannah Online's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)
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