Top Second Degree Nursing Programs 2024
While most nurses enter a traditional four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, there are options for students who decide to become nurses after completing a non-nursing undergraduate degree. These programs are also referred to as second-degree nursing programs or accelerated nursing programs.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
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What is a Second-Degree Nursing Program?
A second-degree nursing program is a condensed, or “accelerated,” BSN program for college graduates who later decide to pursue a career as an RN. Candidates for this type of program must already hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing.
Accelerated nursing programs are one of the fastest-growing university programs in the country. According to the American Association of Colleges in Nursing (ACCN), as of 2024, 319 accelerated baccalaureate programs were available nationwide.
How Long Are Second-Degree Nursing Programs?
Second-degree BSNs are completable faster because students have already finished many of the undergraduate non-major requirements for a BSN. Before starting a second-degree BSN, students must complete between 7-10 prerequisite science classes. The prerequisites help establish a science background for the student before beginning the “accelerated” learning portion of the BSN. Students typically spend six to twelve months completing nursing school prerequisite courses before being accepted into their BSN program. Some students may have already completed the science courses, but they must do so within five years of starting the accelerated nursing program.
Second-degree BSN programs vary in length, depending on the program. But generally, this type of program is between 12 to 18 months. Upon graduation, second-degree BSN students can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and earn licensure to practice in their state.
>> Show Me Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Who is a Second-Degree Nursing Program Right For?
Second-degree nursing programs are suitable for students who want to be an RN and have already earned a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. Many second-degree nursing students have worked in a different career for some time before deciding that their passion lies in the nursing field.
The age of second-degree nursing students varies widely. Some are recent college graduates who realized that they chose the wrong major. Some second-degree nurses already have decades of full-time work experience in other fields.
Second-degree nurses come from a variety of professions, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Lawyers
- Teachers
- Artists
- Business and marketing managers
- Financial planners
- Hospitality or tourism professionals
- Stay-at-home-parents
No matter what type of non-nursing bachelor's degree you achieved, if you have the desire and motivation to advance your education and become a registered nurse, a second-degree BSN may provide the right pathway to get there!
Best Second-Degree Nursing Programs
Choosing a second-degree nursing program is a huge decision that requires much consideration. Fortunately, we already did a lot of the work for you with this list of some of the best second-degree programs!
Our ranking system considers many factors, such as:
- Accreditation
- Graduation rates
- Student-faculty ratio
- Job placements
- Student satisfaction
- Clinical assignments, and
- Program length
Top Second Degree Nursing Programs
|
Program Name |
Tuition |
Program Length |
Accreditation |
|
New York University |
$1,916 per credit hour |
15 months |
CCNE |
|
Villanova University |
$52,500 (total cost) |
14 months (Express Track) or 23 months (Flex Track) |
CCNE |
|
University of Massachusetts |
$35,000 (total cost) |
12 months |
CCNE |
|
Duke University |
$26,369 (total cost) |
16 months |
CCNE |
|
Northeastern University |
$1,307 per credit hour |
16 months |
CCNE |
|
George Washington University |
$82,400 (total cost) |
4 semesters |
CCNE |
|
Loyola University |
$66,160 (total cost) |
16 months |
CCNE |
|
University of Washington |
$12,913 per quarter |
12 months |
CCNE |
|
The College of New Jersey |
$34,000 (total cost) |
14 months |
CCNE |
|
Florida Atlantic University |
In-State: $21,664.10 Out-of-State: $52,776.50 |
4 semesters |
CCNE |
1. New York University, New York, NY
New York University’s 15-month ABSN program requires four consecutive full-time semesters of study. The university offers start dates in the fall (September) or spring (January) semester. Students are admitted to the accelerated program while still in an undergraduate program based on the credit they have earned before matriculation.
- Tuition: $1,916 per credit hour
- Program Length: 15 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Application Deadline:
- Fall:
- Priority: March 1st
- Final: April 1st
- Spring:
- Priority: September 15th
- Final: October 15th
- Fall:
- Contact Information:
- Email: nursing.admissions@nyu.edu
- Phone Number: (212) 998-5317
- Online Options Available? No
2. Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Villanova University offers students two ABSN tracks depending on how quickly they want to complete their studies: a 14-month track and a 23-month track. Situated right outside of Philadelphia, clinicals rotations are held at both local suburban hospitals as well as major healthcare systems in the city. This allows students to get a wide range of clinical experience.
- Tuition: $52,500 (total cost)
- Program Length: 14 months (Express Track) or 23 months (Flex Track)
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline:
- Express: September 15th (First Deadline), December 15th (Second Deadline)
- Flex: March 15th
- Contact Information:
- Email: nursing.inquiries@villanova.edu
- Phone Number: (610) 519-4900
- Online Options Available? No
3. University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
U Mass offers students three potential start dates. This makes the accelerated program a great option with many openings. Students also have access to some of the top hospitals in the country in downtown Boston. Graduates have gone on to enroll in U Mass’s many graduate programs.
- Tuition: $35,000 (total cost)
- Program Length: 12 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline:
- Fall Semester (September): May 1st
- Spring Semester (January): September 1st
- Summer Semester (May): February 1st
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available? Hybrid
4. Duke University, Durham, NC
Accelerated BSN students at Duke University can not only finish their BSNs quickly, but they may also earn up to nine credits toward an MSN! Students in this program complete 58 credit hours of study and receive about 800 hours of clinical experience. Duke offers students in need up to 100% tuition coverage over the course of four semesters through generous scholarships.
