University News

WIU Online RN-BSN Program Rank in Top 50 for Affordability

August 4, 2015

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University's online RN-BSN completion program has been named to the list of the top 50 most affordable colleges for online RN-BSN programs.

WIU's program ranks 38th on the list, produced by the Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees website, bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com.

"I am very pleased to again be ranked in the top schools for our RN-BSN Completion Program," said WIU Nursing Program Director P. Lea Monahan. "The School of Nursing faculty work hard to offer the kinds of courses that nurses returning to school need to advance in their careers."

In November 2014, the WIU School of Nursing's RN to BSN program was ranked 27th by CollegeChoice.net, which was based on compiled data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, U.S. News & World Report, program websites, as well as faculty, technology, and student support, accreditation and cost.

The most recent honor highlights the affordability of WIU's program, which moved to a completely online format in Fall 2014 to accommodate the schedule of working nurses who hold an associate degree and are currently licensed as a registered nurse, and who would like to further their education. This honor is based on accreditation, a maximum percentage of applicants admitted (60 percent) and the lowest tuition price for each program.

The WIU program is accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

"Many of the schools on this list are public universities, which makes the RN-BSN degree programs highly affordable," according to the website. "It is interesting that public universities, while offering budget-friendly tuition rates, maintain a competitive admittance rate comparable to some private institutions. Affordability does not mean a sacrifice in quality academics."

WIU's nursing program began in 2008 and its first student cohort graduated in December 2010.

The department boasts a 100 percent job placement rate after graduation, and WIU students who take the National Council Licensure Exam have a 90 percent pass rate. The school received its accreditation status in Fall 2010 as a CCNE-Accredited Nursing Baccalaureate Degree Program.

For more information on the WIU program, visit wiu.edu/nursing or contact Monahan at (309) 298-2571, or PL-Monahan@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing