Goodwin University

Program Length & Format

• 60-credit 
• Program duration: as few as 16 months full-time

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major from a regionally accredited college or university required prior to admission
• Must be admitted to Goodwin University before enrolling in ABSN courses
• All ABSN prerequisites and other requirements must be completed prior to applying
• Minimum recent college GPA of 3.0 based on most recent degree or a minimum of 12 credits at Goodwin University; GPAs are not rounded
• Applicants may apply up to four times

Entrance Exams

• Pre-admission examination required; administered off campus in January, May, and September
• Exam cost is the applicant’s responsibility
• Applicants may attempt the pre-entrance exam one time per semester for a maximum of six attempts
• Applicants must attain the program’s predetermined minimal score on the exam to be considered

Prerequisites

• Prerequisite courses must be completed before applying
• Minimum grade requirements:
  • CHEM 101 or equivalent: minimum grade C
  • PSY 212 (Lifespan Development) or equivalent: minimum grade C
  • STAT 167 or equivalent: minimum grade C
  • BIO 211 Anatomy & Physiology I: minimum grade C+ and completed within last 5 years
  • BIO 212 Anatomy & Physiology II: minimum grade C+ and completed within last 5 years
  • BIO 235 Microbiology: minimum grade C+ and completed within last 10 years
• Any transferred prerequisite courses must be equivalent to Goodwin University courses and meet the stated grade requirements

Deadlines

• Application deadline for Fall 2026 cohort: March 31, 2026

Application

• Must complete Goodwin University application and be admitted to the university prior to ABSN enrollment
• Official college transcripts required if using coursework from another institution to meet prerequisites or admission criteria
• Applicants must register for the pre-admission exam when submitting or reactivating an application
• Accepted students required to submit a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit to hold a place

Selection Process

• Admission decisions based on completion of prerequisites, required exam score, GPA, and available program seats
• Not all applicants who meet minimum requirements are guaranteed admission due to limited enrollment capacity
• Applications that do not meet the minimum GPA and required pre-admission exam score will not be considered or counted as an application attempt

Accepted Student Requirements

• Required before starting clinical courses:
  • Medical examination report documenting physical and emotional health
  • Required immunizations completed prior to first nursing course; Hepatitis B series may be in progress or declined with signed declination
  • Annual influenza vaccination
  • Current CPR certification (Health Provider or Professional Rescuer) from American Heart Association or Red Cross; proof submitted annually
  • Malpractice insurance obtained by student
  • Membership in National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
  • Background check and drug screening; fees cover initial screening; student pays for a second drug screen if result is “negative dilute”; a positive drug screen not substantiated by a physician will prevent program entry
• If a clinical facility refuses placement based on background check results, the department will attempt two additional placements; if placement cannot be secured, the student will not be permitted to progress

Cost & Financial Aid

• Scholarship opportunity: CT Health Horizons initiative may provide up to $10,000 to eligible students who are Pell Grant eligible or reside in an Alliance School District (applies to ABSN, RN-BSN, MHNP programs)

Credit Transfer

• Official transcripts required for transfer of prerequisite courses
• Transferred prerequisite courses must be equivalent to Goodwin University courses and meet the minimum grade requirements
• College GPA calculation may be based on most recent degree or a minimum of 12 credits completed at Goodwin University

Contacts

• Phone: 800-889-3282
• Address: Goodwin University, One Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118