- Tuition: $26,369 (total cost)
- Program Length: 16 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: December 1st (priority deadline)
- Contact Information:
- Email: SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
- Phone Number: (919) 684-3786
- Online Options Available? No
5. Northeastern University, Burlington, MA & Charlotte, NC
At Northeastern University, second-degree nursing students can earn a BSN in as little as 16 months. The program has online and hands-on components. They also offer three start dates per year: January, May, and September. Applications do not have a set deadline per se; rather, they are typically due two months before the start of a cohort. This might not be ideal for students who are planning on relocating for the program.
- Tuition: $1,307 per credit hour
- Program Length: 16 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (866) 892-3819
- Online Options Available? Yes
6. George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
George Washington University’s nursing school offers clinical and coursework education with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies, which include high-fidelity simulators and interactive online modules. Students may also have an opportunity to travel internationally through one of the school's international clinical opportunities in countries such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti, and Uganda.
Of note, this in-person program is held at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus located in Ashburn, Virginia.
- Tuition: $82,400 (total cost)
- Program Length: 4 semesters
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline:
- Spring:
- Priority: August 1st
- Final: December 1st
- Fall:
- Priority: December 1st
- Final: July 1st
- Summer:
- Priority: December 1st
- Final: April 1st
- Spring:
- Contact Information:
- Email: nursing@gwu.edu
- Phone Number: (202) 994-7901
- Online Options Available? No
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
7. Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Accelerated BSN students can choose between a hybrid version with entirely online didactic courses and in-person clinicals or a fully on-campus experience at the Maywood Campus location. New second-degree BSN programs start every January and August.
- Tuition: $66,160 (total cost)
- Program Length: 16 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Information:
- Online Options Available?: Hybrid
8. University of Washington, Seattle, WA
ABSN students at the University of Washington gain over a thousand hours of hands-on patient care experience at one of over 600 respected community partnership sites. Students may earn clinical experience at sites, including Seattle Children’s Hospital and the top-ranked University of Washington Medical Center.
- Tuition: $12,913 per quarter
- Program Length: 12 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: October 15th
- Contact Information:
- Email: asknursing@uw.edu
- Phone Number: (206) 543-8736
- Online Options Available? No
9. The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
TCNJ’s program graduates have an exceptionally high NCLEX pass rate, over 97% over the last five years. Additionally, six months after graduation, 100% of their recent graduates who sought full-time employment were working.
- Tuition: $34,000 (total cost)
- Program Length: 14 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: November 1st
- Contact Information:
- Email: ABSN@tcnj.edu
- Phone Number: (609) 771-2591
- Online Options Available? Hybrid
10. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
The ABSN program at FAU is highly competitive and students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field must apply for this program rather than the traditional program. The ABSN program is full-time and offered on the Boca and Davie campuses.
- Tuition:
- In-State: $21,664.10
- Out-of-State: $52,776.50
- Program Length: 4 semesters
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: February 3rd
- Contact Information:
- Email: nrusing@health.fau.edu
- Phone Number: (561) 297-6261
- Online Options Available? No
Benefits of Second-Degree Nursing Programs
Becoming a nurse can be a daunting task for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. These programs allow for this to become a reality. It also prevents students from having to take the same courses over again and wasting time and money.
Benefits of a second-degree nursing program include:
- Flexibility
- Accelerated time frame
- Focus on essential courses
- Accessibility
- Decreased tuition
- Teaches leadership
- Makes an individual more marketable
- Stronger clinical skills
- Increased maturity
- Plethora of programs
What to Expect in a Second-Degree Nursing Program?
Second-degree BSN programs are typically geared toward older, ambitious students with a college degree and at least one prior career in another field. The expectations for these students are generally higher than those in traditional BSN programs because coursework is accelerated.
Students take classes focused only on nursing while building on the fundamentals of biology and science from their pre-requisite courses.
Students are encouraged not to work during the program. However, this does vary based on the program and the student’s circumstances. Second-degree nursing programs are incredibly fast-paced, and students can not afford to fall behind.
Second-degree nursing students may consider temporary alternative living situations while in their programs, such as living with a family member or friend. This may minimize their need to work as much as possible and allow them to focus more energy on their studies.
Prerequisites
One important piece of information to note when researching second-degree programs is the list of prerequisites that each program requires. Typically, students with a prior degree are not required to take the liberal arts content included in a traditional four-year BSN program. The majority of programs have the same requirements to move forward in the program.
Usual prerequisite requirements:
- Biology with lab component
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Nutrition
- Pathophysiology
- Anatomy and physiology with lab component
- Developmental psychology
- Human Growth and Development
- Chemistry (including organic)
- Statistics
These classes have to be taken within five years of application and a grade of B or higher is usually required. Universities do not require students to take the prerequisites at their University, but some will offer a reduction in tuition if they do. It is recommended, if possible, to take any needed classes online or at a community college as tuition is generally lower.
For classes requiring a lab component, these must be done in the classroom. Only a handful of programs will allow students to take online virtual labs but these are rare. Johns Hopkins University allows students to take the lab component online but it has to be through their University. Furthermore, if a student decides to attend another University this class will not transfer.
Prerequisites do depend on the university so it is important to consider the classes that were taken during undergraduate studies to find the best fit. Many students who need to take prerequisites or retake science classes will enroll in these classes at a local community college due to convenience and affordability.
Classes
Students will focus on nursing classes during the second-degree program. With a science-heavy focus, students should be well-versed in the basics of biology and chemistry. Students will take the following courses throughout the program:
- Health Assessment
- Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults and Practicum
- Concepts in Pharmacology
- Nursing and Health Policy
- Community Health and Practicum
- Care Coordination
- Epidemiology for the Health Professions
- NCLEX Prep Course
- Population Health
- Nursing Informatics
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and Practicum
- Pediatric Nursing and Practicum
- Obstetrics Nursing and Practicum
- Leadership and Management
- Nursing Ethics
- Research and Scientific Evidence
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
