3 Best (3-YEAR) BSN Online Programs


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

What are the best 3-year online BSN programs? They’re high-quality programs that make getting your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree convenient even though your schedule is crowded with work and family commitments. At three years, these BSN courses are more compressed than many traditional BSN programs, so you’ll enter the workforce much sooner. BSN-educated nurses have more career opportunities and make higher salaries than RNs with ADNs. Online BSN programs let you pace yourself through required courses, doing coursework wherever and whenever it works best for you. Online tuition is generally cheaper, too, and you won’t have to pay for transportation or textbooks. Explore your options by perusing the list below of the 3 best 3-year BSN online programs.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

What are the Best (3-YEAR) BSN Online Programs in the Nation?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 3 best 3-year BSN online programs in the nation. You can complete these programs in 3 years or less.)


1. Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences - Draper, UT


Program Length: 3 Years


Program Details: If you are considering earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing but have yet to earn previous college credit, Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences has an excellent program to consider. The university offers one of the best 3-year BSN online programs in the nation. The university offers three start dates each year for the program.

With a flexible format that blends online coursework with in-person learning in labs and clinical practicums, you will be well-prepared to enter your career as a registered nurse. The program features a 120-credit hour curriculum consisting of 52 general education credits and 68 credits of core coursework. The program offers a rich immersion in nursing theory, with classes such as Holistic Nursing Assessment Across the Lifespan, Pathophysiology, Nursing and Professional Identify, and Fundamentals of Professional Nursing.

Clinical Training: The 3-year BSN online program at Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences includes 517.5 clinical hours. In this program, you will engage in hands-on training in the university’s state-of-the-art Simulation Center and participate in clinical rotations in both local and international settings.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences in just three years.


Admission Requirements: Admission to the program offered at Joyce University is contingent upon meeting the following criteria. You must complete and submit an application and pay any applicable application fees. You must provide proof of high school graduation or equivalency or verification of graduation from an associate or higher degree program from an accredited college or university. Additionally, you must complete an online readiness assessment, pass applicable entrance examinations, pass a physical/mental health examination, provide proof of health insurance, and pass a background check and drug screening.


Why Choose This Program

• In addition to traditional clinical practicum experiences, at Joyce University, you will also have opportunities to participate in clinical training through local community and international humanitarian outreach programs.
• You can enroll in the Joyce University 3-year BSN program, even if you do not have prior learning experiences and prerequisite credits.
• If you enroll as a distance-learning student, you may apply for a stipend to help cover the expenses of airfare, lodging, and meals when required to travel to campus.


2. Unitek College - Fremont, CA


Program Length: 3 Years


Program Details: Unitek College offers another of our featured 3-year BSN programs online. The hybrid learning format of the program provides the convenience of online learning while combining essential hands-on training and laboratory experiences. Most didactic coursework is completed online with in-person labs, some classroom instruction, and clinical rotations in various healthcare settings.

The BSN program is a 120-credit pathway featuring classes including Nutrition for Human Health and Well-Being, Complex Health Human Caring Nursing, Evidence-Informed Practice for Human Caring, and Leadership and Management for Human Caring Nursing. The curriculum is divided into general education and program-specific coursework, which consist of 53 and 67 credits, respectively. You will experience skills labs on campus, where you will utilize patient-care stations designed to mimic real-life healthcare settings and patients to prepare you for clinicals.

Clinical Training: When you pursue your BSN at Unitek College, you will complete a total of 760 clinical training hours. Clinical training includes on-campus instruction in labs as well as externship site hours in affiliated clinical sites.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can anticipate completing the BSN program at Unitek College in three years if you enroll full-time and progress through each semester successfully.


Admission Requirements: When applying to Unitek College's 3-year BSN online program, you will work with an admissions representative who will guide you through each step of the process. When applying, you must provide proof of high school graduation or equivalency and a copy of a government-issued photo ID. You must score 19 or higher on the Scholastic Level Exam-Q (SLE-Q) and a minimum of 58.7% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Finally, you must complete an interview with the program director.


Why Choose This Program

• Unitek College offers job placement assistance to all students in its nursing program. Many graduates find employment opportunities at places like Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Pal Alto Medical Foundation, and the Tri-City Health Center, all of which are notable healthcare facilities.
• As a student in the 3-year online BSN program, you will have faculty coaching support throughout the entire program. Faculty are available to mentor you and offer advice to help you succeed at every level!


3. Angeles College - Los Angeles, CA


Program Length: 3 Years


Program Details: Another outstanding 3-year online BSN program worth considering is offered by Angeles College. New classes begin in the spring, summer, fall, and winter quarters of each academic year.

The program, which is a pre-licensure nursing pathway, is offered in an accelerated blended format and includes 2,540 clock hours, consisting of 180 quarter credits. You will learn in classes, including Nursing Informatics, Epidemiology, Evidence-Based Practice, Population Health Nursing, and clinical Quality and Safety.

Clinical Training: To complement classroom/online learning, you will participate in in-person lab simulations and direct patient care clinical practicums. The program includes 160 lab hours and 990 clinical practicum hours.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online 3-year BSN program at Angeles College is designed to be completed in three years or 12 continuous quarters.


Admission Requirements: Applicants desiring admission to the 3-year BSN online program at Angeles College must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and must provide transcripts. You must achieve a composite score of at least 60% on the TEAS VI exam and earn a grade of “C” or higher for all general education coursework, whether transferred or taken at Angeles College.


Why Choose This Program

• Graduates of the Angeles College 3-year BSN program online have excellent success rates on the NCLEX-RN.
• The college employs a diverse staff of faculty and advisors with expertise in several nursing specialties. As a student in the program, you will benefit from the diversity of their knowledge and experiences.
• Angeles College prides itself on creating an atmosphere that promotes cultural diversity and competence. This is especially important, as demonstrating cultural competence in nursing is crucial for all nurses.


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Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.