Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Program Overview
UF’s accelerated BSN combines 60 nursing credits and 765 planned clinical hours across four full-time semesters in Gainesville or at UF Health Jacksonville.
The University of Florida offers this second-degree nursing track to applicants with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a non-nursing field. Students begin each May and finish the following August, approximately 15 months later. Classroom instruction, laboratory practice and supervised patient care build on prior college preparation.
Both Gainesville and UF Health Jacksonville offer the program. Admission is holistic and limited by classroom and clinical capacity; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a seat.
Accreditation
UF holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduation prepares students to apply for the NCLEX-RN. Florida Board of Nursing eligibility, examination and licensing requirements apply separately; graduating from a Florida program does not automatically grant a multistate license.
ABSN Admission Summary
Degree and GPA Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in a field other than nursing.
- A 3.0 GPA in the most recent 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree, or a 3.0 cumulative GPA in a master’s or doctoral degree.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
The admissions committee considers academic preparation, experience and personal attributes together. Applicants with coursework from international institutions must provide certified English translations where needed and a course-by-course credential evaluation with a GPA calculation.
Six Prerequisites — 21 Credits
- Anatomy and Physiology I with laboratory — 4 credits.
- Anatomy and Physiology II with laboratory — 4 credits.
- Microbiology with laboratory — 4 credits.
- Statistics — 3 credits.
- Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology — 3 credits.
- Human Nutrition — 3 credits.
Earn C or higher in each prerequisite and complete all six by the end of the spring semester before the intended summer entry. Course-equivalency questions require a detailed syllabus. Florida’s civic literacy requirement is a separate graduation requirement, rather than a seventh nursing prerequisite.
HESI A2
All applicants must complete the HESI A2 in one session by the application deadline. UF permits only one attempt for its application; retakes are not allowed.
- Required sections: Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Grammar, Math, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Learning and Personality Style.
- UF publishes no required minimum score. Its competitive benchmarks are a cumulative score of 85 and a Critical Thinking score of 800 or higher.
Application and Final Deadline
The final application deadline for summer 2027 is February 1, 2027. Submit both the university post-baccalaureate application and the NursingCAS application, and complete the HESI requirements by that date.
- UF post-baccalaureate application: submit the application, official transcripts and any required test records to university admissions.
- NursingCAS: submit official transcripts, the specified essay responses, one academic reference, one personal reference and a CV or resume.
- Allow time for transcript receipt and verification; submitting one application does not replace the other.
The current UF accelerated program page gives the dated final deadline and application instructions. Prerequisites may finish in the preceding spring, under the program’s stated completion rule.
Language Proficiency and After Acceptance
Where required by UF, applicants must demonstrate English proficiency. The nursing page lists TOEFL benchmarks of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based or 80 internet-based and directs applicants to university language-testing expectations; confirm the currently accepted examination version with admissions.
- Complete required fingerprinting, background screening and drug testing for clinical clearance.
- Provide immunization and health documentation, including MMR, varicella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and tuberculosis screening as required.
- Maintain required CPR certification and health insurance, and meet affiliate-specific clinical requirements.
Curriculum
The sample accelerated plan contains 60 nursing credits, with 15 credits in each of four consecutive semesters. Assessment, pathophysiology and foundational care lead into acute adult, mental health, family, chronic-condition and population nursing, followed by complex adult care and professional transition.
The tables follow UF’s program-specific accelerated curriculum plan. Course descriptions correspond to the official nursing course catalog; combined clinical courses contain both theory and practice credits.
Required Courses and Credits
Summer — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3106 — Lead and Inspire 1: Professional Nursing Practice | 2 | Professional nursing roles, history and philosophy, ethical and legal responsibilities, and the policy foundations of practice. Introduces the expectations of a baccalaureate-prepared nurse. |
NUR 3196 — Pathophysiology/Pharmacology in Nursing | 4 | Part one of a two-course series, this class introduces the pathophysiological basis of human disease across populations. It explores disruptions to homeostasis and disease manifestations, integrating pharmacological principles such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics. Students begin developing the knowledge required for safe medication administration and disease management. |
NUR 3066C — Clinical Reasoning: Health Assessment | 3 | This course builds foundational skills in clinical reasoning, data collection, and health assessment across the lifespan. Students focus on identifying normal and variant findings, documenting assessments, and developing a systematic approach to patient evaluation. The course prepares students to perform comprehensive health assessments with competence and confidence. |
NUR 3737C — Principles of Personalized Nursing Care | 6 | This course lays the groundwork for providing personalized care to patients of all ages. It emphasizes cultural competence, social determinants of health, and the use of evidence-based practices. Students learn to deliver safe, high-quality care through the nursing process aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes. |
Fall — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3168 — Lead and Inspire 2: Research and Evidence-Based Nursing | 2 | Students explore the foundations of research and evidence-based practice in nursing. The course focuses on identifying clinical problems and analyzing current evidence to inform patient care. It supports critical thinking and decision-making in personalized nursing interventions. |
NUR 3128 — Pathophysiology/Pharmacology in Nursing | 3 | As the second in a two-part sequence, this course takes a systems-based approach to examining disease and pharmacologic treatments. Emphasis is placed on understanding nursing implications tied to pharmacotherapeutics. Students deepen their understanding of safe, effective care for patients with various health conditions. |
