Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 26, 2025
Oklahoma’s nursing education landscape provides clear pathways for caregivers at every stage of their profession. Whether you’re beginning your journey as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), advancing from a Registered Nurse (RN) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pursuing licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or training for advanced practice as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), the state’s community colleges, universities, and health systems combine rigorous academics with immersive clinical experiences. With options for hands‑on practicums in accredited care settings alongside flexible online coursework, Oklahoma’s nursing programs equip graduates with the skills, credentials, and competitive salary potential needed to excel across a variety of healthcare environments.
Alva, OK - Public 4-Year - nwosu.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Northwestern Oklahoma State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers three tracks: traditional, LPN-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN online. It requires a 2.5 GPA, prerequisite courses, and a background check for admission, with no ACT or SAT exam mentioned. The program focuses on foundational nursing knowledge, clinical practice, and preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam, emphasizing evidence-based practice and patient safety.
Concentration: LPN-to-BSN - Campus Based - Visit Website
Northwestern Oklahoma State University's LPN-to-BSN concentration is a campus-based program designed for licensed practical nurses seeking to advance to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Admission requires an LPN license and prerequisite coursework, with no ACT or SAT exam specified. It enhances clinical skills and leadership abilities, preparing graduates for higher-level nursing roles in the healthcare field.
Concentration: RN-to-BSN - Online Learning - Visit Website
Northwestern Oklahoma State University's online RN-to-BSN program allows registered nurses to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing entirely online, with no campus visits. Admission requires a 2.5 GPA, current RN licensure, and a background check, with no entrance exam mentioned. The flexible, accredited program supports career advancement, credit transfers, and improved patient outcomes.
Edmond, OK - Public 4-Year - uco.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of Central Oklahoma's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is CCNE-accredited, emphasizing hands-on learning, compassionate care, and leadership skills to prepare students for the NCLEX exam and diverse healthcare roles. It offers traditional and fast-track options, with no concentration specified. Admission requires meeting academic standards and prerequisite courses; entrance exams like ACT or SAT are not mentioned, so they may be required based on general university policies. Financial aid, scholarships, and robust student support services are available.
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
UCO's Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a hybrid program accredited by CCNE, combining online coursework with clinical experiences to accelerate preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam. It focuses on evidence-based practice, leadership, and compassionate care, with no concentration. Admission involves meeting academic criteria; entrance exams such as ACT or SAT are not specified but could be part of requirements. Scholarships and academic advising support students in this accelerated path.
Online Learning - Visit Website
UCO's Online RN to B.S. in Nursing Track is designed for registered nurses, accredited by CCNE, and enhances clinical judgment, leadership, and evidence-based practice for advanced roles. It integrates nursing science with liberal arts, emphasizing patient-centered care. Admission requires an RN license and academic criteria; as a bachelor's-level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT are not mentioned but may be applicable. Financial aid and career counseling are provided for professional growth.
Langston, OK - Public 4-Year - langston.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Langston University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, offered on campus, prepares students for professional nursing roles with a focus on health disparities, cultural competence, and evidence-based practice. Accredited and established for over 40 years, it requires meeting university admission standards, including potential ACT or SAT exams for bachelor's level entry. The curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care, ethical practice, and leadership, with applications accepted until March 1, 2025, for fall enrollment.
Online Learning - Visit Website
Langston University's online RN-BSN program is designed for registered nurses seeking career advancement, offering a 100% online format completable in 9 to 12 months with flexibility for working professionals. Focusing on health disparities, culturally competent care, and evidence-based practice, it requires an RN license for admission and emphasizes leadership and interprofessional collaboration, with no entrance exam specified for this master's or doctorate equivalent level.
Online Learning - Visit Website
Langston University's Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program caters to registered nurses aiming to advance their education, delivered entirely online and completable in 9 to 12 months. It focuses on addressing health disparities through culturally competent care, requires an RN license for admission, and is accredited with over 40 years of excellence in Oklahoma nursing education, accessible at multiple campuses without mention of an entrance exam for bachelor's level.
