The Accelerated second-degree BSN (ABSN) program is designed for students who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher in another field and wish to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The healthcare needs of individuals, families and populations demand a highly qualified nursing workforce prepared for the challenges of the future. This accelerated nursing program builds on prior learning to provide a broad professional preparation based on nursing science and grounded in biological, physical and behavioral sciences and the humanities.
Detroit
East Lansing
Instructions on applying can be found on the Apply Now page.
To apply for the Accelerated second-degree BSN (ABSN) program, you must:
Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, completed by the end of the spring semester before the program begins. Final transcripts due May 15, 2026, for Fall 2026 admission.
Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, including all undergraduate coursework from every institution attended.
Earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in each required ABSN prerequisite course.
Note: If you are currently completing your bachelor’s degree, you may apply, but your degree must be conferred in the spring semester before the program starts.
Applications that meet the minimum eligibility requirements will be reviewed and scored as follows:
Please note each admission cycle includes a waitlist. We may offer admission to waitlisted applicants until the cohort is full. Thirty days before classes begin, the waitlist is dissolved. If you remain on the waitlist, we encourage you to reapply for future admission cycles.
Applicants with the highest prerequisite GPAs receive top consideration, as the prerequisite GPA accounts for 50% of the overall admission score. However, strong grades alone do not guarantee admission. All application materials are considered, including your Personal Reflection responses and your list of experiences, each of which makes up 25% of your admissions score. You may retake a prerequisite course if needed; the College of Nursing will use your most recent attempt when calculating your prerequisite GPA.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) by the end of the spring semester preceding the start of the program. Coursework completed outside of MSU to fulfill a prerequisite must be approved for transfer credit per Transfer MSU as the course listed below prior to submitting an application.
Coursework completed at online institutions is accepted as long as the institution is properly accredited and the courses have been approved to satisfy the ABSN admissions prerequisite requirements.
The Accelerated second-degree BSN (ABSN) program is a full-time, four semester, 16-month program designed for students who have completed a bachelor's degree or higher in another field.
ABSN students begin clinical courses in their first semester.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-RN, the licensure examination for eligibility to become a registered nurse.
Course requirements for students admitted Fall 2026 and later:
NUR 204 Introduction to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 206 Health Assessment (2 credits)
NUR 208 Clinical Nursing Skills (2 credits)
NUR 210 Foundations of Nursing Practice (5 credits)
NUR 306 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Genomics I (4 credits)
NUR 308 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Genomics II (3 credits)
NUR 310 Nursing Care of Adults I (5 credits)
NUR 312 Nursing Care of Adults II (5 credits)
NUR 314 Scholarship of Nursing Practice (3 credits)
NUR 371 Behavioral Health Nursing (4 credits)
NUR 404 Kaplan NCLEX Review Seminar (1 credit)
NUR 416 Informatics, Analytics and Innovation (2 credits)
NUR 418 Transformational Leadership (3 credits)
NUR 420 Transitions to Professional Nursing (3 credits)
NUR 426 Preceptorship Immersion Experience with EBP Capstone (4 credits)
NUR 430 Population and Global Health (4 credits)
NUR 440 Nursing Care of Children and their Families (4 credits)
NUR 444 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Beyond (4 credits)
Course requirements for students admitted Summer 2021-Summer 2025:
NUR 205*: Introduction to Professional Nursing
NUR 323*: Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients I
NUR 333*: Health Promotion
NUR 337*: Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients II
NUR 342: Research, Ethics, and Evidence-Based Practice
NUR 371*: Behavioral Health Nursing
NUR 434*: Complex Care of Acutely Ill Patients
NUR 438*: Nursing Care of Children and Their Families
NUR 439*: Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family
NUR 442: Senior Scholarly Capstone Project
NUR 460*: Leadership in Clinical Practice
NUR 471*: Public Health Nursing
Course requirements for students admitted prior to Summer 2021:
NUR 205*: Introduction to Professional Nursing
NUR 322*: Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients I
NUR 324*: Health Promotion and Disease and Illness Prevention I
NUR 332*: Nursing Care of Acute and Chronically Ill Patients II
NUR 334*: Health Promotion and Disease and Illness Prevention II
NUR 371*: Behavioral Health Nursing
NUR 375: Research and Evidence-Based Practice
NUR 436*: Nursing Care of Children and Their Families
NUR 437*: Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family
NUR 445*: Nursing Care of Acute and Critically Ill
NUR 460*: Leadership in Clinical Practice
NUR 471*: Public Health Nursing
NUR 475: Ethical Practice
NUR 481: Scholarship and Nursing Practice
* Clinical Courses
University application for past MSU students
University application for those new to MSU
Please visit the Admissions page for more instructions on how to apply for this program.
Deadline: Feb. 1
This program is for students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who want to become professional registered nurses.
If your first degree is still in progress, you are eligible to apply as long as your degree will be conferred by the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the program.
We strongly recommend that students do not work while enrolled. This is a full-time program, which requires a significant time commitment and a high degree of flexibility, making employment very challenging. Most students spend between 40 and 70 hours per week on coursework, studying, and clinical practice. The most successful ABSN students are typically those who can focus solely on their studies during the 16-month program.
In person, the schedule can vary but is typically 4-5 days a week. The ABSN program is 16 months, or four semesters, and is offered in East Lansing and Detroit. Approximately 80 students are admitted each year, with 48 in East Lansing and 32 in Detroit.
Students may indicate their site preference — East Lansing or Detroit — on the ABSN application. While every effort is made to accommodate these preferences, placement at a preferred site is not guaranteed, and final assignments are determined based on program needs and available space.
ABSN tuition is assessed per credit hour. As of February 2026, the resident tuition rate is $898 per credit. The ABSN program consists of 61 credit hours, totaling approximately $54,800 for tuition across all four semesters. Additional expenses — including fees and taxes — also contribute to your overall Cost of Attendance. For the most current tuition rates, refer to the Office of the Controller’s website.
For questions about costs of attendance, contact the Office of Financial Aid. There are also start-up costs associated with beginning a nursing program; a detailed breakdown is available here.
Financial Aid
Students enrolled in our undergraduate degree programs qualify for College of Nursing scholarship funds.
MSU has hundreds of scholarships available to undergraduate students: https://scholarships.msu.edu/
Outside funding resources for students: https://nursing.msu.edu/undergraduate/tuition-funding
Acute Care Setting: emergency care, trauma care, acute medical and surgical care, critical care, urgent care, pediatrics, labor/delivery, oncology, and palliative care
Community Setting: health promotion, disease prevention, primary care, population health, home health, and community development
Additional roles: Hospice nurses, intensive care nurses, emergency care nurses, pediatric nurses adult acute care nurses, public health nurses, home care nurses, school nurses