Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing Online
The field of nursing is changing. Are you ready?
Research published by Health Affairs in 2019 show hospitals with more nurses who earned BSNs produce better outcomes for patients after cardiac arrest. This program - open to nurses in Arkansas and four other states - can help registered LPN's advance your career and stay competitive in the job market.
Professional nursing begins with a bachelor’s degree because it provides a theoretical and practical foundation needed to improve acute and chronic patient care. Learn key nursing concepts to address health care needs in diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, clinical offices, and other environments.
Important Notice
Applications for the LPN to BSN program are limited to Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas residents only. The program has paused admissions to students outside of these five states to allow us to better serve our current students and bolster resources for future students.
100%
Online
120
Credit Hours
2 - 3 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
Clinicals
In Your Geographic
Area in Arkansas, Alabama,
Kansas, Missouri, and Texas
What is the Benefit of Earning a BSN?
- Career advancement and mobility
- Increased earning potential compared to diploma and associate nursing graduates
- Establishes an academic foundation for graduate and/or doctoral studies
- Strengthen analytical and clinical reasoning skills
- Preparation for a broader scope of practice
- Enhance understanding of social, cultural, political, and economic issues impacting the health care delivery and outcomes
Why Study at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing?
- EMSON’s BSN program is CCNE accredited
- Flexible degree plans
- Classes are taught in 16-week terms
- Study and complete practicums in your own geographic area
- Program advisers are dedicated to student-centered learning and excellence in nursing education
- Program graduates have the option to have their name engraved in the U of A Senior Walk
The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing designed the program for working nurses who want to earn a bachelor's degree to advance in their field. This flexibility allows nursing professionals the ability to balance work, family and study. Student services support online students along the path to graduation.
LPN to BSN Degree Qualifications
- Be a Licensed Practicing Nurse
- Have 2,000 hours of work experience at the LPN-license level in the last 12-24 months. If the student has previously worked 2,000 hours but not within the last 12-24 months, they would be eligible for admission as long as they complete a state-board approved PN refresher course within 12 months prior to admission.
- Reside in a state in which the state board has approved the program
(see current list in the State Authorization section at the bottom of this page) - TEAS score of 65% or higher needed prior to nursing program application
(score cannot be more than two years old)
| Tuition / credit hour | $339.10 |
| Fee / credit hour | |
|---|---|
| Library | $4.68 |
| Network & Data Systems | $13.10 |
| Off-Campus | $30 |
| Online Facilities | $2 |
| Other | |
|---|---|
| Clinical Practicum | $171.10 x 15 |
| ATI Resource | $514 x 4 |
Tuition and fees per credit hour reflect fall 2024 rates for students studying completely online. Students in online programs who take an on-campus course will pay on-campus fees, mandatory and college fees, for only the on-campus course.
Transfer Your Credits
Learn how credits can transfer into our online programs.
In clinicals one day, I noticed my patient had a fever and some of the same symptoms I had learned about from school and seen in person. The patient was scheduled to be discharged that day, but I reported to the nurse that I thought my patient had an infection. They drew some labs and found out she had sepsis. I actually helped save a patient’s life by monitoring vital signs and reporting what I had noticed. Even though I went through my own horrible experience, I was able to pull through and help somebody else."
Amy FreemanCorning, AR
In the nursing field, most employers require the applicant to be a registered nurse. While there are many opportunities for employment as a licensed practical nurse in long term care, finishing my degree would open opportunities for career advancement.... The end goal for my career is to work in research nursing and continue to assist in improving patient outcomes through evidence and research-based practices."
Laura WengerHot Springs, AR
This degree will also allow me to be eligible for leadership roles such as preceptor (training nurse) and charge nurse. In my opinion, this program is the best program for LPNs who want to get to that next level."
Crystal JohnsonFayetteville, AR
Common Courses to Complete Before Applying
51 credit hours of courses listed below to be completed must be completed with grade of C or above, prior to taking nursing courses. You may be able to transfer some courses from other accredited institutions, or most courses are offered online through the U of A.
- English Composition I & II 6 hours
- Fine Arts 3 hours
- Humanities 3 hours
- U.S. History or U.S. Government 3 hours
- College Algebra 3 hours
- Social Sciences 9 hours
- Human Anatomy with lab 4 hours Not offered online at the U of A
- Human Physiology with lab 4 hours Not offered online at the U of A
- Chemistry with lab 4 hours
- Microbiology with lab 4 hours Limited offerings online at the U of A
- Electives 8 hours
Recommendations for Success
The LPN-BSN program faculty have identified commonalities among students who successfully graduate from the program and pass the NCLEX. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses early is essential for long-term success as an LPN-BSN student. Please consider these recommendations before committing and applying to the LPN-BSN program.
