SMSU online nursing program named Most Affordable in Minnesota

Southwest Minnesota State University has been ranked No. 1 in Minnesota for Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Nursing Program by RNtoMSN.org.

Launched in 2018, RNtoMSN.org has become one of the most popular online resources for registered nursing interested in BSN and MSN education. It is a valued resource by various universities, professional organization and government departments.

The SMSU RN to BSN program offers in-state tuition to nearly everyone, with no extra out-of-state fees. The program is available 100 percent online, with 11 courses and 75 clinical hours in a community/public health type setting. Participants are welcome to visit campus each semester for an RN to BSN Day. Graduates are eligible to register to be public health nurses in Minnesota.

“We are so proud to offer a quality online RN to BSN program for a reasonable cost,” said Dr. Laurie Johansen, chair and director of nursing. “The affordability, along with many other important features, helps us meet the needs of an increasing number of registered nurses seeking their bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

The RNtoNSN.org team analyzed over 500 schools across the nation with RN-BSN programs for factors including program costs, outcomes, student debt and earnings, reputation, and much more. It then reviewed the data and published the findings by state. There are 15 online RN to BSN programs in Minnesota.

SMSU education program No. 1 nationally in 2 Best Value Categories

The Southwest Minnesota State University Education Program has been awarded numerous No. 1 rankings for affordability — nationally, in the Plains States, and in Minnesota — by TeachingDegreeSearch.com.

SMSU has been ranked the No. 1 university in the nation for Best Value School for general Education students working on their bachelor’s degree.

In addition, SMSU was ranked No. 1 in the nation for Best Value School for teaching English or French students working on their bachelor’s degree.

Other No. 1 rankings by TeachingDegreeSearch.com include:

• No. 1 Best Value School in the Plains States for general Education students working on their bachelor’s degree;

• No. 1 Best Value School in the Plains States for teaching English or French students pursuing a bachelor’s degree;

• No. 1 Best Value School in Minnesota for general Education students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

In-state tuition for undergraduate students at SMSU is $8,874, and nearly all students — in-state, out-of-state, and international — pay the same tuition, making it an attractive choice for students near and far.

TeachingDegreeSearch.com is a free resource for students seeking business college and university level programs. It researches and compiles education information, career overviews and more to compile rankings for colleges and universities across the U.S. to assist students who are in the process of choosing a college. It relies on the contribution of content, information and resources from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, as well as other education and school-specific websites.

“This is outstanding news and shows the value of a degree in education at SMSU,” said Dr. Sonya Vierstraete, professor of education. “We’ve been honored recently for both the quality of our programs and their overall value, which is so important today as students look for a college that gives them the most bang for the buck.”