Bellarmine University

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