Program Overview
Three Campuses. Three Entry Points. One of Tennessee’s Most Affordable BSN Programs.
ETSU’s Continuous Enrolled BSN does something most accelerated nursing programs don’t — it staggers admissions across three campuses so a qualified applicant has multiple entry opportunities throughout the year rather than waiting for a single annual cohort. Johnson City admits in summer, Kingsport in spring, and Sevierville in fall.
For Tennessee residents, the price is equally distinctive: roughly $5,497 per semester puts total nursing tuition under $28,000 for the five-semester sequence. That is less than half the cost of most private ABSN programs in the region.
Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree bypass general education requirements entirely and proceed directly into the nursing curriculum.
NCLEX first-time pass rates have held between 90–93% across 2023–2025.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission is competitive and space-limited — meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee a seat. The Academic Standards Committee evaluates each application holistically, and mandatory orientation attendance is non-negotiable. Students denied clinical access by a facility partner cannot be redirected to alternative sites, making background clearance a practical prerequisite for program completion.
Academic requirements — all must be met:
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative college-level GPA (as calculated by ETSU, excluding developmental coursework)
- Minimum 2.75 GPA across all prerequisite courses
- All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 5 years of nursing program admission — no exceptions except for RN-to-BSN students
- Grade of C or better in every prerequisite course — grades of C- or below may be repeated only once; withdrawals (W) and withdrawal failures (WF) count as unsuccessful attempts
Six required prerequisite courses — all must be complete before nursing coursework begins:
- General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 1110/1111, 4 cr.)
- Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (HSCI 2010/2011, 4 cr.)
- Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (HSCI 2020/2021, 4 cr.)
- Introduction to Microbiology with lab (HSCI 2230/2231, 4 cr.)
- Probability and Statistics (MATH 1530, 3 cr.)
- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1310, 3 cr.)
Students with a completed bachelor’s degree:
- Exempt from ETSU general education requirements by virtue of prior degree
- Must still complete all six prerequisite courses or verified equivalents
- General education requirements are evaluated on a case-by-case basis for prior degree holders
ATI TEAS Exam:
- Minimum overall score of 65% required
- Must have been taken within 2 years of application date
- Maximum two attempts allowed; 30-day waiting period required between attempts
Application process:
- Apply to ETSU as an HPNU – Nursing Interest major
- Complete all prerequisite courses (or document equivalents via transfer evaluation)
- Submit TEAS scores electronically with the application
- Attend mandatory nursing program orientation — held 1–2 weeks before the semester starts; full attendance required; absence without extraordinary circumstances forfeits admission
Post-acceptance clinical requirements (all at student expense):
- Criminal background check from a specified vendor — clinical partner facilities make final placement decisions independent of the College of Nursing
- Urine drug screen
- Immunizations and physical health documentation per clinical agency requirements
- CPR/BLS certification
- Proof of health insurance and all clinical health requirements must be maintained throughout enrollment
Progression standards:
- Minimum grade of C required in every nursing course (didactic and clinical)
- 75% average on all exams within a didactic course must be achieved before assignment points are factored into the final grade
- Failure in two or more required nursing courses results in automatic dismissal
- Two or more withdrawals from nursing courses across the program results in automatic dismissal
Curriculum
Seventy-five nursing credit hours are distributed across five consecutive semesters. Every semester pairs theory courses with practicum or clinical components — students enter clinical settings from the first semester and progress through increasingly complex patient care scenarios through the final term.
Prerequisite Overview
All six prerequisites must be completed with a C or better, within 5 years of admission, before nursing coursework begins. Transfer course equivalencies are subject to faculty review for content, rigor, and assessment standards — advisors do not make equivalency determinations.
Five-semester nursing sequence (75 credit hours):
Semester 1
NRSE 2016 – Pathophysiology for Nursing
Examines disease processes and their impact on body systems, providing foundational knowledge for nursing practice.
NRSE 2020 – Introduction to Professional Nursing
Introduces the nursing profession, roles, and essential concepts for professional practice.
NRSE 2310 – Communication for Health Professionals
Develops effective communication skills for healthcare settings, emphasizing patient interaction and interprofessional collaboration.
NRSE 2350 – Patient Centered Care 1
Covers fundamental patient care principles and basic nursing interventions.
NRSE 2351 – Patient Centered Care 1 Practicum
Provides initial clinical experience applying basic patient care skills in healthcare settings.
Semester 2
NRSE 3010 – Pharmacology for Nursing
Explores pharmacological principles, medication administration, and nursing responsibilities in drug therapy.
NRSE 3350 – Nursing Informatics and Healthcare Systems
Examines technology applications in nursing practice and healthcare system operations.
NRSE 3500 – Patient Centered Care 2
Builds on foundational care concepts with more complex patient scenarios.
NRSE 3501 – Patient Centered Care 2 Practicum
Clinical application of intermediate patient care skills in diverse healthcare environments.
NRSE 3525 – Health Promotion and Research
Focuses on health promotion strategies and basic research principles for evidence-based practice.
Semester 3
NRSE 3090 – Care of Persons with Mental Illness
Covers theoretical foundations of psychiatric nursing and mental health care.
NRSE 3091 – Care of Persons with Mental Illness Practicum
Provides hands-on experience in psychiatric nursing, emphasizing safety, assessment, planning, and implementation of mental health care.
