Columbus State University has partnered with University System of Georgia eCampus to provide an expanded, and more affordable, online program for students with an RN degree who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. As part of the new arrangement, CSU’s RN-BSN tuition will be reduced to just $199 per credit hour, which equates to less than a $6,000 total cost for most students to complete the program.
 
The new tuition is a 21% discount over previous rates. The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents approved the new program and tuition at their regular meeting Tuesday.
 
The program will be offered as an eMajor degree through USG eCampus, a support unit of the USG that partners with public institutions to provide quality and affordable high-demand post-secondary degrees and credentials that address the workplace needs of Georgia and beyond.
 
 “This new partnership between CSU and eCampus will provide enormous benefits to our students,” said Janet Alexander, director of Columbus State University’s School of Nursing. “CSU will provide all the teaching and curriculum, while eCampus provides the online infrastructure and student support.”
 
Programs selected as eMajor degrees must be scalable, reputable, online, and in-demand since eMajor degrees are touted as being “ideal not only for traditional students who wish to take advantage of online course delivery, but also for working professionals, military members, transfer students and others seeking alternative routes to degree completion.”
 
CSU’s RN-BSN is designed for associate’s degree level nurses to complete a bachelor’s degree conveniently and affordably while they continue to work.  Classes are offered asynchronously, meaning students are not required to log on during specific class times. The accelerated seven-week courses allow students to complete the degree in as little as one year.
 
“There is no doubt that the demand for skilled nurses is high in Georgia and the Southeast” said Jason Huett, associate dean for USG eCampus. “We are excited to partner with Columbus State University to deliver a top-quality, affordable, online RN-BSN program that meets the needs of today’s working professionals.”  

An added benefit of the program is that students are not required to travel to campus to complete any clinicals for the program. All clinical requirements are completed locally through coordination with a faculty facilitator.
 
“Columbus State University’s commitment to preparing a workforce to meet the needs of our community and beyond is exemplified in this partnership with eCampus,” said Deborah E. Bordelon, CSU’s provost and executive vice president. “Through the RN-BSN program, we will continue to strengthen the relationships with hospitals and clinics in the Columbus region and have a direct impact on the quality of healthcare for us all.”
 
CSU’s expanded RN-BSN program builds upon a long record of success at CSU’s School of Nursing, which also offers a traditional bachelor’s program for students seeking their RN license, an online Masters of Science in Nursing, and an online Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner.
 
“There is a great need in Georgia and the United States for more bachelors prepared nurses,” Alexander said. “Columbus State University has been meeting this need for years, and is now poised to respond at an even higher level. We have about 200 students in this online program now, and we are hoping this new partnership with USG eCampus allows us to double that enrollment within three years.”