Last Updated: October 2, 2026
Compare ten Connecticut accelerated nursing programs lasting 12–16 months. Most require a previous bachelor’s degree; Quinnipiac also accepts applicants with a non-nursing associate degree. Programs differ in campus attendance, start terms, science prerequisites and the fees added to tuition.
Current-rate tuition and tuition-equivalent estimates range from $11,373 to $57,320 before additional fees. Quinnipiac’s separately identified $59,860 cohort figure includes fees and meal plans. These are planning figures, not guaranteed offers for a future entering cohort.
Connecticut ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Est. Tuition | Duration | GPA | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Connecticut State New Britain, CT | $28,860 | 15 Months | 3.0 | Winter |
Fairfield University Fairfield, CT | $57,320 | 15 Months | 3.0 | May |
Goodwin University East Hartford, CT | $53,016 | 16 Months | 3.0 | Fall |
Quinnipiac University North Haven, CT | $59,860† | 15 Months | 3.0 | Jan / Aug |
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT | $47,560 | 15 Months | 3.0 | May / June |
Southern Connecticut State New Haven, CT | $11,373 | 12 Months | 3.0 | May / Dec |
UConn Storrs, Avery Point, Waterbury, CT | $39,015* | 12 Months | 3.0 | January |
University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | $49,416 | 15 Months | 3.0 | Jan / May |
University of Saint Joseph West Hartford, CT | $55,140 | 15 Months | 3.0 | May |
Western Connecticut State Danbury, CT | $16,055 | 15 Months | 2.7 | May |
Public-university estimates use the residency and billing assumptions explained below. *UConn’s amount is its CEIN program charge, used as tuition-equivalent. †Quinnipiac’s amount includes billed fees and meals and is not tuition-only. Follow each school link for the full calculation and additional costs.
How to Compare Connecticut ABSN Programs
12-month pathways: Southern Connecticut State and UConn complete their accelerated sequences in one year, with required campus, lab and clinical attendance.
Hybrid coursework: Central Connecticut State, Goodwin University and UConn combine online coursework with in-person nursing preparation. Compare the campus and clinical schedule before planning work or commuting.
Multiple start terms: Quinnipiac University offers January and August entry; University of Bridgeport offers January and May entry; Southern Connecticut State offers May and December entry.
Without a completed bachelor’s degree: Quinnipiac University also accepts applicants with a non-nursing associate degree. The other represented programs require a previous bachelor’s degree.
Tuition and required fees: Southern Connecticut State and Western Connecticut State have the lowest tuition-only estimates here, but substantial required fees raise educational costs. Quinnipiac’s combined figure includes fees and meals.
Program pace: Goodwin University lasts 16 months; the programs other than Goodwin, Southern and UConn last 15 months. Compare term loads and attendance requirements as well as total duration.
Program Format and Attendance
Central Connecticut State: Campus and online coursework combine with simulation and Greater Hartford clinical placements. The 15-month program begins in winter at New Britain.
Fairfield University: The Connecticut cohort attends campus in Fairfield and completes coordinated clinical placements over 15 months after May entry. Fairfield’s Austin, Texas program is a separate option.
Goodwin University: Online coursework combines with campus laboratory, simulation and clinical learning in the 16-month program based in East Hartford. Fall entry requires planning for in-person attendance.
Quinnipiac University: The 15-month program is based in North Haven, with campus instruction and clinical learning after January or August entry.
Sacred Heart University: Campus instruction, simulation and clinical experiences accompany the 15-month second-degree program in Fairfield. Entry is generally late May or June; the next published start is June 1, 2027.
Southern Connecticut State: The 12-month program is based in New Haven, with campus and clinical attendance across an intensive continuous sequence. Cohorts begin in May and December.
UConn: Online coursework combines with required campus, laboratory and clinical learning over 12 months after January entry. Current CEIN locations are Storrs, Avery Point and Waterbury; plan travel around your assigned campus.
University of Bridgeport: The 15-month program combines campus classes, simulation and clinical experiences in Bridgeport, with January or May entry subject to available seats.
University of Saint Joseph: The 15-month program begins in May at West Hartford and combines campus instruction with course-specific clinical experiences.
Western Connecticut State: The 15-month program in Danbury is primarily daytime, with selected online courses and required laboratory and clinical attendance. The sequence begins in May.
Online coursework does not eliminate campus, skills, simulation or clinical attendance. Clinical assignments may require travel beyond the teaching campus.
Where You Attend
- Greater Hartford: CCSU in New Britain, Goodwin in East Hartford and USJ in West Hartford.
- New Haven area: Southern in New Haven and Quinnipiac in North Haven.
