Online College Review: Should I Go to Rasmussen University?

January 14, 2026

Rasmussen University is a private, for-profit institution that has served working adult learners since 1900, primarily through online and select campus-based programs in healthcare, business, technology, and education. This review evaluates what Rasmussen offers, what the data shows about its costs and outcomes, and how it compares to alternatives so you can make an informed enrollment decision.

Quick Facts	Rasmussen University
Founded	1900
Institutional type	Private, for-profit
Accreditation	Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Delivery model	Online and limited campus programs (FL and Midwest)
Primary student population	Adult learners, transfer students, working professionals
Undergraduate online tuition	~$11,000-$12,000 per academic year (published rate)
Net price (grant-aided students)	~$17,000-$19,000 per year (IPEDS data)
Students receiving federal loans	~89% of enrolled students (IPEDS)
Strongest program areas	Nursing, healthcare administration, business, IT, early childhood education

What Rasmussen University Is

Rasmussen University is a private for-profit institution with a 125-year history that has transitioned from a campus-based career college into a primarily online university serving adult learners across the country. It operates physical campuses in Florida and several Midwestern states while serving the majority of its students through fully online programs.

The university holds HLC (Higher Learning Commission) regional accreditation, one of the seven U.S. Department of Education-recognized regional accrediting bodies. HLC accreditation covers institutions in the North Central region and is a legitimate form of regional accreditation, though Rasmussen’s for-profit status distinguishes it from nonprofit and public alternatives that most education researchers treat as a separate category for outcomes comparison purposes.

Rasmussen is most frequently compared to Herzing University, Colorado Technical University, Chamberlain University, and similar career-focused institutions. Its strongest brand recognition and largest enrollment volume are in healthcare, particularly nursing programs at the LPN, RN, and BSN levels.

Accreditation: What HLC Means and What to Verify

Rasmussen’s HLC regional accreditation is a meaningful credential. It means federal financial aid eligibility, broad credit transferability in most circumstances, and general employer recognition for the credential. For prospective students, accreditation verification is straightforward: Rasmussen is listed in the U.S. Department of Education’s DAPIP database and participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs.

Programmatic Accreditation by Program

Beyond institutional HLC accreditation, the specific program you are considering may or may not hold specialized programmatic accreditation. This distinction matters significantly in healthcare and education fields:

Program Area	Relevant Accreditation Body	Status at Rasmussen
Nursing (pre-licensure BSN)	CCNE or ACEN; state board of nursing	State board approved; check CCNE/ACEN for specific program
Health Information Management	CAHIIM	Aligned with CAHIIM standards; verify current status
Early Childhood Education	State licensure requirements	Varies by state; verify before enrolling if licensure is your goal
Business Administration	AACSB (most competitive); ACBSP	Does not hold AACSB; not ACBSP-listed as of available data
Information Technology	ABET (engineering/technology)	Not ABET-accredited

The programmatic accreditation gaps in business and IT are worth noting for students in those fields. While HLC institutional accreditation covers the degree for general employment purposes, graduate programs in business that require AACSB-accredited undergraduate credentials will not accept a Rasmussen business degree. If graduate school in business is in your future, verify this with your target programs before enrolling at Rasmussen.

For nursing specifically, always confirm that the specific Rasmussen program at your specific location is approved by your state’s board of nursing for the NCLEX exam you intend to sit. State board approval is separate from HLC accreditation and is the credential that determines whether you can be licensed in your state after graduation.

For a complete explanation of accreditation types and how to verify them, see: What Makes an Online University Legitimate?

