Accelerated BSN Programs in Arkansas

Program Length & Format

• 15 months, 67 credit hours, 23 core courses; coursework 100% online with in-person clinical rotations in Jonesboro and surrounding area
• clinicals on predetermined weekends (Friday through Sunday); per credit hour clinical requirement = 30 hours

Admission Requirements

• bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; overall minimum GPA 2.5; prerequisite GPA minimum 3.0; all prerequisites must be completed before application
• early admission eligibility: completed bachelor’s and all prerequisites with cumulative prerequisite GPA ≥ 3.6 and overall undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.6

Prerequisites

• required courses (must be completed prior to application): Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab; Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I with lab OR General Chemistry I with lab; Composition I; Composition II; Introduction to Psychology; Introduction to Sociology; Statistics; U.S. History to 1876 OR U.S. History since 1876 OR Introduction to U.S. Government; College Algebra
• all course attempts are included in prerequisite GPA calculation

Deadlines

• Spring 2 term (2026): application deadline 1/10/26, document deadline 1/10/26, payment due 3/6/26, program start 3/9/26, last class day 5/1/26
• nursing cohorts start in Fall 2 and Spring 2 only

Application

• online application steps: select 100% online student on application, pay $30 non-refundable application fee, submit official college transcripts
• additional required items prior to program start: criminal background check through Verified Credentials, proof of Health Care Provider CPR (adult, infant, child with AED), proof of Hepatitis B series and TB test (these are required before starting, not needed to render initial admission decision)

Selection Process

• prerequisite GPA and overall GPA used in review; early admission available for applicants meeting specified GPA thresholds; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission
• all course attempts are considered in prerequisite GPA calculation

Cost & Financial Aid

• total tuition for nursing core listed as $19,564; per credit hour $292 (tuition subject to change; additional program costs may apply)
• additional expected costs: Kaplan standardized testing and NCLEX resources, clinical requirement costs (uniform, badges, CPR, immunizations, liability insurance), course books, NCLEX exam and licensure application fees

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• clinical hours: total program includes 750 lab, clinical, and field hours; clinical rotations occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; some clinical rotations may be 12 hours per day beginning term 2
• clinical placement: clinicals completed at approved sites in Jonesboro and surrounding areas; placements supervised by program staff; possible clinical option in Memphis, TN midway through program
• site-based project hours and practicum/clinical hours must be completed in Jonesboro or surrounding area

Credit Transfer

• number of credit hours required may vary based on university evaluation of transfer credits

International Students

• English proficiency requirements for applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds: TOEFL iBT 83 (paper 570, CBT 213 alternative scores), IELTS overall 6.5 with spoken band 7, PTE Academic score 56
• students from states outside Arkansas must plan to commute or relocate to Jonesboro for in-person clinical requirements

Contacts

• Accelerated BSN general phone: 866-621-8096
• School of Nursing phone: 870-972-3074

Program Length & Format

• 16 months
• Total credit hours: 64
• Hybrid format: online coursework combined with onsite nursing skills labs and clinical rotations
• Three start dates per year
• Clinical experiences take place in Rogers, Arkansas, and surrounding Northwest Arkansas area

Admission Requirements

• Must have at least 64 non-nursing college credits or a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field
• Completion of required nursing prerequisite courses
• Individual academic evaluation to determine prerequisite needs and additional course requirements

Prerequisites

• Fundamentals of Chemistry or College Chemistry (4 credit hours)
• Anatomy & Physiology I and II for Nurses or Anatomy & Physiology I and II (8 credit hours total)
• Introduction to Microbiology for Nurses or Microbiology (4 credit hours)
• General Psychology (3 credit hours)
• Pathophysiology (3 credit hours)
• Lifespan Human Development (3 credit hours)
• Intro to University Writing & Research (3 credit hours)
• Nutrition (3 credit hours)
• General Sociology (3 credit hours)
• Elementary Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Total prerequisite credits: 37

Cost & Financial Aid

• Prerequisite courses cost $622 per credit hour

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Hands-on nursing experience provided through skills labs and high-tech nursing simulation labs located at Harding’s Rogers site
• Clinical rotations conducted at health care facilities in Northwest Arkansas
• Simulation labs used to practice nursing skills and decision-making in a controlled environment

Contacts

• Admissions counselors available at 901 S. 52nd St., Rogers, AR 72758
• Dedicated admissions support for planning and application guidance

Program Length & Format

• 15-month full-time program
• On-campus coursework and clinical rotations at UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s or higher degree required prior to admission
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on all college/university coursework
• Minimum GPA of 2.5 on College of Nursing general education prerequisites with a grade of C or better
• All prerequisite courses and degree must be completed before application

Entrance Exams

• ATI TEAS exam not required for applicants with a conferred bachelor’s degree by the Fall semester of the application year
• Applicants with cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.4 or higher are also exempt from TEAS
• Licensed registered nurses (RNs) seeking a BSN are exempt from the TEAS
• Applicants not meeting exemptions must achieve minimum 60% ATI TEAS score before March 1
• TEAS scores must be from within two years of application date; highest score considered

