Lyon College

Lyon College is a historic private liberal arts college that provides a specialized pathway for nursing professionals. The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) specifically designed as a completion program for those who already hold an associate degree. Students can enter through a pre-nursing track, which focuses on core sciences like anatomy and microbiology, or the RN-to-BSN track, which is delivered in a flexible online format to accommodate working professionals.

The curriculum requires approximately 120 total credit hours, with 40 block credits typically transferred from a student's prior nursing licensure program. Students engage in advanced coursework covering nursing informatics, pathophysiology, and population health. The program culminates in a senior capstone project focused on community health, where students apply research-based nursing science to real-world clinical challenges. While the completion program does not require new bedside clinical hours, it emphasizes the development of leadership competencies and ethical accountability.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and prepares students for advanced roles that require a baccalaureate degree. Compared to other regional options, Lyon College is unique for its "living-learning" approach and its recent partnerships with local community colleges, which allow for a coordinated transition from associate-level training to a full liberal arts-based nursing education.