Online LPN to BSN
A Direct Degree Path for Career-Minded LPNs
Get Where You’re Going in Nursing. Without the Detours.
It’s easy to rush your nursing journey. But at Wilson College Online, we dare you to take your time — with an approachable pathway to your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that teaches you next-level nursing concepts while you work.
With our Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to BSN program, you can apply your existing LPN credits toward a bachelor’s degree, providing a more direct alternative to pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and elevating your career prospects sooner. The online LPN to BSN program is designed to prepare full-time LPNs with advanced knowledge needed for registered nurse (RN) licensure and leadership.
As a student in the part-time LPN to BSN online program, you’ll follow a prescribed learning path designed to gradually advance your nursing knowledge and strengthen your grasp of key concepts. The manageable pace of the program allows you to take your time completing your degree over three to four years, positioning yourself for long-term success in nursing.
Please note that an LPN license is required for admission.
Reframe Your Expectations of Your Nursing Career
Our online LPN to BSN program is specifically designed to build upon your experience as an LPN, preparing you with the skills to support your future career advancement through coursework that spans nursing leadership, healthcare informatics, and healthcare research. The flexible online format even allows you to keep your current job as you earn your degree and prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). You don’t have to put your career on hold as you learn to:
- Bring evidence-based research into practice
- Treat the whole patient with an emphasis on holistic practice
- Communicate and make meaningful connections with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals
- Identify current trends and issues in the nursing practice and how they can be addressed
During the final three semesters of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to put your newly learned skills into practice with hands-on clinical experiences. Students must participate in 240 hours of in-person clinicals, completed over three semesters in 80-hour increments or over seven to 12 days through a low-residency option (for students who live more than two hours from Wilson College).
What Can You Do With an LPN to BSN Degree?
For LPNs seeking career advancement in nursing, an LPN to BSN program can provide a convenient pathway to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam while increasing your earning potential by teaching the advanced skills needed for roles in nurse leadership.
BSN Career Benefits by the Numbers
In 2022, 71.7% of the RN workforce held a bachelor’s degree or higher, and national data shows that the BSN has become the most common degree for nurses seeking initial licensure, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
A recent AACN survey of healthcare employers found that 28% of employers require a BSN for new hires, while 72% strongly preferred BSN-prepared nurses.
According to 2025 data from Payscale, nurses with a BSN report an average base salary of $99,000 per year, compared with $80,000 per year for nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Furthermore, nurses with a BSN can pursue higher-paying roles in management and graduate nursing education.
Do More With Your Nursing Experience
At Wilson College, we see the value of your previous practice and experience; that’s why we count it toward your degree. We strive to provide a smooth admission process for online LPN to BSN students by recognizing and awarding credit for approved prior learning. To ensure you’re getting full credit for eligible past coursework, transfer credits have no expiration date. Wilson College also considers credits transferred from completed international bachelor’s degree programs, ensuring that your global education is fully considered.
The LPN to BSN online program offers up to 18 credits to students with a valid nursing license for nursing studies, and up to an additional 54 credits for coursework completed as part of your prelicensure studies. In accordance with national standards, students will complete a minimum of 48 credits at Wilson College to reach a total of 120 semester hours.
Check out some key highlights of our program:
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Earning your BSN from Wilson College allows you to meet all the necessary requirements to sit for the NCLEX exam—our LPN to BSN graduates have recently achieved a 90% pass rate—to become an RN.
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We provide a free and fast transcript and program qualification review.
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The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).
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Program course objectives are closely tied to the following national standards:
- Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice
- Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for the Nursing Care of Older Adults
- Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies
- American Nurses Association Code of Ethics
- The TIGER Initiative
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240 hours of hands-on clinical experience spread across three semesters.
- As long as you meet the program requirements, you don’t have to reapply to get into clinicals. They’ll be assigned at the start of your program, so you won’t have to wait for a clinical spot to become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an LPN and an RN?
