Last Updated: October 9, 2026
Program Overview
Indiana State’s 15-month second-degree nursing track combines mostly online theory with campus skills work and clinical experience in Indiana.
Indiana State University offers an Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing for graduates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. The full-time sequence spans four consecutive terms: summer, fall, spring and summer, after prerequisite requirements are met.
The hybrid format can reduce travel for lectures, but students still need regular access to campus and clinical sites. The program prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN and beginning registered-nurse practice; graduation alone does not confer an RN license.
Program Format and Attendance
Most nursing theory is delivered asynchronously online. Required skills learning occurs on campus in Terre Haute, and all direct clinical experiences take place in Indiana. Indiana residency is not required, although the school recommends living near campus to manage attendance and travel.
An online theory component does not make the program fully remote. Applicants living outside Indiana should check the university’s authorization to enroll students from their state and discuss attendance requirements before applying. Clinical assignments determine additional travel needs.
Accreditation and State Approval
Indiana State’s BSN is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. The university holds institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Admissions Requirements
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Earn at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA in the required prerequisite courses and a 2.50 GPA in required science courses.
- Complete the required cognate courses with C or better; prerequisite coursework must fall within the school’s ten-year recency rule.
- Submit the accelerated-track application and required academic records for review.
- Provide an approved national criminal background check performed within seven months of the application deadline.
The school’s accelerated-track admission policy distinguishes admission from progression: 2.25 is an overall progression and graduation GPA requirement, not the accelerated admission minimum. Meeting minimum grades does not guarantee a seat.
Application Timing and Starts
The annual application deadline is March 15 for a nursing sequence beginning in mid-May. The application guidance gives first consideration to applicants whose prerequisites are complete.
Applicants still enrolled in prerequisites may be considered if places remain, with a final decision after grades are available. This can leave little time before the May start. Plan prerequisite completion and transcript submission early rather than assuming a conditional place is guaranteed.
Prerequisites
The admission policy identifies nine cognate subjects. Approved equivalents and laboratory components should be confirmed with nursing admissions before enrolling elsewhere.
- Anatomy with laboratory — BIO 231/L or ATTR 210/L.
- Physiology — BIO 241/L or the approved PE 220/L equivalent.
- Microbiology — BIO 274/L.
- Pathophysiology — BIO 412 or ATTR 473.
- Chemistry — CHEM 100/L or higher.
- General psychology — PSY 101.
- Human development — EPSY 221 or PSY 266.
- Nutrition — AHS 201.
- Statistics — AHS 240, MATH 241 or an approved equivalent.
Curriculum
The university’s linked degree map is labeled 2022–23. It provides the following 53-credit nursing sequence as a published planning example. Its term structure explains the accelerated pathway, but students should obtain the current cohort plan; the current admission policy governs eligibility.
First Summer — 12 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURC 209 — Essential Nursing Practice | 5 | Foundational nursing skills, safety, care planning and beginning clinical practice. |
NURC 228 — Clinical Pharmacology | 3 | Medication actions, safe administration, patient education and nursing responsibilities. |
NURC 304 — Comprehensive Health Assessment | 4 | Health histories and systematic physical and psychosocial assessment. |
Fall — 14 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURC 330 — Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family | 3 | Maternal, newborn and family care through pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery. |
NURC 338 — Mental Health Nursing | 4 | Therapeutic communication, mental-health assessment and care of individuals with psychiatric needs. |
NURC 350 — Adult Health Nursing I | 7 | Clinical reasoning and nursing care for adults with common health problems. |
Spring — 14 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURC 322 — Research and Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practice | 3 | Nursing theory, research appraisal and evidence used to guide professional practice. |
NURC 328 — Nursing Care of the Child and Family | 3 | Developmentally appropriate pediatric care and partnership with families. |
NURC 380 — Adult Health Nursing II | 8 | More complex adult health conditions, care coordination and clinical decision-making. |
Final Summer — 13 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURC 444 — Community Health Nursing | 4 | Population assessment, prevention, health promotion and community nursing interventions. |
NURC 470 — Nursing Leadership | 3 | Leadership, delegation, teamwork and management of nursing care. |
NURC 484 — Reflective Nursing Practice | 3 | Integration of nursing knowledge, professional reflection and transition toward practice. |
NURC 490 — Licensure Preparation | 3 | Review and application of nursing knowledge for the NCLEX-RN. |
Clinical Experience and Progression
Nursing courses integrate skills practice and supervised care across adult, family, mental-health and community settings. The theory component is online, while hands-on requirements remain in Indiana; students should budget for transportation and assigned-site attendance.
The accelerated-track policy requires at least C in nursing theory, satisfactory clinical performance and a 2.25 overall GPA for progression and graduation. Students must satisfy both academic and clinical requirements; an acceptable overall GPA does not replace successful completion of an individual course.
Tuition and Costs
The 2026–27 undergraduate tuition schedule charges Indiana residents $4,989 per term for 12–18 credits. Applying that rate to all four nursing terms in the published example gives $19,956 in estimated base tuition. This is a calculation, not a university-issued cohort quote.
- Illustrative Indiana-resident tuition: 4 × $4,989 = $19,956.
- Eligible out-of-state online rate: 4 × $6,985 = $27,940, if the university confirms that classification for this hybrid track.
- Standard nonresident rate: 4 × $11,641 = $46,564.
These examples hold 2026–27 rates constant across the four terms; a cohort extending into a later academic year may face different rates. The university also lists a $60 online delivery fee per undergraduate online course. Nursing, clinical and applicable student fees, prerequisite courses, books, supplies, health compliance, transportation and living expenses are additional.
Ask student accounts to confirm residency classification, the current course plan and a term-by-term total before comparing offers. Base tuition alone does not establish which program is the least expensive overall.
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