DANBURY, Connecticut — The Department of Nursing at Western Connecticut State University has been named the #2 Best Online RN to BSN Program in Connecticut by RegisteredNursing.org, an online resource comprised of registered nurses “who care deeply about the profession and provide the resources future nurses need to succeed.” The rankings were released on March 11, 2025.
RegisteredNursing.org ranked the top five RN to BSN programs in the state, three of which are at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) public institutions, and two of which are private universities. WestConn ranked second behind Central Connecticut State University, and above Sacred Heart, the University of Bridgeport and Charter Oak State College.
According to its website, “To meet the demand for nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Connecticut schools have steadily increased their continuing education offerings for current registered nurses (RNs). Through an RN to BSN bridge program, RNs in the state have the opportunity to build upon the knowledge they gained via an Associate Degree in Nursing or diploma program, and in turn, provide greater patient care and achieve higher levels of career success.”
WestConn’s Department of Nursing is no stranger to accumulating accolades from outside organizations. In May 2024, Nurse.org ranked WestConn’s Nursing program number two on the list of the Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Connecticut. It was the highest-ranked public institution in the state, and the only public university that made the top five.
Also in 2024, NurseEducator.com ranked the university’s Ed.D. in Nursing as #2 in the U.S.
And in late 2023, WestConn’s Nursing program was named “Top Nursing School in Connecticut – Student Choice Award” by Nurse.org.
Dr. Joan Palladino, Dean of WestConn’s School of Professional Studies, in which the Nursing Department is located, reacted to the latest ranking.
“Western Connecticut is proud of our nursing programs,” she said. “The success is due to dedicated faculty who are great mentors to our students. Our students — from undergraduate to graduate — are serving to meet the health care needs of the people of Connecticut.”
WestConn’s Nursing program is licensed by the Connecticut Board of Regents and approved by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
To learn more, visit wcsu.edu/nursing or contact WCSU Communications & Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu. To apply, go to www.wcsu.edu/admissions/apply/.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.