[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many people choose the nursing profession because it offers a chance to help and heal people, including in their most vulnerable moments. But as with most professions, salary can be an important factor when choosing your nursing career path or degree program.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Two of the most common nursing degrees are an [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/”]associate degree in nursing (ADN)[/hen-ui-link] and a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/”]bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)[/hen-ui-link]. [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/best-paying-jobs/”]BSN salaries[/hen-ui-link] tend to be higher than [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/best-paying-adn-jobs/”]ADN salaries[/hen-ui-link]. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), a BSN-prepared nurse can earn roughly $500,000 more than an ADN-prepared nurse over a 30-year nursing career.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse salaries vary depending on the employer, experience level, job function, and location. Learn more about ADN vs. BSN salaries, along with the differences between ADN and BSN programs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]ADN vs. BSN Degree Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/best-adn-programs/”]ADN degree[/hen-ui-link] is an undergraduate degree that typically takes 2-3 years to complete.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Generally, ADN programs are the quickest and most cost-effective way to become a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn/”]registered nurse (RN)[/hen-ui-link]. Many ADN programs are offered at community colleges, where tuition and fees are usually lower than at a four-year university.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You may also be able to earn an ADN from four-year universities, but a degree from these institutions may cost more.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/best-bsn-programs-online/”]BSN programs[/hen-ui-link] take four years to complete. Regardless of whether you earn an ADN or a BSN, nursing grads must pass the [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nclex/guide/”]National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)[/hen-ui-link] to become licensed in their state.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Employers now widely prefer to hire registered nurses with a BSN. According to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/research-data-center/new-graduate-employment-data” target=”_blank”]American Association of Colleges of Nursing[/hen-ui-link] (AACN), 70% of employers strongly prefer BSN graduates, with 25% of hospitals requiring at least a BSN degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]That might explain why a BSN is now the nation’s most common degree level for licensed RNs (46%), according to nursing workforce trends provided by the [hen-ui-link href=”https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/nursing-workforce-dashboards” target=”_blank”]U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration[/hen-ui-link] (HRSA).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A BSN degree also opens additional career and educational opportunities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A BSN is required to pursue a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/msn/”]master of science in nursing (MSN)[/hen-ui-link], which enables students to become [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/”]nurse practitioners (NPs)[/hen-ui-link], among other advanced practice nurses. Salaries for NPs and similar professionals reach six figures.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can earn a BSN from a community college, but these programs are typically offered at four-year colleges and universities. You can also earn an ADN from a community college before applying to a BSN program at a university.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You do not need an associate degree to pursue a BSN.[/hen-ui-text]

[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]ADN vs. BSN: Comparison[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Comparison[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]ADN Program[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]BSN Program[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Time to Complete[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Comparison”]2-3 years[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ADN Program”]4 years[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Potential Jobs[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Comparison”]RN, critical care nurse, long-term care nurse[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ADN Program”]RN, public health nurse, nurse manager, nurse informaticist[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Institutions Typically Providing Degree[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Comparison”]Community colleges, four-year universities[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ADN Program”]Four-year universities[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Yearly Tuition and Fees (2022-23)[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Comparison”][hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_330.10.asp” target=”_blank”]$3,885[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ADN Program”][hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_330.10.asp” target=”_blank”]$17,709[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Annual Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Comparison”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Associate_Degree_Nursing_(ADN)/Salary” target=”_blank”]$80,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”ADN Program”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_in_Nursing_(BSN)/Salary” target=”_blank”]$98,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]ADN vs. BSN Salary[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The salary you’ll earn with an associate degree vs. a bachelor’s degree is substantial across many industries, and nursing is no exception. According to Payscale data, BSN nurses earn $18,000 more on average than an ADN nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]ADN vs. BSN Salary: A Side-by-Side Comparison[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When deciding whether to earn an ADN vs. a BSN, it’s important to understand how your degree level impacts your earnings. The 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey found that the average RN salary increased with degree level; those with a[hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/dnp/”] doctor of nursing practice (DNP) [/hen-ui-link]earn the highest average salary.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]ADN vs. BSN: Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses are in demand, no matter what degree or specialization you pursue.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that demand for RNs will grow 5% from 2024-2034. That’s faster than the 3% national average for all occupations; a trend likely driven by an ongoing national [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown/”]nursing shortage[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]However, differences in salary and career outlook emerge between nurses with an ADN vs. BSN degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In addition to many employers now requiring or strongly preferring BSN-trained candidates, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/advisory-notices/enactment-baccalaureate-degree-10-years-requirement-registered-professional-nurses-rn” target=”_blank”]signed a law[/hen-ui-link] in 2017 requiring that all RNs in the Empire State hold at least a BSN degree by 2027. In 2022, the BSN became, for the first time, the most common degree type among nurses seeking RN licensure, according to the HRSA findings.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Research shows that healthcare facilities with more BSN-trained nurses tend to have better patient outcomes. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Benefits-of-the-BSN.pdf” target=”_blank”]According to the AACN[/hen-ui-link], an increase in BSN-educated nurses was associated with 24% better odds of survival among patients experiencing cardiac arrest.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Both the ADN and BSN degrees can lead to RN licensure, with both tracks having potential tradeoffs. Ultimately, it’s important to make the best decision for your unique needs. However, when it comes to ADN vs. BSN salary, the BSN holds a clear edge on nurse salary and professional options, even if it may take longer or cost more to complete.[/hen-ui-text]