Find the nursing degree that fits your starting point.
Compare common education routes for entering nursing, completing a bachelor’s degree, or preparing for graduate and advanced-practice roles. Program titles and eligibility vary, so use this guide to organize your questions before researching schools.
Four pathway groups, one clearer comparison.
Your current education, nursing license, and career direction determine which programs are worth researching.
Enter nursing
Prelicensure routes for students preparing to become nurses.
- LPN or LVN certificate
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Accelerated BSN
Advance as an RN
Degree-completion options for licensed registered nurses.
- RN-to-BSN
- RN-to-MSN
- Bridge and completion formats
Graduate study
Programs for nursing leadership, education, informatics, or specialized practice.
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Post-master’s certificates
- Specialty-focused graduate study
Doctoral study
Advanced education focused on practice, systems leadership, or research.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- PhD in Nursing
- Post-master’s doctoral routes
What each pathway is generally designed to do.
LPN or LVN
A practical-nursing pathway that may lead to eligibility for the NCLEX-PN after completing an approved program and meeting state requirements.
ADN
An associate-level prelicensure nursing degree commonly used as a route toward RN licensure after meeting program and state requirements.
BSN
A bachelor’s-level nursing degree available through traditional, accelerated, and RN-completion formats.
RN-to-BSN
A degree-completion route designed for eligible licensed RNs who want to earn a bachelor’s degree.
MSN
A graduate nursing degree with concentrations that may include education, leadership, informatics, or advanced clinical preparation.
DNP
A practice-focused doctoral degree with admission routes and concentrations that vary significantly by school.
“Online” rarely means every requirement happens online.
Many programs deliver academic coursework online while requiring in-person clinical learning, skills experiences, intensives, or supervised practice. Availability can also depend on the student’s state.
Confirm these details directly
- Whether the program accepts students in your state
- How clinical placements are arranged
- Any campus visits or in-person intensives
- Technology and scheduling expectations
- State licensure eligibility, when applicable
Look beyond the degree title.
Admissions
Check prerequisite courses, prior degrees, license requirements, GPA expectations, testing, and application deadlines.
Accreditation and approval
Confirm current institutional and programmatic accreditation and, for prelicensure programs, required state approval.
Cost and support
Compare total program cost, fees, transfer policies, financial aid eligibility, advising, tutoring, and career resources.
Start locally, then verify every detail.
Ready to narrow the field?
Use the state guides to find schools and questions relevant to where you live.