31 Best (12-MONTH) Accelerated Nursing Programs For Non-Nurses
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Hoping to speed up the process of becoming a registered nurse without sacrificing the quality of your nursing education? Programs exist that will allow you to reduce the length of the traditional RN course load to just 12 months, though you’ll need to be prepared to dedicate yourself single-mindedly to your schoolwork during that year and keep in mind that you’ll still have to complete the required number of clinical hours.
So, what are the best 12-month accelerated nursing programs? You’re sure to find some high-quality options when you look through the list below of the 31 best (campus-based and online) 12-month accelerated nursing programs.
WHAT ARE THE BEST (12-MONTH) ACCELERATED NURSING PROGRAMS FOR NON-NURSES IN THE NATION?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 31 best 12-month Accelerated Nursing programs for non-nurses. The following list includes both (Campus-Based and Online) programs. These programs are for students with a degree in a non-nursing field. You can complete these programs in 12 months or less.)1. Emory University - Atlanta, GA
Program Length: 1 Year
Course materials are delivered using synchronous and asynchronous technologies. You’ll take classes like “Foundations of Nursing Science,” “Pathophysiology/Pharmacology for Nurses I & II,” and “Working with Vulnerable Populations Globally, Regionally and Locally.” Classes that deal with the specific patient populations for whom you’ll be providing care once you’re licensed are paired with appropriate practicums.
Courses are offered over six- to eight-week sessions, with two sessions every semester. Between required coursework, reading, completing homework assignments, and studying for exams, you can plan on spending between eight and 10 hours a day on classwork. Emory University’s nursing program is one of the tops in the nation—,em>U.S. News & World Reportranks its traditional BSN program at # 3 in the U.S.—so if you’re accepted into this track, you’ll be enrolling in one of the best 1-year accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses around.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses admits new students in August, January, and May each year. If you take courses in their required sequence, you’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: Class cohorts are limited to no more than 30 students. All seven prerequisite courses must be completed by the time this accelerated BSN begins with a grade of “C” or higher.
2. University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha, NE
Program Length: 1 Year
The 62-credit curriculum includes coursework such as “Pathophysiologic Alterations in Health I & II,” “Evidence-Based Practice and Leadership in Nursing,” and “Policy and Issues in Healthcare Delivery.” The academic year includes two 16-week semesters and one 13-week summer term. As in other 1-year accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses, courses dealing with care delivery to specific patient demographics typically have both lecture and clinical components.
University of Nebraska Medical Center has mobile high-tech simulation trucks as well as the state-of-the-art iEXCEL lab in Omaha, where you’ll learn the hands-on skills you’ll be using as a licensed professional in your chosen field. Clinical rotations will be scheduled at medical centers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities close to where you live and attend classes. Students enrolled at the Kearney campus will have the opportunity to participate in UNMC’s Clinical Pathways Partnerships program, which allows students to complete all their clinical rotations within the same healthcare system, potentially paving the way for future employment.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This accelerated program for students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field starts each January at all five participating campuses. By taking eight courses in the spring semester, five courses in the summer session, and five courses in the fall semester, you’ll be able to earn your degree in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: UNMC uses the NursingCAS service for applications to this program. You must submit a personal statement and two professional references with your application. Prerequisite courses must be completed before you begin this accelerated bachelor’s program.
3. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, PA
Program Length: 3 Terms
You’ll take courses like “Foundations of Nursing Practice,” “Pharmacology and Therapeutics Across the Lifespan,” and “Ethics in Nursing and Healthcare.” Many of the classes you take that deal with the specific inpatient and outpatient populations you’ll be caring for once you’re a licensed RN are associated with clinical practicums. Pitt uses Kaplan Preparation Tests throughout the program as a tool to learn how well students are absorbing information. Clinical rotations are scheduled in a variety of settings, including hospitals, neighborhood clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Pittsburgh and its suburbs.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Every year, Pitt’s Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN program admits one cohort in the fall semester and one cohort in the spring semester. By carrying 18 course credits a semester, you can graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: The number of students admitted into this program varies from year to year, but the ideal cohort size is 42. Since Pitt’s program is one of the best 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses, admission is competitive. You’ll need to submit a resume, two professional references, and a personal essay addressing your career goals with your application. Prerequisites must be complete before you begin the program.
