Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

UW-Oshkosh’s ABSN program delivers a comprehensive 12-month curriculum with three key components — online theory courses, clinical rotations and an on-campus residency — that equip you for a rewarding nursing career.

In your 100% online nursing theory classes, you’ll complete one credit hour of coursework per week. You embark on an in-depth study of critical disciplines, such as health assessment, adult and community health, pathophysiology, pharmacology and evidence-based practice. While intensive, these nursing courses prepare you with a well-rounded understanding of nursing theory and clinical practice.

Your theoretical knowledge comes to life during your on-campus residency and clinical rotations. These immersive, hands-on experiences empower you to apply all you’ve learned and strengthen your clinical skills. While you’ll complete the on-campus residency at UW-Oshkosh, your rotations typically occur within 65 miles of your communities.

At the end of the program, you’ll graduate with more than 728 clinical hours and be ready to sit for the NCLEX.

Your journey to our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program begins with applying to UW–Oshkosh. Once accepted, you must follow these next steps to apply:

• Complete the ABSN application
• Submit additional documents and essays
• Pass a criminal background check
• Accept your admissions decision

Additionally, we offer three Accelerated BSN cohorts each year with start dates in February, May and October. We review applications on a rolling basis and accept prospective students until each cohort is filled.

Known for academic excellence and graduate success, the accelerated nursing program has a competitive admission process with two tiers of admissions criteria: required and preferred.

Required Criteria

To qualify for admission to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Accelerated BSN Option, applicants must meet these requirements:

• Admission to UW-Oshkosh.
• Completion of a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5, or a GPA below 2.5 and successful completion of the TEAS test, with proficiency scores at or above the national BSN program mean.
• Minimum pre-nursing GPA of 3.0 across all College of Nursing prerequisite courses.
• All prerequisite courses completed, with a grade of “C” or better (grades of CD or C– are not accepted).
• Successful completion of a criminal background check for clinical placement, using the service specified in the Accelerated BSN application (cost paid by applicant).
• Completion of a nursing assistant course with a clinical component and attainment of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification (accepted from all states).
• Residency in an approved state for both theory and clinical components. Official acceptance is contingent on securing clinical rotations in the area specified in your application.

If you’re an international applicant, you must also:

• Submit a course-by-course credential evaluation report detailing grades, credits and degree assessment from an accredited evaluator. Approved evaluators can be found through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (naces.org) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (aice-eval.org).
• Demonstrate English proficiency by providing documentation that prior education was conducted in English, or submitting an official TOEFL iBT score of 71 or higher directly to UW–Oshkosh (institution code: 1916).

Preferred Criteria

To position yourself as a competitive applicant, we recommend that you:

• Maintain current hospital employment throughout the program.
• Hold a pre-nursing GPA of 3.25 or higher in all College of Nursing prerequisite courses.
• Have at least 240 hours of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) experience or other approved direct patient care.
• Demonstrate service orientation through at least 20 hours of campus and/or community volunteer work.
• Complete all prerequisite coursework before the program starts.

Pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing is an investment in your future. At the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, we offer competitive tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students, along with comprehensive financial aid support, empowering you to take the next step toward earning your degree.

During your time in the ABSN program, the School of Nursing and Health Professions faculty and staff support you with personalized mentorship and evidence-based instruction. As experienced practitioners, they help you develop the critical thinking, ethical judgment, and compassionate leadership needed to serve communities and thrive in the healthcare field.