Prerequisites

• Grade of C or better required in all prerequisite courses used for GPA calculation

Deadlines

• Application opens October 1 annually
• Application deadline March 1 annually

Application

• Complete online application portal submission
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted in sealed envelopes or electronically directly to College of Nursing
• Proof of tuberculosis (TB) skin test, completed Hepatitis B vaccination series, and current CPR certification required before course registration

Selection Process

• Applicants meeting minimum GPA and (if applicable) TEAS requirements may be invited to interview and/or emotional intelligence assessment
• Final admission decisions made after review of complete application materials and interview assessments

International Students

• Applicants educated outside the U.S. must have international transcripts evaluated by a NACES member agency showing U.S. degree equivalency and 4.0 scale GPA
• TOEFL iBT minimum score of 20 on each section required if applicant’s primary education was not in an English-speaking country
• TOEFL scores must be submitted no later than one month after application deadline
• Applicants educated entirely in U.S. schools from 7th grade onward may be exempted from TOEFL requirement with verified transcripts

Cost & Financial Aid

• Tuition per credit hour for residents: $370
• Tuition per credit hour for non-residents: $645
• Additional program fees per semester include:
  • Progression Test Fee: $585
  • Standardized Patient Fee: $150 (undergraduate)
  • BSN Skills Kit (one-time in 1st junior semester): $175
  • Student Liability Insurance: $20
  • Enrollment deposit (non-refundable, applied to tuition): $150
• Institutional fees such as technology, university services, student health, and transportation range from $25 to $500 per semester with some exemptions for campus and session

Contacts

• UAMS College of Nursing Student Services Office
  4301 West Markham Street, Slot 529
  Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
  Phone: 501-686-5224
  Fax: 501-686-7591

Program Length & Format

• 15-month 
• Total of 120 credit hours required
• On-campus coursework with theory, laboratory, and clinical practice scheduled mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends

Admission Requirements

• Completed bachelor's or graduate degree in a non-nursing discipline required
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all college coursework (including transfer work)
• Minimum grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses before program entry
• No more than two attempts allowed per course for eligibility
• Science courses over five years old may require evaluation for eligibility
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended must be submitted

Deadlines

• Application deadline: March 1 annually

Application

• Complete university admission requirements
• Submit official transcripts
• Submit application by specified deadline for program admission

Selection Process

• Based on meeting admission criteria; competitive ranking often uses GPA
• Admission contingent on space availability
• Additional documentation required before fall entry:
  • Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form
  • Proof of immunizations
  • CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
  • Criminal background check
  • Drug screen
• Clinical facility requirements for criminal background check and drug screening can impact continuation in program

Prerequisites

• English Composition: 6 credit hours
• Speech: 3 credit hours
• Mathematics: 6 credit hours including MATH 1403 or equivalent and STAT 2503
• Lab Sciences: 16 credit hours including BIOL 2503/2501, BIOL 2203/2201, BIOL 2213/2211, CHEM 1303/1301
• Fine Arts: 3 credit hours
• Humanities: 3 credit hours
• History/Government: 3 credit hours
• Social Sciences: 6 credit hours including PSYC 1163 and SOCI 2753
• Health Sciences:
  • HLTH 3103 Pathophysiology
  • HLTH 4103 Research in Health Sciences
  • NUTR 2523 Nutrition
  • PHAR 3203 General Pharmacology
  • PSYC 2963 Developmental Psychology: A Life Span
• Minimum grade of C in each prerequisite course

Progression & Graduation Requirements

• Must maintain minimum 75% average on competency performance assessments
• Satisfactory clinical performance required
• Minimum grade of C in all major courses
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in major and overall coursework
• Completion of at least 40 upper-level credit hours
• Students who discontinue nursing sequence must petition for readmission, which is not guaranteed

Cost & Financial Aid

• Estimated total additional costs beyond tuition and fees: $11,175.50
• Program-specific fees include:
  • Registration: $264
  • Lab and Clinic Fees: $500
  • Distance Education Fees: $500
  • Nursing Program Fee: $4,200
  • Assessment Fees (including NCLEX prep): $776
  • Nursing Skills Bag: $200
  • Exam Soft: $182.50
  • HURST Review: $410
  • Trac Pac: $200
  • Nursing Pin: $50
• Additional expenses include:
  • Books: $2,990
  • Stethoscope: $175
  • National Board/Licensure/Certification Exams and Fees: $345
  • Uniforms: $250
  • Criminal Background Check/Drug Screen: $135

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical rotations and lab practice offered within local healthcare systems and approved clinical sites
• Clinical schedule includes mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends

Credit Transfer

• Transfer credit policies follow Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS)
• Applicable credits guaranteed to transfer between Arkansas public colleges and universities, except courses labeled "No Comparable Courses"
• Science courses over five years old require evaluation for eligibility to transfer

Contacts

• Admissions Coordinator, College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences: (479) 788-7284