4. The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, AL
Program Length: 1 Year
You’ll get hands-on training in the procedures you’ll be using as a professional RN at UAB’s highly regarded clinical simulation laboratory. Your clinical rotations will occur at UAB Hospital (also known as University Hospital), the only certified Level 1 Trauma Center in Alabama and the UAB Health System’s flagship healthcare facility.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months) by taking seven classes (18 credits) in the first semester, seven classes (22 credits) in the second semester, and six classes (18 credits) in the third semester.
Admission Requirements: UAB’s AMNP is one of the 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses given high marks by U.S. News & World Report, so competition for entry can be fierce. You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in a non-nursing major with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. All prerequisites must be completed or in progress at the time of application submission. You’ll need to submit three letters of recommendation with your application, as well as an essay responding to a prompt in that application.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham requires either the GRE or the GMAT. You must have a combined score of 297 or higher on the former or 480 on the latter.
5. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Madison, WI
Program Length: 12 Months
Coursework includes classes like “Professionalism in Nursing Practice,” “Pathophysiology Essentials for Nursing Practice,” and “Social Justice in Local and Global Settings.” Courses span five- and eight-week sessions, with two sessions in the summer, fall, and spring terms. (Madison has an abbreviated four-week winter term as well.) Between classes, clinical rotations, reading, and preparing homework assignments, you can expect to spend more than 50 hours a week studying while you’re enrolled in this one-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Courses begin in the summer term. By taking five courses in the summer, fall, and spring terms and one course in the winter term, you can graduate in four terms (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: University of Wisconsin’s Accelerated BSN is highly ranked by ,em>U.S. News & World Reportand considered to be among the best 1-year accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses. The program is selective about the students it admits. You must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher by the application deadline.
You must submit separate applications to UW-M and its School of Nursing. A personal statement must accompany your Nursing School application. The program considers work history and volunteer experiences in its admission decisions.
6. University of Miami - Coral Gables, FL
Program Length: 12 Months
Required coursework includes classes like “Leadership in Nursing,” “Pharmacology,” and “Pathophysiology.” Courses dealing with patient populations to whom you’ll be delivering care once you become an RN are accompanied by clinical practicums. You’ll spend between 140 and 336 hours each semester pursuing clinical rotations.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This one-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses has two starts a year, one in the spring and one in the summer. By taking four courses in your first semester, six in your second semester, and five in your third semester, you’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: University of Miami admits two cohorts of 90 students apiece into its Accelerated BSN program each year. All applications must be submitted through the NursingCAS service. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum undergraduate degree of 3.0. All prerequisites must be completed by the program’s start with a grade of “C” or higher. You must submit a current resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose with your application.
7. University of Washington - Seattle, WA
Program Length: 1 Year
You’ll jumpstart your RN career by participating in more than 1,000 hours of precepted, hands-on patient care. UW partners with more than 600 hospitals, clinics, and community healthcare centers within the Greater Seattle Metropolitan Region, including Seattle Children’s Hospital and the top-ranked University of Washington Medical Center. You’ll learn and practice skills and model leadership roles in the UW School of Nursing’s cutting-edge Simulation Center.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This is one of the 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses that admit two cohorts a year—one in the spring and one in the fall. You’ll graduate in four quarters by taking 22 credits in the first quarter, 19 in the second, 21 in the third, and 17 in the fourth.
Admission Requirements: This program is only open to candidates with a baccalaureate degree whose undergraduate GPA was 2.8 or higher. You must have completed at least three prerequisite courses with a grade of 3.0 or higher by the time you submit your application. This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses has one unique requirement: All applicants must have 100 hours or more of paid or volunteer healthcare experience within 12 months of applying.
8. University of Rochester - Rochester, NY
Program Length: 12 Months
The curriculum associated with this 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses includes courses like “Nursing Health Assessment,” “Principles and Application of Evidence for Nursing Practice,” and “Management of Care.” Clinical practicums are associated with courses that deal explicitly with the health challenges you’ll find in specific patient populations. This curriculum culminates with a course entitled “Capstone: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice,” during which you’ll focus on preparation for the NCLEX-RN examination.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: New cohorts are enrolled in University of Rochester’s Accelerated BSN program at the beginning of each semester. By completing 17.5 credits in your first semester, 17 credits in your second semester, and 14.5 credits in your third semester, you’ll be able to complete this 1-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: University of Rochester uses a holistic process to review each applicant’s qualifications. At a minimum, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning where you maintained a grade point average of 2.8 or higher. Your application must be accompanied by a current resume or CV and two professional references.
