Accelerated BSN Programs in Kentucky

Program Length & Format

• 12-month accelerated second-degree BSN: three semesters (summer, fall, spring), each semester divided into two 7–8 week sessions
• On-campus instruction in Louisville, Kentucky, with clinical placements at area clinical sites
• Alternative formats available: 17-month and 24-month options (on site pages)

Admission Requirements

• Completed bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum prerequisite GPA: 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
• Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
• Grade of B- or better in all prerequisite natural science and nutrition courses; grade of C or better in all other prerequisite courses
• Submission of a personal statement describing experiences that led to applying to nursing
• Completion of American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR by cohort-specific deadlines
• Satisfactory completion of criminal background check, immunization documents, and mandatory drug testing by cohort-specific deadlines
• Admitted students must attend both virtual and in-person mandatory program orientations
• Program not open to applicants requiring a new F-1 visa; existing F-1 students must have been continuously enrolled in a SEVP-approved program for at least 12 months prior to ABSN start

Prerequisites

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II (6–8 credit hours total)
• Microbiology
• Proof of prerequisite completion required by dates in admission notification (email from instructor, unofficial transcript, or credit-by-exam printout accepted for proof)

Application

• Submit application through NursingCAS
• NursingCAS application fee: $60
• Submit all official transcripts (including “In Progress”) directly to NursingCAS at time of application
• Personal statement required in NursingCAS application
• NursingCAS verification to Bellarmine: approximately 4–6 weeks after submission
• Upon admission, $100 non-refundable tuition deposit required to confirm position

Deadlines

• Application cycle: rolling/continuous; NursingCAS required for all applicants
• Bellarmine recommendation: apply by November 1 for next cohort
• NursingCAS verification time: 4–6 weeks
• Scholarship deadlines for Bellarmine Healthcare Partners Scholarship: May cohort deadline May 1; January cohort deadline January 2
• Cohort-specific compliance deadlines: May cohort compliance items due by May 1; January cohort compliance items due by December 13 (BLS CPR, background, immunizations, drug test)

Selection Process

• Applications reviewed after NursingCAS verification and receipt of transcripts
• Applicants may be admitted conditionally pending completion of prerequisites and documentation
• Office of Graduate Admission may request additional information or require a personal interview before making a decision
• Admission requires submission of required documentation and completion of orientation prior to start

Cost & Financial Aid

• Tuition rate: $905 per credit hour
• Program credit hours: 58 credit hours (905 x 58 = $52,490; includes books per site)
• Estimated course fees: $2,327
• Estimated total tuition and course fees: $58,437 (does not include supplies, travel, housing, parking, immunizations, CPR, drug screen, or NCLEX/licensure fees)
• NursingCAS application fee: $60; admission deposit: $100 (non-refundable)
• Federal financial aid: FAFSA; Bellarmine school code 001954
• Federal direct loan eligibility for ABSN: up to $25,000 per program year for independent students; up to $15,000 per program year for dependent students (program counted as two academic years for loan limits)
• Funding programs referenced: Norton Scholars (up to $45,000 tuition assistance), Baptist Nursing Knowledge Program, Bellarmine Healthcare Partners Scholarship (up to $7,500 toward final semester tuition), UofL Health Nursing Scholar Program (up to $24,000), HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship, VA Health Professional Scholarship Program, ROTC
• Employer partner tuition discounts listed exclude the Accelerated BSN program

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Simulation Center equipped with high-fidelity mannequins, task trainers, and virtual reality systems
• Dedicated simulation spaces for obstetrics, pediatrics, and adult care
• Clinical placements across major metropolitan acute care hospitals and community settings in the Kentuckiana area
• Clinical areas covered: adult health, women’s health, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health, critical care, community health
• Clinical schedule: classes 2–3 days per week and clinical 2–3 days per week (Monday–Friday; occasional weekend clinicals possible)
• Students responsible for transportation, parking, and meals for clinical assignments
• Certified Nurse Aide course required prior to clinical skills start

