Fairfield University

Program Length & Format

• 15 months (cohort-based, full-time)
• Nursing coursework: 60 credit hours
• Total degree credit requirement listed with prerequisites and electives: 70 credits
• Campus locations: Fairfield, CT and Austin, TX; Austin cohorts start in January and May; Fairfield cohort starts in May

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required before enrollment
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for admission
• Final official transcript showing completed bachelor’s degree required before starting program
• Residency requirement: minimum 60 credits (including nursing) must be completed at Fairfield University; last 30 credits must be completed at Fairfield

Entrance Exams

• TOEFL required for applicants whose native language is not English; recommended scores: paper 550, internet 80; IELTS recommended 6.5
• Duolingo and Pearson Test of English are accepted alternatives for English proficiency

Prerequisites

• Science/math prerequisites (must be completed within 10 years) with grade B/3.0 or better:
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (with labs)
  • Microbiology (with lab)
  • General Chemistry (with lab)
  • Developmental Psychology (Lifespan Development)
  • Statistics
• Humanities/core prerequisites: four courses (12 credits) from English, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion, History, Languages, Visual & Performing Arts with grade C or better
• Applicants may complete missing prerequisites at Fairfield or other accredited institutions; selected prerequisites may be met via challenge exams or transfer credit
• Recommendation to complete at least three science courses with labs prior to application review

Deadlines

• Austin, TX cohort starting January 20, 2026: application deadline November 1, 2025
• Austin, TX cohort starting May 18, 2026: application deadline February 1, 2026
• Fairfield, CT cohort starting May 18, 2026: application deadline February 1, 2026

Application

• Complete online application form and submit via ASDNU application portal
• Required documents:
  • Professional resume
  • Personal statement: 700–1,000 words (prompt in application portal)
  • Official transcripts for all colleges/universities attended (foreign transcripts require certified English translation and course-by-course evaluation from approved evaluator)
  • Two recommendation forms/letters (one preferably from a current employer or supervisor)
• Send original supporting materials that cannot be uploaded to:
  • Fairfield University, ASDNU Admission, Kelley Center, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
• Fairfield campus: proof of measles and rubella immunization required prior to course registration

Selection Process

• Rolling admissions: completed applications with all supporting materials are reviewed on submission
• ASDNU Admission Committee typically issues decisions within approximately two weeks after application file is complete
• All admitted students must complete compliance requirements (background check, drug screening, health documentation) prior to participating in clinical placements

Cost & Financial Aid

• Total tuition for the 15-month ASDNU program (2024–25): $55,380 (tuition fixed for program)
• Amount includes a $500 confirmation deposit (due within two weeks of admission and applied to first-semester tuition) and registration, tests, nursing labs/clinicals, and commencement fees
• Amount excludes clinical participation record fee and other student costs (uniforms, NCLEX fees, travel, etc.)
• Financial aid available for qualified students; contact Financial Aid office

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical requirements: 546 clinical hours and 112 lab hours plus additional practice time and class simulation
• Clinical placement sites listed for Connecticut and Austin cohorts, including:
  • Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Danbury Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital
  • Milford Hospital, Griffin Hospital, St. Vincent’s Medical Center
  • Baylor Scott & White Health (Austin, TX), Ascension Seton (Austin, TX), Central Texas Veterans Health Care Systems (Austin, TX)
• Simulation laboratory accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSiH)
• Comprehensive nationally standardized assessment program required; testing fee included for nursing students

Credit Transfer

• Transfer credit accepted from accredited colleges/universities with satisfactory grade (C or better) and course equivalency
• Acceptance of transfer credit and recency of science courses determined by Program Director and Dean
• Selected prerequisite requirements may be met via challenge exams or transfer credit
• International coursework requires course-by-course evaluation from approved evaluators (preferred: World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators)

International Students

• International applicants accepted for Fairfield, CT campus; non-U.S. citizens are not accepted for Austin, TX campus
• Additional required documents for international applicants:
  • Certificate of finances on official bank letterhead with bank seal and signature
  • Certified English translations and course-by-course evaluations of academic records (WES preferred)
  • TOEFL/IELTS (or Duolingo/Pearson) scores if native language is not English
• International transfer students in the U.S. on an F-1 visa must submit passport, I-94, previous I-20s, and SEVIS transfer form at least 30 days prior to semester start

Contacts

• ASDNU Admission phone: (203) 254-5532
• Main campus phone: (203) 254-4000
• Financial Aid contact: Kim Fetko, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, (203) 254-4125
• ASDNU mailing address: Fairfield University, ASDNU Admission, Kelley Center, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
• Austin campus address: 7951 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757; phone listed: (203) 404-1739

Fairfield University offers a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner tracks.

The Clinical Nurse Leader is an advanced education generalist role introduced by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to enhance coordination in the delivery of healthcare services.  

The MSN program is intended to equip students to provide leadership in designing evidence-based systems to function better on the clinical nursing team and to offer advanced clinical practice.

The program is designed to be flexible to offer students the highest quality graduate educational experience.

Admission Requirements:

1. Completed Application
2. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
3. Official Transcripts
4. Professional Resume
5. Personal Statement stating long term professional goals and the role of a graduate degree in helping the applicant achieve these goals
6. Two Recommendations (at least one from a supervisor and professor)
7. Current, valid and unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Connecticut

The college reviews applications for the Nurse Practitioner Track for admission in the fall semester only. The application deadline for admission in the fall is the 1st March. Applications for the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and the Clinical Nurse Leader tracks are reviewed on a rolling basis.