9. Baylor University - Waco, TX
Program Length: 1 Year
The 62-credit curriculum includes courses like “Health Assessment,” “Pathophysiology I & II,” and “Community and Culture.” Like other 1-year accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses, Baylor pairs clinical rotations with didactic coursework pertaining to specific patient populations you’ll encounter as a professional RN.
The Baylor University Placement team is ultimately responsible for preceptor and practicum site placements, but they’ll work with you to secure a placement if one is of particular interest to you. The university will try to secure a clinical rotation placement for you close to where you reside.
Baylor University is affiliated with the Baptist Church. While the university accepts applicants from many different faiths, your courses will reflect a Christian worldview.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Baylor University’s ABSN program has start dates in January and September. This three-semester program actually takes only 45 weeks to complete (a little more than 10 months), making it one of the shortest 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses.
Admission Requirements: This program is only available to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university. You must complete all prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must take the HESI A2 and Math and English Composite tests with a core of 80 or higher on both sections.
10. Creighton University - Omaha, NE
Program Length: 12 Months
Classes are scheduled Mondays through Fridays and generally take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Like other 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses, Creighton pairs courses focusing on care delivery with hands-on skills labs and clinical rotations. The curriculum culminates with a capstone course where you’ll focus on your transition to professional practice and prepare for passing your NCLEX-RN exam.
Creighton University maintains simulation labs on its Omaha and Phoenix campuses, where you’ll be educated in the clinical competencies you’ll rely upon once you enter professional practice. You’ll start clinical rotations at the beginning of your second term. The university maintains clinical partnerships with regional hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Valleywise Health and Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: At Creighton’s campuses in Omaha, Nebraska, and Phoenix, Arizona, the ABSN program starts twice a year in August and January. At the university’s campus in Grand Island, Nebraska, the program begins every August. You’ll be able to complete this program in five terms (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: Creighton University’s Omaha campus admits two cohorts of up to 48 students each year, and the Phoenix campus admits two cohorts of up to 56 students. The Grand Island campus admits a cohort of up to 20 students once a year. You must graduate from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to apply. Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement must accompany your application. All prerequisites must be completed by the time you start the program.
11. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN
Program Length: 12 Months
Courses dealing with health issues and care delivery to specific patient populations are paired with clinical rotations at hospitals in Memphis and adjacent parts of eastern Tennessee, a 30-minute or less drive from the campus. Students will attain the hands-on skills they need for professional success by participating in laboratory intensives at UTHSC’s Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The program begins in the fall semester. You’ll graduate at the end of three trimesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: This one-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses has an early admissions policy and also maintains a waiting list.
Applications must be submitted through the NursingCAS service. Upon entry into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. All prerequisites must be completed prior to the beginning of studies.
12. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Lubbock, TX
Program Length: 12 Months
Didactic online courses are paired with real-time clinical practicums, where you can practice the concepts and skills you learn in distance-learning courses with patient populations. TTUHSC maintains simulation labs in Abilene, Amarillo, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Lubbock, and Permian Basin, where students will meet periodically to learn and practice technical nursing skills. Clinical rotations are scheduled at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities in Abilene, Amarillo, the Austin-Hill Country area, Dallas, Lubbock, and Permian Basin.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses admits new students in the spring semester. You’ll graduate at the end of three semesters (12 months) by taking six courses in the first semester, five in the second semester, and five in the third semester.
Admission Requirements: TTUHSC uses the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) for admissions applications. All applicants must be accredited college or university graduates with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Before applying, you must complete at least 44 of the 55 prerequisite credits necessary for admission with a grade of “C” or higher. You must take the HESI exam.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has one application requirement that’s comparatively unique among 12-month accelerated nursing programs: Applicants must complete certified nursing assistant training before applying to this program.
13. MGH Institute of Health Professions - Boston, MA
Program Length: 12 Months
You’ll participate in active learning sessions at MGH Institute’s high-tech simulation lab. Your clinical rotations will take place at healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Boston Area, like Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women's, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness. The clinical faculty-to-student ratio is 1:6 on average, so you’ll be able to reap maximum benefit from your clinical rotations.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The program offers spring and summer starts. By taking 20 credits in your first semester, 19 credits in your second semester, and 15 credits in your third semester, you’ll be able to graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: Only applicants with bachelor’s degrees from accredited U.S. colleges or universities may apply to this program. You must submit your application through the NursingCAS system. You’ll need to submit two reference letters, a personal statement, and a resume with your application. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply.
14. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: The University of Tennessee system also offers an Accelerated BSN program at its campus in Knoxville. This 47-credit, 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses includes courses that are specifically customized for the learning needs of ABSN students, such as “Professional Nursing/Leadership for ABSN,” “Pharmacology for ABSN,” and “Leadership II for ABSN Students.” The curriculum also offers four clinical immersions at major hospitals, community clinics, health departments, schools, and other healthcare facilities throughout Knoxville and adjacent communities in eastern Tennessee.
Your instructors will be experienced teachers, practitioners, and researchers at the forefront of the nursing profession. Your courses will be taught in technology-enhanced classrooms, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn hands-on competencies in five separate simulation environments throughout the Knoxville campus, including the high-fidelity Health Innovation Technology & Simulation lab and the specialized Physical Assessments lab.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This program starts in the summer semester. You’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months) by enrolling in 14 credits in your first semester, 17 in your second semester, and 16 in your final semester.
Admission Requirements: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville admits 72 students into its ABSN program every year. Admission into this ABSN program is highly competitive; your grade point average as an undergraduate and the grades you received in prerequisites play a significant role. (Successful candidates have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.45 and an average prerequisite GPA of 3.52.) Applications must be submitted through NursingCAS.
15. Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA
Program Length: 11 Months
Drexel University uses the quarter system, and the ACE curriculum involves 84 quarter credits. Your coursework will include classes like “Contemporary Health Care,” “Genetics for Healthcare Professionals,” and “Leadership Concepts in Nursing.” You’ll develop nursing care plans in courses dedicated to teaching you about specific nursing patient populations, and you’ll get the opportunity to carry them out during clinical rotations at some of the finest hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Drexel University admits students into this 1-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses in the fall and spring. By taking 17 courses over four quarters, you’ll earn your BSN degree in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher. All prerequisites must be complete before you begin your nursing classes.
16. Binghamton University - Binghamton, NY
Program Length: 12 Months
As with many other 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses, many of the university’s nursing courses that deal with health challenges within specific patient populations have a clinical component that provides students with the opportunity to give hands-on care at hospitals, community clinics, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare facilities throughout the Binghamton region. Hands-on skills training to prepare you for these clinical rotations takes place at the university’s cutting-edge Innovative Simulation and Practice Center
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Courses begin in the summer session. You can complete Binghamton University’s curriculum in 12 months by taking two courses a term.
Admission Requirements: This program is only available to applicants who maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher while earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher by the time you begin your nursing studies.
17. Saint Louis University - St. Louis, MO
Program Length: 12 Months
You’ll get more than 600 hours of hands-on education through labs, skills intensives, and clinical rotations. Saint Louis University’s simulation labs include virtual hospital units and realistic manikins that can be programmed to mimic the symptoms of illnesses and injuries. Clinical rotations occur at medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and community health practice settings throughout the Greater Metropolitan St. Louis Area.
Saint Louis University is a Jesuit institution of higher learning. Though people of every religious identity, practice, and tradition are welcomed into the school, Catholic traditions inform its educational offerings and may impact some of what you’re taught in this ABSN program.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Classes begin in May each year at the start of the summer session. This program takes three semesters (12 months) to complete.
Admission Requirements: This 1-year accelerated nursing program accepts undergraduate students who’ve completed at least 77 undergraduate credits as well as graduates of accredited colleges and universities. You’ll need to submit a resume, one letter of recommendation, and a personal statement with your application.
18. University at Buffalo - Buffalo, NY
Program Length: 12 Months
This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses involves more than 600 clinical hours, which you’ll spend interacting with patients and preceptors in inpatient and outpatient settings throughout the Buffalo area. Some of your clinical rotations will involve Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) in the Erie County Medical Center, Catholic Health System, and other healthcare facilities throughout the region. These DEUs have been specially designed to provide an optimal teaching and learning environment for nursing students, faculty, and clinicians.
