Fastest Accelerated BSN Programs

Accelerated nursing education is compressing into year-round cohorts, and the fastest programs now advertise a 12-month path to the BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree.

Most accelerated options in this ranking cluster between 14 and 16 months, with a few public and private universities at 12.

That number, however, excludes prerequisite coursework, cohort start dates, and NCLEX-RN preparation, which can add many months before an RN license is issued. A 12-month curriculum only saves time when the admissions and licensure steps run on the same timeline.

10 Fastest Accelerated BSN Programs for 2027

These 10 programs represent the shortest national accelerated BSN options for students who already hold a degree in another field. The list is ordered by the shortest verified program option, starting with 12-month formats, then 14 to 16-month tracks, and finally longer five-semester or 20-month sequences. Total time to RN can be longer once prerequisites, clinical clearance, and licensure timelines are counted.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Georgetown University	Washington, DC	$40,000 – $45,000/yr	Career changers needing hybrid D.C. placements
Georgetown offers a 12-month hybrid ABSN in Washington, D.C., with on-campus labs, high-fidelity simulation, and clinical rotations across MedStar Health facilities. January and May 2027 cohorts give career changers two entry points, and the program builds on a prior degree. The curriculum includes over 700 hours of hands-on experience and a mentored capstone. Accelerated BSN — Hybrid Visit Website CCNE accredited 12-month full-time hybrid format for prior degree holders January and May 2027 cohorts available Clinical rotations at MedStar Health facilities across the D.C. area Over 700 hours of hands-on clinical and simulation experience Ten prerequisites required before matriculation Recent science prerequisites generally need a B or higher
#2	Creighton University	Omaha, NE	$30,000 – $35,000/yr	Second-degree students wanting campus-based immersion
The Creighton ABSN is a 12-month, 58-credit campus program using five eight-week terms and two shorter terms across Omaha and Phoenix sites, with fall and spring starts and rolling review. It includes more than 900 clinical hours and no entrance exam. The university has 50 years of accelerated nursing education experience. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website CCNE accredited 12-month, 58-credit campus program Fall and spring starts with rolling admissions More than 900 clinical hours across six specialties No entrance exam required Available in Omaha and Phoenix CCNE accredited
#3	University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Seattle, WA	~$14,000/yr (est.)	Health care veterans transitioning to Seattle nursing
The University of Washington-Seattle runs a four-quarter campus ABSN for students with a prior degree. The school uses a single program tuition rate regardless of residency and admits autumn and spring cohorts with no application fee or TEAS requirement. Clinical training includes the Simulation Center and direct patient care placements. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website CCNE accredited Four back-to-back quarters of full-time study Autumn and spring cohorts with no application fee No TEAS exam required Single program tuition rate regardless of residency 100 hours of hands-on healthcare experience required Simulation Center and direct patient care placements Natural-science prerequisites require a B or higher
#4	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, NC	$12,000/yr
The UNC-Chapel Hill ABSN is a four-semester, on-campus program that starts each summer and is built for students who already hold a degree. The curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education, research, and patient-centered leadership. Students join a large research university with strong nursing faculty. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website CCNE accredited Four-semester on-campus format for second-degree students Summer start Interprofessional education and research opportunities CCNE accredited Team-oriented, patient-centered curriculum
#5	Villanova University	Villanova, PA	$40,000 – $45,000/yr
Villanova offers a second-degree ABSN with a 14-month Express Track or a 23-month Flex Track, both on campus near Philadelphia. The program uses cohort-based learning, simulation, and research collaboration. It is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 14-month Express Track or 23-month Flex Track Full-time and part-time options ACEN and CCNE accredited Cohort model with simulation and research collaboration Approved by Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
#6	New York University	New York, NY	$37,000/yr
The NYU accelerated 15-month BS runs across four consecutive semesters in New York City for prior degree holders. Starting in fall and spring, it includes clinical experiences at off-campus facilities and an optional dual degree BS/MS pathway in the third term. No entrance exam is required. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 15-month, four-semester full-time sequence Fall and spring start dates No entrance exam required Eligible for dual degree BS/MS in third term Clinical experiences at off-campus healthcare facilities $80 application fee
#7	Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	$17,000/yr (net price)
The Ohio State accelerated BSN is a five-semester, 59-credit program blending online coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations at Wexner Medical Center and other partners. It starts each summer and is designed for non-nursing degree holders. The large public university offers a strong alumni and healthcare network. Accelerated BSN — Hybrid Visit Website CCNE accredited Five consecutive semesters totaling 59 credit hours One summer start per year Hybrid online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals Clinical rotations at Wexner Medical Center CCNE accredited
#8	Northeastern University	Boston, MA	~$31,000/yr (est.)
The Northeastern ABSN is a 16-month hybrid program combining online coursework with in-person nursing labs and clinical rotations, with locations near Boston, Providence, and Charlotte. It offers three start dates per year and admits second-degree students and transfer students with at least 62 credits. Accelerated BSN — Hybrid Visit Website CCNE accredited 16-month full-time hybrid program Three start dates per year 64 program credits at $1,387 per credit Locations near Boston, Providence, and Charlotte Prerequisite courses required
#9	Elon University	Elon, NC	$42,000/yr
The Elon ABSN is a 16-month campus program that includes 67 credit hours and 540 clinical hours, with a single fall start. It requires the TEAS entrance exam and integrates high-fidelity simulation, service learning, and a focus on self-care and resiliency. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website 16-month campus-based program with one fall start 67 credit hours and 540 clinical hours TEAS entrance exam required Simulation with high-fidelity manikins and standardized patients Resiliency and self-care training integrated Community-driven service learning partnerships
#10	Clemson University	Clemson, SC	$20,000 – $25,000/yr
The Clemson accelerated second degree nursing track is a full-time, 20-month program with five consecutive semesters and a summer start. Students complete clinicals at Greenville-area hospitals after earlier work at Clemson. The program is designed for prior degree holders. Accelerated BSN — On-Campus Visit Website ACEN accredited 20-month full-time accelerated second degree Five consecutive semesters with summer start 3.0 GPA minimum Clinicals at Greenville-area hospitals ACEN and CCNE accredited

