Program Overview
Clinical depth and a direct line into a regional health system — Cox College’s 16-month BSN Accelerated Track is deeply integrated with the CoxHealth system, offering clinical placements and a hiring pipeline into CoxHealth, plus more than 1,000 clinical hours, well above the typical accelerated program.
Cox College offers a BSN Accelerated Track for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. The track runs as a full-time cohort that starts in the spring semester and finishes in about 16 months, inclusive of three semesters and one summer session. The degree totals 120 semester credits, with 26 credits awarded for the prior degree, plus 31 general education credits and 63 nursing credits completed in the program.
Founded in 1907 and now deeply integrated with the CoxHealth system, Cox College places students at CoxHealth hospitals and nearby clinics and has long served as a direct pipeline into the CoxHealth network.
Students complete over 1,000 clinical hours during the program, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate (BSN) and master’s (MSN) nursing programs at Cox College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the program is approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Cox College is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The college also participates in state authorization through NC-SARA for distance learning, with state licensure rules applying by location. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Summary
Cox College uses a structured accelerated-track admission process that centers on prerequisite completion, GPA standards, TEAS performance, and clinical compliance screening. The nursing application follows institutional admission and uses a deadline-driven cohort review.
Key admission requirements
- Prior baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or eligible under an articulation agreement)
- 3.0 cumulative GPA (required general education/prerequisite courses) with C or better in required prerequisites
- Core science courses completed before entry: Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pathophysiology
- 2.5 minimum core science GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Official college application with all official transcripts
- Nursing program application submitted by September 1 for spring entry
- Interview may be required by nursing leadership and faculty
TEAS and admission points
- TEAS score of 80%+ earns the top admission points tier
- TEAS score bands are used in an admissions formula alongside GPA and science GPA
Screening and compliance
- A nonrefundable acceptance fee covers background check and drug screen
- A positive drug screen or an adverse background result can remove program eligibility
- Program eligibility can change if final prerequisite grades lower the 3.0 cumulative or 2.5 science GPA minimums
Transfer credit notes
- The program awards 26 credits for a prior bachelor’s degree
- Program-course transfers may be reviewed, and transfer nursing coursework depends on evaluation rules
Prerequisite Courses
The accelerated track requires completion of the general education and core science prerequisites before the first nursing course, with recency rules for select science courses.
- Government, may be required depending on plan (GOVT 101)
- Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHEM 103)
- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101)
- Human Anatomy (BIOL 205)
- Human Physiology (BIOL 206)
- Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 101)
- Microbiology (BIOL 208)
- Statistics (MATH 227)
- Lifespan Development (PSYC 230)
- Pathophysiology (BIOL 382)
Curriculum
The accelerated plan combines general education prerequisites with a sequenced nursing core that moves from foundations and assessment into specialty and complex-care nursing. The nursing course plan includes adult medical-surgical courses across multiple levels, maternal-child content, mental health nursing, leadership, research, community/public health, and a capstone.
NRSI 202 Foundations of Professional Nursing
Introduces the core principles, values, and roles of professional nursing, emphasizing ethical practice, critical thinking, and evidence-based care.
NRSI 206 Health Assessment
Covers comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment techniques across the lifespan to support clinical decision-making.
NRSI 212 Mental Health/Illness Nursing Concepts
Focuses on mental health principles, psychiatric disorders, and therapeutic communication strategies for patient-centered psychiatric nursing care.
NRSI 215 Pharmacological Basis of Nursing Practice
Explores pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safe medication administration across diverse patient populations.
NRSI 280 Adult Medical Surgical Nursing I
Introduces nursing care for adults experiencing acute and chronic health conditions, with a focus on clinical reasoning and foundational skills.
NRSI 300 Nursing Informatics
Examines the use of technology and data systems in nursing to enhance patient care, safety, and healthcare delivery efficiency.
NRSI 303 Professional Nursing Concepts
Explores advanced nursing roles, interprofessional collaboration, and current issues impacting the nursing profession and healthcare systems.
NRSI 304 Childbearing Families
Covers the nursing care of women and newborns during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum, including complications and family dynamics.
NRSI 305 Childrearing Families
Focuses on growth, development, and nursing care of children from infancy through adolescence within the context of family-centered care.
NRSI 309 Fundamentals of Gerontology
Introduces the principles of geriatric nursing and the care needs of older adults, including health promotion and chronic illness management.
NRSI 325 Adult Medical Surgical Nursing II
Builds upon prior knowledge to manage complex adult health conditions and integrate advanced clinical judgment and interventions.
NRSI 335 Adult Medical Surgical Nursing III
Emphasizes critical care concepts and high-acuity adult patient management, including emergency and intensive care nursing.
NRSI 345 Adult Medical Surgical Nursing IV
Focuses on complex multisystem disorders and transitioning patients across the healthcare continuum.
NRSI 400 Theories and Research in Nursing
Analyzes nursing theories and research methodologies to guide evidence-based practice and improve patient outcomes.
NRSI 402 Management and Leadership in Nursing
Prepares students for leadership roles in nursing by examining healthcare policy, team coordination, resource management, and decision-making.
NRSI 404 Community and Public Health Nursing
Explores population-focused nursing care, health promotion, and disease prevention in diverse community settings.
NRSI 410 Nursing Capstone
Serves as the culminating course where students synthesize knowledge, apply clinical reasoning, and complete a final project demonstrating readiness for professional practice.
More detail is available in the Cox College catalog.
Clinicals
The accelerated track includes clinical and skills-based learning embedded in several nursing courses, with students completing over 1,000 clinical hours across the program — substantially more than many accelerated programs. Clinical placements occur at CoxHealth hospitals and nearby clinics.
The program uses required compliance steps (drug screening and background clearance) that support clinical eligibility before classes and clinicals begin, and additional clinical-site requirements can apply by facility policy.
Tuition
Estimated total cost is approximately $52,595, based on published per-credit tuition and required per-credit student services fees:
- General education credits: 31 × $435 = $13,485
- Nursing credits: 63 × $440 = $27,720
- Tuition subtotal (94 credits) = $41,205
- Student Services Fee: 94 × $110 = $10,340
- Application fee: $50; Acceptance/Drug Test/Background fee: $175; ATI Complete Package: $825
Confirm current figures via the official tuition and fees page.