Last Updated: October 1, 2026
Program Overview
A-State combines online nursing theory with scheduled weekend clinical experiences in Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas.
Arkansas State University’s Accelerated BSN Hybrid is a 15-month second-degree nursing program. Students complete a published 67-credit nursing core, with in-person clinical attendance on assigned Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The university arranges and supervises clinical placements. Applicants outside the area should plan for regular travel or relocation; online theory does not make this a program that can be completed entirely from home.
Accreditation and Outcomes
A-State’s baccalaureate nursing program holds continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
A-State’s program statistics distinguish ABSN graduating cohorts from university-wide BSN results:
- 2025 ABSN first-time NCLEX: 90.7% combined, or 39 of 43 graduates; May was 100% (23/23) and December was 80% (16/20).
- 2024 ABSN first-time NCLEX: 95.25% (20/21).
- 2023 ABSN first-time NCLEX: 100% (26/26).
- On-time ABSN completion for the 2024 admission cohort: 59.15% (42/71).
Completion figures track an admission cohort, whereas NCLEX figures track graduates taking the examination. They measure different stages of the program and should not be treated as interchangeable outcomes.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants need:
- A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum 2.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
- A minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA, with at least a C in each required course.
- All prerequisites completed before applying; repeated attempts count in the prerequisite GPA.
- Official transcripts and the $30 application fee.
Early admission consideration requires at least a 3.6 cumulative and prerequisite GPA, a completed degree and completed prerequisites. Meeting a minimum does not guarantee admission.
Applicants with previous nursing coursework must supply a letter of good standing. A-State does not accept applicants who have previously held RN licensure or attempted the NCLEX; Sophia Learning and StraighterLine courses are not accepted for its prerequisites.
Before starting, students complete the required background screening, healthcare-provider CPR certification and health documentation, including hepatitis B and tuberculosis requirements.
Starts and Deadlines
The nursing sequence begins in Fall 2 and Spring 2. Other dates on the university’s general online calendar may apply to preparatory courses rather than a new ABSN cohort.
The published Spring 2 start is March 8, 2027, with an application deadline of February 1, 2027. Review the official program calendar for the applicable cohort.
Prerequisite Courses
- Microbiology and laboratory.
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, each with laboratory.
- Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I or General Chemistry I, with laboratory.
- Composition I and II.
- Introduction to Psychology.
- Introduction to Sociology.
- College Algebra.
- Statistics.
- U.S. history to 1876, U.S. history since 1876, or U.S. government.
Curriculum
A-State’s 67-credit nursing core combines online theory with in-person skills and clinical learning. Students build assessment and basic care skills, then apply them to medical-surgical, mental health, maternal-child and community nursing before progressing to high-acuity care and advanced clinical practice.
The courses below follow the 2026–27 accelerated BSN catalog. They are grouped by subject rather than assigned to particular semesters. These 67 credits are also the basis of the published nursing-core tuition; prerequisites and additional program expenses are separate.
Required Courses and Credits
Foundations and Professional Practice
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 22032 — Professional Role Development | 2 | Professional nursing responsibilities, quality care and core practice competencies. |
NURS 22442 — Foundations of Nursing | 2 | Basic care needs, including mobility, comfort, infection prevention, oxygenation, nutrition and medication administration. |
NURS 22431 — Foundations of Nursing Practicum | 1 | Practice of essential nursing skills that support safe patient care. |
NURS 22932 — Health Assessment | 2 | Health histories and physical assessment, with attention to age and population differences. |
NURS 22391 — Health Assessment Practicum | 1 | Application of interviewing and physical-examination techniques. |
NURS 22463 — Introduction to Essentials of Nursing Care | 3 | Human needs across the lifespan, patient teaching, communication, and legal and ethical nursing responsibilities. |
Health, Illness and Medication Management
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 22433 — Essentials of Medical Surgical Nursing I | 3 | Acute and chronic illness across the lifespan, integrating adult, geriatric, pediatric and nutritional needs. |
NURS 31433 — Essentials of Medical Surgical Nursing II | 3 | Adult acute and chronic health problems, including geriatric care and nutrition. |
NURS 41423 — Essentials of Medical Surgical Nursing III | 3 | Continued development of medical-surgical care for adults and older patients. |
NURS 33463 — Pathophysiology Based Pharmacology I | 3 | Connections between disease processes, drug actions and nursing care. |
NURS 33473 — Pathophysiology Based Pharmacology II | 3 | Further application of pathophysiology and medication therapy to patient care. |
NURS 37432 — Essentials of Mental Health Nursing | 2 | Nursing assessment and care for people experiencing mental health problems. |
NURS 41563 — Essentials of Community Health | 3 | Needs assessment and nursing interventions for individuals, families and groups in community and rehabilitation settings. |
NURS 44002 — Essentials of Obstetric Nursing | 2 | Nursing care of women, fetuses and infants within the childbearing family. |
NURS 44013 — Essentials of Pediatric Nursing | 3 | Assessment and care of children and families in acute and community settings. |
NURS 44443 — Essentials of High Acuity Nursing | 3 | Care for patients needing immediate intervention and intensive observation. |
Research, Leadership and Clinical Practice
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 33703 — Principles of Nursing Research | 3 | Evidence appraisal, use of research findings and professional writing for nursing projects. |
NURS 44542 — Health Care Administration | 2 | Healthcare delivery, nursing management and administrative responsibilities. |
NURS 22432 — Clinical Experience I | 2 | Application of medical-surgical nursing care with individuals and families. |
NURS 33433 — Clinical Experience II | 3 | Further supervised medical-surgical practice with individuals and families. |
NURS 33453 — Clinical Experience III | 3 | Nursing practice across a variety of specialty settings. |
NURS 44433 — Clinical Experience IV | 3 | Continued application of medical-surgical nursing knowledge in clinical care. |
NURS 44456 — Clinical Experience V | 6 | Planning, providing and evaluating care for individuals, families, groups and populations. |
NURS 44466 — Clinical Experience VI | 6 | Further integration of nursing knowledge in care planning, delivery and evaluation. |
Total: 67 nursing credits. The practicum and clinical courses give students opportunities to apply theory in patient care; the six clinical experiences are required courses, not optional placements. See Clinical Experience and Travel below for the combined lab, clinical and field hours and attendance expectations.
Clinical Experience and Travel
A-State reports 750 combined lab, clinical and field hours. Clinical days are assigned in advance, with 12-hour days beginning in the second term; students should not assume they can choose their own weekend schedule.
Primary placements are in Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. Some Memphis experiences may be available later in the program. Community projects also take place in Jonesboro and surrounding areas, so they should not be assumed to be available near an out-of-state student’s home.
Tuition and Costs
The university publishes $20,234 in nursing-core tuition, based on 67 credits at $302 per credit. The same published rate applies to U.S. residents regardless of their home state.
Additional costs may include:
- Kaplan testing and NCLEX preparation resources.
- Textbooks and course or clinical laboratory charges.
- Uniforms, badges, CPR, immunizations, screening and liability insurance.
- NCLEX and licensure charges.
- Travel, lodging and any additional prerequisite courses.
The university’s tuition footnote excludes these additional program expenses. The published tuition is not an all-inclusive attendance budget, and rates may change before all coursework is completed.
Other Nursing Programs
A-State also offers traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways, graduate nursing programs and a DNP. These have different eligibility requirements from the prelicensure ABSN.