Fully online program offers working nurses affordable, accessible path to a bachelor’s degree
The University of Rhode Island and the Community College of Rhode Island officially launched a new, fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BS) program during a signing ceremony on Oct. 1. The collaboration provides CCRI nursing alumni with an accessible and adaptable route to achieve their Bachor of Science degree at URI, all while maintaining the high academic standards and clinical focus required by Rhode Island’s medical facilities.
The new initiative underscores a mutual commitment between CCRI and URI to broaden educational opportunity, bolster the local healthcare pipeline, and address the state’s shifting medical demands. Tailored specifically for active nursing professionals, the RN-to-BS curriculum merges top-tier academics with the practical flexibility needed to juggle employment, family life, and career growth. With new lower tuition for the RN-to-BS program and significant scholarship opportunities, the program makes earning a bachelor’s degree more accessible, seamless, and affordable for Rhode Island’s future nurses.
“URI is proud to partner with CCRI to strengthen the pipeline of highly trained nurses who care for Rhode Islanders, and to expand pathways for working professionals to advance their education and careers,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “As Rhode Island’s public research university, URI is committed to strengthening workforce development across the state while advancing the health, wellness, and prosperity of the people and communities we serve. This partnership is a powerful example of how our institutions can work together to meet the evolving needs of Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce.”
“CCRI is proud to give our nursing alumni a direct, practical path to a bachelor’s degree without asking them to step away from the patients and communities they already serve,” said CCRI President Rosemary Costigan. “Partnering with URI on this RN-to-BS program reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce.”
URI nursing Dean Danny Willis noted the impact baccalaureate-prepared nurses have on the healthcare system, improving quality and safety outcomes. Research shows that hospitals and healthcare organizations with more B.S.-educated nurses have reduced risk for mortality and reduced 7-day and 30-day readmission rates.
“The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing is excited to partner with CCRI in this endeavor to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses, which will impact the nursing workforce in Rhode Island,” Willis said. “Today’s signing represents a shared commitment and collaboration to Rhode Island’s nurses, our healthcare organizations and, most importantly, to the communities and the patients we collectively serve. Strengthening Rhode Island’s nursing workforce requires such collaboration. We need these educational pathways that meet nurses where they are, support their continued professional growth and development, and help prepare them for the increasingly complex healthcare needs of our state.”
Through this initiative, eligible students may receive conditional admission to URI after completing their first full semester in CCRI’s nursing program, allowing them to seamlessly advance into URI’s Bachelor of Science curriculum after graduation without putting their careers on hold. The streamlined transition not only fosters personal career development but also serves the wider healthcare community, mirroring both state and national campaigns to boost the number of nurses holding a bachelor’s degree.
“I always intended to get my bachelor’s degree, but life happened along the way,” said Kathleen Ogni, a case manager at South County Home Health who is entering the program after graduating from CCRI in 2011. “So this program is allowing me to achieve my goals. I still have to work full-time and support my family, but through this program, I can take classes seven weeks at a time online.”
URI Online RN-to-BS students receive a research-based, compassion-focused education from top educators and pioneering researchers who make up the college’s faculty. With 24 core credit hours that can be completed in as little as 15 months, the program gives students a strong foundation to help them understand and manage the complexity of the ever-changing healthcare system.
“For many college students, balancing work, family, and school can be challenging. Completing a degree requires persistence. It demands dedication. And it takes determination,” said URI Board of Trustees member Joseph F. Matthews ’80. “CCRI graduates possess something that I think is very special. In addition to their talent, they possess true grit—and that’s the kind of Rhode Islander our state needs and URI wants.”