Nursing — RN to Bachelor of Science Degree | Online
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
Modes of study:
Earn your BS in Nursing online in as little as two years from the University of Southern Maine!
Are you ready to take the next step in your Nursing career? Advancing your associate’s degree to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS) at the University of Southern Maine (USM) allows you to expand your career opportunities, increase your earning potential, and enhance your clinical skills. The fully online program is flexible, making it well-suited for working RNs who want to get their degree on their terms.
At USM, your RN to BS in Nursing is more than a degree-completion program — it’s a chance to build the skills today’s employers are looking for while learning in a flexible, high-quality online environment designed for working nurses. With personalized advising, supportive faculty, and relevant coursework in leadership, evidence-based practice, emerging technologies, research, and compassionate care, you can strengthen your practice, expand your career options, and gain marketable skills you can use right away.
Along the way, you will have the opportunity to earn micro-credentials and certificates that make your learning even more visible and career-relevant. You’ll graduate with more than a bachelor’s degree — you’ll leave with confidence, momentum, and preparation for whatever comes next in your nursing career.
Academic catalog
Earning your RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at USM means building the knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s nursing profession and adapting to whatever comes next.
Program duration
Finish your degree online in as little as two years.
School
Admissions
Current or anticipated Associated Degree in Nursing and a RN licensure – unencumbered and current licensure in the state in which practicum will be completed is required.
What are the highlights of getting your RN to BS in Nursing degree from USM?
- 100% online BS built for flexibility for working RNs: Take all of your coursework online without needing to uproot your life and finish in as little as two years while transferring up to 30 credits from your associate’s degree.
- Known excellence in the state of Maine: USM prepares more nurses than any other nursing school in the state of Maine!
- Affordable excellence: Pursue a high-demand career through a top-quality public education without taking on excessive financial debt.
- Expert faculty: Learn from currently practicing nurses, who not only bring real-world experience into the classroom and a human-centric curriculum, but are also active in research and policy issues, including at state and national levels, and are frequently published as contributors in leading journals.
- Cutting-edge virtual learning environments: Our virtual clinic platform lets you interact with lifelike patient scenarios and receive instant feedback, helping you rapidly build and refine your clinical skills.
- Hands-on, practical learning: Practicum experiences can be planned where you live, supporting flexibility for working professionals.
- Take advantage of micro-credentials and certificates: USM offers AI micro-credentials and certificates in research training and palliative care.
- Accredited and approved: Approved by both the Maine State Board of Nursing and the national Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- A clearer path to future graduate study: Don’t stop here – consider USM’s highly regarded accelerated online RN to MSN degree.
This is more than a degree-completion program – it’s a chance to build the skills today’s employers are looking for while learning in a flexible, high-quality online environment.
Jill Olausson, Director of Online Nursing Programs
Where can you go with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing?
How far can your Bachelor of Science in Nursing from USM take you?
Strengthen your skills, increase your professional mobility, and stand out to employers seeking nurses prepared for today’s complex healthcare settings.
Graduates from the School of Nursing at the University of Southern Maine often go on to work for our many local partners such as Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, and other major Maine healthcare systems.
Our team is here to answer your questions about costs!
Accredited in Maine and nationally
Proud to be accredited by the nationally-recognized Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Certified for online excellence
At the University of Southern Maine (USM), we are committed to delivering online and hybrid education that meets the highest standards of quality, consistency, and student support. This online program and its faculty have been certified by USM Academic PACT — short for Promise of Access, Connection, and Transparency.
Welcome, transfer students!
If you’re at a community college in Maine and working toward your Associate Degree in Nursing, this BS of Nursing program is 100% online and purpose-built to offer flexibility for working RNs.
To apply for this program, you must have a current or anticipated Associate Degree in Nursing and a RN licensure – unencumbered and current licensure in the state in which practicum will be completed. Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.