University of Buffalo also has a clinical skills lab that includes a nine-bed complex with realistic bedside equipment and manikins where you can hone your bedside skills before you begin interacting with patients.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Classes begin at the start of the first summer session. If you take 26 credits throughout the first and second summer sessions, 18 credits in the fall session, and 15 credits in the spring session, you’ll graduate with a BSN degree in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: This program admits 56 students a year. Applications must be submitted through NursingCAS accompanied by a resume and an essay. You must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in your undergraduate studies and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. (The average GPA of students admitted into this program is 3.72.) All prerequisites must be completed before you begin the program.
19. Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia, PA
Program Length: 12 Months
The 60-credit curriculum is taught at TJU’s Philadelphia and Willow Grove campuses. It includes courses like “Health Assessment Across the Lifespan,” “Leadership and Critical Decision Making,” and “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse.” Your studies will culminate with an intensive NCLEX-RN prep course focusing on your upcoming transition to professional practice. Didactic courses concentrating on healthcare challenges in specific patient populations are paired with clinical rotations.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Courses start in the pre-fall. You’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months) after taking seven courses in your first semester, four in your second semester, and four in your third semester.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and complete all prerequisites before they apply to this accelerated BSN program. Students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) exam. You must submit a personal statement and a letter of reference with your application.
TJU’s program may be one of the best 1-year accelerated nursing programs for students who know they want to continue into advanced practice nursing because students admitted into this program are guaranteed admission into any of Thomas Jefferson University’s MSN or DNP specialty programs (except Nurse Anesthesia) if they apply within two years of receiving their BSN.
20. East Carolina University - Greenville, NC
Program Length: 12 Months
Fall, summer, and spring semesters are divided into seven-week terms. Your course load will include classes like “Health Assessment for ABSN,” “Pharmacology for ABSN,” and “Research and Contemporary Issues.” The curriculum culminates with a series of capstone courses during which you will focus on the bearing professional, legal, and ethical standards have on nursing practice.
Clinical rotations occur at healthcare facilities associated with the ECU Health system, such as ECU Health Medical Center, ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital: Ahoski, and ECU Health Chowan Hospital Edenton. Eastern Carolina University is also home to a high-tech Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Center, where you’ll be taught the procedural skills necessary to become a good RN.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This ABSN program begins in the spring. By taking 18 credits during the spring semester, 14 credits during the two summer terms, and 18 credits during the fall semester, you can graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: This 1-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses accepts a minimum of 20 students every year. The program is only open to applicants who’ve maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher while earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. All prerequisites must be complete with a grade of “B-“ or higher by the time you finish the summer semester. You must take the HESI test and submit a statement of purpose along with your application. Admission decisions are based on rankings that consider your GPA, your HESI score, and other factors.
21. South Dakota State University - Sioux Falls, SD
Program Length: 12 Months
Required courses in the 62-credit curriculum include “Patient-Centered Care Concepts I-IV,” “Pharmacology,” and “Concept Synthesis I & II.” Some of your educational materials will be accessible online. This program concludes with a capstone course during which you’ll have the opportunity to process the experiences you’ve had during clinical rotations in the context of the information you’ve learned in the classroom.
This 1-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses entails 930 clinical hours. Clinical rotations take place at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities in Aberdeen, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and surrounding communities. Each of the three campus locations hosts state-of-the-art simulation labs where you can learn the skills necessary for nursing practice in a realistic but safe environment.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Classes at the Aberdeen and Rapid City campuses begin in January; classes at the Sioux City campus begin in August. You’ll earn your BSN degree in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: To apply to this program, you must have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants must take the HESI A2 exam. All prerequisite coursework must be completed or in progress at the time of the application. All applications must be submitted using the NursingCAS service.
22. Montana State University - Bozeman, MT
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Students complete more than 1,000 hours of clinical learning through simulation technology and practicums. Each campus has a simulation center where you’ll develop the clinical competencies you need to work effectively with patients.
Much of the required coursework is two-part, consisting of a “Nursing Concepts” (lecture) component and a “Nursing Practice” (clinical rotation) component. Clinical rotations begin in the second semester of this 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses and occur at healthcare facilities within driving distance of the five campuses.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This 12-month accelerated nursing program starts in the fall semester. The program extends for three semesters (12 months) from August through the following August.
Admission Requirements: Eighty students (16 students per campus) are admitted per year. Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must complete all prerequisites by the time you start classes. All applications must be completed through the NursingCAS service.
