Online Post-Baccalaureate Accelerated Bachelor of Science in NursingHenry Predolin School of Nursing, Business, Education, and Health Sciences

FIRST, CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR THE ONLINE ABSN PROGRAM:

1. Earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 in college-level coursework or cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 in most recent (60) college credits.
3. Minimum of 2.75 GPA in prerequisite math and science courses. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all prerequisite math and science courses.
   NOTE: Required math and science courses must have been taken within (8) years of admission to the first nursing course for credit in the nursing major.
4. Complete prerequisite courses.

Residency is not required as learning is conducted online. However, immersion labs will require online ABSN students to travel to Edgewood College’s campus in Madison, Wisconsin, on three separate occasions. Theory courses are delivered through a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (self-paced) online sessions.

Students interested in the Online Accelerated BSN degree program are required to apply through the Nursing Centralized Application Services (NursingCAS). This portal is used to simplify and streamline the application process. Edgewood College’s School of Nursing Admission Committee will make all admission decisions. We encourage students to make certain the necessary applicant qualifications have been met, and to be mindful of the application deadlines.

• Create an account and login to NursingCAS.
• Complete and submit your application including manual entry of all courses including prerequisites. NOTE: Full transcript history should match all courses denoted on your official transcripts.
• Upload your full transcript history into the NursingCAS portal.
• Contact all previous higher education institutions and utilize the appropriate form through NursingCAS to request official transcripts be sent to NursingCAS. NOTE: If you’ve attended Edgewood College in the past, you must also follow this process for your Edgewood transcripts.
• Upload Resume.
• Pay the required application fee through NursingCAS portal.

If you are admitted to this nursing program, you will be required to submit your official high school transcripts directly to the Edgewood College Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Admitted students will receive further instructions when this information is required.

Once you have determined that you meet the criteria to apply for the Online ABSN program, you will be ready to start the application process. As this is a highly competitive program and admission is capped at (21) students, we recommend submitting your application and required documentation as soon as the application opens. This allows you ample time to complete each requirement and ensure all required documentation has been received so your application meets the priority deadline. After the priority deadline has passed, applications shift to rolling admission.  

The School of Nursing Admissions Committee is comprised of nursing faculty dedicated to screening applicants for admission into this program and making recommendations to the Dean. Admission to the Accelerated BSN program at Edgewood College is highly competitive and is limited to (21) students in the fall semester and (21) students in the spring semester. The School of Nursing Dean will admit the most qualified students based on cumulative GPA, science/math GPA, previous academic records, and credits completed.

It is common for students to inquire how they can improve the likelihood of securing one of those coveted spots in the nursing program. While the above qualifications take utmost priority in determining program eligibility, the list below offers a guide as to ways decisions are made when we have more highly qualified students than we have open seats.

• Achieve at least a 3.0 GPA or greater (on prerequisite college coursework) to have priority over applicants that meet the minimum GPA of 2.75.
• Complete Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) requirements and hold a CNA license.
• Outstanding professional or personal achievements
• Prior experience working in the healthcare field.
• Proficiency in a second language.
• Volunteer experience in your community.

We understand that a decision to go back to college to pursue your nursing degree is a big decision. Choosing an accelerated program is often based upon career goals, academic background, and personal circumstances. Here is a short checklist to consider:

• You already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
• You are prepared to make a full-time commitment to the program and your personal and professional schedules will allow you to devote your time and energy to a rigorous program.
• You are motivated by the short term model of learning and desire to get to the field in the quickest way possible.
• You enjoy hands-on learning and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Most importantly, you are passionate about pursuing this career path and a journey to becoming a registered nurse (RN)!

Students can expect to spend 40 to 60 hours per week on coursework and classroom assignments, which results in an expedited completion time of one year as opposed to the typical two to two and a half years.

Yes, Edgewood College has two pathways for students to achieve their ABSN degree. In addition to our Online ABSN, Edgewood College offers an on-campus ABSN. Learn more about the on-campus ABSN program.

A BSN provides ample benefits in terms of career advancement, earning potential, and professional development. Achieving your BSN reflects a commitment to excellence and dedication to ongoing professional development. BSN-prepared nurses are positioned to adapt to the evolving landscape in healthcare and contribute to improving patient outcomes.

College math can be tricky! While a reasonable person may infer that an Associate’s Degree is a cost-savings, we encourage you to “check the math.” Here is an example…

What does this mean? 

• Completing your ADN takes (2) years and will cost approximately $15,000. The initial investment is lower, but you will miss an entire year of earning an annual salary of $80,000. The total financial impact of spending an extra year in school is an estimated loss of $65,000 (Salary minus program cost).
• Completing your ABSN only takes (1) year and will cost $45,000. Despite the higher initial investment, you will enter the workforce a year sooner.  The total financial impact of not spending an extra year in school is a gain of $35,000 (Salary minus program cost). Additionally, BSN-prepared RNs have higher earnings potential as compared to ADN-prepared RNs.