Last Updated: October 2, 2026
Program Overview
A 16-month hybrid ABSN with a fall start, 60 nursing credits and a fixed-tuition model for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Goodwin University’s full-time ABSN combines online and campus learning in East Hartford with simulation and clinical placements. Four semesters carry 14–16 nursing credits each. The university awards 38 credits for the prior degree; 22 prerequisite credits and 60 nursing credits complete the 120-credit degree.
The Fall 2027 application cautions that classes may run Monday–Saturday during the day or evening, while clinical assignments can occur any day of the week. Hybrid delivery does not remove the need for local attendance.
Prerequisites
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, without rounding, from a previous bachelor’s degree or 12 credits completed at Goodwin. The six prerequisites total 22 credits:
- Anatomy and Physiology I with lab — 4 credits, C+ or better, within five years.
- Anatomy and Physiology II with lab — 4 credits, C+ or better, within five years.
- Microbiology with lab — 4 credits, C+ or better, within ten years.
- Chemistry — 4 credits, C or better.
- Lifespan Development — 3 credits, C or better.
- Statistics — 3 credits, C or better.
Transfer courses must meet Goodwin equivalency and grade requirements. The general requirements page says prerequisites must be complete before applying, but the specific Fall 2027 application permits the in-progress route described below.
Admissions
Applicants first apply to Goodwin and then submit the ABSN application with official transcripts, a 500-word nursing-motivation essay, two employer/professor recommendations and an ATI TEAS score of at least 58.7%. Interviews follow each application deadline. Selection is competitive and uses a point system; meeting minimums does not guarantee a seat.
- Fall 2027 priority deadline: December 31, 2026, for applicants meeting all eligibility requirements; decisions are scheduled by February 13, 2027.
- Fall 2027 in-progress deadline: May 31, 2027, including students finishing their degree or prerequisites by the end of spring 2027; decisions are expected in mid-July.
The current application packet permits one TEAS test per application cycle, uses the first submitted score if multiple tests are taken in the same cycle, and permits up to four application attempts. TEAS scores must reach Goodwin by the application deadline.
Accepted students pay a $500 nonrefundable tuition deposit, applied toward tuition when they start. Goodwin can review transfer credit quickly, but official transcripts remain part of the ABSN application.
Curriculum
The September 2026 program information sheet lists the following 60-credit nursing sequence. It updates several course numbers used in older materials while retaining the four-semester, 15/14/15/16-credit structure. Course-topic summaries below draw on Goodwin’s 2022–23 nursing catalog; consult the current catalog and course syllabi for the latest content.
Required Courses and Credits
First fall — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 208 — Health Assessment and Skills Development | 6 | Teaches holistic health assessment techniques for diverse clients across the lifespan. Focuses on care planning, communication, and patient safety. |
NUR 302 — Foundations of the Nursing Profession | 3 | Explores the nurse’s role through theoretical and evidence-based perspectives, fostering professional identity and communication skills. |
NUR 308 — Principles of Pathophysiology | 3 | Examines disease mechanisms and their effects on the body, integrating clinical judgment and care planning. |
NUR 376 — Pharmacology for Nurses | 3 | Covers essential pharmacology concepts, emphasizing medication safety and drug impacts across human body systems. |
Spring — 14 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 217 — The Wellness Continuum for Adults I | 6 | Focuses on caring for adults with basic physical and psychological health issues, integrating nutrition, pharmacotherapy, and ethics. |
NUR 323 — Mental Health Nursing | 5 | Addresses psychiatric disorders and patient-centered care, emphasizing biological and environmental factors affecting mental health. |
NUR 313 — Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 | Introduces research methods and evidence-based practice to enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. |
Summer — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 307 — The Wellness Continuum II | 7 | Covers care for adults with acute and chronic health conditions, focusing on applying the nursing process to promote wellness. |
NUR 338 — The Wellness Continuum for Children and Families | 3 | Introduces child and family-centered care, emphasizing developmental stages and community-based resources. |
NUR 433 — Community and Public Health Nursing | 5 | Focuses on public health and community partnerships to protect and promote health locally and globally. |
Second fall — 16 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 438 — The Wellness Continuum for Women, Newborns, and Families | 4 | Covers family-centered care for maternal and newborn health, emphasizing wellness promotion and ethical considerations. |
NUR 452 — Caring for Adults with Complex Health Alterations | 9 | Integrates advanced nursing skills in managing adults with severe health issues, focusing on critical thinking and care prioritization. |
NUR 456 — Nursing Leadership | 3 | Develops leadership skills and professional growth, emphasizing advocacy, complex care management, and lifelong learning. |
NUR 307 runs for 15 weeks; NUR 338 and NUR 433 are seven-week courses in the first and second summer sessions respectively. Nursing courses require C+ (77%) or higher for progression, and both classroom and clinical components must be passed.
Clinical Experience
Simulation, skills practice and debriefing prepare students for clinical learning across adult, mental-health, child/family, maternal-newborn and community settings. Clinical assignments may occur during the day or evening on any day of the week.
Accepted students need a medical examination, required immunizations, annual influenza vaccination, healthcare-provider CPR through the American Heart Association or professional-rescuer CPR through the Red Cross, malpractice insurance and nursing-student association membership. The handbook also requires health-insurance documentation and current tuberculosis clearance.
A background check and drug screen are required. Initial screening is covered by program fees, but repeat or expanded screening can cost extra, including checks for additional states, surnames or certain pediatric placements. When an agency declines a student following screening, Goodwin states it will try two alternative placements; if neither accepts the student, progression is not possible. See the requirements page and ABSN handbook.
Tuition
Goodwin’s current tuition page lists $13,254 per ABSN semester. Across the four-semester plan, that is $53,016 in calculated tuition at the published rate. It is not a full cost-of-attendance estimate.
Goodwin describes a fixed-tuition model under which students learn their program cost before starting. Obtain the cohort’s written tuition and fee schedule to confirm what is included. Prerequisite courses, TEAS and score submission, CPR, insurance, association membership, additional screening, uniforms, transportation and living expenses may require a separate budget. The $500 enrollment deposit is credited toward tuition and should not be counted twice.
Ask financial aid about active scholarships, grants, loans and veteran benefits, including any currently funded Connecticut Health Horizons awards.
Accreditation and Outcomes
Goodwin’s current ABSN program page states that the program is approved and fully compliant with the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing.
The baccalaureate nursing program, including ABSN and RN-to-BSN, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Goodwin reports accreditation renewed through December 31, 2031, with its next evaluation planned for spring 2031. ABSN began in fall 2019.
The published program outcomes align with the AACN’s 2021 Essentials and include clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, patient safety, population health, informatics and professional leadership. Graduates may apply for the NCLEX-RN and licensure; accreditation and educational completion do not guarantee licensure.
Additional Opportunities
Goodwin offers graduate advanced-practice nursing pathways, including family nurse practitioner and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner options. Alumni and career services can support further study and career planning; graduate programs have separate admission requirements.