Program Overview
A University of Michigan-system nursing degree with the outcomes and facilities to match — a 95.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a two-floor Center for Simulation and Clinical Innovation — at affordable in-state public-university tuition, completed in 16 months.
The University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing’s Accelerated Second Degree BSN program lets students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree complete BSN requirements in an intensive, concentrated format. The program runs four full-time semesters over 16 months, beginning each fall, and lets students skip general education to dive straight into nursing coursework.
Outcomes are strong: approximately 95.5% of UM-Flint nursing students pass the NCLEX-RN on their first try.
Students learn in cutting-edge facilities, including a two-floor Center for Simulation and Clinical Innovation designed to foster interprofessional education and provide a safe environment for skill development, and admission is competitive with a maximum of 56 students per fall cohort.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Michigan-Flint are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the School of Nursing hosted a CCNE reaccreditation site review in October 2025. The University of Michigan-Flint is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Requirements
Admission is selective with rolling admissions, though applications received by the January 15 priority deadline receive first consideration. Students may apply after successful completion of four prerequisite courses (including biology and an additional science prerequisite). An on-campus writing sample and an interview are required application components.
Minimum Requirements (admitted students typically exceed minimums)
- Bachelor’s degree (or approval of the undergraduate admissions committee)
- Combined GPA 2.50 or higher in non-science prerequisite courses
- Combined GPA 2.75 or higher in science prerequisite courses
- Grade of C (2.0) or better in each prerequisite course
- All prerequisites completed before beginning Semester 1
- Only complete applications are considered
Application Process
- Apply for admission to UM-Flint (enrolled as a pre-nursing student in the School of Nursing)
- Upon acceptance, meet with a nursing advisor to determine a prerequisite completion plan
- Fill out the fall cohort application after fulfilling prerequisites
- Apply directly to the Accelerated Second Degree BSN program
- Complete an on-campus writing sample
- Complete an interview
Application Timeline
- Priority deadline: January 15 for fall semester
- Rolling admissions after the priority deadline, pending available seats
- Students admitted once annually in fall semesters; maximum 56 students per cohort
International degrees require evaluation by WES or ECE showing “regionally accredited equivalent.” Admission decisions are made by the Undergraduate Nursing Admissions Committee and are final. English proficiency (TOEFL iBT 80 with 20+ per section, IELTS 6.5 overall and per band, or equivalent) is required if English is not the applicant’s native language.
Prerequisite Courses
The pre-nursing curriculum totals 39 credits. Students may apply after completing four prerequisites (including biology and an additional science course); all must be complete before the Nursing Core Curriculum begins.
Science Courses (minimum combined 2.75 GPA):
- BIO 135: Microbiology Basics (4)
- BIO 167: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
- BIO 168: Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
- CHM 150: General Chemistry for Health Sciences (3) + CHM 151: Chemistry Laboratory (1), or higher-level CHM lecture and lab (excluding CHM 135)
- NSC 207: Pathophysiology (3)
- NSC 233: General Principles of Pharmacology (3)
BIO 135, BIO 167, BIO 168, NSC 207, and NSC 233 must be completed no more than ten years prior to application (if NSC 207 was completed within ten years, the time limit for BIO 167 and BIO 168 is waived).
Non-Science Courses (minimum combined 2.5 GPA):
- ENG 111: College Rhetoric (3)
- ENG 112: Critical Writing and Reading (3)
- NSC 209: Basic Nutrition for Healthcare Practitioners (3)
- NUR 110: Introduction to Professional Nursing (2)
- PSY 100: Principles of Psychology (3)
- PSY 313: Developmental Psychology (3)
NSC 100: Student Success in Nursing (1 credit) is recommended the semester prior to admission but not required. A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in each prerequisite.
Curriculum
The 62-credit Nursing Core Curriculum spans four full-time semesters over 16 months. Eight core courses include clinical components at regional hospitals and healthcare facilities, and four competency-based courses involve classroom and simulation-center work.
NUR 202 – Health Assessment (3 credits)
This course develops adult health assessment skills across physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual domains. Students practice focused interviewing and examination techniques to strengthen accurate data collection and interpretation.
NUR 240 – Adult Nursing Care I (9 credits)
This course introduces foundational adult nursing care through integrated theory and clinical practice. Students identify common health problems, apply clinical decision-making, and build therapeutic communication and teaching skills within legal, ethical, and cultural guidelines.
NUR 331 – Maternity Nursing (4 credits)
This course prepares students to provide beginning-level care for the childbearing family. Students address maternal and newborn needs across the maternity cycle and apply evidence-based, culturally responsive care in varied clinical settings.
