Program Overview
Thomas Jefferson University’s ABSN+ offers one- and two-year routes into nursing, with nine additional graduate credits, clinical learning, and conditional opportunities for further graduate study.
Jefferson College of Nursing offers Accelerated BSN Plus (ABSN+) pathways for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Both pathways are on-campus, full-time programs.
- 1-Year ABSN+: 12 consecutive months, starting in Pre-Fall.
- 2-Year ABSN+: Four full-time semesters over two academic years, starting in Fall.
Both official pathway pages list Center City Philadelphia, Dixon Campus in Horsham, and Lehigh Valley. Applicants should confirm that their chosen pathway is accepting students at their preferred campus for the intended cohort; the campus listings do not establish availability for every intake.
Accreditation
Jefferson College of Nursing’s BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Jefferson’s nursing licensure disclosure confirms Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing approval.
Thomas Jefferson University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Graduates may pursue RN licensure through the NCLEX-RN, subject to the licensing board’s additional requirements.
ABSN Admission Summary
The following requirements and deadlines apply to Jefferson’s 1-Year ABSN+ pathway for Pre-Fall 2027. Applicants to the two-year pathway should confirm its requirements and deadlines separately.
- Degree: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution must be completed before the program begins. The ABSN+ pathway is intended for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
- GPA: Jefferson recommends a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite science GPA. These are recommended admission benchmarks, distinct from the 3.20 GPA condition for graduate progression.
- Application fee: $50.
- Pre-Fall 2027 priority deadline: November 15, 2026.
- Pre-Fall 2027 final deadline: February 15, 2027. All supporting materials must arrive by the applicable deadline for the application to be complete and eligible for review.
Prerequisite Coursework
- Anatomy and Physiology I with lab: 4 semester credits
- Anatomy and Physiology II with lab: 4 semester credits; alternatively, 4 credits of Human Anatomy and 4 credits of Human Physiology, with labs
- Chemistry I with lab: 4 semester credits; the course need not be intended for science majors
- Microbiology with lab: 4 semester credits
- Statistics: 3 semester credits
- Nutrition: 3 semester credits
- Electives: 38 semester credits, bringing the total to 60
- Completion: Finish prerequisites at a regionally accredited institution before entry. Courses may be in progress when applying, but most prerequisites, including at least three sciences, should be complete before an admission decision.
- Grades: C or better is required; B or better in math and science makes an application more competitive.
- Course age: Jefferson prefers math and science coursework completed within five years of enrollment and will consider coursework up to ten years old.
- Exam credit: AP, IB, or CLEP credit may satisfy non-science prerequisites, subject to Jefferson’s transfer-credit policy.
Application Materials and Interview
- Official transcripts: Submit transcripts from every regionally accredited institution attended or from which credit was earned.
- Personal statement: Describe your interest in nursing and relevant academic or work experience.
- Recommendation: Submit one letter from a faculty member or professional reference.
Jefferson evaluates applicants holistically. An admissions interview is required; qualified applicants are contacted after supporting materials arrive and the committee completes its preliminary review.
Technical standards and applying: Applicants must meet the College of Nursing’s technical standards, with reasonable accommodations available. Review the current Jefferson admissions requirements and submit supporting documents through the instructions provided in MyJefferson.
Curriculum
The 120-credit BSN combines 60 prerequisite credits with 60 BSN course credits. Students also earn 9 additional graduate credits, separate from the BSN total.
ABSN+ 1-Year Pathway (Three Semesters)
This intensive, full-time pathway completes the BSN coursework and additional graduate credits in 12 consecutive months.
Semester 1: Foundations and Assessment — 23.5 Credits
- NU 315 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NU 340 Medication Calculations in Nursing (1 credits)
- NU 341 Foundations in Nursing (4 credits)
- NU 342 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan I (7.5 credits)
- NU 343 Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NU 346 Professional Practice in Nursing (2 credits)
- NU 603 Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 graduate credits)
Health assessment, dosage calculations, nursing foundations, pathophysiology, and professional practice develop clinical reasoning and safe, person-centered care. Laboratory, simulation, and clinical learning connect health promotion with pharmacology, genetics, communication, and evidence-based practice.
