collageIf you want to work as a nurse, you should look for a school that has been accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (CCNE). Most authorized institutions, on the other hand, require prospective students to finish a set of prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, and health science. These classes are designed to address the fundamentals of medical care and clinical rotations, as well as guarantee that students are dedicated to their future profession.
There are, however, certain programs that combine nursing training with general education coursework. This means you can enroll without having completed any prerequisites and catch up later.
However, some schools do offer nursing courses and general education courses simultaneously. Students who enroll in these schools do not need to complete any prerequisites.
Practical Nursing Certificate (LPN) Programs Without Prerequisites
Capital Area Career Center in Springfield, Illinois, through its School of Practical Nursing, accepts students who possess a high school diploma or GED into its nine-month practical nursing certificate program. Also in Illinois, Heartland Community College offers a Practical Nursing program that does not have prerequisites. The program does require some general education classes, which students can opt to complete simultaneously with the nursing classes.
In Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute offer a year-long Practical Nursing Program without prerequisites. The Practical Nursing program at the College of Central Florida does not require prerequisites; incoming students only need a high school diploma or GED. The year-long Practical Nursing certificate program on the Community College of Baltimore’s Dundalk campus does not have any prerequisites, although students are strongly advised to take some, if not all, the general education courses before beginning. In the southwestern portion of the country, the College of Southern Nevada offers a four-semester Practical Nursing program, called the 50-credit, No Prerequisite Track Curriculum.
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Programs Without Prerequisites
Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois offers a four-semester Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program without prerequisites, as long as the student does not need to take any developmental classes. Although the college encourages students to take general education courses before beginning the nursing courses, students do have the option of taking both general education and nursing courses simultaneously.
In Hickory, North Carolina, Catawba Community College offers a five-semester ADN program; the program has no prerequisites as long as the incoming student has completed high school biology and chemistry. In the western part of the country, Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota offers a two-year Associate of Arts in Nursing degree that does not require prerequisite classes. A student in this program does have to take general education classes; the program includes two summer semesters in addition to the traditional fall and spring semesters in order to accommodate these classes. In Crown Point and Fort Wayne, Indiana, St. Francis University offers a four-semester ADN program without prerequisites, provided that the incoming student does not need developmental classes and has taken high school chemistry. In Sioux City, Iowa, students can enroll in St. Luke’s College’s five-semester Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program without completing any prerequisites.
Diploma Nursing Programs Without Prerequisites
Hospital-based diploma nursing programs are less likely to require prerequisites than bachelor’s programs. As hospital-based programs were the traditional way of training new nurses in the past, these programs generally have a long history (often over 100 years old) and are mostly found in the eastern half of the county. In Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh Shadyside School of Nursing offers a twenty-two-month-long diploma program that combines general education and nursing courses.
St. Joseph School of Nursing in North Providence, Rhode Island cooperates with Rhode Island College to offer a diploma nursing program that takes three years to complete. As long as a student has completed a high school chemistry class, the program does not have prerequisites. In Jersey City, New Jersey, students can complete both a diploma in nursing and an Associate of Science degree through Christ Hospital School of Nursing and Hudson County Community College. Students do not need to take any prerequisite courses other than the standard high school classes before beginning the cooperative program. Graham Hospital School of Nursing in Canton, Illinois does not require any prerequisites for its three-year diploma nursing program, as long as the applicant has completed the standard high school curriculum.
Bachelor Of Science In Nursing (BSN) Programs Without Prerequisites
Most traditional, four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs require students to enter the college or university as pre-nursing students and spend one to two years completing general education requirements and nursing prerequisites before enrolling in nursing classes. Some BSN programs, however, do have built-in prerequisites. West Coast University, which is dedicated to healthcare education, has a BSN program that requires just a high school diploma or GED. According to the program documents, “Other courses, training, and experience are optional and may enable students to receive transfer credit or have the ability to receive course credit by ‘testing out’ in specific subjects.”
West Coast University’s program is available in Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles, and Anaheim, California. Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois also has a BSN program without prerequisites. While the school has a strong emphasis on the liberal arts and has a substantial core requirement, students enter the school of nursing at the beginning of their freshman year. There is no separate admission process for the nursing school, and students spend their four years at Illinois Wesleyan University completing both liberal arts and nursing courses simultaneously.
In scenic Newport, Rhode Island, Salve Regina University offers a four-year pre-licensure BSN program that combines general education and nursing classes. Students on this track are accepted simultaneously to the university and the nursing department and take their first nursing course in their first semester. In Cleveland, the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University boasts that clinical rotations begin in the very first semester of the BSN program. Incoming freshmen do not need to complete any prerequisites, other than the standard high school courses, and can begin the nursing program right away. In Indiana, the University of Evansville accepts high school seniors directly into its school of nursing; these students do not need to complete any prerequisites before beginning the coursework required for the BSN degree.