- Fairfield County: Fairfield and Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Bridgeport in Bridgeport, and Western in Danbury.
- UConn: Storrs, Avery Point and Waterbury; use the campus listed in your offer when planning travel.
Admissions and Prerequisite Differences
| School | Minimum GPA | Key Admission Detail |
|---|---|---|
3.0 | Cumulative GPA; C+ prerequisites, sciences within eight years. In-person science labs/exams. | |
3.0 | Prior bachelor’s GPA; B or better in six prerequisites within ten years. Humanities/transfer-credit review. | |
3.0 | Prior bachelor’s GPA or 12 Goodwin credits; no rounding. TEAS minimum 58.7%. | |
3.0 | Cumulative GPA; non-nursing associate or bachelor’s degree accepted. Five B− prerequisites within five years. | |
3.0 | Cumulative undergraduate GPA; science/math B− within five years. Prior bachelor’s degree. | |
3.0 | Cumulative GPA across post-secondary study; C+ prerequisites completed by the application deadline. No TEAS. | |
3.0 | Undergraduate GPA; TEAS minimum 72%. Prerequisites within eight years, with specified B−/C grades. | |
3.0 | Cumulative GPA across institutions; math/science C+ within seven years. ABSN does not require TEAS. | |
3.0 | Cumulative GPA across all college work; science B− and prerequisites within five years. One science repeat permitted. | |
2.7 | Prior bachelor’s degree required; prerequisites complete before entry, sciences within ten years with in-person labs. |
Minimums establish eligibility rather than guarantee admission. Prerequisite lists and transfer decisions differ. UConn accepts in-person, online and hybrid labs for its chemistry and anatomy/physiology requirements; CCSU and Western publish in-person science-lab requirements. Check the school’s course-equivalency rules before paying for a prerequisite.
Southern requires all prerequisites by its application deadline. Bridgeport allows up to three outstanding prerequisites when applying; Sacred Heart and UConn allow limited outstanding coursework under their stated conditions. USJ’s FAQ permits at most one in-progress prerequisite with midterm documentation. All required work must meet the school’s completion deadline.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Final Application Deadline | Start and Cycle |
|---|---|---|
Sep 1 | Winter entry; June 1–September 1 application window. The 2026 window has closed. | |
Feb 1 | May entry at the Connecticut campus; rolling review before the deadline. | |
May 31 | Fall 2027; May 31, 2027 is the in-progress applicant deadline. | |
Jun 1 / Nov 1 | June 1 for August entry; November 1 for January entry. | |
Feb 1 | June 1, 2027 next start; February 1, 2027 deadline, then review while seats remain. | |
Dec 15, Jul 15 | December 15 for May entry; July 15 for December entry. May 2027 deadline: December 15, 2026. | |
Sep 1 | January entry. The January 2027 cohort’s September 1, 2026 deadline has passed. | |
Rolling | January or May entry, subject to available seats. | |
May 1 | May entry; published recurring regular deadline. | |
Jan 2 | May 2027 entry; January 2, 2027 deadline at 12:59 p.m. |
Dates are recurring unless a cohort year is stated. Priority dates can be earlier than the final deadline: Goodwin’s Fall 2027 priority date is December 31, 2026; Quinnipiac lists September 1 for January entry and March 1 for fall entry; USJ lists February 1. Bridgeport lists October 1 and January 20 priority dates for its January and May starts. Use the detailed profiles for required documents, priority eligibility and current cycle status.
Tuition and Costs
The estimates apply current published rates across the reviewed program sequences. Calculated totals are planning estimates rather than guaranteed package prices; actual charges may change with tuition increases, billing periods, enrollment or transfer requirements. Quinnipiac’s combined cohort price and UConn’s CEIN program charge are identified separately.
