Three nurses laughing in hospital hallway

Accelerated BSN Hybrid

Already have a bachelor’s degree and want to move into nursing? Prepare for career advancement as a BSN-prepared nurse in a variety of healthcare settings with online coursework in an accelerated program.

Next Apply Date: 9/7/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 9/7/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26

Program Overview

What can you expect from A-State's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Accelerated BSN)?

Find your pathway to a rewarding healthcare career through the flexible and affordable Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Equip yourself for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for a registered nurse license with incorporated test preparation and gain resume-bolstering professional experience in this ACEN-accredited degree.

Even if you have no healthcare background, you will be fully prepared to enter a rapidly growing, high-salary field with a nursing career in a variety of settings and specialties. This hybrid degree program features 100% online coursework and in-person clinical rotations in Jonesboro and the surrounding area – enabling you to stay with the same classmates from start to finish and fostering meaningful relationships with your peers. Required clinicals will occur on predetermined weekends, Friday through Sunday.

The site-based project hours must also be completed in Jonesboro or the surrounding area. For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

Learn more about commuting or relocating to Jonesboro during your clinical rotations with our ABSN Commuter Guide.

See what your clinical schedule could look like by reviewing our Accelerated BSN Sample Clinical Schedule.

Our Accelerated BSN degree can help you:

  • Be equipped with the tools and knowledge to provide direct and indirect care to patients
  • Be prepared to take the NCLEX exam to obtain an RN license
Our Accelerated BSN degree can help you:+
  • Be equipped with the tools and knowledge to provide direct and indirect care to patients
  • Be prepared to take the NCLEX exam to obtain an RN license

Prepare to advance your career as a BSN-prepared nurse in a variety of healthcare settings including:

  • Clinics, hospitals and trauma centers
  • Long-term care
  • Private home health
  • Health education
  • Nursing research
  • Rehabilitation
  • Public health
  • Administration
Prepare to advance your career as a BSN-prepared nurse in a variety of healthcare settings including:+
  • Clinics, hospitals and trauma centers
  • Long-term care
  • Private home health
  • Health education
  • Nursing research
  • Rehabilitation
  • Public health
  • Administration

In-Demand Skills:

  • Nursing
  • Nursing care
  • Nursing process
  • Nursing practices
  • Medical records
In-Demand Skills:+
  • Nursing
  • Nursing care
  • Nursing process
  • Nursing practices
  • Medical records

Accelerated BSN Online FAQs

Being a prelicensure, practice-based degree, there are certain elements of the curriculum that need to be taught in-person. The didactic courses (courses with a prefix of NRS) will be completely online. NRSP courses (with the exception of NRSP 2391) will require in-person attendance.
Yes, we supervise all clinical placements in the program, ensuring that students do not have to worry about this aspect at all.
Yes, the Accelerated BSN program is accredited by ACEN.
Students will have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday clinicals throughout the entire program. The number of clinical days every 7 weeks depends on the credit hours of the course. Per each credit hour, the student will complete 30 hours of clinical. Therefore, a three-hour course yields 90 in-person hours.
Students are not expected to have a nursing license upon entry into the program; however, the program is intended for students who plan to practice as a nurse in Arkansas upon completion of the program.
The program consists of 750 lab, clinical, and field hours.
Absolutely. Instructors will have optional online office hours each week to interact with the class, conduct active learning exercises, and more. If these times interfere with the student’s schedule, a student can easily schedule a meeting with the instructor.
Students should have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission into the program.
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree in any subject, have completed all the prerequisites, and meet our GPA requirements can apply. This is a prelicensure program, therefore it is not necessary to already be a nurse.
Clinical requirements can be completed in Jonesboro, AR, and the surrounding areas. Additionally, midway through the program, there may be an option to complete clinicals in Memphis, TN.
NRSP courses are nursing practicum courses. The first two in the curriculum are NRSP 2391 (Health Assessment Practicum) and NRSP 2321 (Fundamentals of Nursing Practicum). These courses teach you how to assess a patient and simulate skills BEFORE attending clinicals in a hospital. The remainder of NRSP courses are all clinical rotations. Starting in term 2, clinical rotations will be 12 hours a day.
Students from states outside of Arkansas should consider the in-person clinical requirements of the program. Students will be required to commute or relocate to Jonesboro, AR to complete their clinical requirements at an approved clinical site. For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In person clinical rotations occur throughout the year. To get a sense of what your clinical requirements schedule could look like take a look at our Accelerated BSN Sample Clinical Schedule.

