Last Updated: October 9, 2026
Program Overview
Rockhurst’s 16-month Hybrid ABSN combines online coursework, 583.5 clinical hours and a 10-day Kansas City residency, with coordinated clinical placements for Iowa, Kansas and Missouri residents.
Rockhurst University’s Hybrid ABSN spans four consecutive semesters and 60 nursing credits. Applicants must already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and live in Iowa, Kansas or Missouri.
Coursework is 100% online, while clinical learning is in person. The first-semester 10-day Kansas City residency includes skills, simulation and supervised direct patient care; subsequent clinical rotations take place at assigned sites near students’ communities.
A dedicated coordinator arranges clinical sites and preceptors. Rockhurst offers three starts annually and NCLEX support, including individual coaching after graduation.
ABSN Admission Summary
The program keeps its academic bar accessible — a 2.7 GPA rather than the 3.0-plus many accelerated tracks demand — but admission is gated by geography. Applicants must live in one of three authorized states, and Nebraska is no longer among them.
Who can apply
- Residency in Iowa, Kansas, or Missouri
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- Cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher (also required across prerequisite coursework)
- Resume
Prerequisite coursework (grade of C or better)
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab (8 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
- General Chemistry or General/Organic/Biological Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Lifespan/Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
At least two of the four required science courses must be complete for application review. The program’s admissions page says science credits older than seven years trigger an ATI TEAS admission examination, and each science course may be repeated only once. Confirm the evaluation of older courses before planning enrollment.
Curriculum
The 2026–27 accelerated pathway catalog requires 60 nursing credits across four 15-credit semesters. Online theory progresses from nursing foundations and assessment to adult, community, mental-health and maternal-child care, then complex care, leadership and professional transition.
Students transfer the general education and prerequisite preparation associated with their previous bachelor’s degree. The prerequisite list totals 25 credits, including A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, lifespan/developmental psychology and nutrition.
Required Courses and Credits
Semester 1 — 15 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUA 3100 — Pathophysiology | 3 | Covers the causes, mechanisms, and effects of common adult diseases. Emphasizes understanding diagnostic tools and treatment methods. Delivered in a hybrid format to support applied learning. |
NUA 3120 — Health Assessment and Promotion | 4 | Introduces physical assessment skills and health promotion techniques. Students learn to distinguish normal from abnormal findings. Practice occurs in lab settings. |
NUA 3160 — Introduction to Nursing | 2 | Explores nursing as a profession through history, ethics, communication, and theory. Highlights the core values of nursing practice. Offered in a hybrid format. |
NUA 3200 — Foundations of Professional Nursing | 6 | Covers fundamental nursing concepts, safety, patient communication, and the nursing process. Students practice skills in lab and clinical settings. Serves as a foundation for professional nursing roles. |
Semester 2 — 15 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUA 3180 — Pharmacology | 3 | Examines drug classifications, mechanisms, and uses across the lifespan. Focuses on safe administration and the nurse’s responsibilities in pharmacotherapy. Prepares students for medication-related patient care. |
NUA 3220 — Adult Health Nursing I | 6 | Introduces care of adults with common health conditions. Includes aging, prevention, and recovery strategies. Clinical and lab sessions reinforce concepts. |
NUA 3240 — Community and Mental Health Nursing | 6 | Focuses on care for individuals and groups in community and mental health environments. Emphasizes working with vulnerable populations. Applies knowledge in varied practice settings. |
Semester 3 — 15 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUA 4050 — Adult Health Nursing II | 5 | Builds on Adult Health I with focus on managing complex and chronic conditions. Promotes evidence-based care and clinical reasoning. Includes lab and clinical practice. |
NUA 4120 — Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing | 2.5 | Teaches how to evaluate and apply research to nursing practice. Emphasizes using data to improve clinical outcomes. Strengthens decision-making skills. |
NUA 4150 — Maternal Child Health Nursing | 5.5 | Prepares students to care for women, infants, and children in family-centered settings. Covers pregnancy, childbirth, pediatrics, and community-based care. Combines theory and practice. |
NUA 4160 — Gerontology | 2 | Focuses on healthcare needs and challenges of older adults. Promotes understanding of age-related changes and nursing interventions. Supports compassionate, informed care for seniors. |
Semester 4 — 15 Credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUA 4350 — Complex Care of Adults | 6 | Covers nursing care for patients with multi-system and high-acuity conditions. Reinforces advanced skills in clinical and simulation environments. Builds readiness for critical care settings. |
NUA 4750 — Nursing Leadership | 3 | Explores nursing leadership roles, styles, and strategies. Prepares students to lead in dynamic healthcare settings. Encourages development of management and advocacy skills. |
NUA 4400 — Transition to Professional Practice | 5 | Serves as a capstone integrating clinical knowledge and skills. Prepares students for entry into professional nursing. Emphasizes readiness, responsibility, and growth. |
NUA 3260 — Strategies for Success | 1 | Helps students improve study habits and test performance. Focuses on personal learning strategies and NCLEX preparation. Supports academic and professional success. |
NUA 3260 Strategies for Success is a required 1-credit course in the current accelerated plan. NUA 4400 Transition to Professional Practice integrates clinical learning and preparation for the RN role; evidence appraisal is taught separately in NUA 4120.
Comprehensive NCLEX coaching and clinical placement support continue throughout the program.
Clinical Experience
Students complete roughly 583.5 clinical hours across a range of care settings, with placements arranged within reasonable driving distance of home. A dedicated coordinator handles site and preceptor matching, so students aren’t left sourcing their own clinicals.
- 10-day on-campus residency in Kansas City during the first semester
- Simulation training in a state-of-the-art lab
- Direct patient care experience
- Final-semester transition-to-practice preparation
Shift times vary by site and may fall on days, evenings, or weekends.
Tuition and Costs
Published 2026–27 ABSN rate: $785 per credit, labeled “includes all fees.” Across 60 nursing credits, that is $47,100 in bundled tuition and fees. This is a package-rate calculation, not an isolated tuition-only figure.
The official undergraduate schedule separately lists a $292.50 full-time technology fee per semester ($18 per credit for part-time students) and a $190 graduation fee. Confirm the itemized ABSN bill before adding those charges to the fee-inclusive rate.
The Hybrid ABSN is not eligible for internal scholarships, institutional aid or Saint Luke’s employee discounts. Review federal aid through the FAFSA and outside funding sources; budget for books, screening, clinical travel, and residency travel and lodging.
The calculation applies the current rate across the full sequence. Actual charges can change if later semesters fall in a new rate year.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate nursing program at Rockhurst is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the university is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN and pursue state licensure.
Rockhurst’s current ABSN page advertises a 93% NCLEX pass rate for ABSN students without identifying the reporting year or attempt measure. For historical context, the university’s August 2023 announcement reported more than 97% among May 2023 BSN graduates; that result is not identified as ABSN-only.
More ABSN Programs in Your Area
Also compare Iowa ABSN programs. Nebraska is not among Rockhurst’s currently authorized ABSN enrollment states; the Nebraska comparison link above provides other options.