An affordable, accessible path into nursing at a public HBCU — North Carolina Central University’s Accelerated BSN option pairs public-university tuition with military-friendly test-out opportunities for veterans and a distinctive global health perspectives course, completed full-time in about 14 to 15 months.
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) offers an Accelerated B.S.N. option for students who already hold a four-year degree in any major, targeting completion in 14 to 15 months using a full-time cohort format. As a public historically Black university in Durham, NCCU builds skills in clinical judgment, communication, leadership, and the technical procedures used in modern care settings.
Nursing Student Services (NSS) plays a central role: applicants must meet with an NSS advisor before applying, and NSS registers admitted students for upper-division nursing courses.
Accreditation
The nursing program at North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. NCCU is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and are prepared for roles across hospitals, community clinics, home health, and case management settings.
ABSN Admission Summary
NCCU uses a two-step process for the Accelerated B.S.N. option and expects strong grades in both overall coursework and math/science prerequisites. The program enforces strict deadlines and does not review incomplete applications.
Key Deadlines and Entry Term
- Entry term: Fall cohort
- Accelerated nursing application deadline: June 1 (submitted to Nursing Student Services)
- The program page also references a July 1 deadline for fall entry — confirm the current date with Nursing Student Services
- Decisions are typically issued by June; some applicants may receive a waitlist decision
Minimum Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in any major
- Overall GPA of 3.2 minimum for the first bachelor’s degree
- Math/science GPA of 3.2 minimum
- TEAS score of 70 minimum
- Demonstrated fitness for safe practice and English fluency (speaking, reading, and writing)
Prerequisites and Course Rules
- Required prerequisites include College Algebra/Trigonometry, Biology (cells), A&P I and II, Chemistry courses, Microbes/Disease, Nutrition, Psychology, and Statistics
- Minimum grade of C or higher in each prerequisite course
- Math/science courses expire within 5 years of the application deadline
- No more than two math/science failures permitted
- One math/science prerequisite may be retaken to count in the nursing GPA
Testing and Application Materials
- TEAS must be taken in person at the NCCU Nursing Building ($71 per attempt, paid on the day of testing)
- Up to two attempts per application cycle, with 30 days between attempts
- Application file: online application, official post-secondary transcripts, and attendance at one NSS information session
Curriculum
The curriculum includes foundational courses in adult health, mental health, community health, and specialized areas such as pediatrics and maternity nursing. Several foundational courses offer test-out or credit options for military-trained students.
NURS 2201 – Pathophysiology
This course examines disease processes with a focus on physiological changes and nursing diagnoses. Students explore the connection between pathophysiology and patient care. Military-trained students may be eligible to test out of this course.
NURS 3466 – Adult Health I
An introduction to caring for adults with acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan in primary and secondary care settings. Includes classroom learning and clinical experience.
NURS 3301 – Pharmacology in Nursing
Covers pharmacologic therapy and the nurse’s role in medication management and disease prevention. Military-trained students may qualify to test out.
NURS 4202 – Nursing Care of the Older Adult
Focuses on managing health issues related to aging, including prevention, diagnosis, and nursing care of age-related conditions in diverse older adults.
NURS 3462 – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
This course applies nursing theories to the care of patients with behavioral health challenges, primarily focusing on inpatient psychiatric care.
NURS 4410 – Nursing Research
Introduces the research process, covering basic statistics and how to critically evaluate research findings.
NURS 4002 – Nursing Care of the Child
Uses the nursing process to address the unique developmental and health needs of pediatric patients, covering acute, chronic, and preventive care.
NURS 4003 – Maternity Nursing
Focuses on the care of women and families during the childbearing process, addressing normal and altered functions through developmental and preventive concepts.
NURS 4102 – Community Health Nursing
Explores community health nursing principles, focusing on preventive care for individuals, families, and population groups.
NURS 4000 – Leadership and Management
Covers leadership and management concepts for nurses, including finance, ethics, healthcare policy, quality, and conflict resolution. Examines trends impacting professional nursing practice.
NURS 4203 – The Adult II
Focuses on caring for adults with complex health issues. Includes an internship to support the transition to professional nursing practice.