Four Step Application Process
All admissions are processed initially at the University level and students are admitted as Pre-nursing students. Once admitted to the U of A, transfer credits are evaluated by an academic adviser. If all prerequisites and other program requirements are met, the student can apply for admission to the nursing program for the next available term, with most of the required prerequisites offered online.
Be Admitted to the University of Arkansas
- Complete an application to the U of A and select Nursing (Pre-LNBN).
- Pay application fee in application portal.
- Some qualifying students can apply for an application fee waiver.
- Send official transcripts to Registrar’s Office.
- Receive decision notification by e-mail.
Deadlines for students needing prerequisite courses:
- Spring - November 15
- Fall - July 15
- Summer - April 1
Deadlines for Nursing ready students:
- Spring - November 15
- Fall - July 15
- No summer admissions
Attend Advising to Determine if Your Prerequisite Courses Are Finished
- Review official degree audit with adviser.
- Make a plan for completing your degree including any prerequisite courses.
- Students admitted in a specific semester must start classes in that semester.
If you cannot start classes in the semester you were admitted you will have to reapply and pay the application fee again before you enroll in classes for a future semester.
Complete Prerequisites
Enroll in and successfully complete any remaining prerequisite courses identified in your advising meeting. You can find the list of prerequisites in the catalog of studies, most of which are offered online at the U of A. You can also transfer some or all of your prerequisite courses from another regionally accredited institution like a community college. You can see how courses taken at another institution would transfer to the U of A using our Transfer Planning Guide.
You must enroll each fall and spring term to remain active in the program. If you do not enroll in classes in each fall and spring term, you will be discontinued from the U of A. To return to the university to take courses, discontinued students must reapply to the University, pay the application fee, and re-apply to the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing through the Four Step Application Process before they may enroll in future courses.
Apply to the Nursing Program
Timeline If You Are Nursing Ready
- Spring Start Nursing Program Timeline
- Be admitted to the U of A prior to starting the nursing program application.
Deadline for program application is November 15
- Program acceptance notification will be released in December.
- Nursing classes start in January.
- Be admitted to the U of A prior to starting the nursing program application.
- Fall Start Nursing Program Timeline
- Be admitted to the U of A prior to starting the nursing program application.
Deadline for program application is July 15
- Program acceptance notification will be released in early August.
- Nursing classes start at the end of August.
- Be admitted to the U of A prior to starting the nursing program application.
Timeline If You Still Need to Complete Nursing Prerequisites
- All prerequisites need to be completed with a grade of C or above prior to the nursing program application deadline.
- Admission to the nursing program is only open in Spring and Fall terms. See deadlines above.
Job Market Outlook
The Pathways career data reflect career information associated with degree programs, and that data may include some jobs that require additional credentials and experience BEYOND the academic degree, including but not limited to professional licensure and certification, additional coursework, and specific training. See " About this data" to learn more about Pathways.
Questions On Earning Your BSN Online
Yes, nursing programs at the University of Arkansas are accredited through the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Additionally, programs at the University of Arkansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
You are eligible to be admitted to the LPN to BSN program:
If you are a Licensed Practicing Nurse and have 2,000 hours of work experience at the LPN-license level in the last 12 to 24 months and otherwise meet the University of Arkansas undergraduate admission criteria and live, work and are licensed in a state from which we are currently admitting students. If a student has not worked 2,000 hours in the last 24 months prior to the beginning of the program, but has worked the required hours previously as a licensed nurse, the student may be eligible if they complete a state board approved PN-refresher course within 12 months prior to beginning the program is required. Applicants with at least 24 credit hours of transferable college credit need a 2.0 cumulative GPA on all college coursework for admission. Learn more about applying to the University of Arkansas as a transfer student at: transfer.uark.edu
Completion of an accredited and state board approved L.P.N., L.V.N., or L.P.T.N. program. This means that your nursing program must have been accredited by a nursing organization such as NLN, ACEN, CCNE, etc. and also approved by the state board of nursing in that state.
In addition to that above, the nursing program will require an ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test score of 65% taken within the last two years (at the expense of the student, cost varies by testing location, see FAQ on test below). All program and university core courses at a grade of C or above will be required prior to beginning nursing courses.
All students enrolled in one of our fully online degree programs pay in-state tuition with minimal fees, regardless of residency. View the estimated expenses for the LPN to BSN program.