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of undergraduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online undergraduate programs.

Total Tuition*: $20,234
Program Duration**: 15 months
Credit Hours† 67

Accreditation

100% NCLEX PASS RATE

Achieved by the May 2025 ABSN graduating class

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Step Inside A‑State Nursing

Preview the simulation labs and clinical spaces at Arkansas State University.

Tuition

How much does the Accelerated BSN hybrid program cost?

A-State's programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The Accelerated BSN hybrid program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition*: $20,234
Per Credit Hour: $302

How does the Accelerated BSN hybrid program quickly elevate your clinical expertise? Watch and learn!

Calendar

When can you start the Accelerated BSN hybrid program?

Our Accelerated BSN hybrid program is flexible and convenient—featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year. Nursing cohorts start in Fall 2 and Spring 2 only. The other starts included in this calendar are for General Education requirements that must be completed prior to acceptance in the nursing cohort.

View cohort calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/12/269/7/269/7/2610/9/2612/4/26

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 23/8/272/1/272/1/273/5/274/30/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 9/7/26
Start Class 10/12/26

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the Accelerated BSN hybrid program?

Ready to apply to A-State’s Accelerated BSN hybrid program? Start by reviewing the key requirements below. Admission is highly selective, and applicants should be academically prepared for the pace and expectations of a prelicensure nursing program.

Need help? An enrollment specialist can guide you through the application process.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA across all undergraduate coursework
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA across required prerequisite courses
View all admission requirements +

Required Prerequisite Courses

To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you must complete all prerequisite courses before submitting your application. Applicants must earn a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher and receive a grade of C or better in each of the following courses.

  • Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health and Laboratory
  • Human Anatomy/Physiology I and Laboratory
  • Human Anatomy/Physiology II and Laboratory
  • Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I and Laboratory OR General Chemistry I and Laboratory
  • Composition I
  • Composition II
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Statistics
  • The United States to 1876 OR The United States Since 1876 OR Introduction to United States Government
  • College Algebra

Important Notes Before You Apply

  • All prerequisite courses must be completed before submitting your application.
  • All course attempts are included when calculating prerequisite GPA.
  • Recent accepted students had an average cumulative GPA of 3.36 and an average prerequisite GPA of 3.44.
  • You may qualify for early admission if you have completed a bachelor’s degree, completed all prerequisites and earned both an overall undergraduate GPA and prerequisite GPA of 3.6 or higher.
  • If you previously took nursing courses, you must disclose this on the application and provide a dated and signed letter of good standing.
  • This is a prelicensure program. Students who have previously been licensed as an RN or have sat for the NCLEX-RN are not accepted.

English Proficiency Requirements

Applicants whose primary language is not English, or who did not attend K-12 school in the United States, must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following exams:

  • TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 86 (for exams taken before January 21, 2026) or 4.5 (for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)
  • IELTS: Overall score of 7.0 with a spoken band score of 7.0
  • PTE Academic: Score of 63 or higher
  • Accuplacer Exit ESL: Score of 109 or higher

TOEFL and Accuplacer Exit ESL exams are available through the A-State Testing Center. If testing off campus, use A-State code 6011. Test scores are valid for two years.

Exemptions may apply. See A-State's undergraduate and graduate admission pages for additional information.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the online application and select “100% online student.”
  2. Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Submit all official college transcripts.

Items needed before starting the program

While not needed to render an admissions decision, the following items will also be needed:

  • Criminal background check through Verified Credentials
  • Health Care Provider CPR certification covering adult, infant and child with AED
  • Proof of Hepatitis B series and TB skin test

Questions? Call 866-621-8096.

