Two Consecutive 100% NCLEX Pass Rates. Public University Tuition. Gulf Coast Mississippi.
USM’s ABSN pathway is among the newest programs reviewed in this compilation — and it has already posted back-to-back 100% first-attempt NCLEX pass rates across its first two graduating cohorts. That outcome is rare at any price point; at a public Mississippi university, it makes USM’s Gulf Park ABSN one of the strongest cost-per-outcome propositions reviewed anywhere on this site.
The program is housed at USM’s Gulf Park campus on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, offering a 12-month, three-semester pathway to a BSN with Fall and Spring entry options.
The Bower Foundation has partnered with USM to provide eligible students with scholarships covering tuition, fees, and a stipend — reducing the already-low public tuition to zero for qualifying cohort members.
Faculty come from a range of nursing specialties, simulation is integrated throughout, and the College of Nursing and Health Professions is one of only three institutions in Mississippi producing doctoral research graduates in health fields.
ABSN Admission Summary
The ABSN uses a two-step process: students must first be admitted to USM as undergraduates, then apply separately to the ABSN pathway through the School of Professional Nursing Practice (SPNP). Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission — selection is competitive from a qualified applicant pool. There are no exceptions to application deadlines.
Step 1 — Apply to USM:
- Submit USM undergraduate application ($45 nonrefundable fee)
- Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- For the ABSN pathway, applicants enter as second-degree undergraduates; the USM application must be submitted for the same semester as the intended ABSN start
Step 2 — Apply to the ABSN pathway:
- Must be admitted to USM before submitting the ABSN application
- Applicants may apply when at least 75% of prerequisite nursing courses are complete, including at least 3 of the 4 natural science prerequisites — remaining prerequisites must be complete before program start
- Complete and submit the ABSN application online by the deadline (February 1 for Fall; September 1 for Spring)
- Submit all official transcripts to USM Office of Admissions; official transcript confirming bachelor’s degree conferred must be on file
- Complete a Second Baccalaureate Degree Plan — must be signed, approved by the ABSN pathway director, and on file in the Dean’s office before program start
Academic requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree conferred from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.5 overall GPA across all prerequisite courses; C or higher in each individual prerequisite
- Only one natural science course may be repeated — only one time
Nursing Entrance Exam:
- USM administers its own Nursing Entrance Exam — this is not the ATI TEAS or NLN NEX; it is a USM-specific exam
- Cost: $100 per administration, paid at time of online registration; non-refundable and non-transferable
- Valid for 3 years from test date
- Only one attempt per admission period
- For the February 1 deadline, on-site testing is available at Asbury Hall, Hattiesburg campus (2nd floor, Suite 220) on four scheduled dates in January; arrive 30 minutes before exam time with state-issued photo ID
- Scores are non-transferable between USM programs
- Students with SAS accommodations must notify Terry Whittington (Terry.M.Whittington@usm.edu) before registering
Four required prerequisite courses (C or higher in each; at least 3 of the 4 natural sciences must be complete before applying):
- Chemistry with lab — must be General Chemistry or Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biochemistry (CHE 106 or CHE 110 at USM; cannot be CHE 100; from transfer institution must be pre-med level chemistry — CHE 1213/1211, 1214, or 1214H)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (BSC 250 or equivalent BIO 2513/2511/2514)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (BSC 251 or equivalent BIO 2523/2521/2524)
- Microbiology with lab — Microorganisms in Health and Disease or General Microbiology (BSC 282/282L or BSC 283/283L; BIO 2923/2921 or 2924 equivalent)
Clinical compliance — required before starting clinical courses:
- Physical examination and selected immunizations before upper-division nursing enrollment
- TB screening and substance screening annually
- CPR certification required and maintained current throughout the program
- HIPAA training current throughout
- Criminal background check
- Immunization requirements per SPNP Student Handbook
- Professional and personal liability insurance purchased through USM (fee charged at registration)
- Automobile liability insurance — student’s responsibility
- Laptop computer compliant with USM iTech recommendations
Progression standards:
- C or higher required in every nursing course including courses with a clinical component
- Maximum two withdrawals from the nursing program — any additional withdrawal or failure causes dismissal
- Maximum two individual course repeats total — any additional unsuccessful attempt causes dismissal
- Students allowed one repeat of the same nursing course, space permitting; a second grade below C in a repeated course results in dismissal
- All courses with clinical components must be passed in a given semester before progressing to clinical courses the following semester
- NSG 423 and NSG 449L must be completed in the final semester of the ABSN plan of study
- Students with one semester of lapsed enrollment must update clinical requirements and demonstrate proficiency in prior coursework; two or more semesters of lapsed enrollment requires reapplying as a new applicant
- Unsafe patient care, academic integrity breaches, ANA Code of Ethics violations, or unprofessional behavior may result in dismissal via SPNP Professional Conduct Committee
- Dismissal may be appealed to the Admissions, Progression and Retention (APR) Committee
Bower Foundation Scholarship:
Eligible ABSN students may receive Bower Foundation funding covering tuition, fees, and a living stipend — reducing the cost of the program to zero for qualifying students. Contact Taylor Williams (taylor.e.williams@usm.edu or 228-214-3379) for current scholarship availability and eligibility information.