The University of Arkansas Global Campus offers the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship each fall semester for students in undergraduate and graduate online degree programs.
For general scholarship information...
Yes, each individual state board of nursing regulates out-of-state nursing education programs differently.
Please view the State Authorization section on this page.
If your state is currently not an approved location, please feel free to check back in the future for eligibility.
The nursing program requires an ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test score of 65% taken within the last two years. The two year window for the TEAS score to be considered for admission is defined as 2 years prior to the start date for the term in which the student would enter the nursing program for full admission. The test is at the expense of the student and there are options for onsite or remote, the cost varies by testing location.
Make your test scores available to "U of AR Fayetteville."
See the ATI website for more information on the ATI website.
Yes. Students must apply to the University and be accepted, initially as a pre-LPN to BSN student. Once all nursing admission criteria are met, students may apply to the nursing program. Nursing applications are processed twice per year.
(See application deadline information)
After you submit an application for admission, you can track the status of your application at any time by logging into your New Student Center. You can see if any items are still needed to complete your application on the checklist in this center.
Once you have submitted all the necessary application materials, your application will be evaluated by the U of A Admissions Office. You will be notified by email when a decision has been made regarding your application for admission. Being admitted to the UA does not guarantee nursing program acceptance.
Most online nursing courses are provided in 16-week sessions, and there are some progression plans that include summer courses that are offered over a 10-week period. Nursing practicums are delivered over 16-week sessions during the typical semester and 10-week sessions over the summer. General education (Math, Science, History, etc) are typically taught in 16-week sessions. Shorter options may be available during intersession/summer terms. Students login to an online learning management system and can navigate to their coursework. Faculty members post videos, readings, discussion questions, and assignments in the online classroom, generally framed in weekly "chunks". Students can complete the required assignments and interact with other students and the faculty member throughout the week during times that are convenient to them, being aware of assignment deadlines. Students do not have to log in at designated times to view "live" lectures, but there are usually specific tasks and assignments each week. Practicum courses do require synchronous (live) online clinical conferences and on-site, hands-on clinical experiences. Course faculty provide some flexibility in time/day options for the clinical conferences, and the on-site experiences will often require weekday/daytime student presence.
Each course has designated topics and course dates/schedules, reflecting adult learning principles. Where students have opportunities to complete assignments and discussions that are posted in the online environment, a key component is collaboration and discussion. Courses cannot be completed sooner than the specified week number format; the program does not reflect an "at your own pace" model.
The LPN to BSN degree includes four courses that have a clinical component. Those courses include online didactic education and clinical hours conducted at an approved clinical site. The first semester of the program does not include clinical hours in your local area; clinicals at a local site can begin in the fourth semester of the program, depending on your progression plan.
Nursing students take the lead in finding clinical sites and preceptors for each of the clinical courses. Our nursing faculty and staff will support students by communicating the required clinical setting type, providing suggestions for clinical site locations, and utilizing our growing network of clinical site agreements to assist students in finding locations. Students will submit clinical sites and preceptor requests to the nursing school, who will then create the clinical site agreement and verify preceptor eligibility.
Regulation on licensure set for employment at a VA institution provides leniency for nurses working within the VA system. Licensing regulation for employment and regulation of nursing education (working toward a new license level) are different. The residency requirement that is set for this program is based on the regulation of nursing education and regarding the ability to attain a license in a state.
Most students entering the University are working adults and need to complete some prerequisites prior to applying for the nursing program. Once admitted, the program is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of working adults, so students may select a progression plan of their choices with options to complete the degree in about 3 - 4 years.
For working nurses with family obligations, the nursing faculty recommend no more than a part time course load to promote student success.
If a student is entering with a need to complete prerequisite courses, it may take more than three years to complete the degree. The program length will vary based on student course load and course availability.
The nursing program requires that all program prerequisites and University Core courses be completed prior to the nursing program application deadline, all at grade of C or above.
Students may choose to take their missing prerequisites locally. Completing prerequisites at a community college may save you time and money in completing your degree. If you are not able to complete your prerequisites at a community college and otherwise meet the admissions criteria (reside in a state board approved state, practicing LPN with at least 2000 hours of work experience in the last 12-24 months), you can apply to the U of A and take most of the prerequisites online through the University of Arkansas. All new LPN-BSN students are admitted as pre-nursing students until evaluated by the adviser. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to application for the nursing program.
To be eligible for nursing program admission, all program prerequisite and University core courses must be completed with a grade of C or above.