NURS 2020 – Health Assessment
Teaches comprehensive health assessment skills for nursing care across the lifespan. Military-trained students may have the option to opt out based on prior training.
NURS 2005 – Foundations for Adult Health
An introductory course in adult health and clinical skills, including simulations for basic medical-surgical nursing care. Military-trained students may receive credit based on their experience.
NURS 2006 – Foundations Lab
A lab-based course that complements foundational adult health, offering hands-on practice in essential nursing skills.
NURS 4205 – Global Health Perspectives
A hybrid course providing experiential learning in global healthcare settings under nurse mentorship, paired with lectures on global health issues.
NURS 4005 – Nursing Informatics OL
Focuses on using informatics in nursing practice, covering privacy, security, and the use of digital tools to manage health information.
NURS 4474 – Synthesis of Nursing Concepts
Utilizes practice tests and case studies to integrate and review key nursing concepts in preparation for the licensure examination.
More detail is available in the NCCU ABSN catalog.
Prerequisites
Required prerequisites include college-level courses in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and statistics, which must be completed before program entry.
MATH 1100 – College Algebra and Trigonometry I
Prepares non-science students for MATH 1210 and Calculus I. Topics include fractional expressions, exponents, radicals, linear and quadratic equations, functions, graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, and the binomial theorem.
BIOL 1300 – Molecules and Cell Function
Covers fundamental principles in biological sciences, focusing on biological molecules and their roles in cell organization and function. Includes three lecture hours and two lab hours weekly. Not applicable as an elective for biology degrees.
BIOL 1610 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Prerequisite: BIOL 1300. An in-depth study of human anatomy and physiology covering cells, tissues, and systems such as skeletal, muscular, and nervous. Three lecture hours and two lab hours per week; not applicable as an elective for biology degrees.
CHEM 1000 – Physical Science Related to Chemistry
Designed for non-science majors, this course introduces fundamental chemistry principles with a focus on their relevance in daily life, using lectures, demonstrations, and interactive exercises.
CHEM 1500 – Chemistry and Human Life
Prerequisite: CHEM 1000. Introduces concepts in organic and biochemistry relevant to healthcare, with three weekly lectures including demonstrations and interactive exercises.
BIOL 1620 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Prerequisite: BIOL 1610. Continues BIOL 1610 with an in-depth study of organ systems, including endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Three lecture hours and two lab hours per week; not applicable as an elective for biology degrees.
PSY 2100 – General Psychology
An introductory course covering psychological concepts such as motivation, emotion, perception, learning, and intelligence to understand individual behavior.
BIOL 2510 – Introduction to Microbes and Disease
Prerequisite: BIOL 1300. Focuses on microbiology with emphasis on medicine and disease, including microbe structure and immune system interactions. Not applicable as an elective for biology degrees.
NUTR 2200 – Introduction to Human Nutrition
Covers essential nutrients, their bodily functions, and food sources important to human health and well-being.
MATH 1110 – Elementary Statistics
Introduces statistical concepts with applications in data analysis, using technology like Excel to compute statistical measures and perform basic inference.
Clinicals
Students must demonstrate proficiency in selected clinical skills and meet performance expectations in clinical settings. Clinical assignments are not student-selected and can be located up to about one hour from campus.
- Expect clinical skills validation and supervised practice tied to upper-division nursing courses
- Students must meet “fitness for practice” documentation requirements set by the North Carolina Board of Nursing
- Immunization requirements must be met before enrollment, based on North Carolina law and university policy
Tuition
NCCU charges undergraduate per-credit-hour rates. For 2024-2025, tuition is approximately $185.00 per credit hour for in-state students and $727.67 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
Note on totals: A full 124-credit degree would compute to about $22,940 in-state and $90,229 out-of-state. However, second-degree (accelerated) students transfer in much of the general-education coursework from their first bachelor’s degree and pay primarily for the nursing-major credits completed at NCCU — so actual out-of-pocket tuition is typically well below the full-degree figure.
Confirm the exact number of billed nursing credits and current rates via the official tuition page.
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