International Students

• Required third-party course-by-course credential evaluation (World Education Services or SpanTran) submitted to NursingCAS for any international transcripts/degree
• Language proficiency options (one required): TOEFL iBT total score 83 with speaking 26; OR IELTS overall band 7 with speaking band 8; OR Duolingo 105
• Financial affidavit or comparable evidence of funds for one academic year required
• Passport biographical page scan required showing validity for six months beyond program completion
• Transfer international students must submit current visa documentation in addition to passport

Accreditation

• Baccalaureate degree program in nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• BSN program approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing

Contacts

• Program contact: Julie Armstrong-Binnix, Assistant Dean of Graduate Admission — [email protected]; phone 502.272.8364
• General admissions: [email protected]; phone 502.272.8000
• Main campus address: 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville, KY 40205

Program Length & Format

• On-campus, full-time
• 65 credit hours of nursing courses 
• Total program hours listed as 80–82 in program requirements table
• Classes admitted one time per year; Fall cohort start in August

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum EKU GPA of 2.5
• Admission as a pre-nursing second bachelor’s degree major does not guarantee admission to the B.S.N. Second Degree Concentration
• Admission decision based on review of all required application materials and entire academic history

Prerequisites

• 15–16 credit hours of prerequisites including anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and statistics
• Clinical Microbiology (3–4 credits) or BIO 307 (Microbiology for Health Sciences)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II (3 credits)
• Essentials of Nutrition (3 credits)
• Introduction to Statistical Reasoning or approved substitutions (3–4 credits)
• Science and nutrition courses must have been completed within the last five years

Deadlines

• Fall application deadline: March 1
• Fall classes begin: August
• Program admits one cohort per year

Application

• Part I: Submit Second Degree BSN Application form by March 1
• Include official transcripts, 500-word personal essay, professional resume, and three professional letters of reference (not family or friends)
• Include translated transcripts and TOEFL scores for international applicants
• If previously enrolled in a nursing program, include Applicant from Another Nursing Program and Nursing School Director Reference forms
• Part II: Complete EKU undergraduate admission application and request official transcripts (except EKU) to EKU Office of Admissions

Selection Process

• Admission reviewed once per year using all submitted materials and full academic history
• Spaces limited; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission
• Admission decisions based on competitive review of application packet

Cost & Financial Aid

• In-state, full-time tuition listed as $5,010 per semester
• Free textbooks provided through EKU BookSmart
• Reduced tuition policy available for active-duty military members and their spouses
• Financial aid and student account services contact: Big E Central 859-622-2361

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Transportation to all clinical experiences required and is the student’s responsibility
• Clinical placement requirements include professional liability insurance purchased through the university
• Required clinical health and compliance items: CPR for Health Care Professional; rubella, rubeola, mumps, hepatitis B, varicella immunity; negative tuberculosis screening; TDaP; annual influenza vaccine; full COVID-19 vaccination
• Required screenings and documentation: CHS-approved criminal background check, CHS-approved drug screening, proof of personal health insurance
• Program includes a campus simulation center

Credit Transfer

• Transfer nursing courses from an accredited nursing program require minimum grade equivalent of 2.0 or the program’s passing grade
• Previously earned nursing credits must be submitted for review and approval

International Students

• Must submit copies of translated transcripts
• Must submit TOEFL scores as part of the application packet

Contacts

• Gabriella Thurman, College Enrollment Counselor — Call 859-622-2798, Text 859-376-4652
• Misty Bailey, Enrollment Advisor — 859-622-2628
• Program office phone: 859-622-1827; Rowlett Building, Room 223, 4373 Kit Carson Drive, Richmond, KY 40475
• Admissions: 859-622-2106; Academic Testing: 859-622-1281; Military & Veterans Affairs: 859-622-2345

Program Length & Format

• 16-month
• 68 credit hours
• Curriculum includes didactic and clinical components
• Program intended for full-time, non-working students
• Final 30 semester hours must be completed at Northern Kentucky University