How to Submit Documents

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Overnight delivery only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Transfer Credits Notes

Official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions are reviewed for transfer credit. Coursework from non-accredited institutions is evaluated case by case.

Not accepted: Sophia Learning and StraighterLine transfer work.

What is a typical day in the life of an A-State Hybrid Accelerated BSN student? Take a look!

A-State is ranked #3 among the "5 best RN to BSN programs in Arkansas (online and campus)" according to www.nursingprocess.org, 2025

State Board of Nursing Approved

The RN to BSN online program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Courses

What courses are in the Accelerated BSN hybrid curriculum?

A total of 23 core courses (67 credit hours) is required to complete this Accelerated BSN degree. All clinical experiences courses will be completed in person on pre-determined weekends. The practicum/clinical hours must be completed at an approved clinical site in Northeast Arkansas.

You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Explores the foundational concepts, attributes, and competencies that are essential to the development of the professional nurse and their relationship to current and future challenges in the delivery of quality nursing care. Fall, Spring, Summer. Prerequisites: NRS 2313, NRS 2322, NRS 2342, NRS 2392, NRSP 2321, NRSP 2391 (Traditional BSN); NRS 4012, NRS 4443, NRSP 4433 (Accelerated BSN).
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Foundational concepts of physiologic health pro­cesses, mobility, comfort, infection control, protection, oxygenation, medication administration, nutrition and elimination. Integrates the nursing process, informatics, interpersonal communica­tion, patient teaching, delegation, critical thinking, and safety.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Focus on obtaining a health history and physical as­sessment of the adult. An overview of the pediatric, obstetrical, and geriatric client is included. Fall, Spring, Summer. Prerequisites: BIO 2203 and BIO 2201. Prerequisites/Corequisites: C or better in BIO 2223, BIO 2221, and NRSP 2391, NRS 2313, NRS 2322 and NRSP 2321 for BSN Students, or NRS 1214 and NRSP 1222 for AASN students.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the scope of the nursing profession with emphasis on basic human needs, growth and development across the lifespan, communication, legal and ethical parameters of practice, and teaching and learning theories. Spring, Summer. Prerequisites: Admission to the Accelerated BSN track.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Health focus on individuals and families experiencing acute and chronic illness across the lifespan. Integrated foci include medical surgical, geriatrics, pediatrics, and nutrition. Summer, Fall. Admission to the accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 2322, NRS 2423, NRSP 2321
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Explores and applies the basic concepts of professional nursing for clients with alterations in mental health. Fall, Spring. Registration restricted to stu­dents who are accepted to the BSN options. Prerequisites: NRS 2002, NRS 2012, NRS 3463, NRSP 2003 (Traditional BSN); NRS 3445, NRS 3473, NRSP 3433 (Accelerated BSN)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Concepts of professional nursing expanded to the care of individuals, families, and groups of patients in community and rehabilitation settings. Focus is on needs assessment, strategies, high risk families, professional roles and health care issues. Fall, Spring. Registration restricted to students who have been accepted to accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 3445, NRS 3473, NRSP 3433
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Health focus on individuals and families experiencing acute and chronic illness across the lifespan. Integrated foci include adult medical surgical, geriatrics, pediatrics, and nutrition.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Physiologic principles of alterations in normal human biologic functions/disease processes. Links human biological sciences and pharmacologic theories in nursing practice. Fall, Spring, Summer. Registration restricted to admission to the BSN program. Prerequisites: NRS 2313 NRS 2322 NRS 2342 NRS 2392 NRSP 2321 NRSP 2391 (Traditional BSN); NRSP 2321, NRS 2322, NRS 2423 (Accelerated BSN)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continued discussion of physiologic principles of alterations in normal human biologic functions/disease processes. Ties basic biological sciences theory and the application of pharmacological theory into nursing practice. Fall, Spring, Summer. Registration restricted to students admitted to the BSN program. Prerequisites: NRS 2002, NRS 2012, NRS 3463, NRSP 2003 (Traditional BSN); NRS 2434, NRS 3463, NRSP 2432 (Accelerated BSN)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Explores the nurse’s role in the research process and provides the skills needed to evaluate the evidence and use research findings. Introduces professional writing styles and requires the application of a selected style in the preparation of various projects. Fall, Spring, Summer. Prerequisites: Admission to the RN-BSN Program. Prerequisites/Corequisites: Statistics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Theoretical basis for professional nursing care of the childbearing family. Emphasis is on nursing care of the woman, the fetus, and the infant within the family environment. Fall, Spring. Registration is restricted to stu­dents who are accepted to the BSN program options. Prerequisites: NRS 3205, NRS 3312, and NRSP 3205 (Traditional BSN), NRS 3422, NRS 3423, NRS 4424, and NRSP 3453 (Accelerated BSN).
