Program Overview
One of the most affordable online accelerated BSNs in the country — primarily online coursework with integrated clinical placement near the student’s home, plus two hands-on residencies in Cleveland.
Cleveland State University’s online Accelerated BSN pairs a nationally competitive price with the flexibility of online delivery: in-state tuition runs about $21,684, and even with fees the all-in cost stays well below most accelerated programs. Built for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s or master’s degree, the full-time program packs 69 credits into four semesters (about 16 months).
Coursework is primarily online and asynchronous, with two on-campus residencies at CSU’s nursing resource laboratory in downtown Cleveland for hands-on skill-building.
A dedicated clinical placement team arranges rotations near each student’s home, so learners aren’t tied to one location.
CSU backs the program with NCLEX preparation built throughout (including ATI and Kaplan tools), and 90.91% of its online ABSN graduates passed the NCLEX on the first attempt in 2025.
Accreditation and Outcomes
The baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice nursing programs at Cleveland State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the university is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the largest regional accreditor in the U.S. Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN, with a 90.91% first-attempt pass rate in 2025.
Admission and Acceptance
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses. Applicants submit a resume, an essay, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all previous institutions. There is no application fee. The program has two intakes per year (fall and spring); confirm current application deadlines with the school.
Prerequisite Courses
Required prerequisites (CSU equivalents shown) include:
Anatomy & Physiology I w/lab (BIO 266/267)
Introduces human anatomy and physiology using a systems-based approach. Covers foundational concepts in body structure and function.
Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab (BIO 268/269)
Continues the study of human anatomy and physiology, focusing on the interrelationships between body systems and their physiological functions.
Chemistry I w/lab (CHM 251/256)
Covers fundamental chemistry principles, including atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, equilibrium, and gas laws. Designed for students preparing for health sciences.
Chemistry II w/lab (CHM 252/257)
Focuses on organic and biological chemistry with applications in health sciences, emphasizing biochemical reactions and their role in human physiology.
Microbiology w/lab (BIO 264/265)
Introduces microbiology and immunology, including the study of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses, and their impact on human health.
Statistics (MTH 147)
Covers statistical methods, probability, hypothesis testing, and data interpretation with applications in health sciences and research.
Psychology (PSY 101)
Provides an overview of psychology, covering research methods, brain function, perception, learning, memory, development, personality, mental health, and social behavior.
Health Care Ethics (PHL 240)
Examines major ethical theories and bioethical principles, applying them to clinical practice and healthcare decision-making.
Curriculum
The 69-credit ABSN curriculum runs across four semesters, blending didactic nursing courses with paired clinical and lab experiences. Cleveland State publishes the following course descriptions:
NUR 200 Theory and Professional Practice (2 credits)
Introduces the purpose of theory development in nursing, selected nursing models, and the philosophy and conceptual framework of the CSU School of Nursing. Explores attributes, values, nursing history, and ethics that support professional nursing practice, with emphasis on facilitative and therapeutic communication and appreciation of cultural diversity. Includes a writing-across-the-curriculum assignment.
NUR 218 Nursing Pharmacology (3 credits)
Introduces the various classifications of drugs used in the care of clients experiencing stressors, with emphasis on nursing implications.
NUR 310 Nursing Research (2 credits)
Introduces the research process and the contributions of research to the improvement of nursing practice. Focuses on critical analysis and interpretation of research reports and strategies for implementing research findings.
NUR 300 Nursing Leadership & Management (2 credits)
Focuses on leadership and management theories and concepts as they relate to nursing practice and care delivery in community-based settings. Emphasizes change theory and quality-assurance concepts and the development of leader/change-agent and consultant/collaborator roles.
Program of Study (core ABSN courses)
Alongside the courses above, the ABSN sequence includes:
- NUR 215 / 216 – Fundamentals of Nursing Practice and Clinical
- NUR 219 – Pathophysiology for Nurses
- NUR 220 / 221 – Health Assessment and Lab
- NUR 225 / 226 – Medical Surgical Nursing I and Clinical
- NUR 305 / 306 – Medical Surgical Nursing II and Clinical
- NUR 415 / 416 – Medical Surgical Nursing III and Clinical
- NUR 312 / 313 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and Clinical
- NUR 325 / 326 – Pediatric Nursing and Clinical
- NUR 380 / 382 – Maternal Newborn Nursing and Clinical
- NUR 412 / 414 – Community Health Nursing and Clinical
- NUR 405 – Gerontological Nursing
- NUR 334 – End of Life and Palliative Care
- NUR 338 – Genetics and Genomics in Nursing Care
- NUR 348 – Applied Informatics and Clinical Data Analytics
- NUR 361 – Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing Care Delivery
- NUR 404 – Diversity and Inclusion in Nursing
- NUR 418 – Primary Preventive Strategies for Communities
- NUR 425 – Professional Role Preparation
- NUR 420 / 470 – Professional Role Practicum / Nursing Capstone
More curriculum detail is available in the Cleveland State course catalog.
Clinical Experience
Students complete 734 clinical hours and 201 lab hours. A dedicated clinical placement team identifies a suitable site within reasonable distance of each student’s home and coordinates preceptor details, so students focus on learning rather than arranging their own placements.
Rotations run hand in hand with the nursing courses under preceptor supervision and indirect CSU faculty oversight, and two on-campus residencies at the downtown Cleveland nursing resource laboratory provide face-to-face skills practice.
Plan for roughly 50-60 hours per week across asynchronous coursework, assessed activities, and clinical placement.
Tuition
As of the 2025-26 rates, in-state students pay roughly $21,684 in tuition ($301.17-$338.81 per credit) plus about $8,432 in fees, for an all-in total near $30,116. Out-of-state students pay about $30,884.64 in tuition ($428.95-$482.57 per credit) plus the same $8,432 in fees. CSU markets its rates as among the most affordable nationally, and there is no application fee.
Rates are subject to change; see the official tuition and fees page for current figures, and the program’s financial aid resources for funding options.
Other Programs Offered
Beyond the ABSN, Cleveland State University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), both CCNE-accredited, for continued professional development.