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or verification of pending graduation within six months
• Admission to NKU as a degree-seeking postbaccalaureate student without conditions
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (NKU and transfer coursework considered)
• At least two science prerequisite courses completed before applying
• All prerequisite courses must have grade of C or higher and science prerequisites must be fewer than five years old as of program start
• Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Internet-based TOEFL scores

Deadlines

• Separate School of Nursing application must be submitted by January 15 for fall admission

Application

• Submit separate ABSN application to the School of Nursing (available in nursing office or online)
• Be admitted to NKU as a postbaccalaureate degree-seeking student prior to ABSN admission
• Prerequisite courses taken at other institutions are not considered complete until transferred to NKU
• Applicants required to submit to criminal background checks as identified by the College of Health and Human Services; cost borne by the student

Selection Process

• Priority given to applicants with academic strength in sciences and mathematics
• Admission decisions based on review of academic record and alignment with program requirements
• Admission is provisional pending satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses, criminal background check, and TOEFL if applicable
• Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Progression & Academic Standards

• Students must achieve a grade of C or higher in all nursing courses
• Students must demonstrate required nursing skills each semester; failure to do so may result in failure of the clinical component
• Nursing courses with a grade of C- or below in the accelerated track cannot be repeated in the accelerated track
• Students who fail a nursing course in the accelerated track are ineligible for readmission to the accelerated track; eligibility for the traditional track is on a space-available basis

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Program includes clinical placements required for coursework
• Clinical agencies require criminal background checks and may deny student access based on results
• All students participate in the Evolve Curriculum Support Program (case studies, practice tests, standardized testing)
• NRS 475 Remediation (2 credits) required in the final semester for students scoring below 900 on the HESI-RN Exit V1 exam

Credit Transfer

• Prerequisite courses from other institutions are considered complete only after transfer to NKU
• GPA for admission calculated using NKU and transfer coursework
• Students must complete the last 30 semester hours of the degree at NKU

International Students

• Internet-based TOEFL required to demonstrate English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English

Contacts

• Program advising and appointment information available via the NKU Nursing Advisors webpage
• NKU main phone: (859) 572-5100

Program Length & Format

• 13-month program
• June start date
• Hybrid online and in-person format
• 80 credit hours completed for BSN after accepting 40 transfer credits from a prior bachelor’s degree

Admission Requirements

• Acceptance to Spalding University and separate School of Nursing application
• Completion of an American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course
• Completion of NURS 301; or completion of a CNA course within the last two years; or listing on the Nurse Aide Registry
• Satisfactory completion of required criminal background and immunization documentation and a mandatory drug test
• All prerequisite courses, including labs, must be completed prior to official acceptance

Entrance Exams

• TEAS (Reading, Math, English, Science) required within two years of application
• Minimum score: 60% on each TEAS section
• Unlimited attempts allowed within the two-year window

Prerequisites

• Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab (4 credits each)
• Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
• Pathophysiology (3 credits)
• Chemistry for the Allied Health Services (3 credits)
• Research (3 credits)
• Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• Science courses must have been completed within the last 10 years

Deadlines

• Rolling admissions
• Classes start every 6 to 8 weeks
• Program cohort start noted in program details as June for the 13-month track

Application

• Complete Spalding University application and School of Nursing supplemental application
• Official college transcripts
• Proof of BLS CPR completion
• TEAS test results (within two years)
• Criminal background, immunization documents, and drug test (required; CastleBranch account activation required for conditionally admitted students)

Selection Process

• Admission decision by BSN Admission and Progression Committee
• Program may request additional information or a personal interview
• Conditional admission requires completion of specified immunizations, certifications, and screenings by set deadlines

Transfer Credit

• Accepts 40 credit hours transferred from a prior bachelor’s degree toward the BSN
• Second Degree/Accelerated students complete 80 additional BSN credit hours
• Transfer students from other nursing programs reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• Students dismissed from another nursing program or ineligible for re-admission to a prior program are not eligible for admission for five years

