ABSN Admission, Application and Fees

The Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and are interested in pursuing a BSN degree with eligibility to obtain licensure as a registered nurse (RN). This is a 12-month program that begins in January each year with students graduating in December. Students must be able to attend full-time and in person for the entire year.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for this option, applicants must have:

• Earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college of university by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program
  • Regional accreditations include: the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Coursework completed at other US Department of Education nationally accredited institutions may be considered but must be reviewed by the ECU Registrar on a case-by-case basis.
  • For prospective international students who earned their first degree outside the U.S., a course-by-course evaluation of university-level courses taken outside the U.S. must be completed by an agency that is a member of NACES. More information can be found on the International Undergraduate Admission website.

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 of higher
  • Grade point averages calculated for admission include either all grades from accredited college/universities attended OR grades from 20+ credit hours post-graduation with the first bachelor’s degree, whichever is highest.
  • Courses that are not complete by the application deadline are not included in GPA calculations.

• Completed at least one attempt on the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam
  • For more details and information relating to the ABSN HESI A2 requirement, click HERE.

• Completed the following prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B- by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program
  • BIOL 2140, Anatomy and Physiology I (3 semester hours)*
  • BIOL 2141, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (1 semester hour)*
  • BIOL 2150, Anatomy and Physiology II (3 semester hours)*
  • BIOL 2151, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (1 semester hour)*
  • BIOL 2110, Microbiology (3 semester hours)
  • BIOL 2111, Microbiology Lab (1 semester hour)
  • CHEM 1120, Introduction to Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences (3 semester hours)
  • CHEM 1130, Organic and Biochemistry for the Allied Health Sciences (4 semester hours)
  • MATH 1065, College Algebra (3 semester hours)

  *These courses must be completed within five years of a student’s intended ABSN application deadline.

• Completed the following prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program
  • NUTR 2105, Nutrition Science (3 semester hours)
  • PHIL 1175, Introduction to Ethics (3 semester hours)
  • PSYC 1000, General Psychology (3 semester hours)
  • PSYC 3206, Developmental Psychology (3 semester hours)
  • SOCI 2110, Introduction to Sociology (3 semester hours)
  • Approved Statistics course (3 semester hours)

Program Admission

Admission to the ABSN program can be competitive and is based on the College of Nursing ABSN ranking formula in which applicants accumulate points for cumulative GPA, performance in prerequisite coursework, a statement of interest, HESI A2 average, and an interview (selected applicants). Admission interviews are typically held in late July in person at the College of Nursing. Virtual interviews may be an option for students who are not located within a reasonable driving distance to Greenville, NC. Admission decisions are sent to applicants typically no later than the end of August each year.

Transfer Resources

The resources below are recommended tools prospective ABSN applicants can use to unofficially determine potential transferability of credit completed at other institutions. It is important to understand that Undergraduate Admissions and the Registrar will complete the official processing of submitted transcripts after students apply to the university for admission.

• The ECU Registrar Course Equivalency website houses information and tools for determining transfer course equivalencies.
• The following courses have been approved by the North Carolina Community College Common Course Library and East Carolina University for transfer to ECU. Download the list of approved courses.

If the above resources do not provide all the transfer information needed, the ECU College of Nursing offers the option for an unofficial review of a complete set of transcripts. Requests are typically processed in 4-6 weeks but during peak times of the semester response time may be extended.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Apply to the College of Nursing

Because of possible changes to ABSN prerequisite requirements, the online ABSN application and process is currently undergoing revisions. The 2026 ABSN application will open on May 1^st with a deadline of July 15^th. Prospective applicants should monitor this webpage for updates.

Step 2: Apply to ECU as an undergraduate Second Degree student

Admission to the ABSN program is contingent upon undergraduate admission ECU as an undergraduate Second Degree seeking student. Students offered ABSN admission must apply to the university as an undergraduate Second Degree seeking student as soon as the application becomes available in mid-August. Application instructions for undergraduate Second Degree seeking students can be found online HERE.

All students must meet minimum university admission requirements as specified in the current undergraduate catalog. Admission to the university is determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please contact their office directly with any questions about the university application process.

Step 3: Submit official copies of transcripts to ECU

Unofficial copies of transcripts are sufficient for the ABSN application to the College of Nursing. However, once admitted to the ABSN program, the College of Nursing requires that students submit official transcripts reflecting completion of first degree and required prerequisite courses to the university prior to starting the ABSN program. Failure to provide official transcripts may result in an admitted student losing their enrollment in the ABSN program.

Electronic official transcripts are recommended and can be sent to Undergraduate Admissions at transfer@ecu.edu.

Tuition and Fees

A schedule of university fees is available in the university’s Cashier’s Office. There are additional costs to nursing students for uniforms, books, background checks, drug screening, clinical supplies, and liability insurance. Students must also have current CPR certification. Information on available programs is available at the CON Student Services Office.

Questions?

Contact the College of Nursing Student Services office at 252-744-6477 or CONAdvising@ecu.edu or attend one of our virtual monthly information sessions.