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Nursing assessment and management of se­lected health care needs of pediatric patients and their families. Emphasis is on the nursing care of the pediatric patient and family within the acute and community setting. Fall, Spring. Registration is restricted to students admitted to the BSN program. Prerequisites: NRS 3205, NRS 3312, NRSP 3205
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continuation of concepts intro­duced in NRS 3345 Essentials of Medical Surgical Nursing II.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on patients with acute episodic health deviations which require ongoing diagnosis, immediate intervention or intensive nursing observation and care. Fall, Spring. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to the accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 3422, NRS 3423, NRS 4424, NRSP 3453
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Exploration of health care delivery systems and the role of administration in a modern health care environment. Fall, Spring. Registration is restricted to stu­dents who are accepted to the BSN program options. Prerequisites: NRS 3205, NRS 3312, and NRSP 3205 (Traditional BSN); NRS 4012, NRS 4443, NRSP 4433 (Accelerated BSN).
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Development of foundational nursing skills. Fall, Spring, Summer. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Practicum in which the clinical skills associ­ated with NRS 2392 are developed and implemented. The student obtains health histories and performs physical examinations. Fall, Spring, Summer. A clinical laboratory fee will be assessed. Corequisites: NRS 2392.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Practicum in which the clinical skills associated with medical-surgical nursing care are developed for individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Summer, Fall. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to Accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 2322, NRS 2423, NRSP 2321
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum in which the clinical skills associated with medical-surgical nursing care are developed for individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Summer, Fall. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 2434, NRS 3463, NRSP 2432
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum in which the clinical skills associated with a variety of nursing specialties are developed for individuals and families across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Fall, Spring. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 3423, NRS 3445, NRSP 3433
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum in which the clinical skills associated with medical-surgical nursing care are developed for individu­als and families across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Fall, Spring. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to Accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 3422, NRS 3423, NRS 4424, NRSP 3453
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 6
This practicum builds on the concepts learned in previous courses. The student designs, implements, and evaluates care for individuals and families, groups, and populations across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Spring, Summer. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRS 2012, NRS 4012, NRS 4443, NRSP 4433
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 6
This practicum builds on the concepts learned in previous courses. The student designs, implements, and evaluates care for individuals and families, groups, and populations across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings. Spring, Summer. Registration restricted to students who are accepted to accelerated BSN option. Prerequisites: NRSP 4456
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
A continuation of focus on clients experiencing condi­tions that are usual, expected, and have predictable outcomes in a Maternal Child setting. Em­phasis is on the nursing process with modification and redesign of the plan of care. Fall. Corequisites: NRS 2233, NRSP 2244, and NRSP 2272.
Program Coursework Rotation Online (.PDF)

*Total tuition for nursing core only. If additional courses are needed for program completion, total tuition may vary. Listed tuition fee is not inclusive of all fees associated with the program. You may incur additional program costs associated with Kaplan (e.g., standardized testing, NCLEX resources), Clinical requirements (e.g., uniform, badges, CPR, immunizations, liability insurance) and course books. There may also be costs associated with paying for the NCLEX exam and applying for licensure.

**Taking back-to-back seven-week courses without interruption, nursing courses only.

†A total of 67 credit hours is required for this baccalaureate degree. The number of credit hours each student must earn to satisfy the requirement may vary based upon university evaluation.

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