Bachelor of Science in Nursing
LPN to BSN
An LPN-to-BSN is designed for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) ready to advance into professional nursing roles. This degree builds on your clinical experience, accelerates your path to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN and lead in diverse care settings.

Dig Deeper Into the program
Explore how the curriculum integrates your LPN experience with advanced nursing theory, expanded clinical practice, and leadership preparation to support your transition to RN practice and professional growth.
Degrees Offered
- Bachelors
Start Terms
- Fall or Spring
Program Format
- On-campus
- Select classes available online to provide added flexibility for students
Credit Hours & Timeline
- Total credits required: 122
- Typical completion time: 4 years
Curriculum Highlights
- Advanced Nursing Concepts — Courses that deepen your knowledge in health assessment, pathophysiology, and community health nursing.
- Seamless LPN Credit Integration — LPN clinical experience and coursework are evaluated to streamline progression into the BSN curriculum.
- Expanded Clinical Practice — Additional supervised clinical hours across population health, leadership, and complex care settings.
- Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice — Focus on critical thinking, nursing research, and coordination of care across systems.
Outcomes & Licensure
- Graduates of the LPN-to-BSN program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
- Successful completion of the NCLEX-RN is required to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Applicants will be reviewed for admission into the LPN-to-BSN program once the prerequisite requirements have been completed. Prerequisite requirements include:
31 program-required credits which must include:
- CHM 100/CHM 100L: Fundamentals of Chemistry with lab
- BIO 200/BIO 201: A&P I with lab
- BIO 202/BIO 203: A&P II with lab
- BIO 230/BIO 231: Microbiology with lab
- An English Composition course
- Intermediate Algebra or Statistics
- 9 additional program-required general education credits
Once the prerequisites have been completed, admission requirements to the LPN-to-BSN program option include:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 including all program-required science and math credits (including transfer credits if applicable).
- No more than one unsuccessful completion (C-, D, F, or withdrawal) of a program-required science or math course since the completion of the PN program.
- Program-required science courses must have been completed within the 5 years prior to matriculation semester.
- An active, unencumbered LPN/LVN license. Students may be accepted on a conditional status if the NCLEX-PN is scheduled and passed prior to BSN Level 2 courses starting.
LPN-to-BSN applicants who do not meet admission standards due to prerequisite requirements, will be admitted into PreNursing. Students may remain in the PreNursing pathway for one academic year. After one year, students must meet admission requirements to progress into the LPN-to-BSN program.
Applications open July 1 for the upcoming academic year. CSM follows a rolling admission process, reviewing applications as they are received. We encourage students to apply early for priority consideration for scholarships, housing, and financial aid.
The Mercy Core is CSM’s general education curriculum and the foundation of every degree. Rooted in the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, it integrates ethics, reflection, and action to prepare women to lead with purpose and advance justice in their communities.
Your Roadmap to Admission
From application to enrollment, we guide you through each step with clarity and personal support so you can focus on what matters most and take the next step toward your future.
Why Choose CSM?
Credit for Your Experience
Your LPN background is recognized and used to accelerate your BSN progression.
Focused Transition Support
Curriculum and advising are designed to bridge practical nursing experience with professional RN preparation.
Women-Centered Advancement
In a supportive women’s college environment, you build confidence, leadership presence, and clinical expertise.
Mercy-Driven Professionalism
The Mercy Core reinforces ethical decision-making, culturally competent care, and service-oriented leadership in nursing practice.
I’m always encouraging LPNs to look into our program. I tell people they will be supported and I don’t think this an experience you can get at other colleges.
Kayla Richmond, LPN-to-BSN

Tuition & Aid
Investing in your education is a big decision, and you do not have to navigate it alone. Every admitted full-time undergraduate student is guaranteed a merit scholarship, and CSM offers additional aid and personalized guidance to make your degree attainable. Our team will walk you through your options so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Nursing Career Opportunities
- Registered Nurse (RN) in hospitals and health systems
- Charge nurse or team leader
- Community health nurse
- Case manager or care coordinator
- Long-term care and rehabilitation nurse
- Pediatric or maternal-child RN
- Nurse educator or clinical trainer
- Healthcare quality improvement specialist

NURSING By The Numbers
97.5%
First-Time NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam Pass Rate
CSM graduates consistently and significantly exceed national expectations for new nurse licensure success.
100%
Job Placement Within Six Months of Graduation
Every BSN graduate from recent cohorts was successfully employed in a nursing role within six months of graduation.
100+ YEARS
Of Nursing Education at College of Saint Mary
For more than a century, College of Saint Mary has prepared skilled, compassionate nurses serving Nebraska and beyond
Nursing Students In Action









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Accreditation
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Bachelor of Science Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Ga., 30326, (404) 975-5000. The practical nursing program has Nebraska State Board of Nursing approval.
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Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll help you build a future with confidence.


