Program Overview
Exceptional value and outcomes at the nation’s largest HBCU — North Carolina A&T is the state’s most affordable nursing school, and its intensive 12-month block-format ABSN pairs that affordability with a 91% three-year NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement for graduates.
North Carolina A&T State University’s Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Entry Option is designed for second-degree students who are high achievers seeking careers as professional registered nurses, completing the degree in 12 intensive months from January to December. The School of Nursing, founded in 1953, is housed at the nation’s largest historically Black university and holds the distinction of being North Carolina’s most affordable nursing school, reporting a 91% three-year NCLEX passage rate and 100% job placement.
The curriculum is delivered in block format requiring full-time study Monday through Friday (with possible nights and weekends), using state-of-the-art technology at the Union Square campus in Greensboro.
Students are strongly advised not to work during the program year to focus on rigorous coursework and NCLEX-RN preparation.
Accreditation & Outcomes
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at North Carolina A&T State University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. NC A&T is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program reports strong outcomes, including a 91% three-year NCLEX-RN passage rate and 100% job placement for graduates. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission to the ABSN Entry Option is highly competitive and dependent on the qualifications within the applicant pool. All prerequisites must be completed at the time of application.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum graduating cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a C or better, preferably on the first attempt
- TEAS Test results that meet or exceed the national mean (may be retaken until the benchmark is met)
- CNA I listing with the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry
- A writing sample, with a possible interview for further admission consideration
- After admission: proof of current immunizations, a negative drug screen, and a background check
The process has two parts: (1) submit an undergraduate application to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a second-degree student (selecting “Nursing (Accelerated BSN)” as the major) with official transcripts from every school attended, then (2) complete the ABSN Entry Option internal application to the School of Nursing. The undergraduate application period runs August 1 to October 1 for the January start.
Curriculum
The ABSN Entry Option requires 124 total semester hours, including transfer credits from the first bachelor’s degree plus 64 nursing major credits completed over three semesters in block format. The curriculum emphasizes adult health, pathophysiology, pharmacology, maternal-child health, mental health, community health, leadership, and evidence-based practice.
NURS 320 – Health Assessment (3 credits)
This course prepares students to complete patient-centered physical assessments using a holistic approach. Students practice assessment skills in lab and/or clinical settings and use findings to make basic clinical judgments.
NURS 325 – Foundations of Professional Nursing (5 credits)
This course introduces core concepts of professional, evidence-based nursing practice. Students learn basic human needs, the nursing process, and foundational skills for safe patient-centered care. A lab component supports skill practice and competency checks.
NURS 335 – Pharmacology in Nursing (3 credits)
This course covers the nurse’s role in safe medication administration and monitoring. Students study major medication groups and how drug effects vary across populations. Students also use technology resources and team communication to support quality care.
NURS 356 – Adult Health (7 credits)
This course builds nursing skills for adults with acute and chronic illness. Students address psychosocial, physiological, and spiritual needs while strengthening clinical judgment. Theory and clinical work emphasize evidence-based care and interprofessional teamwork.
NURS 358 – Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course explains disease processes that guide nursing care decisions. Students learn to distinguish normal from abnormal function and identify causes of illness changes across the lifespan. The course supports evidence-based, patient-centered care planning.
NURS 366 – Contemporary Issues in Nursing (3 credits)
This course reviews current trends and challenges in nursing and health care. Students examine social and cultural factors that affect care and the nurse’s professional role. Content focuses on topics shaping modern practice.
NURS 361 – Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
This course introduces the research process and how evidence supports nursing practice. Students review the history of nursing research and its link to current issues. Students critique studies for quality, ethics, and clinical use.
NURS 413 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4 credits)
This course introduces nursing care for individuals and families with mental health needs across the lifespan. Clinical learning focuses on therapeutic care planning, teamwork, and evidence-based practice. Students also use informatics tools to support patient-centered care.
NURS 419 – Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Women’s Health (4 credits)
This course covers care for women, newborns, and childbearing families. Students study physiologic and psychologic adaptations during pregnancy and related transitions. Clinical work emphasizes evidence-based care, technology use, and team-based practice.
NURS 421 – Nursing Care of the Childrearing Family and Child and Adolescent Health (4 credits)
This course develops family-centered nursing care from infancy through adolescence. Students focus on growth, development, and age-specific health needs. Clinical experiences support evidence-based care and interprofessional collaboration.
NURS 464 – Leadership and Management (4 credits)
This course teaches leadership and management skills for nursing in changing care settings. Students study quality improvement, safety, change, finance, and policy factors. A precepted practicum supports leadership development and transition to practice.
NURS 467 – Nursing Informatics: Application of Patient Care Technology (3 credits)
This course develops skills in information management and patient care technologies. Students use tools that support safe, effective, evidence-based care. Lab experiences provide hands-on practice with common clinical technologies.
NURS 365 – Collaborative Interprofessional Practice (3 credits)
This course focuses on team-based care and shared professional roles. Students practice communication skills that support collaboration and better outcomes. Students also reflect on values and expectations in interprofessional settings.
NURS 424 – Advanced Adult Health (8 credits)
This course advances adult care skills for complex acute and chronic conditions. Students strengthen critical thinking through evidence-based decision-making in clinical settings. Students deliver patient-centered care as part of interprofessional teams.
NURS 458 – Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This capstone course provides focused patient care experiences to support entry-level readiness. Students apply leadership skills and evidence-based knowledge in varied settings. Faculty-led seminars reinforce transition-to-practice topics.
NURS 462 – Community Health Nursing (4 credits)
This course addresses health needs of individuals, families, and communities. Students use the nursing process to promote health and support recovery. Students also learn basic epidemiology concepts for high-risk groups and population study.
NURS 466 – Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (0 credits)
This course supports second-degree students as they prepare for professional nursing roles. Students examine issues that affect practice and strengthen critical thinking and decision-making. Students also work on professional skill building and portfolio development.
The program totals 64 nursing credits and 124 total program credits (including transfer credits from the first degree). More detail is available in the NC A&T ABSN catalog.
Clinical Training
Clinical, lab, and classroom experiences are integrated throughout the block-format curriculum, using state-of-the-art simulation and skills technology at the Union Square campus and clinical placements in the Greensboro area. The intensive, full-time structure builds clinical judgment progressively across the three semesters, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN and entry-level practice.
Tuition
North Carolina A&T holds the distinction of being North Carolina’s most affordable nursing school. For the 2025-2026 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees total approximately $6,813 for NC residents and $21,543 for out-of-state students annually. (Total cost of attendance figures that include housing, food, books, and personal expenses are higher.) Financial aid is available for qualifying students who complete the FAFSA.
Confirm current figures via the official NC A&T tuition and aid page.
Other Nursing Pathways
NC A&T’s School of Nursing also offers a traditional four-year BSN and an online RN-to-BSN completion option, all CCNE-accredited.