Principles of Statistics
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →AlabamaNursing
RN to BSN in Alabama: the general education credits you can finish online
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
RN-to-BSN completion in Alabama needs general education as well as nursing courses: typically statistics, English composition, social science and humanities. These are the courses where outside recommended credit is most often considered. Ask your programme in writing which ones it would consider before you study, then move the credit to a college transcript.
Why general education is the easier place to start
An Alabama RN already holds an ADN or diploma and a licence. The BSN adds upper-level nursing courses, which you take at the university, and any general education the associate degree did not cover.
Universities set their own transfer policies for general education, and these courses are the ones most often reviewed when they come on another college's transcript. The nursing sciences are a different question and are usually settled by the ADN you already have.
General education courses to ask about
Compare your ADN transcript with the BSN degree plan and list the gaps. Then match each gap to a course and ask about it.
- Statistics: Principles of Statistics (often required for nursing research courses).
- English: English Composition 1 and 2.
- Social science: Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology.
- Humanities: Principles of Philosophy or Humanities Critical Thinking and Analysis.
- History: US History 1 or 2, where a history requirement applies.
A worked example of the cost
Say your BSN plan shows four general education gaps of three credits each. At Jefferson State's 2026-27 in-state rate of $196 per credit hour, 12 credit hours cost about $2,352 before books.
On UPI Study PRO at $99 a month, a student who finishes four courses in two to three months pays about $198-$297, plus whatever the partner college charges to place the credit on its transcript. The saving only matters if your university says yes first.
| Route | Price | 12 credits |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson State, in-state | $196 per credit hour (2026-27) | about $2,352 |
| UPI Study PRO | $99 a month | about $198-$297 over 2-3 months |
How the credit reaches your university
UPI Study is not a college. Your results go to a partner college that considers ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit, such as TESU or UoPeople. If it places the credit on its transcript, that college transcript is what you send to your Alabama university.
What to leave for the university
Some parts of an RN-to-BSN plan are not a good fit for outside credit at all. Upper-level nursing courses, community health with its practice experience, and leadership courses are taught by the university and are part of what the BSN means. Plan to take those in the programme itself.
Also leave alone any general education your ADN already covered. Many Alabama universities give block credit for an associate degree and a nursing licence, so check what the university has already counted before you study anything new. A short call with the adviser, followed by an email that repeats what was said, often saves a whole course.
- Upper-level nursing courses: take at the university.
- Courses your ADN already covered: check the transcript evaluation first.
- Courses the adviser has not named in writing: wait for a reply.
Questions to put in writing
Ask the RN-to-BSN adviser whether each named course would meet a named requirement if it arrives on a partner college transcript, whether there is a limit on transfer credit, and whether a minimum grade applies. Keep the reply.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your Alabama nursing programme in writing whether it would consider each course, including the online labs, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Do Alabama RN-to-BSN programmes require statistics?
Many do, because nursing research courses build on it. Check your university's degree plan. If statistics is listed and your ADN did not include it, ask the adviser in writing whether Principles of Statistics on a partner college transcript would count.
Can I finish my BSN general education while working as an RN?
Yes, self-paced courses suit shift work. Get a written list of the courses your programme would consider first, then study them on your own schedule and send the partner college transcript before the term you need them for.
Is there a limit on how much transfer credit an Alabama BSN takes?
Usually yes, and it differs by university. Many universities set a residency rule for the last part of the degree. Ask the adviser for the limit in writing so you do not study more than can be used.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Ask your programme first; then study only the courses it said it would consider.
Sources
- Ala. Admin. Code r. 610-X-3-.02, Standards for Approval (nursing education programs) (official)All Alabama prelicensure nursing education programmes, including distance programmes, must be approved by the Board under chapter 610-X-3; the rule governs programmes, not where a student took a prerequisite. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Jefferson State Community College: Tuition and fees 2026-27 (official)In-state tuition and required fees are $196 per credit hour for Fall 2026 to Summer 2027 ($133 tuition plus $63 fees). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.