Program Overview
- Duration: 19 Months
- Tuition: $28,000
- Location: Las Cruces, NM
- Application Deadline: Feb 1, Apr 1, Sep 1
- Program Web Page
New Mexico State University (NMSU) offers two second-degree BSN pathways for students who already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field.
The Roadrunner option is the faster plan and runs as a five-semester sequence finished in 19 months, starting in the summer.
The Pathways option follows the traditional BSN cohort in five semesters with fall or spring entry and no summer attendance.
Both options lead to BSN completion and eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN for licensure. The School of Nursing also delivers the NMNEC BSN curriculum and supports students at Las Cruces plus satellite sites in Grants and Alamogordo.
ABSN Admission Summary
NMSU second-degree BSN admissions prioritize strong prior academics, recent science prerequisites, and solid HESI-A2 scores. Applicants must complete a transfer admission step to NMSU and meet with a nursing advisor to confirm eligibility and receive the BSN application.
Admission requirements (Roadrunner and Pathways):
- Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on the first bachelor’s degree
- B or better in all nursing prerequisite courses
- HESI-A2 (Biology, Chemistry, Math, and all English sections) with > 75% in each section
- Submit a complete nursing application by the stated deadline
- Obtain admission to NMSU as a second bachelor’s degree-seeking student (transfer admission)
Application deadlines by option:
- Roadrunner (Summer start): Feb 1 (Las Cruces)
- Pathways (Fall start): Apr 1 (Las Cruces, Grants, Alamogordo)
- Pathways (Spring start): Sep 1 (Las Cruces only)
Extra notes that affect admission planning:
- Prerequisites must be no older than 7 years at the time of application
- Pathways applicants must complete at least 2 prerequisites before applying
- Roadrunner applicants must complete at least 3 prerequisites before applying
- Students must meet with an advisor in person or by phone to review eligibility and obtain the BSN application
- NMSU admissions links are provided for domestic and international applicants
Curriculum
Curriculum across both pathways follows the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium (NMNEC) model, integrating didactic learning with simulation labs and clinical experiences in acute care and community-based settings.
Students complete a total of 124–125 credit hours over the course of the BSN degree.
Prerequisite Coursework Summary
NMSU requires recent science and support prerequisites for second-degree BSN applicants, and grades must be strong.
Prerequisite course list (B or better; not older than 7 years):
- Anatomy and Physiology with lab (either combined A&P sequence or A&P I + A&P II with labs)
- Microbiology with lab
- Statistics
- Pathophysiology (Roadrunner only)
Courses may include the following:
NMNC 3210. Health and Illness Concepts I focuses on key health and illness concepts across the lifespan, including homeostasis, reproduction, protection, movement, and emotional processes.
NMNC 3220. Health Care Participant introduces students to individuals, families, and communities as participants in the health care system, exploring their attributes and roles.
NMNC 3230. Nursing Pharmacology teaches foundational pharmacologic principles using a conceptual approach, preparing students to understand medication effects and nursing implications.
NMNC 3120. Evidence-Based Practice emphasizes identifying clinical problems, evaluating research evidence, and applying it alongside clinical expertise and patient preferences to inform nursing practice.
NMNC 3235. Assessment and Health Promotion provides instruction in health assessments and promotion strategies for individuals and communities, using seminar, lab, and clinical formats.
NMNC 4310. Health & Illness Concepts II continues the focus on lifespan care, emphasizing chronic health conditions and related physiological and behavioral processes.
NMNC 4320. Professional Nursing Concepts I introduces professional development topics such as nursing attributes and competencies essential for safe and ethical care.
NMNC 4335. Care of Patients with Chronic Conditions focuses on providing evidence-based care to patients with chronic conditions across diverse settings, using lab and clinical components.
NMNC 4410. Health & Illness Concepts III shifts to acute health conditions, covering regulation, oxygenation, protection, and emotional health throughout the lifespan.
NMNC 4435. Clinical Intensive I is the first of two clinical experiences that focus on managing care for patients with acute conditions across the lifespan using core curricular concepts.
NMNC 4445. Clinical Intensive II continues this clinical experience, further applying nursing concepts to the care of individuals with acute health needs.
NMNC 4510. Concept Synthesis guides students in synthesizing learned concepts to deliver nursing care to complex patients, reinforcing integration and clinical reasoning.
NMNC 4520. Professional Nursing Concepts II explores nursing policy and its role in professional practice, preparing students to engage in health care systems and policy change.
NMNC 4535. Clinical Intensive III focuses on applying nursing concepts to manage complex patient care scenarios in clinical settings.
NMNC 4545. BSN Capstone serves as the final clinical course, requiring students to synthesize, integrate, and apply nursing knowledge to demonstrate readiness for entry into professional practice.
More info about the curriculum in the course catalog.
Clinicals
NMSU integrates clinical education into the BSN curriculum so students can build bedside and community skills as they move through the program. Clinical readiness also links to compliance costs shown in the BSN cost sheet.
Students should expect clinical and lab learning across the five levels, with clinical fees charged in multiple terms. The program also requires compliance items such as drug screening, background checks, immunizations, and CPR certification, which support clinical placement readiness.
Tuition
The total estimated cost for the 5-semester BSN program is $27,222.68 for residents and $74,313.68 for non-residents based on the published BSN cost breakdown.
These totals include tuition, the tuition differential, clinical fees, and estimated books across the five levels, plus a separate line for required additional expenses.
Resident tuition and program-cost components (included in the total):
- Tuition charged across 5 levels using a resident cost per credit plus a tuition differential
- Clinical fees across multiple terms
- Estimated books across levels
Non-resident tuition and program-cost components (included in the total):
- Tuition charged across 5 levels using a non-resident cost per credit plus a tuition differential
- Clinical fees across multiple terms
- Estimated books across levels
Additional required expenses listed by the school (separately stated):
- Immunizations/titers, CPR card, uniforms/shoes
- Drug screen, background check
- QuantiFERON testing
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the New Mexico Board of Nursing.