List of the Best Accelerated Nursing Programs Without Prerequisites
Below is a list of the best-accelerated nursing programs without prerequisites:
- Georgetown University
- University of San Diego
- Oklahoma City University
- Fairfield University
- Regis College
- South Alabama University
- Loyola University Chicago
- East Carolina University
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Rochester
- Memphis University
- Brookline College
- Purdue University
- Samuel Merritt University
- California Baptist University
- University of Hawaii
- Idaho State University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Montana State University
- Marquette University.
Top 20 Accelerated Nursing Programs Without Prerequisites
#1. Georgetown University
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: $14,148
- Location: Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
The School of Nursing and Health Studies at Georgetown University offers an Accelerated Second Degree BSN, which allows students to earn a BSN after completing a 16-month program of study.
Expert clinicians teach students and supervise all lab and clinical activities. Students should expect to maintain a high level of scholarly writing ability and produce several research papers during the program because it is research-based.
Georgetown’s accelerated BSN program offers a student-centered environment that values students’ prior experience.
#2. University of San Diego
- Program duration: 21 months
- Tuition: $47,100
- Location: San Diego, California.
For those interested in pursuing an MSN, the University of San Diego has one of the top-rated accredited nursing programs. The Master’s Entry Program in Nursing for Non-RNs can be finished in 21 months of full-time study.
The nursing program is demanding because it provides students with a general foundation in nursing as well as master’s level courses that provide students with the skills needed to serve in leadership positions.
Students who successfully complete the program earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and are prepared to work as Advanced Nurse Generalists.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become registered nurses (RNs).
#3. Oklahoma City University
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: In-state tuition and fees: $31,026 ; Out-of-state tuition and fees: $31,026
- Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University offers a variety of nursing programs to meet the needs of students, including a Second Bachelor’s Degree program in nursing that can be completed in 16 months.
Part-time options are available for those seeking an accelerated BSN program (absn program) at a more relaxed pace; administrators are willing to work with students to design a degree completion program that works with their schedule.
# 4. Fairfield University
- Program duration: 15 months
- Tuition: $53,630
- Location: Fairfield, Connecticut.
For students who already have a baccalaureate degree, Fairfield’s nursing school offers a Second Degree Program. The program takes 15 months to complete a minimum of 60 credits, assuming that all program prerequisites have already been completed at the time of admission.
A combination of humanities and science courses, as well as clinical and nursing coursework and experience, provides students with the knowledge and skills required to begin a nursing career.
#5. Regis College
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: $75,000
- Location: Massachusetts.
Regis College is a private Catholic university located in Boston, Massachusetts. For non-nursing graduates, Regis offers a 16-month accelerated bachelor of science in a nursing program.
Students will have plenty of opportunities to work with top-notch faculty and clinicians to stockpile all the skills and experience required to excel as a nurse, with a combination of day and evening classes and a wide range of clinical experience opportunities.
#6. South Alabama University
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: $10,000
- Location: Mobile, Alabama.
The School of Nursing at South Alabama University has a competitive program for students who are looking for an intensive, fast-paced challenge.
Students with a non-nursing degree can complete a BSN and sit for the NCLEX after 12 months of full-time study through the accelerated BSN/MSN pathway.
Those who wish to pursue a master’s degree have the option of continuing for one year if their grades meet the university’s minimum standard.
#7. Loyola University Chicago
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: $49,548.00
- Location: Chicago, Illinois.
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University offers a 16-month ABSN program with 67 credit hours and seven clinical rotations. Loyola aims to prepare future nurses for any career path by teaching not only nursing skills but also critical thinking, communication, and analysis skills relevant to the rapidly changing nursing field.
#8. East Carolina University
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: $204.46 per credit hour
- Location: Greenville, North Carolina.
East Carolina University’s School of Nursing opened in 1959, and nearly every year since then, 95 percent of graduates have passed the national council of state boards of nursing on their first try.
Students can begin the accelerated second-degree BSN program in the spring and complete it in 12 months of full-time study.
To be considered, applicants must complete the NLN PAX as well as several specific prerequisites such as math, biology, and chemistry classes.
#9. Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Program duration: 17 months
- Tuition: $45,500
- Location: Denver, Colorado.
MSU Denver is a public research university in Denver, Colorado. MSU Denver’s accelerated nursing program allows students to earn a BSN in 17 months of full-time study.