23. George Mason University - Fairfax, VA
Program Length: 12 Months
The 47-credit curriculum includes courses like “Nursing as a Health Profession,” “Comprehensive Health Assessment,” and “Pathophysiological Basis of Nursing Care.” Classes are taught at George Mason University’s campus in Fairfax, Virginia, Mondays through Fridays, beginning at 7:30 a.m. To remain in the program, you must receive a “C+” grade in all coursework.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Admission is only offered once a year in the fall semester. If you complete 17 credits in the fall semester, 18 in the spring semester, and 14 in the summer semester, you’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses admits between 80 and 95 students annually. This program is only open to graduates of accredited colleges or universities who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You must submit separate applications to George Mason University and its School of Nursing. All prerequisites must be completed with a “C” or better grade before you can begin classes. You’ll need to submit a resume with your application.
24. Pace University - Pleasantville, NY
Program Length: 1 Year
Your coursework will include classes like “Pathophysiology/Pharmacology I & II,” “Ethics and Excellence in Professional Nursing,” and “Organizational and Systems Leadership in Nursing.” Pace University supplements lecture courses that concentrate on health issues typical of a specific patient population with clinical rotations that focus upon caring for that patient population. Plan on dedicating 36 hours a week to classroom courses, labs, and clinical rotations (and that doesn’t include the number of hours you’ll need to spend studying.)
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Westchester cohort begins in January, while the NYC cohort begins in February. This ABSN only takes 11 months to complete, making it one of the shortest 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses.
Admission Requirements: 80 students can be admitted into this program each year. You must be a graduate of an accredited U.S. college or university to apply. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply.
25. The University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville, AL
Program Length: 3 Semesters
The 61-credit program includes 810 clinical hours. You’ll enroll in courses like “Health Assessment,” “Evidence-Based Practice,” and “Leadership in Nursing.” Classes focusing on nursing care to specific patient populations have clinical counterparts where students will work with those patient populations. Students will perfect their hands-on skills before they begin working with patient populations at UAH’s 10,615-square-foot Simulation & Learning Innovation Center. This cutting-edge facility features a mock hospital for clinical education.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You’ll begin classes in the spring semester. By taking 21 credits in the spring, 21 credits in the summer, and 19 credits in the fall, you can earn your BSN degree in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: Entry into this 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses is highly competitive. You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to apply. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher, including a “Health Promotions for Nursing Majors” course that can only be taken at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. You must score 75 percent or higher on the HESI A2 exam.
26. University of Missouri-St. Louis - St. Louis, MO
Program Length: 12 Months
Courses focusing on health issues germane to specified patient populations are augmented with practicums where students work under preceptors to provide care for members of those patient populations. University of Missouri-St. Louis maintains clinical partnerships with some of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in the Lou, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, and St. Louis Children's Hospital. You’ll develop your hands-on nursing skills by participating in training exercises in the immersive, 21,000-square-foot Nursing Learning Resource and Simulation Center.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Courses begin in the fall semester. You’ll take 20 credits your first semester, 18 credits your second semester, and 15 credits your final semester to graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: University of Missouri and its College of Nursing require separate applications. You must have maintained a 3.0 GPA while earning your bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and earned a grade of “B-“ or higher in all prerequisite courses.
27. University of Houston - Sugar Land, TX
Program Length: 12 Months
This 1-year accelerated nursing program for non-nurses is an intensive program that involves upwards of 50 hours a week between classroom attendance, skills labs, and clinical rotations (and that does not include the time you’ll spend studying.) Courses are conducted in the classroom but may include web-enhanced learning. Courses you’ll enroll in include “Nursing Process for Symptom Management,” “Reading and Interpreting Scientific Literature,” and “Policy and Ethics in Professional Nursing Practice.” You’ll also participate in hands-on clinical training exercises at the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Nursing Simulation Center, where you’ll perfect the procedures you’ll be performing daily when you enter into professional RN practice.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You’ll begin this course of study in the spring semester. You’ll take five courses your first semester, five courses your second semester, and four courses your final semester, and graduate in three semesters (12 months.)
Admission Requirements: Candidates must submit applications through the online NursingCAS service. This program is only open to baccalaureates of accredited colleges or universities who’ve maintained an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to take the TEAS VII nursing entrance exam and complete all prerequisites before you submit your application.
