Associate Degree in Nursing Programs
(found programs from 1194 campuses)

Chris O’Brien received her BSN from Auburn University and her Master’s in Public Health degree from Emory University. With a background in cardiac care, home health, nursing research & education, and medical writing, she now enjoys the dual paths of being a freelance medical writer and yoga teacher in Decatur, GA.

Time and money are the two biggest factors in deciding what type of nursing degree to pursue, but there are other important considerations that are not as easy to measure as time and money.

We’ll look at the time and money factors first, since they are so closely tied together.

Do You Have the Time and Talent?

An Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) is awarded from a junior college and is designed to be completed in two years, so you can start working as a registered nurse in about half the time by taking this path, but it’s a more limited path than the BSN in some ways. Let me explain why.

The requirements for enrollment in a junior college are generally less than those for four year colleges that offer BSN programs. For example, slightly lower high school grades and standardized test scores may be acceptable at a junior college. This works if you’re not very academically inclined and just want to get a nursing job that pays well and has flexible hours.

How Much Money?

Now for the bottom line on money: The cost of an ADN program will be much less than a BSN program and you’ll be able to get a job two years sooner and start earning income with the ADN. Both types of programs may offer financial aid, so that can help to cut your out of pocket education costs substantially.Are you starting to get an idea of which path would suit you better based on what you know about your personal limits of time and money? Okay, now let’s look at some of the more subtle aspects you need to consider in making this decision.

Are You Up for the Challenge?

If you have a decent academic record and have SAT or ACT scores that are consistent with your grade point average, then you may want to challenge yourself more at a four year college. So you have to look at how you’ve behaved in the past and predict how you’ll be in the future. You have to know your own limits in order to decide if you want to take the quicker path that’s easier to get started or the slightly more difficult path that’s a little harder to get going.

Weighing the Differences

In some cases you may be limited in terms of the types of jobs you can get as a registered nurse with an ADN. Leadership positions, for example, often require a BSN. This is partly because ADN programs do not cover leadership/management material in any depth - it’s only a two-year program, so basics that you need to practice are taught. The BSN takes twice as long, so naturally you have a broader scope of nursing practice potential when you graduate. Now, if you know that you want to work in direct patient care for your entire career and you want to get started as soon as possible, then an ADN may be your best choice, but if you want to keep more options open then the BSN is generally a better path.

Take one Step at a Time

Some nurses start with an Associate’s degree and then go back for a BSN later, when they may have more motivation, time and/or funds for education. As in most professions, the further you advance your education, the greater earning power you have, so starting with a BSN puts you in a position to earn more over time. Some employers may even pay more starting out if you have a BSN. Others pay the same for staff nurses with ADNs and BSN degrees working in the same type of position. Still others only hire nurses with BSN degrees or those who are actively pursuing a BSN.

Bottom Line

So, let me sum it up now. The ADN is a faster, cheaper, and less academically tough way to become a registered nurse. Over time you may not make as much money as someone with a BSN, and the opportunities for a wider variety of positions may also be limited. Whichever type of program you enter be sure to ask what percentage of graduates pass the state licensing exam on the first attempt. This is the most important indicator that you’ll be able to pass the state licensing exam when you finish your program!