Prerequisite courses can be taken online upon admission to the UA as a Pre-LPN to BSN student. There are 48 hours of common courses to be completed prior to taking nursing courses and most are offered online.
You can also transfer some or all your prerequisite courses from another regionally accredited institution like a community college. You can see how courses taken at another institution would transfer to the U of A using our Transfer Planning Guide.
We have 2 free online tools to help prospective students see what credits could transfer from their previous colleges to the U of A. They are the Transfer Planning and Course Equivalency Guides. Please note, not all schools are listed in these guides. If you don't see your previous college listed, courses may still transfer if your previous college was regionally accredited.
- With the Transfer Planning Guide you can select the college you previously attended, enter your anticipated major at the U of A, and see a list of courses that could transfer into that degree program. Tip: please select “Expand All Matches” on the results page to show all of the courses.
- The Course Equivalency Guide provides the most comprehensive list of all classes that could transfer from your previous college to the U of A.
You show that you have worked at least 2,000 hours on the LPN level in that last 24 months by filling out a Nursing Experience Evidence form. Once you complete an application for admission, a link to the Nursing Experience Evidence form becomes available in your application center. This is the form that you will download, print off, and have your employer fill out. You can upload the completed form back into your Application Center. You can use as many Nursing Experience Evidence forms as needed to prove the 2,000 hours of practice, but please only include work you have done as an LPN, not general work history.
If you have not worked 2,000 hours in the last 24 months prior to the beginning of the program, but you have worked the required hours previously as a licensed nurse, you may be eligible if you complete a state board approved PN-refresher course within 12 months prior to beginning the program is required.
The U of A does not have a set date that it stops accepting previously completed coursework for transfer credit. If you graduated from nursing school prior to 1991, your transcript might have to be manually reviewed to see what courses would count for credit.
The nursing credits for your LPN program fall into a special category of credits where the courses are held in "escrow" and added to your transcript at the end of your program. If you have the current work experience required at the LPN level and your credits were earned from an accredited institution, those LPN program credits do not expire. You may have earned credits in other subjects while completing your LPN license (like Science or English courses). The best way to see how those credits could transfer to the U of A before you are admitted is to use our free, online Transfer Planning and Course Equivalency Guides.
- With the Transfer Planning Guide you can select the college you previously attended, enter your anticipated major at the U of A, and see a list of courses that could transfer into that degree program. Tip: please select “Expand All Matches” on the results page to show all of the courses.
- The Course Equivalency Guide provides the most comprehensive list of all classes that could transfer from your previous college to the U of A.
Students who have started an L.P.N. to R.N. or L.P.N. to B.S.N. program at another institution are required to submit a letter from that institution stating eligibility for admission.
Your permanent address would still have to be in an approved state, and you would have to live in approved states for the duration of their time in our program. You would have to stay in one place for the duration of full semesters to complete practicums (cannot move in the middle). You would also have to know far enough in advance of a move to still be able to plan future practicums, which means the student would find facilities in approved states that are willing to affiliate with the UA.
Travel work during the program of study is not recommended as it can significantly delay program progression and graduation.
All practicum courses require students to be active participants. Students will attend workshops and trainings to go over the detailed process for securing clinical sites. During the nursing program, students will be expected to work continuously on securing their own clinical sites and preceptors. The clinical sites and practicum courses are the main reason why students do not progress smoothly through this program; students with the most success in the practicum courses have a strong work ethic, a high level of professional communication, and commitment to securing these clinical partnerships.
Based on our curriculum, state board of nursing requirements, and clinical agreements the active LPN license and experience at the LPN level are required for admission eligibility. At this time, a paramedic would be encouraged to look into the traditional BSN on-campus and complete the full curriculum for a prelicensure student.
No, Chromebooks will not allow you to run the full range of the software and services you will need to complete the program. Please see the technical recommendations from the UA IT department for the College of Education and Health Professions.
State Authorization
The LPN to BSN program is designed to meet the educational requirements for the occupational license of Registered Nurse. Individual state boards of nursing may regulate out-of-state nursing education programs or clinical placement courses.
The University of Arkansas LPN to BSN program currently will admit students in only Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas, even though the program is approved by the state boards of nursing to enroll students and utilize clinical placements in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The program does not currently meet the requirements to serve students residing in or wishing to complete clinical courses in the following states: Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Washington DC and West Virginia. Territories: Guam and American Samoa.
This degree program requires clinical or internship hours that must be completed in an approved U.S. location or U.S. military base for military personnel.