NUR 3227C — Principles of Personalized Nursing Care | 2 | This course extends the principles learned in the first term, with a focus on applying personalized care in multiple healthcare environments. It promotes interprofessional collaboration and critical thinking. Students develop strategies for providing evidence-based, cost-effective care across the lifespan. |
NUR 3219C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult Acute Conditions | 4 | Students gain experience caring for adults with acute illnesses and injuries. The course emphasizes care planning, coordination, and evidence-based interventions in high-acuity settings. Interprofessional collaboration is a key theme in optimizing patient outcomes. |
NUR 3535C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Mental Health | 4 | This course addresses mental illness and substance misuse across the lifespan. It uses biobehavioral theories to guide care planning and mental health promotion. Students focus on recovery-oriented care and therapeutic communication strategies. |
Spring — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 4108 — Lead and Inspire 3: Policy and Change in Nursing Practice | 3 | Students examine the nurse’s role in influencing health policy and system improvement. Topics include ethical care delivery, advocacy, and leadership in policy reform. The course prepares students to participate in shaping healthcare practices. |
NUR 4467C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Women, Children and Families | 6 | This course focuses on family-centered care during pregnancy, childbirth, and pediatric development. Students apply personalized nursing principles to support women, children, and families. A biobehavioral model frames clinical reasoning and therapeutic decision-making. |
NUR 4768C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult Chronic Conditions | 6 | Students learn to manage long-term conditions and support adult patients living with chronic illness. Topics include disease management, care coordination, and interprofessional strategies. The goal is to enhance patient quality of life through sustained, evidence-based interventions. |
Final summer — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 4827 — Lead and Inspire 4: Leadership and Innovation in Nursing Practice | 2 | Leadership, management and innovation in professional nursing, including organizational change and quality improvement. Applies these concepts to safer patient care and effective nursing teams. |
NUR 4636C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Population Health | 4 | The course explores community and public health nursing concepts focused on prevention and population-level interventions. Students assess community needs and implement care plans promoting wellness and risk reduction. Emphasis is placed on collaboration and population-focused strategies. |
NUR 4766C — Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult Complex Conditions | 6 | This advanced course prepares students to care for adults facing complex, multi-system health conditions. It focuses on interdisciplinary care, advocacy, and clinical leadership. Students apply critical thinking to deliver safe, cost-effective, and high-impact care. |
NUR 4815 — Professional Nursing Transformation | 3 | This final course synthesizes knowledge, clinical reasoning, and leadership principles to address real-world nursing challenges. Students design or implement a project to improve clinical practice. They present findings to peers and stakeholders, showcasing professional growth. |
The four Lead and Inspire courses develop professional roles, evidence-based practice, policy and change, and leadership and innovation. NUR 4815 Professional Nursing Transformation supports the transition to professional practice; the clinical courses remain distinct from this professional development work.
Clinicals and Simulation
UF’s published sample plan lists 765 clinical hours: 180 in the first summer, 180 in fall, 225 in spring and 180 in the final summer. These are the plan’s stated clinical hours, not a conversion of all nursing credits into patient-care time.
Assessment and foundational clinical practice progress into acute, mental health, maternal/child, chronic-condition, population and complex adult care. Classroom and laboratory learning support supervised practice in assigned health care settings.
UF also describes its Clinical Reimagined Immersion Model, which groups learning, simulation practice and concentrated clinical immersion with nurse mentors. Obtain the assigned cohort calendar before planning employment around weekly clinical assumptions.
Students may need to travel up to 100 miles from their campus to assigned clinical sites. Arrange reliable transportation and allow for placement-specific schedules and compliance requirements.
Tuition and Required Fees
At UF’s 2026–27 undergraduate rates, Florida-resident tuition is $105.07 base tuition plus a $44.17 tuition differential, or $149.24 per credit. Across 60 nursing credits, estimated tuition is $8,954.40, the amount used in Quick Facts.
- Other resident per-credit charges: $65.30 × 60 = $3,918.00. Tuition plus standard per-credit fees totals $12,872.40.
- Nonresident tuition estimate: $149.24 plus $894.61 nonresident tuition per credit = $1,043.85; across 60 credits, $62,631.00. Other per-credit charges total $6,601.80, for $69,232.80 combined.
- The current $214.54 resident and $1,153.88 nonresident per-credit totals include fees; neither is tuition alone.
- The CFO rate sheet lists a $241.81 per-credit repeat surcharge when applicable.
These estimates apply current rates across the 60-credit nursing sequence, exclude prior prerequisites and living expenses, and assume no repeated or excess-credit charges. Actual billing may change in later academic years. Review the 2026–27 CFO tuition and fee schedule.
The College’s separate BSN student expense schedule lists additional nursing and preparation costs:
- Elsevier resources, materials and agency fees: $1,018 in semesters one, three and four, and $1,301.56 in semester two — $4,355.56 across four terms.
- ExamSoft: $30 each semester ($120 total); Top Hat: $60 for an annual membership. Confirm renewal charges for a program spanning more than one year.
- Drug screening $29, background screening $73, fingerprinting $50–$60 plus tax, and additional jurisdiction-specific checks where applicable.
- CPR approximately $45, two scrub sets $160, shoes $50–$150 and identification badge $15; the sheet also lists a $5 service charge each fall and spring.
- A suitable laptop is required; the sheet budgets $2,000 for a laptop, $40 for a privacy screen and $15 for non-wireless headphones.
- Health insurance, transportation, housing and personal expenses are additional. Use the current insurance premium or an approved waiver when building a budget.
Budget separately for post-graduation licensing and testing. UF’s expense sheet estimates $110 for the Florida nursing application, $200 for Pearson VUE, $80 for fingerprinting if needed and $10 for transcripts; confirm the charges applicable when you apply.
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