Curriculum
The ABSN pathway culminates in upper-division nursing courses across three semesters of study. Students who have earned a prior bachelor’s degree bypass certain general BSN requirements, focusing the curriculum on the nursing core. Simulation is integrated throughout the program to prepare students before live clinical placement.
Prerequisite Overview
Four science prerequisites required — all with in-person labs, C or higher, pre-med level Chemistry required. At least three of the four must be complete before applying; all four must be complete before program start. Only one natural science course may be repeated one time. See the admission summary above for the full list.
Course Descriptions
The ABSN pathway builds on a prior bachelor’s degree and ends with upper-division nursing courses across three semesters.
The curriculum includes classroom learning and clinical practice, and it teaches ethics, leadership, practice laws, and research in the nursing context.
NSG 311 – Pathophysiology
Examines key pathophysiological processes in the body caused by internal and external imbalances, emphasizing the mechanisms behind homeostatic disruptions.
NSG 330 – Health Assessment & Health Promotion Theory & Lab
Focuses on health assessment techniques and strategies to promote wellness across all life stages, integrating theory and practical skills.
NSG 332 – Role Development as a Nurse Scientist
Explores career management and the evolving role of nurses as scientists, emphasizing research and professional growth through writing-intensive coursework.
NSG 354 – Population Health Nursing Theory and Praxis
Covers the principles of population health, including determinants of health and epidemiology, with practical applications for improving community well-being.
NSG 417 – Health Care Systems
Prepares students to advocate for patients, engage in political action, and address social reform within healthcare systems.
NSG 418 – Evidence-Based Practice
Develops skills to evaluate and apply research, ensuring nursing practice is grounded in empirical evidence, sound judgment, and patient-centered care.
NSG 447 – Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing Practice
Provides a comprehensive framework of ethical and legal principles to guide safe and responsible nursing practice.
NSG 457 – Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Practice Experiences
Applies clinical guidelines, evidence-based practices, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety in healthcare settings.
NSG 488 – Leadership
Capstone course preparing students to lead effectively in healthcare organizations, fostering innovation and influence within the nursing profession.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog: USM Nursing BSN Catalog
Clinicals
Clinical experiences are integrated throughout the three-semester program, with simulation providing a safe practice environment before students enter affiliated healthcare facilities. The ABSN pathway is delivered at USM’s Gulf Park campus on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
- Simulation: On-site simulation incorporated throughout the program to prepare students before entry into clinical facilities; faculty from the SPNP with expertise across multiple nursing specialties supervise simulation and clinical experiences
- Clinical partners: The SPNP has partnered with healthcare agencies in the Gulf Coast region to provide clinical experiences — specific named clinical affiliates are not published in available materials; contact Taylor Williams at taylor.e.williams@usm.edu or 228-214-3379 for current clinical partner information
- Clinical scheduling: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to off-campus clinical facilities and agencies
- Final semester clinicals: NSG 449L is a required clinical lab course in the final semester — the capstone clinical experience before NCLEX eligibility
- NCLEX outcomes: The program’s first two graduating cohorts both achieved 100% first-attempt NCLEX pass rates — a benchmark exceeded by the majority of programs reviewed in this compilation
- Campus location: Gulf Park campus, Long Beach, Mississippi — coastal Mississippi Gulf Coast region; Hattiesburg main campus is approximately 70 miles north and houses the Nursing Entrance Exam testing site
Tuition
Estimated total program cost: ~$15,591 in-state tuition (3 semesters)
USM’s published Cost of Attendance confirms in-state undergraduate tuition at $10,394 per academic year (Fall + Spring). The ABSN’s three consecutive semesters span approximately 1.5 academic years, putting total in-state tuition at roughly $15,591. Summer semester rates may differ — confirm with USM Business Services before financial planning.
| Status | Annual Tuition | × 1.5 Years | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
In-state | $10,394 | 1.5 | ~$15,591 |
Out-of-state | $12,394 | 1.5 | ~$18,591 |
Additional USM COA components (annual estimates):
| Category | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
Misc Fees | $610 |
Books/Supplies | $860 |
Additional nursing-specific expenses estimated by USM:
- ~$3,000 (first nursing year) + ~$2,500 (second nursing year) in uniforms, books, skills kits, insurance, on-boarding clinical requirements, and student nurse organization fees
- Laptop computer — student purchase required
- Professional and personal liability insurance — charged at registration
- Transportation to clinical sites — student responsibility
Bower Foundation Scholarship: For eligible students, the Bower Foundation covers tuition, fees, and a living stipend — reducing net program cost to zero for qualifying cohort members. Contact Taylor Williams at taylor.e.williams@usm.edu or 228-214-3379 for current availability.
At ~$15,591 in-state tuition, USM is the second-most affordable ABSN reviewed in Mississippi after UMMC Oxford (~$15,846 tuition only), and significantly undercuts every private program in this compilation. With Bower Foundation support, eligible students complete the program at no direct cost.
See the official COA page for more details: USM Cost of Attendance
Accreditation
USM states that its nursing programs hold accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).