NRSE 3510 – Population, Community, and Public Health Nursing
Examines public health concepts, community-based care, and wellness promotion, with a focus on vulnerable populations and environmental factors.
NRSE 3540 – Adult Care 1
Covers nursing care for adults with acute and chronic illnesses, emphasizing safe and effective care delivery.
NRSE 3541 – Adult Care 1 Practicum
Provides clinical experience in acute care settings, focusing on adult patients with common illnesses and conditions.
Semester 4
NRSE 4550 – Adult Care 2
Explores aging-related changes and common illnesses in older adults, emphasizing health promotion and transition of care.
NRSE 4551 – Adult Care 2 Practicum
Applies geriatric nursing knowledge in healthcare settings, focusing on advocacy, health coaching, and managing co-morbidities.
NRSE 4561 – Clinical Care for Women, Childbearing Families, and Children
Focuses on nursing care for women, infants, and children, covering primary prevention, acute care, and chronic conditions.
NRSE 4570 – Childbearing Families and Reproductive Health
Addresses reproductive health and perinatal care, emphasizing risk assessment and strategies to reduce complications.
NRSE 4580 – Child Health Nursing
Covers health promotion and illness management in pediatric nursing, emphasizing developmental assessments and evidence-based interventions.
Semester 5
NRSE 4610 – Adult Care 3
Focuses on advanced medical-surgical nursing for adults with high-acuity and multi-system health conditions.
NRSE 4611 – Adult Care 3 Practicum
Provides advanced clinical experience in high-acuity settings, managing complex adult health conditions.
NRSE 4620 – Leadership and Professional Practice
Prepares students for professional nursing roles, focusing on leadership, ethics, and healthcare systems.
NRSE 4621 – Professional Practice Practicum
Capstone clinical experience emphasizing leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and transition to professional nursing practice.
Practicum credit hours increase progressively — from 3 credits in Semester 1 to 8 credits in the final semester — reflecting the escalating clinical intensity through the program. The final semester’s dual practicum structure (Adult Care 3 and Professional Practice) positions the capstone as both a clinical skills culmination and a leadership role transition experience.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog: ETSU Nursing BSN Catalog
Clinicals
Clinical practice begins in Semester 1 and runs through every subsequent term, with dedicated practicum courses paired with each major clinical specialty. ETSU’s clinical network extends across Northeast Tennessee and includes nurse-managed clinics that give students direct exposure to underserved populations — an unusually community-integrated model for a pre-licensure program.
- Clinical integration: Every semester includes at least one dedicated practicum course — clinical and theory advance simultaneously throughout all five terms
- Specialties covered: Patient-centered care (I and II), mental health, population and community health, adult health (I, II, and III), women’s and childbearing health, child health, and professional practice leadership
- Practicum credit escalation: 3 cr. (Semester 1) → 4 cr. (Semester 2) → 6 cr. (Semester 3) → 7 cr. (Semester 4) → 8 cr. (Semester 5)
- Simulation facility: Bishop Hall at the Johnson City campus is a purpose-built simulation space with state-of-the-art equipment — used throughout all semesters for skills development and scenario-based learning
- Nurse-managed clinics: ETSU nursing students provide hands-on care to underserved regional populations through college-operated clinics — a community health component built into the curriculum rather than offered as an optional experience
- Operation SILVER: ETSU students have the opportunity to complete all clinical training at the Mountain Home VA Hospital — a specialized military and veteran-focused clinical track
- Interprofessional Education: 100% of ETSU nursing students participate in IPE programs through the Center for Interprofessional Collaboration — collaborative training across health sciences disciplines
- Background check authority: Clinical partner facilities independently determine student eligibility for placement; the College of Nursing cannot override a facility denial or provide an alternative clinical site — denied students may be required to withdraw
Tuition
Estimated total program cost (in-state): ~$27,485
ETSU bills per semester at a flat rate for full-time enrollment. For second-degree students entering directly into the 5-semester nursing sequence, the calculation is straightforward.
| Status | Per Semester | × 5 Semesters | Approx. Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee resident | $5,497 | 5 | ~$27,485 |
Out-of-state national | $7,597 | 5 | ~$37,985 |
Out-of-state local (KY, VA, NC, SC, GA) | $5,947 | 5 | ~$29,735 |
Note: The per-semester rate shown is based on 15 credit hours. Semester 4 carries 16 credits and Semester 5 carries 14 credits — actual per-semester charges may vary slightly based on exact credit load billing. Summer semester rates may also differ from fall/spring; confirm with the ETSU Bursar for precise semester-by-semester breakdowns.
Additional costs beyond tuition include course fees (varies by class), clinical health requirements (background check, drug screen, immunizations — all student-funded), and housing/meal plan (~$10,500/year if living on campus). ETSU awarded over $18 million in institutional aid in 2024–25; 83% of students receive some form of financial assistance, and nearly half graduate without student debt.
At ~$27,485 for Tennessee residents, ETSU sits in the same low-cost public university tier as WVU (~$35,100) and significantly below any private ABSN in the region — while offering three campus options, staggered admissions, VA hospital clinical access, and consistently strong NCLEX outcomes.
See the official tuition page for more details: ETSU Cost & Aid
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at East Tennessee State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791. All nursing programs are approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243. ETSU is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN in Tennessee and all applicable jurisdictions.
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