A $60 Million Facility. 300+ Clinical Partners. Public University Tuition.
The University of Memphis’s Loewenberg College of Nursing put its money where its mission is — a new $60 million Community Health Building houses classrooms, labs, faculty, and community partners under one roof, giving ABSN students one of the most modern nursing education facilities in Tennessee.
Clinical access matches the infrastructure: 300+ clinical affiliations across the Memphis metro give students a breadth of placement options that few programs of any price point can match.
Tennessee residents pay a flat-rate semester fee that caps at $5,628 regardless of credit hours — putting total 16-month tuition at roughly $22,500.
One annual Fall cohort keeps the program focused and cohort-based, with a 90% NCLEX pass rate and a 90%+ six-year retention rate validating the model.
ABSN Admission Summary
LCON uses a single annual application cycle with a firm February 15 deadline — applications that aren’t complete and verified by that date are not reviewed for that cycle. The two-step process (university admission first, then nursing application) is sequential, and admission to UofM does not guarantee admission to the nursing major.
Academic requirements:
- Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution — degree must be conferred and complete at the time of application submission; in-progress degrees are not accepted
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (per program page) or 3.0 (per catalog) — confirm current requirement with LCON admissions
- Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA across all eight required prerequisite courses
- Grade of C or better in every individual prerequisite course
- Only one prerequisite course may be repeated — once; if repeated, the second grade is used (regardless of whether it’s higher or lower); all other prerequisites use the first earned grade
- Science courses must have been completed within 5 years of LCON admission; in-person science courses are preferred and associated with greater program success
- Minimum of 60 credit hours must be complete before starting the nursing program
Eight required prerequisite courses (3.0 combined GPA required):
- CHEM 1010/1011 – Chemistry of Materials with lab, or CHEM 1110/1111 General Chemistry with lab
- BIOL 2010/2011 – Anatomy & Physiology I with lab
- BIOL 2020/2021 – Anatomy & Physiology II with lab
- BIOL 1230/1231 – Microbiology with lab
- MATH 1530 – Probability & Statistics (or equivalent)
- NUTR 2202 – Nutrition
- EDPR 2111 – Development Across the Lifespan
- PSYC 1030 – General Psychology
AP credit (score of 3 or higher) is accepted for CHEM 1010/1011 and MATH 1530. Students may be in-progress with prerequisites at time of application — all must be complete before the program starts, and provisional acceptances are rescinded if final grades don’t meet requirements.
Application process — two steps:
- Apply to the University of Memphis (select major as Academic Focus-Health Professions); current UofM students and admitted transfers can skip this step
- Log in to the Tiger Tracks Portal with UofM credentials to complete the Nursing Application before February 15
Required application materials:
- Official transcripts from every college attended (submitted to UofM Admissions)
- Letter of Intent — one page covering nursing interest, career goals, and relevant experience
- Current resume — academic achievements, healthcare/clinical experience, volunteer work, leadership roles
- Two letters of recommendation:
- One academic source (professor, counselor, or advisor)
- One professional/community source (employer, healthcare professional, or community leader)
- Do not submit letters from family members or personal friends; letters must be attached to the application, not emailed to the department
Transfers from another nursing program must also submit a letter of good standing from the Dean/Director of the prior program. Transfer applicants with a grade below C in any nursing course are ineligible.
Post-acceptance requirements:
- All decision notifications are sent to the applicant’s memphis.edu email address six weeks after the application deadline
Curriculum
Sixty nursing credit hours are distributed across four consecutive semesters. Every semester must be completed in full before a student progresses to the next sequence — if a student withdraws or earns below a C in any course, that course must be retaken the following semester before moving forward. Only one nursing course may be repeated; failure on the second attempt or failure in more than one nursing course results in academic disqualification from the major.
Prerequisite Overview
All eight prerequisite courses must be completed with C or better, within 5 years of admission, before starting nursing sequences. In-person completion of science labs is preferred. See the admission summary above for the full prerequisite list.
Four-semester nursing sequence (60 credit hours):
Sequence 1 — Summer Semester 1 (14 cr.)
NURS 3004 – Introduction to Pharmacology and Medication Administration (1 cr.) Introduces basic pharmacology concepts, medication administration techniques, and dosage calculations. Covers medical terminology, legal responsibilities, and ethical considerations in medication management.
