Program Overview
Ramapo College offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits. The program uses a full-time, daytime, in-person format.
Ramapo runs two paths:
- the ABSN 16-month track fits students who finish prerequisites before admission
- the Bridge to ABSN 24-month track fits students who still need prerequisite coursework first
The ABSN 16-month plan uses four consecutive semesters that start in summer.
The Bridge option adds prerequisite terms with evening and Saturday options, then moves students into the daytime ABSN sequence.
ABSN Admission Summary
Ramapo sets clear requirements for both ABSN paths, and it applies the same GPA standard across tracks. You must meet the academic rules and complete required steps before you start the accelerated nursing sequence.
ABSN 16-month admission requirements (key items):
- Non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 credits from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- ATI TEAS Version 7 score at the proficient level before enrollment
- Completion of all prerequisites with a first-time grade of C+ or higher
- No repeated science prerequisite courses accepted
- In-person lecture and in-person lab required for science prerequisites
Bridge to ABSN admission requirements (key items):
- Same degree or 60-credit entry rule and the same 3.0 GPA requirement
- You complete prerequisites at Ramapo with C+ or higher before you enter the 16-month ABSN sequence
- The TEAS is not required for the Bridge application, but you must pass it before ABSN enrollment
The Summer/Fall 2026 ABSN application is closed, and the deadline was February 1, 2026. Ramapo states it will post the Summer/Fall 2027 application in Fall 2026.
Prerequisite Courses
Ramapo requires strong performance in prerequisites, and it enforces a strict repeat-course rule for science. You must earn C+ or higher in prerequisites, and you must not repeat science prerequisite courses for consideration.
Required prerequisites (ABSN 16-month and Bridge to ABSN):
- Anatomy and Physiology I (lecture + lab)
- Anatomy and Physiology II (lecture + lab)
- Microbiology (lecture + lab)
- Chemistry sequence (approved options include General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry, or Principles of Chemistry with lab)
- Statistics
- Introductory Psychology or Developmental Psychology
Ramapo also limits science prerequisite age, and it requires recent completion within the last five years for the ABSN 16-month track.
Curriculum
The 64-credit program covers essential areas such as nursing foundations, health assessment, pharmacology, and specialized courses in pediatric, adult, and community health nursing.
The curriculum is structured over four semesters, providing a mix of classroom learning, clinical rotations, and simulation labs to ensure a comprehensive education.
Summer Semester
NURS 305 – Foundations of Nursing Practice
Introduces the nurse’s leadership role in providing evidence-based care, focusing on mental and physical health promotion for diverse populations across the lifespan.
NURS 306 – Integrative Clinical Strategies I
Focuses on assessing patient needs and developing evidence-based care plans, emphasizing physical assessments and implementing nursing care for diverse individuals.
NURS 325 – Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice
Covers the research process, enabling students to evaluate professional research, identify levels of evidence, and apply findings to nursing practice.
NURS 330 – Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Teaches comprehensive health assessments, emphasizing communication, data collection, and differentiating between normal and abnormal findings for diverse populations.
Fall Semester
NURS 340 – Family Centered Nursing
Explores nursing care for families during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood, focusing on family dynamics and health patterns from conception through adolescence.
NURS 345 – Health Issues Management I
Focuses on managing physical and mental health conditions in diverse patients, emphasizing care for single-system diseases across the lifespan.
NURS 355 – Integrative Clinical Strategies II
Emphasizes nurse-patient interactions, goal setting, and providing care to meet single-system health needs through patient education and collaboration.
NURS 370 – Pathophysiology/Pharmacology I
Examines changes in single organ systems causing illness, introduces pharmacological interventions, and explores corresponding nursing actions.
Spring Semester
NURS 410 – Health Issues Management II
Addresses acute, single-system health issues across the lifespan, integrating foundational knowledge for diverse patient care.
NURS 425 – Community Centered Nursing
Explores community health nursing, focusing on health promotion and care strategies for high-risk populations at various levels, including local and global.
NURS 430 – Integrative Clinical Strategies III
Covers prioritizing and evaluating care for individuals and communities, emphasizing multi-system health needs and community health assessments.
NURS 435 – Pathophysiology/Pharmacology II
Focuses on multi-system illnesses, pharmacological interventions, and nursing strategies for complex conditions across various body systems.
Summer Semester
NURS 440 – Integrative Clinical Strategies IV
Involves managing patient care with a leadership focus, integrating social, legal, and ethical considerations in diverse and global healthcare settings.
NURS 475 – Advanced Concepts in Health Issues Management
Explores high-acuity nursing care for complex conditions, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and clinical judgment for diverse populations.
NURS 450 – Integrative Clinical Residency in Nursing
Provides transitional experience with case studies and simulations, preparing students for licensure and professional nursing roles.
NURS 470 – Trends in Leadership and Management in Nursing
Examines nursing leadership and management within healthcare systems, emphasizing the impact of global economics and policy in healthcare advocacy.
More information about the curriculum here.
Clinical Experience
Ramapo places a large share of clinical learning at The Valley Hospital, which holds Magnet status through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The program also uses other Magnet partners such as St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center and sites within the Hackensack Meridian Health network.
Ramapo also uses community and public health partners, including New Bridge Medical Center and local health departments and agencies. Students provide their own transportation to clinical sites. Faculty and students complete ongoing evaluation of clinical placements.
Tuition and Estimated Cost
Total estimated cost: The 16-month ABSN has an estimated $30,000 tuition-only cost and an estimated $37,750 tuition-and-fees cost.
Bridge to ABSN estimated totals (program estimates):
- NJ resident: ~$46,000 tuition only or ~$57,750 tuition + fees
- Non-NJ resident: ~$56,580 tuition only or ~$68,330 tuition + fees
See the official tuition page for more detail:
https://www.ramapo.edu/admissions/financial-aid-tuition/tuition-costs/
Accreditation
Ramapo’s nursing programs hold accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This accreditation covers the nursing program and supports the program’s quality and outcomes expectations.
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