With the exception of adding an additional letter behind your name, absolutely nothing.
The answer to this question may be one of the biggest misconceptions among nursing programs. In both cases, graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. Despite the difference in name, the curriculum is essentially the same.
If the BSN acronym is used, the institution awarding the degree has a School of Nursing. For institutions that do not have a School of Nursing, the university itself presents the degree, thus awarding a BS in Nursing. Therefore, it would be incorrect to call a degree a “BSN” unless it was issued by an institution’s School of Nursing. Neither degree is worth any more or less than the other.
Prospective nursing students should attend an institution that is regionally accredited and has a specific nursing accreditation. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation standards are the same, regardless of whether an institution awards a BSN or BS in Nursing, as is the case with the State Higher Education Commission and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditations and approvals add significant value to your education. Without completing an accredited nursing program, you may not earn acceptance into a master’s program or be considered for job opportunities.
For more information about Stevenson University’s option, please contact Will Wellein at wwellein@stevenson.edu or 443-334-3337.