NURS 3005 – Introduction to Professional Nursing (2 cr.) Explores the history, theory, and ethics of nursing while developing foundational skills in communication, self-awareness, and cultural sensitivity. Emphasizes professional roles, safety, and quality in nursing practice.
NURS 3101 – Health Assessment (2 cr.) Teaches systematic health assessments across the lifespan, including health history collection, physical examination techniques, and identifying potential health concerns using the nursing process.
NURS 3103 – Health Assessment Lab (1 cr.) Hands-on laboratory course developing clinical skills for comprehensive patient assessments. Students practice data collection, communication techniques, and critical thinking in a simulated environment.
NURS 3105 – Foundations of Patient-Centered Care (3 cr.) Covers core nursing concepts and clinical reasoning skills necessary to provide person-centered care. Emphasizes systematic approaches to planning and implementing care for diverse populations.
NURS 3106 – Foundational Nursing Skills (2 cr.) Develops psychomotor skills and clinical judgment necessary for delivering safe nursing care. Hands-on practice focuses on assessment techniques, patient care procedures, and clinical decision-making.
NURS 3400 – Clinical Pathophysiology (3 cr.) In-depth study of disease processes affecting major body systems. Explores cellular and physiological adaptations to stressors and injuries as a foundational knowledge base for clinical nursing practice.
Sequence 2 — Fall Semester (15 cr.)
NURS 3000 – Pharmacology in Nursing (3 cr.) Examines drug classifications, mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions. Emphasizes evidence-based medication administration and safety in diverse patient populations.
NURS 3127 – Mental Health Nursing (2–3 cr.) Focuses on psychiatric nursing concepts including mental health disorders, therapeutic communication, and psychopharmacology. Covers legal, ethical, and cultural considerations in mental health care.
NURS 3129 – Mental Health Nursing Practicum (1 cr.) Clinical experience in mental health settings where students apply therapeutic communication and nursing interventions for patients with psychiatric disorders, utilizing the nursing process and critical thinking skills.
NURS 3205 – Nursing of the Adult I: Common Health Alterations (3 cr.) Develops skills in providing safe, evidence-based care for adults with common health conditions. Emphasizes clinical reasoning, patient education, and health promotion strategies.
NURS 3206 – Nursing of the Adult I Practicum (3 cr.) Hands-on clinical course where students care for adults with common health issues in medical-surgical settings. Emphasizes clinical judgment, decision-making, and application of theoretical concepts.
NURS 3217 – Nursing of the Childbearing Family (2 cr.) Covers nursing care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, as well as newborn care. Addresses physiological and psychosocial needs, patient safety, and family-centered care.
NURS 3219 – Nursing of the Childbearing Family Practicum (1–2 cr.) Clinical practicum applying nursing care concepts for pregnant patients and newborns. Focus areas include assessment, labor and delivery, and managing common health alterations.
Sequence 3 — Spring Semester (16 cr.)
NURS 3227 – Pediatric Nursing (2 cr.) Explores principles of pediatric nursing including health promotion and disease management from infancy through adolescence. Emphasizes evidence-based, family-centered care.
NURS 3229 – Pediatric Nursing Practicum (1–2 cr.) Hands-on clinical training in pediatric nursing. Students apply assessment skills, patient education, and safe nursing interventions for children and their families.
NURS 3305 – Nursing of the Adult II: Complex Health Alterations (3 cr.) Focuses on nursing care for adults with complex and critical health conditions. Students refine clinical judgment, patient education, and care coordination skills.
NURS 3306 – Nursing of the Adult II Practicum (3 cr.) Clinical practicum in acute and critical care settings managing adult patients with complex health issues. Emphasizes safety, clinical reasoning, and decision-making.
NURS 4110 – Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing (3 cr.) Covers research methods, data analysis, and translating evidence into patient care. Students learn to evaluate and apply nursing research to improve clinical practice.
NURS 4127 – Community Health Nursing (3 cr.) Integrates nursing and public health principles to promote health in communities. Topics include population health, disease prevention, and strategies to reduce health disparities.
NURS 4129 – Community Health Nursing Practicum (1 cr.) Hands-on clinical course where students assess community health needs and implement public health interventions. Focus areas include epidemiology, health education, and policy advocacy.
Sequence 4 — Summer Semester 2 (15 cr.)