Programs Available and Student Population

High-Enrollment Programs

Rasmussen’s enrollment is concentrated in career-oriented programs with direct workforce relevance. The following program areas represent the majority of Rasmussen’s degree production:

Program Area	Degree Levels	Annual Graduates (approx.)	Notes
Nursing (LPN, RN, BSN)	Certificate, AAS, BSN	Largest volume	Strongest program area; verify state board approval
Healthcare Administration / HIM	Associate, Bachelor’s	Moderate	CAHIIM-aligned; growing field
Business Administration	Associate, Bachelor’s, MBA	Moderate	No AACSB; general business credential
Early Childhood Education	Associate, Bachelor’s	Moderate	State licensure compatibility varies
Information Technology	Associate, Bachelor’s	Smaller	No ABET; certifications matter more in this field anyway
Criminal Justice	Associate, Bachelor’s	Smaller	HLC credential recognized for most LE hiring

Student Demographics

Rasmussen’s student body reflects the adult learner population it is designed to serve:

Women represent approximately 86% of enrollment, reflecting the concentration in nursing and education fields
Approximately 53% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a predominantly lower-to-moderate income student population
Approximately 78% of undergraduate students are enrolled exclusively online
The student body is racially diverse, with approximately 21% Black or African American students and 17% Hispanic or Latino students

Cost, Financial Aid, and the Net Price Reality

This is the section that requires the most careful reading for any prospective Rasmussen student. The published tuition rate and the actual cost of attendance for most Rasmussen students are not the same number, and understanding the difference is essential before making an enrollment decision.

Published vs. Net Price

Cost Metric	Rasmussen (IPEDS data)	Context
Published undergrad tuition per year	~$11,000-$12,000	Full-time equivalent; varies by program
Net price (grant-aided students)	~$17,000-$19,000/year	IPEDS net price includes all costs; higher than tuition alone due to fees and living costs
Students receiving any grant aid	~84%	Includes federal, state, and institutional grants
Students receiving Pell Grants	~53%	Indicates large lower-income student population
Students taking federal loans	~89%	Substantially above national average of ~55% at all institutions

The 89% Federal Loan Borrowing Rate

The figure that most clearly characterizes Rasmussen’s cost profile for prospective students is that approximately 89% of enrolled students take federal loans. The national average across all types of institutions is approximately 55%. This gap is not necessarily a condemnation of Rasmussen, but it is meaningful context. It reflects the income profile of Rasmussen’s student population, the cost structure relative to alternatives, and the financial aid model at the institution.

For prospective students, this figure suggests that paying for Rasmussen without borrowing is relatively uncommon. If you are evaluating Rasmussen against a public in-state option that costs significantly less, or against a nonprofit online option with lower per-credit rates, the comparison should include realistic debt projections for each path, not just the published tuition rate.

Comparing Rasmussen to Lower-Cost Alternatives

Institution	Type	Approx. Per-Credit (Online)	120-Credit Degree Cost
Rasmussen University	For-profit	~$295-$375/credit (est.)	~$35,000-$45,000
SNHU Online	Nonprofit	$330/credit	~$39,600 (before transfers)
WGU (competency-based)	Nonprofit	~$4,270/6-month term	~$15,000-$20,000 (typical)
Public in-state university (online)	Public	$150-$300/credit	~$18,000-$36,000
Community college (associate)	Public	$50-$150/credit	~$3,000-$9,000 (60 credits)

Note: Rasmussen’s per-credit rate is estimated from published annual tuition data and varies by program. SNHU and WGU figures are published rates. All costs shown before transfer credits and financial aid, which can reduce costs substantially at all institutions.

For a complete framework on financing an online degree, see: The Safest Way to Finance an Online Bachelor’s Degree and Is Student Loan Debt Worth It for an Online Degree?

Graduation Rates and Student Outcomes

Rasmussen’s graduation rates require careful contextual interpretation. Like most institutions serving primarily adult, part-time, and transfer students, Rasmussen’s graduation rates calculated on the traditional six-year IPEDS timeline understate actual completion rates because many of its students take longer than six years to finish due to part-time enrollment, stops and starts driven by employment demands, and the complexity of adult lives.

