CCRI and RIC Launch New Fully Online RN-to-BSN Program

05/06/2025

Warwick and Providence — The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) are proud to announce the launch of a new, fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) program. This innovative partnership offers CCRI nursing graduates a seamless, affordable, and flexible pathway to earn their BSN while delivering the academic rigor and clinical relevance that Rhode Island’s healthcare system demands.​

The online RN-to-BSN program reflects CCRI’s and RIC’s shared mission to expand opportunity, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and meet Rhode Island’s evolving needs. Designed with working nurses in mind, the program combines academic excellence with the flexibility required to balance work, life, and professional advancement.

“This program is deeply personal to me,” said Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, Interim President of the Community College of Rhode Island. “I began my journey in nursing right here at CCRI and earned my bachelor’s degree at RIC. This fully online RN-to-BSN program is a powerful investment in our nursing students and a vital investment in the health of our state. Together with our partners at RIC, we are building a stronger, more prepared nursing workforce for Rhode Island.”

“Rhode Island College and our Zvart Onanian School of Nursing are committed to developing a workforce with the skills and training to address Rhode Island’s critical healthcare needs,” said Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College. “This program empowers busy, working nurses to advance their careers while balancing the demands of job and family. RIC and CCRI are constantly innovating to provide new pathways to career success and make Rhode Island a leader in healthcare.”

"RIC and CCRI's unique nursing program offers a flexible and accessible pathway for nurses to earn their B.S. in Nursing degree online while continuing to work in their profession," said David Caprio, chair of the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education. "Research shows that a bachelor's degree carries additional benefits, such as career advancement, increased job opportunities, and higher earning potential. Many Rhode Island employers seek BSN-prepared nurses, so a BSN can be crucial for leadership and management roles within healthcare.”

CCRI Nursing student Paige Mitchell added, “The new online RN to BSN program at RIC is important for students like me.  It creates a seamless, affordable, and accessible pathway to continue our education and earn our bachelor’s degree, while keeping out jobs and from having to enroll in an out-of-state program.”

Graduates of CCRI’s highly respected Associate Degree in Nursing program will now be able to transition directly into RIC’s BSN program with no interruption to their professional careers. The new pathway supports both individual advancement and broader healthcare system needs, aligning with ongoing national and state efforts to increase the proportion of BSN-prepared nurses.​

“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and this partnership ensures that our CCRI graduates—who are already leaders in clinical skill and compassion—can take the next step in their education without financial or geographic barriers,” added Costigan. “We are grateful to our partners at Rhode Island College for their shared commitment to our students and our state.”

“There is a critical need for nurses with more advanced degrees in Rhode Island and this program is vital addition to that workforce development pipeline,” added Warner. “It enables the highly dedicated working professionals already in that pipeline to take the next step without leaving the state or commuting to campus. CCRI is an invaluable partner in building this capacity for Rhode Island’s healthcare professionals.”

Paige Mitchell, a soon-to-be CCRI nursing graduate who plans to enroll in the RN-to-BSN program this fall, shared, “Knowing I can stay in Rhode Island, keep working, and earn my BSN from a respected institution like RIC means everything to me. I feel like my goals are within reach, and I’m excited for what’s next.”

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