NURS 4001 – Senior Seminar (2 cr.) Capstone course preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam and transition into professional nursing practice. Covers test-taking strategies, career development, and professional identity.
NURS 4205 – Transition into Professional Nursing Practice (3–4 cr.) Explores the transition from nursing student to professional nurse. Emphasizes leadership, teamwork, ethical decision-making, and evidence-based patient care.
NURS 4206 – Transition into Professional Nursing Practice Practicum (4–8 cr.) Final clinical immersion experience where students function as entry-level nurses under supervision. Focus areas include patient management, medication administration, and interprofessional collaboration.
Nursing Electives — Choose two (6 cr. total)
- NURS 4108 – Transcultural Nursing in Diverse Populations
- NURS 4400 – Community Engagement and Leading Collaborative Change
- NURS 4401 – Wound and Ostomy Nursing
- NURS 4402 – Mindfulness and Narrative Practice for Healthcare Professionals
- NURS 4403 – Sexual and Gender Minority Nursing NURS 4900 – Power of Workplace Civility & Diversity
The final summer semester’s Transition into Professional Nursing Practice Practicum (NURS 4206) carries up to 8 clinical credits — the heaviest single clinical course in the program and the capstone real-world experience before graduation. The two-elective structure in the final semester allows students to tailor their final semester toward a specialty interest or population focus.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog: UofM Nursing BSN Accelerated Catalog
Clinicals
Practicum courses are embedded within every specialty nursing course beginning in Sequence 2, and the final summer’s capstone practicum carries the program’s highest single clinical credit weight. With 300+ clinical affiliations across the Memphis metro region, LCON offers one of the broadest placement networks of any program in this review — comparable in scope to large programs at much higher price points.
- Total clinical credits: Practicum courses appear in Sequences 2, 3, and 4 — escalating in intensity through the program, culminating in the final capstone
- Clinical network: 300+ clinical affiliations throughout Memphis and the surrounding region — specific named partners not detailed in available materials; contact LCON for current hospital affiliates
- Specialties with clinical components: Mental health, adult health I and II, childbearing/OB, pediatrics, community health, and transition to professional practice
- Final practicum (NURS 4206): Transition into Professional Nursing Practice Practicum — up to 8 clinical credits in the final semester; the largest single clinical block in the program
- Simulation and facilities: The new $60 million Community Health Building includes state-of-the-art simulation and lab facilities on the main Memphis campus — described as a hub for faculty, students, and community partners; a virtual simulation lab tour is available through LCON’s website
- Community health integration: NURS 4127/4129 Community Health Nursing includes a practicum component in Sequence 3 — population-level care is not an elective but a required, clinically supported course
- Geographic note: LCON operates on both the Memphis main campus and the Lambuth campus; ABSN program location should be confirmed with admissions
Tuition
Estimated total program cost (Tennessee resident): ~$22,512
The University of Memphis charges a flat-rate tuition that caps at $5,628 per semester for Tennessee residents taking 12 or more credit hours. All four ABSN sequences (14, 15, 16, and 15 credit hours respectively) exceed 12 hours — meaning every semester hits the flat-rate cap.
| Semester | Credit Hours | Flat-Rate Cap (Resident) |
|---|---|---|
Summer 1 (Sequence 1) | 14 | $5,628 |
Fall (Sequence 2) | 15 | $5,628 |
Spring (Sequence 3) | 16 | $5,628 |
Summer 2 (Sequence 4) | 15 | $5,628 |
Total | 60 | ~$22,512 |
The $5,628 per-semester rate includes both tuition ($4,668) and the University Service Fee ($960) at 12+ hours. Non-resident and international students are charged an additional per-credit-hour fee on top of this base — confirm the non-resident total with UofM’s Student Business Services.
At ~$22,512 for Tennessee residents, UofM’s ABSN competes directly with Tennessee Tech (~$25,000 all-in) and ETSU (~$27,485) as the lowest-cost second-degree BSN options in the state — and significantly undercuts every private program reviewed, including Union (~$47,000), Lipscomb (~$69,738), Marian, and South College. For Memphis-area career changers specifically, this combination of price, clinical network depth, and new facility infrastructure is difficult to match.
See the official tuition page for more details: University of Memphis Tuition & Fees
Accreditation
The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs at the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). All programs are based on requirements of the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBON).
The University of Memphis holds regional institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN through the applicable state Board of Nursing.