An associate's degree in nursing requires two years of college and is available at junior or community colleges. Associate's degrees in nursing programs are also sometimes available online. The bachelor's degree in nursing requires four years of college education and must be completed at a university campus.
The cost of an ADN program is much lower than the cost of a BSN program because of the shorter duration of education. Tuition costs are usually substantially lower at community colleges as well, making the total cost of the program much less expensive than a BSN program.
An RN's salary is the same regardless of whether they have the ADN or BSN, but nurses with the bachelor's degree have more opportunities for advancement within hospitals. Nurses with the BSN degree may also have more opportunities for teaching.