How We Ranked the Fastest ABSN Schools

Rank by calendar months or rank by total cost? This ranking orders programs by calendar speed first, not total cost. The programs below are measured against the question a career changer actually asks: how quickly can I go from a non-nursing bachelor's degree to a nursing degree ready for licensure?

The Primary Lens

Only accelerated BSN programs built for people who already hold a bachelor's in another field are eligible here, and only those in a roughly one-year format. We order them by the shortest path to finishing, so the programs you see at the top are the ones that get you to graduation fastest.

Supporting Factors

Speed is not the whole picture, so we layer in a few things that matter once you commit:

• Net price after aid: the average amount students actually pay once grants and scholarships are counted, a figure that separates the affordable ABSN programs from the rest.
• Graduation rate: how reliably the school moves enrolled students to a finished degree.
• Delivery format: on-campus, hybrid, or online options.
• Earnings and debt: program-level figures from federal data where they have been published.

Honest Limits

Net price and graduation rate are institution-wide numbers, not specific to the ABSN track. Program length and NCLEX pass rates come from the schools and state boards, not our own database.

Appearing here is a starting point, not a seal of approval. Confirm accreditation and current NCLEX results yourself using the quality section below.

What 'Fastest' Really Means: Program Length vs. Total Time to RN

When an accelerated BSN advertises 12, 15, or 16 months, that clock usually starts on your first day of nursing coursework and stops at graduation. It leaves out three stretches that can add many months: finishing prerequisite science courses, waiting through an admissions cycle, and preparing for and passing the NCLEX-RN.

The Prerequisite Stretch

Most programs expect a core of lab sciences plus statistics before you start. Georgetown University's 12-month ABSN is a good example. It requires:

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II: 4 credits each with a lab, B or better.
• Microbiology: 4 credits with a lab, B or better.
• Chemistry or biochemistry: 4 credits with a lab, B or better.
• Probability or statistics: 3 credits, C or better.

Pathophysiology, A&P, microbiology, and chemistry courses must also be completed within five years of starting. Other schools ask for more. Bryan College of Health Sciences adds pathophysiology, nutrition, psychology, and sociology. Arkansas State University also lists composition, college algebra, and history or government.

For a full-time student with few transferable credits, prerequisites often take around 3 to 12 months. Sequencing can stretch that. A&P I usually has to come before A&P II, and lab seats in chemistry or microbiology can fill quickly. Some career changers need more than a year.