28. Mercer University - Atlanta, GA
Program Length: 12 Months
Mercer University has cultivated clinical partnerships with some of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in Metro Atlanta, including Memorial Health and Atrium Health Navicent, and it is at these facilities that you’ll be pursuing your precepted practicum experiences. Historically, Mercer has been affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and while it accepts students of all faith backgrounds and maintains no specific affiliation with that Baptist Convention today, a Christian worldview still underlies its educational philosophy.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This 1-year accelerated nursing program offers start dates at the beginning of the spring, summer, and fall semesters. To graduate in three semesters (12 months), you must take 17 credits your first semester, 19.5 credits your second, and 19.5 your third.
Admission Requirements: You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate courses undertaken while earning your bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university. You must score 76 percent or higher on the TEAS exam. You must submit a resume and an essay with your application.
29. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Oshkosh, WI
Program Length: 12 Months
UW Oshkosh’s distance-learning platform uses asynchronous technology, which means you’ll be able to structure your other life commitments around your studies. If you must work while you’re earning your ABSN degree, this is one of the best 12-month accelerated nursing programs for non-nurses —although note that due to the intensive nature of the curriculum, the university counsels against outside employment.
You’ll complete 52 credits of coursework, including classes like “Caring and Human Behavior: The Foundation of Nursing Practice Health Assessment Theory,” “Evidence-Based Practice,” and “Legal and Ethical Care.” The curriculum includes a capstone course that synthesizes the various nursing roles you’ve learned about in your other classes.
Courses are delivered in a flexible seven-week format. Expect to spend between eight and 10 hours a day on your schoolwork: Students typically are assigned to read more than 100 pages a day. Between online coursework and clinical rotations, students often find themselves putting in 60- to 70-hour weeks.
The university will try to schedule your clinical rotations at a healthcare facility within 65 miles of your home. You’ll complete six clinical rotations in all, which may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays, depending upon your preceptor’s schedule.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: UW Oshkosh’s ABSN program has start dates in February, May, and October each year. Students must complete 25 courses in 12 months to graduate in a year.
Admission Requirements: The three student cohorts admitted every year each consist of 30 students. This program is only available to applicants who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Only residents of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin qualify for entry.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s ABSN program is one of only two ABSN programs that require all applicants to have a Certified Nursing Assistant credential.
30. Samuel Merritt University - Oakland, CA
Program Length: 12 Months
This ABSN degree’s 52-credit curriculum includes courses like “Health Assessment I & II,” “Nursing Research,” and “Leadership/Management/Health Care Policy.” Didactic courses that delve into care models for specific patient populations are coupled with practicums in healthcare facilities specializing in providing that kind of care. Your studies will culminate in a “Senior Seminar” designed to evaluate your ability to apply leadership and management principles within the clinical practice setting.
SMU’s ABSN program partners with more than 100 healthcare agencies throughout Northern California to provide preceptors and sites for clinical rotations; these agencies include the Sutter Health Hospital System, the Kaiser Permanente Hospital System, and the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. You’ll learn and develop clinical skills at Health Sciences Simulation Centers on all three SMU campuses, one of only three such simulation labs west of the Mississippi to receive national accreditation.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Classes begin in January. You’ll graduate from this program in three semesters (12 months) by taking 19 credits your first semester, 17 credits your second semester, and 16 credits your final semester.
Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of “C” or higher. You must submit two reference letters with your application. All prerequisites must be complete with a grade of “C” or higher before you begin the program, and preference is given to applicants who complete prerequisites before they apply.
31. Nebraska Methodist College - Omaha, NE
Program Length: 12 Months
Lecture courses are often paired with clinical practicums, particularly lecture courses that focus on health issues pertaining to specific patient populations. This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses culminates with a capstone course focusing on how social and political systems impact communities’ health and well-being.
Nebraska Methodist College’s Nursing Arts Center, a high-tech simulation lab, provides a safe environment for you to learn the practical hands-on skills you’ll need to function effectively as a professional RN. Once you and your instructors are confident in your skill levels, you’ll pursue clinical rotations in healthcare facilities throughout Omaha, including Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: New students enter this program each August. You’ll earn a BSN degree in three semesters (12 months) by taking eight courses in your first and second semesters and seven courses in your final semester.
Admission Requirements: This 12-month accelerated nursing program for non-nurses is only open to graduates of accredited colleges or universities with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher. Applications must be submitted through the NursingCAS service, and you’ll need to submit an essay with your application. All prerequisites must be complete before you begin the program.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.