How to Interpret Rasmussen’s Graduation Data

The IPEDS cohort graduation rate methodology counts only first-time, full-time students who complete within 150% of normal program time (six years for a four-year degree, three years for an associate degree). This methodology systematically undercounts completion at institutions like Rasmussen where:

A large proportion of students are part-time rather than full-time
Many students enter with transfer credits from prior institutions
Students frequently stop out temporarily due to work or family demands and re-enroll later

These are structural features of institutions serving working adults, not unique problems at Rasmussen. However, they mean that comparing Rasmussen’s IPEDS graduation rate directly to a traditional residential university’s rate produces a misleading comparison. The more meaningful question is whether students who complete the program achieve the career outcomes they enrolled for.

Nursing Program Completion and NCLEX Pass Rates

For prospective nursing students, the most practically relevant outcome metric is NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate. Nursing graduates who do not pass the NCLEX cannot practice as RNs regardless of their degree credential. Before enrolling in any Rasmussen nursing program, request the most recent first-time NCLEX pass rate for the specific program at your specific campus or online cohort, and compare it to your state’s average pass rate and the national average (approximately 82-85% first-time pass rate in recent years).

State boards of nursing publish pass rate data by program, making this verification straightforward. Programs with consistently below-average pass rates represent a material risk to your career outcome that accreditation alone cannot address.

The For-Profit Context: What It Means for Your Decision

Rasmussen’s for-profit status is a factual characteristic that has practical implications worth understanding. This is not a categorical condemnation. There are legitimate for-profit institutions that serve students well in specific program areas. It is relevant information that affects how you should evaluate the institution.

What For-Profit Status Means in Practice

Rasmussen is owned by shareholders or investors and generates returns for them, which creates institutional incentives that are different from nonprofit institutions where revenue surpluses are reinvested in academic programs
For-profit institutions have historically had higher tuition-to-cost ratios, higher loan default rates, and lower graduation rates on average than nonprofit and public institutions when controlling for student demographics
Some employers and graduate programs informally scrutinize for-profit credentials more carefully than nonprofit or public credentials, particularly in competitive hiring markets
Federal data shows that for-profit institutions produce graduates with higher average debt loads and, in some fields, lower average earnings than nonprofit and public alternatives

The appropriate response to this context is not automatic disqualification. It is to apply more rigorous due diligence: verify accreditation at both the institutional and programmatic level, research earnings outcomes for Rasmussen graduates in your specific field using the College Scorecard, and compare total debt projections against alternatives before committing.

College Scorecard Data

The federal College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) publishes median earnings for graduates of specific programs at specific institutions, one year, five years, and ten years after graduation. Before enrolling at Rasmussen in any program, look up the median earnings for graduates of that specific program at Rasmussen and compare it to the same metric for graduates of equivalent programs at nonprofit alternatives you are considering. That comparison gives you the most direct evidence of whether the credential produces equivalent career outcomes.

Where Rasmussen Performs Well

A fair evaluation requires identifying where Rasmussen genuinely serves students effectively, not just where it falls short relative to alternatives.

Nursing Programs With Strong State Board Approval

Rasmussen’s nursing programs have been its strongest and most established offering for decades. For students in states where Rasmussen’s nursing programs hold current state board of nursing approval and produce competitive NCLEX pass rates, the programs represent a legitimate pathway to licensure and clinical employment. The practical nursing (LPN), associate degree nursing (ADN), and RN to BSN pathways at appropriately approved Rasmussen locations have a track record of producing licensed nurses who are hired by healthcare employers.

The critical verification step before enrolling in any Rasmussen nursing program is confirming current state board approval for the specific program and specific location you are considering. State board approval can be withdrawn or lapse, and approval at one Rasmussen location does not guarantee approval at another.

Accelerated Format for Working Adults

Rasmussen’s eight- to eleven-week term structure, one- to two-course-per-term pacing, and fully online delivery model are designed for working adult learners. For students who have struggled with traditional semester-based programs or who need the flexibility to complete coursework around variable work schedules, Rasmussen’s format is functionally well-suited to their needs.