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Access to Bailen Heath Science Simulation Learning Center
• Clinical placements based on a Clinical Homes Model
• Clinical experiences obtained at health centers, acute care facilities, and community health agencies in the Louisville metropolitan area

Program Length & Format

• 16 months, includes summer term
• 54 credits for LPN applicants; 55 credits for other applicants
• Delivery: online didactic/lecture (synchronous and asynchronous) plus face-to-face labs and clinicals
• block schedule with eight consecutive blocks; weekly labs and weekly clinicals during program
• Campus locations for in-person activities: Lexington campus and Ashland (King’s Daughters hospital)

Admission Requirements

• Required prior credential: bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) OR Army/Navy/Air Force medical specialist training OR completion of LPN program with active license
• Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum science GPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Foreign language requirement: two years in high school or one year in college of same language
• Minimum grade requirement: minimum grade of C in each required natural science course prior to applying

Entrance Exams

• TOEFL required for applicants whose native language is not English
• TOEFL minimum scores accepted: total 90; speaking 26; listening 22; writing 20; reading 22

Prerequisites

• Required before applying (minimum grade C in each):
  • Human Anatomy (3 credits)
  • Human Physiology (3 credits)
  • General Biology (3 credits)
  • General Chemistry equivalent to CHE 103 at UK or one year/two semesters of General Chemistry
• Required coursework (must be completed before first semester of nursing; minimum grade C):
  • General Microbiology equivalent to BIO 208
  • Nutrition equivalent to DHN 212
  • Statistics equivalent to STA 210, STA 296, or BST 230
• Additional prerequisites:
  • General Psychology (3 credits) or Developmental Psychology equivalent to PSY 223
  • Composition/Communication equivalent to CIS 110 and 111 or CIS 112
• State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) course required to start nursing school; not required to apply (must be completed by the summer before starting)

Deadlines

• Fall enrollment application opens: October 15; closes: March 1
• Spring enrollment application opens: June 1; closes: August 15
• Fall 2026 specifics: application due 03/01/2026; application opens October 15; start date 08/24/2026
• Next listed application deadline: March 01, 2026

Application

• Submit online application selecting ABSN as first major (use appropriate UK undergraduate application type based on prior enrollment status)
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended required (including single-course institutions)
• Paid UK application fee required (amount not specified on source)
• International applicants with foreign degrees must submit a credential evaluation (e.g., WES) to UK Admissions
• TOEFL scores must be submitted directly to College of Nursing for non-native English applicants

Selection Process

• Initial screening for prerequisite course completion and GPA determines invitation to interview
• Interview format: recorded video responses via online platform; applicants need a computer with camera
• Interview fee: $50, payable by credit card
• Applicants not selected for interview will be notified and not considered further
• Final admission decisions communicated via email

Cost & Financial Aid

• Tuition rate per credit: $654.00
• Online students in degree-bearing program eligible for federal financial aid and scholarships (per source)
• Interview fee: $50

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Lab schedule: three-hour weekly lab during first two blocks
• Clinical schedule: eight-hour weekly clinicals during all eight blocks
• Simulation: 1–3 simulations plus deliberate practice each semester (face-to-face)
• Lexington specifics: weekly labs in College of Nursing; clinicals in Lexington area; clinicals scheduled weekdays and weekends
• Ashland specifics: weekly labs and clinicals at King’s Daughters hospital; clinicals scheduled weekdays only
• LPN-only lab option (Lexington): once monthly on Sunday afternoon
• Typical lab times: weekdays 8–11 am or 1–4 pm; occasional 4–7 pm weekday lab; no weekend labs except LPN-only
• Graduates eligible to sit for RN licensure exam (NCLEX)

Credit Transfer

• Official transcripts required from all schools attended for transfer credit review
• Veterans: review of JST and CLEP for academic transfer credit coordinated with UK Veterans Resource Center and Transfer Equivalency Office
• Residency requirement: 30 of the last 36 credit hours must be earned at University of Kentucky

