University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public university and part of the University of Louisiana System, along with nine other campuses throughout the state. It has the largest enrollment compared to the other campuses and the second largest student body in the state. The university was originally founded as an industrial school in 1898. The current name was adopted in 1999 after the school became a four-year university. It is now a national research university and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers more than 80 undergrad programs and 27 master’s degree programs, including two nursing programs.

There are only two nursing programs available at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Department of Nursing. Students may choose between the BSN and accelerated BSN program, which is accredited by the CCNE. The latest edition of the US News & World Report ranking of Best Colleges ranked the nursing department as one of the best in the country. Students must complete prerequisite courses, which are typically completed during the freshman year. While the university does not directly offer MSN or DNP programs, they do offer courses in these areas through an affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN).

Updated on: 22 Oct, 2025

Program Length & Format

15-month
Total 120 credit hours: 70 credit hours of nursing coursework and 50 credit hours of prerequisites
In-person coursework with hybrid interactive courses; didactic, clinical, and laboratory components
Full-time cohort model; nursing courses begin May

Admission Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (non-nursing bachelor’s accepted)
Minimum overall undergraduate GPA 3.0 on all previous undergraduate coursework
Admission to UL Lafayette undergraduate program required prior to program interview
U.S. social security number required
Completion of an in-person program interview required for final acceptance

Prerequisites

50 credit hours of required general education prerequisite courses must be completed before beginning nursing courses
Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better
Some prerequisite courses are offered only in on-campus, in-person format
Science courses expire after 10 years from term of completion

Deadlines

Applications for the ABSN program 2027 cohort open September 22, 2025
Nursing courses for the next cohort begin May 2027

Application

Submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions to the UL Lafayette Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Contact registrars at prior institutions to request transcripts be emailed or mailed directly to UL Lafayette
Complete UL Lafayette undergraduate admission before College of Nursing interview and program consideration
Clearance for first clinical nursing course requires Louisiana State Board of Nursing clearance, background check, drug screen, and documentation of clinical health requirements

Selection Process

College of Nursing & Health Sciences conducts in-person interviews after university admission
Admission to UL Lafayette does not constitute admission to the Accelerated BSN program
Candidates who meet program requirements are selected from a limited enrollment qualified pool after interviews conclude

Cost & Financial Aid

Ochsner Lafayette General covers tuition for nursing courses under the program contract
Students are responsible for costs of prerequisite courses
Program participants must contractually commit to work for Ochsner Lafayette General for three years after graduation

Clinical & Simulation Lab

Clinical rotations occur at Ochsner Lafayette General or Ochsner-affiliated agencies
Enrollment in first clinical nursing course requires Board of Nursing clearance, background check, and drug screen
Eight simulation and learning labs available for clinical skills practice
Simulation program accredited by the Society for Simulation in Health Care (one of 144 programs worldwide)
Simulation activities include IV and catheter insertion, CPR, medication administration, and childbirth simulations

Credit Transfer

Transfer credits from a previous bachelor’s degree may be applied to general education prerequisites on a case-by-case basis
Transcript evaluation for transfer credit is completed after university admission and verification of minimum GPA
The College of Nursing determines which transfer credits apply to the Accelerated BSN curriculum

Contacts

LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing, V.L. Wharton Hall Room 254, 411 E Saint Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503
Program phone: (337) 482-5604
University main phone: (337) 482-1000; address: 104 E. University Circle, Lafayette, LA 70503