In an effort to increase access to affordable four-year degrees for professional nurses across New Hampshire, Colby-Sawyer College has established formal articulation agreements with all seven public community colleges in the state.

Through the agreements, students who earn an associate degree in nursing in a two-year program at one of the state’s community colleges and become a registered nurse can then enroll in Colby-Sawyer’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BS) program. Classes in the RN to BS program are held exclusively online in eight-week sessions, allowing students to build their academic coursework around their work schedules.

In addition to direct entry to the RN to BS program for any student who meets the admissions criteria, the agreements also give students the preferred tuition pricing of $270 per credit, making the total cost of the RN to BS program as low as $8,400 for students who transfer the maximum credits allowed. Students will be eligible to transfer up to 90 credits from their community college and will complete a minimum of 30 credits at Colby-Sawyer to earn the Bachelor of Science degree. The RN to BS program can be completed in as few as 16 months.

“We are excited to partner with community colleges throughout the state to address health care needs in the region with an affordable, high quality, New Hampshire-based degree option for people working in the nursing profession,” Colby-Sawyer Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences and Director of Clinical Partnerships Kevin Finn said. “With recognized faculty who understand the challenges in health care in our state and region, Colby-Sawyer offers an outstanding education that meets the needs of working professionals.”

“Our program of study was carefully reviewed, and Colby-Sawyer has provided a clear and distinct pathway for our students to continue their nursing education to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at a local New Hampshire college,” New Hampshire Technical Institute Nursing Department Chair Mary Jean Byer said. “The program is flexible, affordable and provides small class sizes to engage student learning and individualize their plan of study.”

“It is exciting to offer White Mountains Community College nursing students and graduates the opportunity to continue their nursing education with our new articulation agreement with Colby-Sawyer,” White Mountains Nursing Program Coordinator Sarah Baillargeon said. “The RN to BS program is cost-effective for students, and course comparison shows all their courses transfer with a focus on nursing courses to complete their next degree.”

In addition to the convenience of online classes, students in the RN to BS program will have access to a faculty advisor and support services including around-the-clock online tutoring. Colby-Sawyer is the long-time affiliated nursing program for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, N.H. For more than 30 years, Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program has been recognized for its quality, integrity and high standards by state and national accreditation agencies.

The seven institutions that make up the Community College System of New Hampshire are Great Bay Community College, Lakes Region Community College, Manchester Community College, Nashua Community College, New Hampshire Technical Institute, River Valley Community College and White Mountains Community College.