Semester 2: Adult and Family Nursing — 25.5 Credits
- NU 344 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan II (10 credits)
- NU 345 Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NU 696 Leadership and Critical Decision Making (3 graduate credits)
- NU 495 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan III: Childbearing & Childrearing Families (9.5 credits)
Adult acute and chronic care, mental health, pharmacology, and maternal-child nursing build clinical and interprofessional skills. Clinical and simulation experiences emphasize safe medication use and evidence-based care for childbearing and childrearing families.
Semester 3: Transition to Practice — 20 Credits
- NU 605 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 graduate credits)
- NU 494 Population Health and Care Transition Management (4 credits)
- NU 496 Clinical Judgment Applications (10 credits)
- NU 497 Transitions to Professional Practice & NCLEX-RN Prep (3 credits)
Population health, care transitions, and clinical judgment prepare students for professional practice. Advanced medical-surgical, elective clinical, and simulation experiences accompany leadership development and NCLEX-RN preparation.
ABSN+ 2-Year Pathway (Four Semesters)
This full-time pathway spreads the same 60 BSN course credits and 9 graduate credits over two academic years.
Year 1, Semester 1: Nursing Foundations — 18.5 Credits
- NU 315 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NU 340 Medication Calculations in Nursing (1 credits)
- NU 341 Foundations in Nursing (4 credits)
- NU 342 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan I (7.5 credits)
- NU 343 Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Assessment, medication calculations, nursing foundations, health promotion, and pathophysiology establish core nursing skills. Laboratory, simulation, and clinical learning connect theory with patient care.
Year 1, Semester 2: Family Nursing and Research — 17.5 Credits
- NU 495 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan III: Childbearing & Childrearing Families (9.5 credits)
- NU 345 Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NU 346 Professional Practice in Nursing (2 credits)
- NU 603 Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 graduate credits)
Maternal-child nursing, pharmacology, and professional practice develop family-centered care and safe medication skills. Clinical and simulation learning are complemented by graduate research coursework.
Year 2, Semester 3: Adult and Population Health — 17 Credits
- NU 696 Leadership and Critical Decision Making (3 graduate credits)
- NU 494 Population Health and Care Transition Management (4 credits)
- NU 344 Health Promotion Applications Across the Lifespan II (10 credits)
Adult acute and chronic care, mental health, population health, and care transitions broaden nursing practice. Graduate leadership study complements clinical and simulation learning.
Year 2, Semester 4: Transition to Practice — 16 Credits
- NU 496 Clinical Judgment Applications (10 credits)
- NU 497 Transitions to Professional Practice & NCLEX-RN Prep (3 credits)
- NU 605 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 graduate credits)
Clinical judgment, advanced medical-surgical and elective clinical learning, and NCLEX-RN preparation support the transition to practice. Graduate coursework introduces the advanced practice nursing role.
Review the official one-year ABSN+ curriculum and two-year ABSN+ curriculum for course sequences and credit totals.
Graduate Study Opportunities
Graduate admission is conditional. Jefferson offers guaranteed admission to eligible MSN or DNP specialties after BSN completion with a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA, valid for up to two years after graduation.
- Nurse Anesthesia is excluded.
- Restrictions apply to neonatal and adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specialties. Confirm specialty-specific conditions with Jefferson.
Clinicals
- Placements: Clinical learning takes place at Jefferson Health hospitals and partner sites.
- Simulation: Students practice in simulated patient-care settings before working directly with patients.
- Hands-on nursing: Learning covers adult health, maternal-child nursing, pediatrics, and population health.
- Practice readiness: Final-term clinical judgment and transition-to-practice courses include NCLEX-RN preparation.
Selected students may also complete a global clinical capstone through a partnership with Gemelli Hospital in Rome, gaining experience with international health systems and diverse populations.
Tuition
For academic year 2026–2027, Jefferson publishes the following tuition, general fee, and nursing departmental fee amounts. These are listed annual charges, not a complete cost-of-attendance estimate:
- 1-Year ABSN+: $57,812 tuition + $1,277 general fee + $3,180 departmental fee = $62,269 in listed charges for one academic year.
- 2-Year ABSN+: $49,943 tuition + $1,277 general fee + $3,180 departmental fee = $54,400 in listed charges for one academic year. This is not the total price for the two-year program; subsequent-year rates must be confirmed.
Books, supplies, housing, transportation, and personal expenses are additional. Jefferson advises students to confirm whether additional terms, including summer, generate further charges and to obtain rates for subsequent academic years. Consult the official tuition page before budgeting for the full program.