30 Best Accelerated Nursing Programs

The best accelerated nursing programs are highly reputable and accredited programs that offer a comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty, and high NCLEX-RN pass rates.

The nursing field has seen a significant change with the introduction of accelerated nursing programs. These programs offer a shorter time frame than traditional ones, thus, making it easier for those aspiring to become registered nurses. 

Read on as we explore 30 of the best accelerated nursing programs in the country. Whether you’re a recent graduate or looking to switch careers, this list can help you find the ideal program that suits your goals and pushes you toward success.

Takeaway

Pursuing an accelerated nursing program is like discovering a hidden shortcut toward success. Instead of taking the longer and more winding path of traditional nursing programs, accelerated programs provide a condensed and streamlined approach. Although the journey may be challenging and demanding, the shortcut of accelerated programs helps you move forward faster, saving you time and energy.

30 Best Accelerated BSN Programs

Explore some of the best accelerated nursing programs in the United States. Our selection criteria were primarily based on the program’s accreditation and NCLEX-RN pass rates. Consider each factor provided to make an informed decision that aligns with your needs, goals, and aspirations.

1. Duke University

• Primary location: Durham, North Carolina
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 95%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in any major
  • A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Tuition fee per semester: $25,258

2. University of Pennsylvania

• Primary location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 94.6%
• Admission requirements:
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Must satisfy all their course prerequisites
• Tuition fee per semester: $30,038

3. Loyola University Chicago

• Primary location: Chicago, Illinois
• Format: Hybrid or fully campus-based program options
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 88.6%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution
  • Completion of the ABSN prerequisites
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Tuition fee per semester: $15,920

4. George Washington University

• Primary location: Ashburn, Virginia
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 94.2%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing from a regionally accredited program
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Tuition fee per semester: $26,759

5. University of Washington

• Primary location: Seattle, Washington
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: Four academic quarters
• NCLEX average pass rate: 93%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.8 for all college-level coursework
  • 100 hours of paid or volunteer healthcare experience
• Tuition fee per quarter: $11,938

6. University of Miami

• Primary location: Coral Gables, Florida
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 94.95%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing from an accredited institution
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
• Tuition fee per semester: $14,000

7. Drexel University

• Primary location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Format: Full-time, primarily campus-based (with some online components) program
• Duration: 11 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 96%
• Admission requirements:
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Strong GPA over the last 60 credits and prerequisite grades
• Tuition fee per semester: $14,148

8. Creighton University

• Primary location: Omaha, Nebraska
• Format: Full-time, hybrid program
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 93%
• Admission requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in another discipline from an accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Tuition fee per semester: $18,475

9. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

• Primary location: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 2 years
• NCLEX average pass rate: 97%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited program
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • 43 hours of required prerequisite coursework
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $2,805

10. Wayne State University

• Primary location: Detroit, Michigan
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 20 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 94%
• Admission requirements:
  • A cumulative university GPA of 2.0 or above
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $1,864

11. University of Tennessee – Health Science Center

• Primary location: Memphis, Tennessee
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 97.8%
• Admission requirements:
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Complete required science prerequisite courses
• Total tuition fee: $12,705 for in-state students, $36,930 for out-of-state students

12. Clemson University

• Primary location: Greenville, South Carolina
• Format: Full-time program with classes and clinical experiences based in the surrounding area hospital systems
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 96.01%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Tuition fee per semester: $1000

13. Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Primary location: Denver, Colorado 
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 17 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 89.6%
• Admission requirements:
  • A 3.0 or higher GPA in their nursing prerequisite courses
  • Minimum 80% cumulative score on the HESI A2 exam
• Full estimated tuition fee: $40,000

14. Saint Louis University

• Primary location: St. Louis, Missouri
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 91%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree with a 3.2 cumulative GPA 
  • Complete their course prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher
• Tuition fee per semester: $26,130

15. Michigan State University

• Primary location: East Lansing, Michigan
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 92%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
  • GPA of 2.0 or higher for each prerequisite course
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $831

16. University of South Florida

• Primary location: Tampa, Florida
• Format: Full-time, limited access program with didactic coursework presented on-campus and some lectures available online
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 91%
• Admission requirements:
  • Minimum 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA
  • Completion of state-mandated nursing prerequisites with a minimum “C” grade
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $105.07

17. New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing

• Primary location: New York City, New York
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 89.8%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Completion of their prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $1,630

18. Emory University

• Primary location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Format: Full-time, distance-based program
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 98%
• Admission requirements:
  • Must complete prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “C”
• Full estimated tuition fee: $78,000

19. Oregon Health and Science University

• Primary location: Portland, Oregon
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 91.3%
• Admission requirements:
  • Cumulative and individual prerequisite GPA of 3.0 
  • Completion of all prerequisite coursework
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $588