The program’s excellent reputation and high NCLEX pass rates make it an appealing option for prospective nurses who want to enter the nursing field as soon as possible.
#10. University of Rochester
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: $77,160
- Location: Rochester, New York.
The University of Rochester in western New York is well-known in its field, with a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 90% or higher for many years.
The accelerated BSN program at the university requires a bachelor’s degree as well as at least one course in statistics, nutrition, growth and development, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology.
Students who are qualified can complete the program in one year of full-time study.
#11. Memphis University
- Program duration: 18 months
- Tuition: In-State On-Campus: $18,455.00. Out-State On-Campus: $30,041.00
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee.
Memphis University’s Loewenburg School of Nursing offers an accelerated nursing program, which allows students with a degree to earn a BSN after completing an 18-month accelerated program.
The accelerated BSN program begins in the fall semester and runs through the summer. Memphis University’s and the surrounding area’s diversity ensures students a wide range of nursing experiences that provide students with the skills and insight they need to excel in the nursing field long after graduation.
#12. Brookline College
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: $46,150
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona.
Brookline College is a Phoenix-based private technical college. After 16 months of full-time study, students with baccalaureate degrees can complete a BSN program and sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Brookline is well-known for providing a wide range of clinical hospital, laboratory, and community experiences that supplement classroom learning and prepare nurses for real-world nursing challenges and opportunities.
#13. Purdue University
- Program duration: 16 months
- Tuition: $13,083.88
- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana.
Purdue University offers a Second Degree Baccalaureate Program in Nursing for prospective nurses who already have a bachelor’s degree in a field unrelated to nursing.
The degree program requires 28 pre-nursing and 59 nursing course credits, with many of the pre-nursing requirements transferable if applicable from a previous degree.
Purdue’s reputation and high National Council of State Boards of Nursing pass rates reflect what many Purdue nursing graduates say: that their time at Purdue prepared them for a successful nursing career.
#14. Samuel Merritt University
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: $ 84,884
- Location: Oakland, California.
Samuel Merritt University was founded in 1909 specifically as a nursing school, and it is now ranked as one of the best in the country. The accelerated BSN program at Samuel Merritt allows students to complete a BSN program in 12 months.
The program is available at campuses in Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento, and prospective students can attend informative drop-in sessions throughout the year.
#15. California Baptist University
- Program duration: 12-16 months program depending on transferable units
- Tuition: $13,500
- Location: Los Angeles, California.
California Baptist University is a private, faith-based university. The nursing school at the university offers an entry-level nursing program that leads to an MSN.
Pre-licensure courses consist of 64 credits of classwork, followed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Students’ skills gained during this program will prepare them for entry-level nursing positions in a wide range of health care settings and specialties.
#16. University of Hawaii
- Program duration: 17 months
- Tuition: $1,001 per credit
- Location: Kapolei, Hawaii.
For those with a non-nursing degree, the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers an accelerated MSN program.
Students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and become registered nurses after one year of full-time study; after that, they can choose a degree track that leads to an MSN, preparing them for a career as an advanced practice nurse.
#17. Idaho State University
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: $3,978 for in-state tuition $12,967 for out-of-state tuition
- Location: Pocatello, Idaho.
The School of Nursing at Idaho State University offers an accelerated nursing program for those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who want to change careers.
Administrators of the accelerated nursing program ensure that students have the ability to work closely with expert clinicians to complete their program of study by limiting the cohort size to 30 students each year.
#18. Azusa Pacific University
- Program duration: 24 months
- Tuition: $18,400
- Location: Azusa, California.
Azusa Pacific University is a Christian faith-based university that offers a direct-entry nursing program to students with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who want to become registered nurses.
The program leads to a master’s degree in nursing and prepares students to work in advanced nursing settings. It also expands opportunities for future nurses; graduates can apply to become nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists in the state of California.
#19. Montana State University
- Program duration: 12 months
- Tuition: Local tuition $7,371, Domestic tuition $27,101
- Location: Bozeman, Montana.
The Accelerated BSN program at Montana State University allows students to complete the requirements for a BSN in 15 months, as opposed to the 29 months required for a traditional BSN program. Students enroll full-time for four semesters and graduate at the end of the fourth, which is a summer term.
#20. Marquette University
- Program duration: 19 to 21 months
- Tuition: $63,000
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A direct-entry master’s nursing program is one of the quickest paths to a nursing career. Marquette University’s Generalist Master’s degree is one of the most efficient paths to an MSN.
Students must complete 15 months of full-time study before they are eligible to take the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Following that, they will complete the master’s degree during one final semester of study. Students can also pursue a specialty during this time, which may take a little longer to complete depending on the specialty requirements.
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