RN to Grad Program
The RN to Grad program is designed to help registered nurses who have an associate's degree in nursing move ahead in their career. The program allows students in the RN to BSN program to substitute up to four graduate-level courses (12 credits), upon request, as part of the RN to BSN curriculum to help jump-start your progress towards select master's or doctoral degrees at SDSU. Students apply to the RN to Grad program and admission is granted to both the RN to BSN program and the respective graduate program at the time of admission.
The RN to BSN is fully online. Each course in the RN to BSN program is offered a minimum of three times per year. Students have the ability to design their own pace of degree completion. Graduate coursework can be completed online, allowing you to work while taking classes.
Our faculty and staff are here to help you map your nursing career and reach your professional goals.
Admission Criteria
Registered nurses who meet the following criteria are eligible:
- 3.0 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale.
Please also review the RN to BSN requirements and applicable graduate program requirements:
Application Deadline and Course Calendar
RN to BSN courses are offered in seven-week blocks; graduate courses are offered in traditional semester format (15 weeks fall/spring; 10 weeks summer).
| Term | Application due date |
|---|---|
Spring Term 1 | Dec. 1 |
Spring Term 2 | Feb. 1 |
Summer Term 1 | April 1 |
Summer Term 2 | June 1 |
Fall Term 1 | July 1 |
Fall Term 2 | Sept. 1 |
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition Information for the RN to BSN Program
| State | Estimated Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Resident | $451 |
| Non-South Dakota Resident | $572 |
South Dakota Advantage Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Wyoming. | $451 |
» Estimated cost is based on 2025-26 South Dakota Board of Regents tuition/fees.
» All courses are worth three credits each and delivered in seven-week format.
» 30 SDSU credits are required for program completion.
» Full time: 12 credits per semester • Completion in 10 months.
» Part time: six credits per semester • Completion in 18 months.
» Additional costs will be incurred throughout the BSN program, including, but not limited to, textbooks.
Tuition Information for Graduate Program
In the RN to Grad program, your plan of study will be adjusted to substitute up to four graduate-level courses (12 credits).
| State | Estimated Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Resident | $640 |
| Non-South Dakota Resident | $962 |
| Child of Alumni | $640 |
South Dakota Advantage Offered to qualified students from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Wyoming who have received a degree/credential from a South Dakota Board of Regents institution. | $640 |
» Estimated cost per credit includes general activity fee, university support fee, nursing delivery fee and program delivery fee.
» Estimated cost is based on 2025-26 South Dakota Board of Regents tuition/fees.
» Additional costs will be incurred throughout your program, including, but not limited to, textbooks, background checks, etc.
Financial Aid
SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.
Please contact your adviser regarding financial aid if you would like to consider dual enrollment in you associate degree program and RN to BSN program.
Courses
Select RN to BSN courses can be replaced with graduate courses to accelerate your graduate plan of study. RN to Grad students may substitute up to 12 credits for RN to BSN credits.
RN to BSN Courses
- NURS 300: Transition to BSN (three credits)
- NURS 301: Emerging Issues in Nursing (three credits) (sub NURS 675, Cultural Competence in Health Care)
- NURS 452: Introduction to Population Health (three credits)
- NURS 455: Quality Improvement and Safety (three credits)
- NURS 462: Application of Population Health (three credits)
- NURS 463: Systems-Based Practice in Health Care (three credits) (sub 670, Health Policy, Legislation, Economics)
- NURS 465: Evidence-Based Practice and Research (three credits) (sub 626: Research in Nursing Health Care)
- NURS 466: Health Care Informatics and Technologies (three credits) (sub 615: Foundations of Advanced Nursing)
- NURS 468: Palliative Care Nursing (three credits)
- NURS 469: Nursing Leadership in Practice (three credits)