20. University of Florida

• Primary location: Gainesville, Florida
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: Four full-time consecutive terms 
• NCLEX average pass rate: 93%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution in a field other than nursing
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
• Tuition fees: $6,380 for in-state undergraduates, $28,658 for out-of-state undergraduates

21. University of Texas Health Science Center

• Primary location: San Antonio, Texas
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 91.5%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in a field other than nursing
  • 51 of the 60 hours of required prerequisite courses completed
  • 3.0 prerequisite GPA
• Statutory tuition fee per credit hour: $50

22. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

• Primary location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 15 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 98%
• Admission requirements:
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from all post-secondary coursework
  • A minimum 3.0 in all key science courses
• Total cost of program: $25,039 for in-state students, $66,961 for out-of-state students

23. University of Kentucky

• Primary location: Lexington, Kentucky
• Format: Full-time program that allows students to complete didactic coursework fully online but requires weekly in-person clinicals and labs on campus
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 98.3%
• Admission requirements:
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 for second-degree and MedVet applicants
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 for LPN applicants
  • A minimum grade of “C” in prerequisite courses
• Tuition fee per semester: $614

24. Medical University of South Carolina

• Primary location in Charleston, South Carolina
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 97.3%
• Admission requirements:
  • Meet the minimum course content requirements
• Tuition fee per semester: $7,811 for in-state students, $14,515 for out-of-state students

25. Baylor University

• Primary location: Dallas, Texas
• Format: Full-time, online program with a 2-week on-campus period followed by clinical experiences in the field
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 96%
• Admission requirements:
  • Must complete fifty-two prerequisite courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA 
  • A minimum 2.5 GPA on all science-related prerequisites
  • Must take the HESI exam
• Total cost of the program: $68,100

26. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

• Primary location: Lubbock, Texas
• Format: Full-time program with the didactic coursework provided online, whereas clinical instruction guided in person by nursing clinical faculty and clinical coaches
• Duration: 12 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 96.7%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Completion of fifty-five general education coursework and at least three science-related prerequisite classes
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Must complete a medical terminology course, certified nursing assistant training, and be certified by the American Heart Association in BLS/CPR before joining the program
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $215 for in-state students, $635 for out-of-state students

27. University of Rochester

• Primary location: Rochester, New York
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: 12-24 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 92.57%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.8
  • Complete twenty-one to twenty-four credits in prerequisite coursework
• Tuition fee per semester: $26,550

28. University of Central Florida

• Primary location: Orlando, Florida
• Format: Full-time, hybrid program
• Duration: Four semesters
• NCLEX average pass rate: 97%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree or higher in a non-nursing field
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on pre-nursing bachelor’s and any other post-secondary coursework
  • Take and submit TEAS exam scores 
  • Complete all state-mandated prerequisite courses
• Tuition per credit hour: $212.28 for in-state students, $748.89 for out-of-state students

29. Virginia Commonwealth University

• Primary location: Richmond, Virginia
• Format: Full-time, campus-based program
• Duration: Five semesters
• NCLEX average pass rate: 90.5%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution 
  • A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on all college coursework
  • Must complete prerequisite classes with a grade of “B” or higher
• Tuition fee for the full program: $12,850 for in-state tuition, $34,744 for out-of-state tuition

30. Indiana University-Purdue University

• Primary location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Format: Full-time, predominantly campus-based, with some didactic courses that may have an online option
• Duration: 16 months
• NCLEX average pass rate: 94.4%
• Admission requirements:
  • Baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA 
  • Forty-one prerequisite general education credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Tuition fee per credit hour: $299.05 for in-state tuition, $1,046.99 for out-of-state tuition

What To Consider When Looking for an Accelerated Nursing Program

When searching for an accelerated nursing program, it is essential to consider the following factors:

• Accreditation: Verify that the program meets the quality standards set by licensing boards.
• Admission requirements: Determine if you meet the eligibility criteria, including prerequisites, minimum GPA requirements, entrance exams, and specific healthcare experience.
• Cost: Consider the program’s total expenses, such as tuition, fees, and additional costs. Explore financial aid options and scholarships.
• Program format: Research whether the program offers on-campus, online, or hybrid options, and consider your circumstances and preferences.
• Program length: Compare the duration of different accelerated programs and evaluate how they fit with your goals and commitments.
• Graduation and NCLEX-RN pass rates: Evaluate the program’s graduation rate and, more importantly, the percentage of students who pass the NCLEX-RN examination to gauge its effectiveness.
• Location: Consider the school’s location, proximity to clinical sites, and potential job opportunities while considering your personal preferences.

The Bottom Line

Choosing a fast-track nursing program can speed up your journey to a successful nursing career, saving time and effort. This article covers 30 standout programs, known for their solid reputation, complete course offerings, skilled teachers, and high pass rates for the NCLEX-RN exams. 

With a range of study formats and locations, these programs can be tailored to meet your needs. Start your nursing career faster with these accelerated programs and set your path towards a fulfilling future in healthcare.