International Students

• F-1 and J-1 visa holders are ineligible to apply to this ABSN online degree program
• TOEFL required for non-native English applicants with minimum scores: total 90; speaking 26; listening 22; writing 20; reading 22
• Foreign degree holders must submit a credential evaluation (e.g., WES) to UK Admissions

Contacts

• ABSN Track Coordinator: Jessica Thompson (name listed; contact details not specified)
• ABSN Program Advisor: Shaun Ketterman; location: 315N College of Nursing; phone: 859-323-6135
• College of Nursing Student Services: phone 859-323-5108; address: 315 College of Nursing Building, 751 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0232

Program Length & Format

• 15 months
• Program structure: four semesters of upper-division nursing coursework after completion of prerequisites
• Credit hours: 60 program major hours; minimum 22 hours for professional/prerequisite curriculum
• Format: hybrid; lecture coursework offered online; clinical and lab experiences in person at admitted location
• Campus locations: Louisville, Kentucky and Owensboro, Kentucky

Admission Requirements

• Required: bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to beginning upper-division nursing coursework
• Minimum for lower-division admission: cumulative college GPA 2.4
• Recommended for program/major consideration: cumulative undergraduate GPA 2.8 and program (prerequisite) GPA 3.0
• Applicants must have at least two natural science prerequisites completed with a final letter grade of C or higher (no C-) by the application deadline
• Applicants with two or more NURS course failures (C- or below) or dismissal from another nursing program are ineligible unless petition approved
• Valid certified criminal background check required at time of application

Prerequisites

• Chemistry for Health Professionals (CHEM 105) or higher; Introduction to CHEM not accepted; minimum grade C required
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs; minimum grade C required
• Microbiology with lab; minimum grade C required
• Life Span Developmental Psychology or Human Development and Learning
• One statistics course from approved list (Elementary Statistics, Introduction to Social Statistics, Quantitative Methods in Public Health, Foundations of Quantitative Statistics)
• Minimum total hours for prerequisites: 22
• Science courses must be completed within 10 years of program start or require exemption request and documentation of continued use

Deadlines

• Priority application timeframe: August 15 – November 15
• Applications in verified status accepted on space-available basis through January 10

Application

• Submit NursingCAS application and select program
• Official transcripts for all colleges attended
• For international coursework, submit transcript evaluation via WES or ECE
• Required NursingCAS written responses:
  • Goal statement: 500 words or less
  • Leadership experience: 250 words or less
  • Community engagement: 250 words or less
  • Healthcare experience/exposure: 250 words or less
• Proof of completion of at least two natural science prerequisites with grade C or higher on official transcript in CAS required at application deadline
• Certified criminal background check must be completed per instructions on NursingCAS; screening may require Social Security number

Selection Process

• Admission process uses holistic review considering professional goals, academic records, and grade point averages
• Admission is selective and contingent on successful completion of all prerequisites prior to program start
• Accepted applicants receive a letter of agreement stating anticipated start date and conditions for holding admission

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical experiences begin in the first semester
• Total clinical hours: over 500 hours across program coursework
• Clinical settings include acute care and community-based sites
• Use of Patient Simulation Centers for simulation learning
• Clinical and lab hours completed in person at the campus/location where student is admitted

Credit Transfer

• Professional/prerequisite courses may transfer if determined equivalent to listed courses
• Transfer credit and transfer GPA determined by Office of Transfer Articulation
• Science courses taken more than 10 years prior are evaluated individually; exemptions may be requested with documentation of continued use

International Students

• Applicants with international college coursework must submit a transcript evaluation via WES or ECE
• Certified criminal background check required; screening process may require Social Security number

Contacts

• Office of Student Services phone: 502-852-5825
• Office of Student Services address: 555 S Floyd Street, Unit 3019, Louisville, KY 40202
• Office hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.