Tulsa, OK - Private 4-year - utulsa.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
The University of Tulsa's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is an online offering for non-nursing bachelor's degree holders, enabling a nursing career in under 24 months. It includes 60 core nursing credits, hands-on clinicals, and focuses on research-based practices and the Roy Adaptation Model. With five annual start times, a $625 per credit hour tuition, and a 3.0 GPA requirement, it prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam. No ACT or SAT is required, as it's an accelerated program for degree holders. Graduates benefit from high NCLEX pass rates and priority admission to the MSN program.
Tulsa, OK - Private 4-year - oru.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Oral Roberts University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, accredited by CCNE, prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam through a campus-based curriculum emphasizing Whole Person Education. It includes high-tech simulation labs and clinical experiences in local, rural, and international settings. Entrance requires the ACT or SAT exam. Financial aid and scholarships are available, supporting a spirit-empowered approach to nursing.
Oklahoma’s LPN programs blend focused classroom instruction in anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and community clinics. Students gain hands‑on experience administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and supporting patient recovery under professional supervision. After passing the NCLEX‑PN exam and earning Oklahoma licensure, graduates bolster the practical nursing workforce by easing RN workloads and improving access to quality care across both urban centers like Oklahoma City and Tulsa and rural communities. These programs play a vital role in sustaining consistent, high‑quality healthcare throughout the state.
Oklahoma’s CNA courses run about six to twelve weeks, combining classroom modules on infection control and patient safety with practical practicums in varied care environments. Learners develop skills in bathing assistance, feeding support, and mobility aid, alongside accurate vital‑sign documentation. After certification, graduates support healthcare teams across institutional and community settings. Their foundational care duties free nurses for specialized tasks and enhance overall service quality.
Oklahoma’s RN to BSN programs blend online studies in nursing leadership, population and community health, informatics, and healthcare policy with supervised clinical rotations at regional hospitals and rural clinics. Structured in both part-time and accelerated formats, they let working RNs continue caring for patients while completing their baccalaureate degree. Earning a BSN enhances competencies in evidence-driven practice and interdisciplinary coordination, satisfies employer and accreditation expectations for degree-prepared nurses, and unlocks pathways into management, specialty certification and public health roles across the state. By advancing their credentials, Oklahoma’s nursing workforce is better equipped to meet diverse care needs in both urban centers and frontier communities.
Oklahoma’s Nurse Practitioner programs elevate a BSN-prepared nurse through a blend of advanced graduate coursework and in-depth clinical rotations, typically completed in two to four years, in specialties such as family practice, pediatric care, and psychiatric-mental health. Offered in flexible online, hybrid, and on-campus formats at universities and health systems across the state, these MSN and DNP tracks ready nurses for APRN certification and Oklahoma licensure. Graduates assume critical roles as primary care providers, chronic disease coordinators, and telehealth clinicians in Oklahoma City and Tulsa hospitals, rural community clinics, and tribal health centers. By bolstering the supply of expert practitioners in both urban and underserved areas, NP programs play a key role in enhancing healthcare access and outcomes throughout Oklahoma.
Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Very common entry, especially in rural areas, BSN preferred in larger hospitals |
RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | No longer offered in Oklahoma |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | BSN-in-10 state, BSN-prepared nurses strongly preferred statewide |
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs require physician collaboration |
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, DNP-prepared NPs remain under reduced practice authority laws |
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Concentration: LPN-to-BSN - Campus Based - Website
Concentration: RN-to-BSN - Online Learning - Website
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Online & Campus Based - Website
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Online & Campus Based - Website
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Online & Campus Based - Website
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Concentration: LPN to RN - Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
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Online Learning - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
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Concentration: LPN/Paramedic to RN - Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online Learning - Website
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Campus Based - Website