Program Overview
A fully online path into nursing you can complete from your own community — the University of Tulsa delivers asynchronous coursework with clinicals in your local area and just one week on campus in Tulsa, backed by a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2024.
The University of Tulsa offers an online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program designed for working professionals and adult learners who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The program can be completed in as few as 21 months and requires 60 core nursing credits delivered in accelerated eight-week sessions.
Coursework is completed asynchronously online; students attend a mandatory one-week on-campus skills bootcamp in Tulsa between sessions 2 and 3, then complete 630 clinical hours through in-person, cohort-based rotations in their local area led by experienced instructors.
With three start times a year and a local-clinical model, the program is built for flexibility, and TU reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2024 (and a 95% average from 2021-2023) — among Oklahoma’s highest.
Accreditation & Outcomes
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Tulsa is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and holds program approval from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. The University of Tulsa is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The program reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2024 and a 95% average from 2021-2023. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Requirements
Admission to TU’s online ABSN requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA, completion of prerequisite science courses with a C or better, and submission of application materials.
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (any major)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- All prerequisite courses completed with a C or better before beginning nursing major courses (students may apply before completing prerequisites)
- All nursing courses must be taken at TU and completed with a C or better
Application Materials
- Completed application and official transcripts from all schools attended (international transcripts require a World Education Services evaluation)
- Professional resume or CV
- $150 enrollment deposit
Professional Requirements
- Professional liability insurance ($25 per semester) and health insurance for clinical courses
- Initial criminal background check (paid by the University of Tulsa)
- Documented immunizations and CPR certification within the first 8 weeks of enrollment
- Completion of the on-campus five-day skills bootcamp before starting clinical courses
Start Dates — TU offers three start dates per year:
- Fall I Start: late August
- Spring I Start: mid-January
- Spring II Start: mid-March (application deadline February 5)
Prerequisite Courses (12 Science Credits)
Complete 12 prerequisite science credits with a C or higher before beginning nursing major courses (transfer courses equivalent to the following):
- BIOL-2151 Human Anatomy Lab (1 credit)
- BIOL-2153 Human Anatomy (3 credits)
- BIOL-2171 Human Physiology Lab (1 credit)
- BIOL-2173 Human Physiology (3 credits)
- CHEM-1004 Chemistry in Medicine (4 credits) OR CHEM 1013 General Chemistry I / CHEM 1011
Curriculum
The ABSN requires 120 total credit hours: 60 nursing major credits completed at TU, 11 nursing foundation credits, TU-specific prerequisite credits (if not transferred), 3 nursing elective credits, and 31 waived general education credits. All coursework is delivered in eight-week accelerated sessions, and the Roy Adaptation Model is integrated throughout.
Nursing Foundation Courses (11 Credits)
Transfer credit may be applied:
- AHS-2122 Normal Nutrition
- AHS-2223 Microbiology for Health Professionals
- AHS-2133 Life Span Processes OR PSY 3063 Developmental Psychology
- AHS-4043 Introduction to Applied Healthcare Research
Core Nursing Courses
NSG 2003 – Fundamentals of Nursing (3 hrs)
Introduces core nursing principles and the nursing process. Builds safe, ethical, and legal foundations for care across the lifespan.
NSG 2111 – Skills Lab (1 hr)
Provides an intensive skills immersion in the simulation center. Serves as a required boot camp and prerequisite for all clinical courses.
NSG 2233 – Pharmacology and Metrology (3 hrs)
Covers drug therapy basics and medication calculations. Emphasizes safe preparation and administration of drugs and solutions.
NSG 2343 – Acute and Chronic I (3 hrs)
Introduces common, uncomplicated adult medical-surgical conditions. Applies pathophysiology and pharmacology to nursing process-based care.
NSG 2373 – Acute and Chronic I Practicum (3 hrs)
Provides 135 hours of precepted clinical practice linked to Acute and Chronic I. Strengthens clinical judgment and bedside application.
NSG 2443 – Acute and Chronic II (3 hrs)
Builds on Acute and Chronic I with more complex adult conditions. Focuses on higher-level nursing interventions and clinical reasoning.
