The new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Completion Program will become part of the School of Nursing and Health Professions and will begin in the Summer 2026 semester.
Owens Community College is launching its first-ever bachelor degree program in the summer of 2026. The new Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program will join the existing School of Nursing and Health Professions. The college first began offering its Associate Degree in Nursing program in 1969.
According to an article on Owens Community College’s website, Dr. Dione D. Somerville, who serves as the president of Owens Community College, was quoted as saying of the new program addition, “The approval of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is a historic first for Owens Community College—our very first bachelor’s degree and a transformative step forward for the institution. This program reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our students and our region. By offering an accessible, high-quality BSN, we’re expanding educational pathways and helping to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce across northwest Ohio.”
The BSN Completion Program is an online program designed for individuals who are already working in the field following having earned an associate degree or a diploma in nursing. The program is flexible and accessible to assist current nurses with the next step in their careers. The program is a 55-credit program and will cover nursing leadership, healthcare systems, patient-centered care, and more.
The school plans to enroll 25 students into the program twice a year, with that number eventually growing to 72 students. The college’s associate degree in nursing program currently graduates around 200 students per year.
The state of Ohio began encouraging community colleges to begin offering bachelor degree programs in nursing and in education to help combat the current nursing shortage and the current teacher shortage, both of which are still affecting the state’s workforce.
This new BSN Completion Program will complement the college’s recent opening of the Healthcare Education Center in Toledo, Ohio, which provides healthcare and nursing students with simulation labs, high-tech equipment, and collaborative spaces to complete their education.
For more information about Owens Community College, visit the school’s website.