NUR 336 – Parent-Child Nursing (5 credits)
This course applies the nursing process and evidence-based practice to pediatric care in the context of the family. Students support growth and development, promote wellness, and manage acute and chronic conditions across childhood in clinical settings.
NUR 340 – Adult Nursing Care II (9 credits)
This course advances adult nursing care for acute, chronic, and complex conditions. Students integrate genetics, development, culture, and family factors to plan, implement, and evaluate safe interventions, including end-of-life care, during clinical experiences.
NUR 346 – Mental Health Nursing (5 credits)
This course introduces nursing care for individuals, groups, and families with mental health needs. Students use psychobiological concepts, therapeutic communication, and evidence-based strategies in supervised clinical settings.
NUR 370 – Health Policy for Nursing (2 credits)
This course examines how policy shapes nursing practice across systems and communities. Students analyze real issues and develop policy proposals that guide care delivery in public and private settings.
NUR 410 – Theoretical Concepts of Population-Centered Nursing (5 credits)
This course blends nursing and public health concepts to improve community wellness. Students apply epidemiology, prevention, and health promotion strategies during clinical experiences in diverse community settings.
NUR 430 – Leadership and Management in Nursing (3-5 credits)
This course builds leadership and management skills for practice in healthcare systems. Students apply administrative and leadership concepts in clinical settings to strengthen communication, teamwork, and decision-making.
NUR 435 – Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge and Practice (6-7 credits)
This course is a precepted clinical experience where students manage care for groups of patients. Students present cases and use evidence and theory to strengthen clinical judgment, professional role development, and self-assessment.
NUR 308 – Research, Evidence-Based Practice and Informatics in Nursing (3 credits)
This course teaches students how to locate, evaluate, and apply research to nursing care. Students also learn how informatics and technology support safety, ethics, and quality in patient education and clinical decision-making.
NUR 219 – Competency-Based Assessment I (1 credit, Pass/Fail)
This course introduces core clinical competencies aligned with professional nursing standards. Students practice essential skills through simulation and lab activities while enrolled with Adult Nursing Care I.
NUR 318 – Competency-Based Assessment II (2 credits, Pass/Fail)
This course strengthens hands-on patient care skills through interactive lab and simulation learning. Students build proficiency in essential techniques that support safe care during concurrent clinical coursework.
NUR 319 – Competency-Based Evaluation I (2 credits, Pass/Fail)
This course emphasizes advanced skill performance, clinical judgment, and evidence-based care. Students demonstrate competency through structured lab and simulation activities tied to concurrent nursing courses.
NUR 419 – Competency-Based Evaluation II (2 credits, Pass/Fail)
This course validates readiness for professional practice through mastery of advanced competencies. Students integrate complex skills, leadership concepts, and systems thinking in simulation and clinical learning activities.
Total program credits: 120 (39 pre-nursing + 62 nursing core + general education from the previous bachelor’s degree). More detail is available in the UM-Flint catalog.
Clinical Experience & Simulation
Students learn in the two-floor Center for Simulation and Clinical Innovation, where faculty guide immersive simulations that strengthen evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making. Eight core courses include clinical components at local hospitals and other healthcare providers throughout the Flint region and surrounding communities, and these placements often lead to full-time positions after graduation.
Clinical placements are made by the program director in consultation with course faculty; students provide their own transportation to clinical agencies and must meet health, background-check, and agency-specific requirements (a valid driver’s license and car insurance may be required).
Health & Professional Requirements
At the student’s expense, required items include uniforms, annual medical testing, drug testing, medical equipment, background checks, health forms, a pre-entrance physical, immunizations, BLS certification (maintained throughout), health insurance, textbooks, and possible fingerprinting. Students missing any requirement by announced deadlines may be administratively dropped, with readmission dependent on available space.
Tuition & Scholarships
As a public university, UM-Flint charges by residency. In-state tuition is about $680 per credit hour (roughly $32,000-$33,000 total for the 62-credit nursing core), and out-of-state tuition is about $1,305.50 per credit hour (roughly $63,000-$64,000 total).
A per-semester Registration Assessment Fee ($374) applies, and books and clinical-related costs are additional. Students who transfer into UM-Flint with a GPA of at least 3.0 automatically receive a $5,000 UM-Flint Transfer Scholarship ($2,500 across the first two academic years), and more than a dozen School of Nursing scholarships are available.
Confirm current figures via the official undergraduate nursing tuition page.
Career Outlook
Demand for registered nurses remains strong; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual RN salary of about $86,070, with roughly 193,100 job openings projected annually. A BSN also prepares graduates to pursue advanced degrees such as an MSN or an MS in Physician Assistant.