LPNs complete a one- to two-year program that includes courses in nursing, patient care, and clinical training. RNs can qualify for a license with a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing or a diploma in nursing. Both LPN and RN jobs require licensure.
LPNs must complete a state-approved program, pass the NCLEX-PN exam, and apply for a license to practice in their state. Similarly, RNs need a registered nursing license, which requires attending a state-approved RN program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. LPNs and RNs must regularly renew their licenses.
What nursing skills will I learn with a LPN to BSN degree?
A bachelor’s degree in nursing provides a broad set of skills and expertise, building on your existing nursing knowledge in areas such as health assessment, health promotion, healthcare informatics, and healthcare research, as well as leadership issues such as healthcare policy and financing.
How can an LPN to BSN program prepare me for the NCLEX?
BSN coursework can provide a strong foundation for the NCLEX exam, particularly classes on health promotion, infection control, and risk reduction. According to 2023 statistics from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, BSN-prepared test takers achieved a higher pass rate than first-time candidates with a nursing diploma or associate degree.
What nursing roles can I pursue with an LPN to BSN?
Earning a BSN along with your RN license provides you with next-level skills to support your career advancement and open doors to nursing roles with greater responsibility and autonomy. You can pursue a nurse manager role, overseeing operations in an entire department or nursing unit, or provide specialized, direct care to patients before and after surgery as a medical-surgical nurse. BSN-educated nurses who pursue graduate degrees can also move into nursing education or become nurse practitioners.
“The time it takes to do this program is going to pass by regardless. So I feel like it’s better to start now and achieve your goal than to be looking back 10 years from now and thinking, ‘Wow, I would have been done by now.’”
Tuition and Financial Aid
Fall ’25:
6-14 credits per semester
Financial assistance and payment plans available
Wilson College Online is committed to making your education as affordable as possible. We’re proud to offer online courses for under
Become an RN
Our LPN to BSN students have a 90% NCLEX pass rate. Our degree program is focused on you and your success, putting you on the path to becoming a registered nurse.
Clinical Experience
We include 240 hours of hands-on clinical experience in our curriculum, ensuring that students have a chance to put their new skills into practice before they graduate.
Experienced Faculty
Our nursing faculty have been in your shoes, on the floor, at the bedside. We recognize the value of LPNs and relish the opportunity to help you grow in your nursing career and education.
Regional Recognition
Wilson College provides the opportunity for transformative education, which is why U.S. News named the institution among the Top Performers on Social Mobility in the North.
Ethical Education
Our liberal studies emphasis creates agents of justice who fuel meaningful positive change in society. You’ll learn the holistic practices to put your degree toward social good.
Sense of Belonging
Our online programs honor Wilson’s rich history of providing accessible and inclusive education. No matter your background, you belong at Wilson.
The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!
Get Your LPN to BSN Online Degree While You Work
We know you’re more than just a student and you have many responsibilities outside of school. That’s why we offer flexible, asynchronous online courses that allow you to study at your own pace, on your own schedule.
What You Need for Admission
As a prospective student seeking admission into the LPN to BSN online program, you must submit the following items to be considered for admission:
- An official high school transcript or GED (minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0)
- An official transcript from the school that conferred your LPN license
- All official college transcripts from all schools attended during or after high school. You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all college courses, excluding LPN coursework.
- TEAS test results (must be less than 4 years old and a score of 65 or higher)
- Your current, active LPN nursing license (number required for verification)
Professional Licensure Notice
In earning your BSN from Wilson College Nursing, you’ll meet all the necessary requirements to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and apply for licensure in the state of Pennsylvania. If you plan to practice nursing outside of Pennsylvania, please visit nursinglicensure.org to review licensure requirements for other states.
About Wilson College
Initially founded as an all-women’s college in 1869, Wilson College’s mission is to empower students to be confident critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, and agents of justice in their communities. Across all programs and fields of study, the College is fiercely committed to and passionate about providing student-centric education and individualized attention and support to ensure our students succeed.
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