After Graduation: Licensure and the NCLEX

Finishing the ABSN does not make you an RN. You apply for licensure with your state board of nursing and register for the exam. Then you wait for an Authorization to Test before you can schedule a date. Many graduates spend roughly 4 to 8 weeks in focused review, though some test within a few weeks and others wait several months. Board processing times also vary by state.

The Realistic Total

If you are starting with no science prerequisites, a 12-month program is not a 12-month path. Add up prerequisites, an application window of a few months, the program itself, and NCLEX prep. A realistic estimate is roughly 18 months to two and a half years from your first science class to a license. Applicants who already have recent, qualifying prerequisites can land near the shorter end of that range.

A Realistic Timeline From Prerequisites to RN License

A realistic path moves through six stages: complete prerequisites, take the TEAS or HESI and apply, wait for the next cohort start, complete the ABSN, apply for licensure and an Authorization to Test, then pass the NCLEX-RN. Application lead times often run one to six months, and many fast ABSN programs start cohorts twice a year, which can shorten the wait between acceptance and day one. After graduation, eligibility review often takes one to six weeks, and the typical gap to a first NCLEX attempt is six to eight weeks.

What the Fastest Accelerated BSN Programs Cost

How much should you expect to pay for a fast accelerated BSN, and why do public and private programs differ so much after aid?

Program sticker prices vary widely

Fast ABSN programs often publish a flat program price rather than standard undergraduate per-semester rates. University of Rochester lists its 12-month ABSN at $91,599 for 2026-2027, including three terms of mandatory fees and a full cost of attendance around $120,176 for a September start. Pace University publishes a $75,900 program total, while Drexel University estimates its 11-month program at $59,098 including program fees. These totals usually exclude living costs, books, health insurance, and transportation.

Public options can cut tuition substantially

State-supported programs can be far cheaper on paper. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center charges $230.18 per credit for Texas residents in 2025-2026, and University of Colorado Anschutz lists $491 per credit for residents after the College Opportunity Fund. Institution-wide net price after aid shows the same pattern: UNC Chapel Hill averages about $11,655, and Ohio State averages about $17,339, while Georgetown averages about $40,815 and NYU averages about $37,050. These are school-wide averages, not ABSN-specific prices.

Debt data and the lost-income calculus

Program-level median debt figures are not consistently published for these fast ABSN cohorts, so ask each nursing school for program-specific borrowing data rather than substituting university-wide loan averages. The largest hidden cost for many career changers is time out of the workforce: a 12-month program returns you to nursing wages four months sooner than a 16-month track, and those recovered paychecks often matter more than a few thousand dollars of tuition difference.

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Prerequisites, Entrance Exams, and 2027 Start Dates

Most accelerated BSN programs expect a completed bachelor's degree, a competitive GPA, and recent science prerequisites. Use the checklist below to align your application with 2027 cohorts.

1. Prior degree

   A non-nursing bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is the baseline requirement, and prior CNA or healthcare experience is not typically required.
2. Minimum GPA

   A 3.0 cumulative GPA is the most common minimum, though some programs set separate science or prerequisite GPAs.
3. Science prerequisites

   Common prerequisites include anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, developmental psychology, and nutrition; several schools also add pathophysiology or college algebra.
4. Prerequisite grades and recency

   Grade minimums range from C or C+ to B- depending on the school, and science prerequisites often need to be recent, within 7 years at Massachusetts General Brigham and Baldwin Wallace and within 10 years at Adelphi and Fairleigh Dickinson.
5. Entrance exam

   Kennesaw State requires the ATI TEAS within 5 years of the nursing application deadline, Massachusetts General Brigham and Adelphi do not require TEAS, and HESI A2 is not a universal ABSN requirement.
6. Background check and immunizations

   Expect to complete a background check and provide an up-to-date immunization record before enrollment.
7. 2027 cohort timing and deadlines

   Multiple annual starts are available at some schools: Massachusetts General Brigham lists January and May 2027 starts with a September 1, 2026 deadline, Florida Atlantic lists January and August 2027 with a July 31, 2026 deadline, and UT Health San Antonio lists a Summer 2027 start with a January 11, 2027 deadline.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Fastest ABSN Programs: Common Questions

More Accelerated BSN Programs by State

Not every accelerated BSN program that fits a career changer's timeline sits in the ranking above. The directory below covers additional programs across the country, with the city and state where each one is based, the delivery format reported by the school, and a link to the program page for length, prerequisite, and start-date details. Readers searching specifically in New York or New Jersey can also look for the state-level directories on topnursing.org.