NSG 2473 – Acute and Chronic II Practicum (3 hrs)
Provides 135 hours of precepted clinical practice linked to Acute and Chronic II. Develops stronger judgment in complex adult care.
NSG 3053 – Health Assessment (3 hrs)
Teaches holistic assessment across the lifespan using the Roy Model. Develops interview, exam techniques, and documentation skills.
NSG 3063 – Theoretical Frameworks of Nursing (3 hrs)
Reviews nursing history, philosophy, and major theories. Emphasizes analysis of models, with focus on the Roy Adaptation Model.
NSG 3073 – Population Health (3 hrs)
Explores population health concepts and community-based nursing roles. Addresses disparities, social determinants, and needs assessment.
NSG 3071 – Population Health Practicum (1 hr)
Provides applied population health experience in a practice setting. Reinforces assessment, planning, and evaluation for community needs.
NSG 3543 – Specialized Populations I: Gerontology/Mental Health (3 hrs)
Introduces mental health concepts and care across the lifespan. Examines the physiologic and psychosocial needs of older adults.
NSG 3572 – Specialized Populations I Practicum (2 hrs)
Includes clinical hours in mental health and gerontology settings. Builds therapeutic communication and safe specialty care skills.
NSG 4013 – Nursing Care of the Family (3 hrs)
Uses a family-focused approach to health promotion and prevention. Applies evidence-based and culturally responsive interventions across settings.
NSG 4023 – Healthcare Informatics (3 hrs)
Introduces nursing informatics and healthcare technology use. Examines systems, data, and legal and ethical issues in digital care.
NSG 4263 – Nursing Science V (3 hrs)
Introduces nursing administration concepts with leadership theory and management skills. Prepares students to lead teams and support unit operations.
NSG 4343 – Specialized Populations II: Maternal/Child (3 hrs)
Focuses on care of women and families during childbearing. Covers newborn through adolescent nursing considerations.
NSG 4372 – Specialized Populations II Practicum (2 hrs)
Provides clinical hours in maternal-child settings. Builds hands-on skills in family-centered specialty care.
NSG 4543 – Quality Across Health Care Systems (3 hrs)
Examines how quality measures improve outcomes for individuals and populations. Identifies barriers and strategies for system-wide improvement.
NSG 4643 – Capstone (3 hrs)
Integrates program knowledge into a final applied project. Demonstrates competency through planning, implementation, and evaluation.
NSG 4843 – Acute and Chronic III (3 hrs)
Advances management of complex adult acute and chronic conditions. Emphasizes analysis, prioritization, and advanced nursing process use.
NSG 4873 – Acute and Chronic III Practicum (3 hrs)
Provides 135 hours of precepted clinical practice linked to Acute and Chronic III. Refines advanced clinical judgment and readiness for practice.
The Tulsa Curriculum and First Year Experience (31 hours) are waived for ABSN students. More detail is available in the TU nursing bulletin.
Clinical Experience
Students complete 630 total clinical hours, beginning with a mandatory one-week on-campus skills bootcamp in Tulsa (scheduled between eight-week sessions 2 and 3, focused on health assessment, nursing skills, and simulation), followed by six eight-week in-person clinical rotations in their local communities.
Rotations are cohort-based and led by experienced instructors, with students working alongside assigned preceptors at selected clinical sites under the oversight of a TU clinical coordinator; virtual simulation labs are also included.
The Oxley School of Nursing’s placement coordinators work to match students with quality clinical sites near them, though placements and any travel needs are not guaranteed.
Tuition
Total estimated tuition is $37,500 for the 60 nursing major credits at $625 per credit hour, with textbooks included. Additional costs include a one-time $150 enrollment deposit, professional liability insurance ($25 per semester for clinical courses), and required health insurance; the initial criminal background check is paid by TU.
Because total credits at TU depend on each student’s transcript evaluation, students with more transfer-credit needs may have different total costs.
TU waives 31 general education credits for ABSN students, reducing overall cost and time to completion.
Confirm current figures via the official program page.
Related Programs
TU also offers a 30-credit online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). ABSN graduates with a 3.0 GPA or greater who pass the NCLEX enjoy priority admission to continue advancing their professional skill set.