ADN vs. BSN: What’s the difference? Both are nursing degrees that qualify you for the NCLEX-RN and can launch your nursing career. However, an ADN is an associate’s degree, and a BSN is a bachelor’s degree, so there are key differences in the scope of education and career advancement opportunities.
There are many pathways to become a nurse. Among other qualifications, individuals who have earned an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can qualify for the nurse licensure exam. What is the difference between an ADN and a BSN, and is one of these degrees right for you?
When assessing whether to pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing vs. BSN, consider your career goals and the amount of time you can devote to your nursing education. If you decide to pursue a BSN, Mercer University’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track allows students who have a previous bachelor’s degree to earn a BSN and pursue nurse licensure in as few as 12 months. We offer a hybrid online and onsite nursing curriculum to qualified students that provides the skills and knowledge required to become an excellent nurse and stand out as a potential leader.
Below, we will compare degrees — ADN vs. BSN — highlighting the differences in the educational experience and the advancement opportunities each offers.
What is an ADN?
An ADN is an associate degree and an entry point for a career as a licensed registered nurse. An ADN meets the minimum degree requirement for the NCLEX-RN exam, which may be appealing because ADN programs typically are completed within two years, which is faster than a traditional BSN education.
Students earning an ADN will take courses in nursing fundamentals and gain experience working in various nursing specialties during clinical rotations, such as medical-surgical nursing and community health. However, an ADN degree also has other components worth considering, which we will explore further in this post.
What is a BSN?
A BSN is a bachelor’s degree offered by colleges and universities. A traditional BSN education is a comprehensive, four-year program that prepares students to provide compassionate, evidence-based patient care. Accelerated BSN tracks like Mercer’s ABSN track provide the same high-quality education as a traditional four-year BSN an intensive, accelerated 12-month timeline.
Students enrolled in a BSN program participate in courses similar to an ADN program curriculum, which involves learning nursing fundamentals and practicing nursing skills in labs and clinical rotations. However, a BSN is more comprehensive than an ADN, which provides opportunity to delve deeper into nursing fundamentals and clinical practice.
ADN vs. BSN: Side-by-Side Comparison
Either an ADN or BSN can help you accomplish your goal of becoming a nurse. However, when comparing an ADN vs. BSN, a BSN is widely regarded as more valuable due to the scope of education and advancement opportunities it can offer. Below we will explore some of the differences between an ADN and a BSN.
Education Requirements
An ADN program is typically completed within two years, which is half the completion time of a traditional BSN program.
Students with a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a certain number of college credits may be eligible for an accelerated BSN track, enabling them to earn their degree sooner than the traditional four-year route.
At Mercer, students with a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution can apply to our accelerated BSN track and earn a BSN in as few as 12 months, which is sooner than many ADN programs. The track utilizes a hybrid approach, combining online coursework, in-person simulation labs and clinical rotations.
Whether you pursue an ADN or a BSN, you will likely need to complete prerequisite courses before enrollment. Prerequisites establish a foundation for nursing, ensuring all students enter the program with the essential building blocks for a nursing career.
Your previous education will determine which prerequisites you may need. If you are applying to Mercer’s ABSN track, enrollment counselors will guide you through the admissions process and create an academic plan to help you complete prerequisites before your target start date.
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Career Outlook and Salary
An ADN or BSN will qualify you for the NCLEX-RN exam, allowing you to earn a nursing license and start working as a registered nurse. With a nationwide nursing shortage, the career outlook for registered nurses is strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurse employment is projected to grow 6% between 2022 and 2032, faster than the national average for all occupations.
Licensed registered nurses also earn a competitive salary with a median of $86,070 (BLS), considerably higher than the national median for all occupations. While the BLS does not differentiate salaries between nurses with an ADN or BSN, it’s essential to consider that many employers offer higher wages to attract BSN-educated nurses.
There has been a recent push for registered nurses to earn a BSN if they have not already. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, in 2024, the BSN was the most common degree for nurses entering the workforce. For the first time, more than two-thirds of the nursing workforce have a BSN degree or higher.
Scope of Practice
The scope of practice for registered nurses is not determined by whether they earn an ADN or BSN. Both degrees allow graduates to become licensed nurses who are fully prepared to provide all care within a registered nurse’s scope of practice.
However, BSN nurses are in high demand because of the comprehensiveness of their education. Studies have shown that BSN-educated nurses yield a higher rate of positive patient outcomes. For example, a study published in Nursing Outlook in 2022 showed that a higher proportion of BSN-educated nurses in a hospital setting is connected to a decrease in 30-day inpatient surgical mortality rates.
Additionally, a study published in Health Affairs showed that with each 10% increase in BSN nurses in a hospital setting, the odds of patients discharged with good cerebral performance after experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest increased by 24%.
While both degrees pave the way to a career as a registered nurse, a BSN degree thoroughly prepares students to become highly skilled and compassionate nurses.
Advancement Opportunities
While you can start working as a registered nurse with an ADN, ADN nurses are limited in advancement opportunities compared to BSN nurses. For example, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Magnet hospitals require all nurse managers and leaders to hold a BSN or higher.
Many master’s degree and doctorate nursing graduate programs also require students to have at least a BSN to qualify. To advance your career, such as becoming an advanced practice registered nurse, you will need a BSN to be eligible.
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Your Nursing Journey Begins with the ABSN at Mercer
Mercer’s ABSN track can launch your nursing career by allowing you to earn a BSN in as few as 12 months. With three start dates per year — in the spring, summer, and fall — our enrollment counselors will help you navigate the admissions process so you can start your nursing journey sooner.
Contact our enrollment team today to learn more about the ABSN track and how you can start taking the steps toward earning a BSN.