Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, applicants may apply to the RN to B.S. option before their prerequisite courses are finished. Admission would be contingent upon completion of all prerequisites before the entry semester begins. Official transcripts are required to show proof of completed prerequisites.

If you are interested in applying but will not complete all prerequisites by the start of the program, please contact the Academic Program Manager at nursingdco@towson.edu to discuss your options. It may be possible for you to complete them as corequisites depending on the courses.

Yes, applicants may be admitted prior to the completion of their nursing program and pending successful completion of the NCLEX-RN. Admission to the nursing major would be contingent on the submission of an official transcript confirming nursing education and proof of successful completion of the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Your degree must be posted on an official transcript and RN licensure must be posted by the Maryland Board of Nursing in order to receive your RN articulation credit package.

International students are welcome to apply to the RN-BS option with the understanding that they need to take additional courses to meet their visa enrollment requirements. F-1 student visas require full-time enrollment and a limit of one online course per term in regular academic terms. Given that most of the curriculum is offered online, it is not feasible for international students to meet their visa enrollment requirements through the RN-BS curriculum alone. Space in face-to-face courses cannot be guaranteed each term. You may need to consider additional electives or pursuing a minor in order to meet the enrollment requirements. If admitted, your nursing advisor will assist you in developing a plan of study that supports visa compliance, but it is still your responsibility to understand and ensure that you are meeting the requirements of your visa.

International students should be knowledgeable on visa requirements to ensure this option is the best fit. Visit the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) for more guidance on visa and immigration requirements. Please contact International Admissions for details about admission to Towson University. 

The degree completion option is not considered a fully online program. This is considered an online/hybrid option. Currently up to 90% of the curriculum can be completed online. Only one nursing course, NURS 489 Degree Completion Practicum, requires an in-person clinical experience.

Due to a growing interest in online courses and the needs of working nurses, most of the nursing courses in the degree completion curriculum are currently offered online. Students may choose their preferred course format for the two required upper-level electives, and the practicum course requires an in-person clinical experience. Otherwise, it cannot be guaranteed that the entire program can be completed via in-person coursework.

While some courses may be offered in a face-to-face or hybrid (50% online) format, seats in these course formats are typically reserved first for basic/pre-licensure students.

Night and weekend offerings are not an option at this time. Most online courses are asynchronous, meaning they do not have a set meeting time. Students with night/weekend availability are welcome to plan to use those times to complete coursework and study.

Student preference for course format and location cannot be guaranteed. As stated previously, most courses are only offered online. Any request for enrollment in a face-to-face or hybrid section of a course will be considered on a space-available basis and is not guaranteed to be approved.

Students are required to interact with their advisor each term for permission to enroll in courses. Students actively engaged with their advisor in a timely fashion increase the likelihood of receiving preferred course sections.

The program requires at minimum enrollment in at least one course every fall and spring term. Otherwise, there is no set requirement for enrollment each term. The RN to B.S. curriculum is flexible; you can choose to enroll in as few as one course per term or carry a full-time course load.

From the time you start your coursework at Towson University, you have 10 years to complete the degree. Prior to beginning the program, you will work closely with an advisor to determine a plan of study based on your personal needs, course offerings, and desired time to graduation. Part-time, year-round enrollment is typically recommended if you are a working nurse.

You can choose to enroll year-round (including summer and minimester terms) or take most of your coursework only fall and spring terms. Summer or minimester enrollment may be required at least once depending on the availability of certain nursing courses.

Tuition and fees are assessed by the Student & University Billing Office. Your individual costs will vary depending on your residency classification, pace of enrollment, and the current university tuition and fees for each academic term.

Current tuition and fees are posted online by each term. These costs are subject to change on an annual basis. Students in the RN-BS option are typically charged the university's part-time tuition rate unless they choose to enroll full-time.

The cost of course materials will vary by course. Additional costs may be incurred in the penultimate term of the program in order to comply with clinical practice requirements for the practicum course. Estimated costs related to practicum are posted in the Student Handbook for the Degree Completion Option.

While the nursing department does not have scholarships only for RN-BS students, there are many departmental scholarships available with varying eligibility criteria. RN-BS students may be eligible to apply for departmental scholarships if they meet the eligibity criteria.

Students must be currently enrolled in the nursing program to be able to apply for departmental scholarships. Each year, nursing students are able to apply for departmental scholarships each year between December 31st to March 31st. The available scholarships will be shared through the program's organization page in Blackboard annually during the application period.

There are many other scholarship resources for nursing students outside of the department. We encourage you to refer to our Scholarships resource page for more information.

Enrollment requirements and aid availability vary by financial aid program. Some aid programs may allow for pro-rated awards for less than full-time enrollment.

You can learn more about financial aid options and eligibility requirements via the Financial Aid Office. The nursing department cannot advise on financial aid options.