Healthcare Administration and Health Information Management

Rasmussen’s healthcare administration and health information management programs operate in a growing field where the CAHIIM alignment, combined with HLC accreditation, produces credentials that are recognized by healthcare employers for administrative and non-clinical roles. For students targeting hospital administration, health information technology, or revenue cycle management positions, Rasmussen’s applied curriculum in these areas is practically oriented toward those roles.

Rasmussen vs. Key Alternatives by Program Area

For Nursing

Alternatives to consider before Rasmussen for nursing credentials include public community colleges for ADN programs (typically at 40-70% of Rasmussen’s cost), public university online RN to BSN programs for BSN completion, and nonprofit online nursing programs at accredited institutions like Chamberlain University or SNHU. The critical comparison point is per-credit cost, state board approval status, and NCLEX pass rates, not institutional brand.

See: Accredited Online Nursing Programs for Working Adults and RN to BSN Online: What to Expect

For Business

Students seeking a business credential with the broadest possible employer and graduate school recognition should compare Rasmussen against nonprofit options that hold AACSB or ACBSP business accreditation. SNHU’s online business programs hold ACBSP accreditation at $330 per credit. WGU’s business programs are ACBSP-accredited at the flat-rate model. Both provide a business credential with stronger programmatic accreditation at comparable or lower cost.

See: Can an Online Business Degree Help You Get Promoted? and What Is the ROI of an Online Business Degree?

For IT and Cybersecurity

The IT field is certification-driven rather than institution-brand-driven in most hiring contexts. A Rasmussen IT degree combined with CompTIA certifications and a portfolio will be evaluated similarly to an equivalent credential from a nonprofit institution in many IT hiring decisions. The cost comparison is still worth conducting because lower-cost alternatives with equivalent HLC accreditation exist. SNHU, WGU, and various state university online programs offer IT degrees at lower per-credit rates.

See: Which Online IT Degree Has the Best Career Outlook?

Who Should and Should Not Seriously Consider Rasmussen

Consider Rasmussen If:

You are pursuing nursing specifically at a Rasmussen location with verified current state board of nursing approval and strong NCLEX pass rate data for that program
You have evaluated the cost against nonprofit alternatives and determined that Rasmussen’s specific program, format, or location is the best fit for your situation
You are in a healthcare administration or health information management field where Rasmussen’s CAHIIM-aligned programs produce the credential your target employers recognize
You need the specific scheduling flexibility and academic calendar structure Rasmussen offers and have not found an equivalent at a lower-cost accredited alternative

Research Alternatives Before Enrolling If:

Your program goal is business: AACSB or ACBSP programmatic accreditation matters for graduate school access and some employer recognition, and Rasmussen does not hold either
Your goal is graduate school: verify specifically whether your target graduate programs will accept Rasmussen credentials, particularly at competitive programs
Cost is a significant factor: the 89% federal loan borrowing rate and $17,000-$19,000 annual net price suggest that many students pay more than they anticipated
You are comparing on tuition rates alone: per-credit and total cost comparisons against WGU, SNHU, and public in-state options frequently reveal more affordable alternatives with equivalent or stronger accreditation

The Bottom Line

Rasmussen University is a legitimately accredited institution with a focused career program model that serves working adult learners who need applied, flexible education. Its strongest programs are in nursing and healthcare, where state board approval and NCLEX pass rates are the most important outcome metrics, and its accelerated online format is genuinely well-designed for students balancing work and school.

The case for careful pre-enrollment research before choosing Rasmussen over alternatives comes down to cost and programmatic accreditation. The 89% federal loan borrowing rate is a signal worth taking seriously when comparing total debt projections across institutions. And the absence of AACSB, ACBSP, or ABET programmatic accreditation in business and IT programs is a material limitation for students in those fields who want the broadest possible credential recognition.

For students who verify state board approval in nursing, compare College Scorecard earnings outcomes, and determine that Rasmussen’s cost and format are genuinely competitive with alternatives for their specific program, it can be a reasonable choice. Do that research before committing.

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