| School | Tuition calculation | Additional costs to budget |
|---|---|---|
60 credits × $481 graduate part-time tuition = $28,860. Assumes per-credit billing under the bachelor-holder policy; actual term assessment may differ. | Resident general fees add $19,680; nursing and registration charges are additional. | |
Four semesters × $14,330 = $57,320. | Listed testing/lab fees could add $1,196 across four terms; a $267 senior NCLEX fee may also apply. | |
Published fixed tuition = $53,016. Obtain the entering cohort’s written tuition/fee schedule. | Prerequisites, TEAS, compliance, clinical travel and living costs may be extra. The $500 deposit is credited toward tuition. | |
Fall 2026 cohort combined billed tuition, fees and meals = $59,860. A tuition-only total is not separately established. | Billed fees and meal plans are already included in this combined figure. Insurance and indirect expenses are excluded; do not rank it as tuition-only. | |
58 credits × $820 = $47,560, including 55 nursing credits and the three-credit CIT seminar. | Ten listed lab charges total $2,850; nursing differential and registration charges also apply by billing period. | |
(3 × $3,499) + (3 × $292) = $11,373 for resident summer entry. Assumes combined summer billing and allocated intersession tuition components. | About $12,824 in listed fees brings educational charges to $24,197 before other expenses. Winter-entry and residency billing differ. | |
45 credits × $867 CEIN program charge = $39,015, used as tuition-equivalent. | Technology, infrastructure, transit and book-bundle fees are additional; campus and year affect charges. | |
Four semesters × $12,354 = $49,416. | Listed recurring fees and orientation add $9,680, bringing the planning total to $59,096 before insurance and other expenses. | |
Four semesters × $13,785 = $55,140. Assumes each summer’s sessions are combined for billing. | Two explicitly listed nursing course fees add $690; other clinical-course fees and expenses are additional. | |
$3,499 + (43 × $292) = $16,055 for CT/NY/NJ residents, following the published 60-credit pathway. | Listed university/general fees add $18,197.50; nursing, intersession registration and other charges are additional. Approved cohort credit distribution can change costs. |
Residency affects the public-university estimates. Southern’s out-of-state fall/spring tuition adds $3,500 across those two terms at current rates; intersession rates are the same by residency. Western’s estimate for other U.S. residents is $17,805. CCSU’s fee estimate uses resident general fees; its tuition calculation follows the bachelor-holder graduate part-time policy.
Prerequisites, books, uniforms, health clearance, clinical transportation, insurance, housing and living expenses are generally outside these tuition figures. The linked profiles explain term loads, billing assumptions and fee schedules. Rates may increase during programs spanning academic years; no future increases are predicted.
Clinical Training and NCLEX Outcomes
Clinical learning includes adult health, mental health, maternal/child care, community nursing and transition to professional practice. Check health and immunization documents, healthcare-provider BLS, background checks, drug screening and clinical transportation requirements early. Clinical agencies can impose additional clearance requirements and assign locations away from the teaching campus.
Fairfield University publishes 504 clinical hours and 112 lab hours in its Connecticut plan and coordinates placements. Western Connecticut State identifies a 135-hour final practicum. University of Saint Joseph publishes weekly clinical hours by course rather than a single program-wide total. These measures describe different parts of training and should not be treated as equivalent totals.
For NCLEX comparisons, look for the reporting year, cohort size and first-attempt measure. An institution-wide BSN result may combine traditional and accelerated graduates. The profiles retain verified outcomes with their reporting populations; historical pass rates and clinical partnerships do not guarantee licensure, a preferred placement or employment.
Review More ABSN Programs in Nearby States
CT ABSN Program Summaries
Central Connecticut State University ABSN Program
New Britain | $28,860 | 15 Months
Central Connecticut State University’s 15-month ABSN starts in winter and includes 60 nursing credits. It combines campus and online learning with simulation, Greater Hartford clinical placements and a precepted capstone. Current admissions guidance specifies a 3.0 GPA... read more.
Fairfield University ABSN Program
Fairfield | $57,320 | 15 Months
Fairfield’s Connecticut ASDNU is a 15-month, on-campus program beginning in May. It includes 60 nursing credits over four semesters, coordinated clinical placements, 504 clinical hours and 112 lab hours. Applicants need a prior bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA and completed prerequisites... read more.
Goodwin University ABSN Program
East Hartford | $53,016 | 16 Months
Goodwin’s hybrid ABSN in East Hartford includes 60 nursing credits over 16 months, beginning in fall. Applicants need a prior bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA, six prerequisites and TEAS. The university publishes a fixed-tuition model and requires campus and clinical attendance... read more.
Quinnipiac University ABSN Program
North Haven | $59,860 | 15 Months
Quinnipiac’s 15-month ABSN in North Haven starts in January and August. Its current 60-credit nursing plan integrates holistic care, simulation and clinical practice. Applicants with a non-nursing associate or bachelor’s degree need a 3.0 GPA and completed prerequisites... read more.
Sacred Heart University ABSN Program
Fairfield | $47,560 | 15 Months
Sacred Heart’s 15-month second-degree BSN in Fairfield includes 55 nursing credits and a required three-credit CIT seminar. Campus labs, simulation and regional clinical placements prepare students for practice; an optional two-week nursing-leadership course takes place in Dingle, Ireland... read more.
Southern Connecticut State ABSN Program
New Haven | $11,373 | 12 Months
Southern Connecticut State University offers a 12-month, in-person ABSN with May and December entry. Its 53-credit nursing plan includes simulation, specialty clinical courses and a capstone. Applicants need a 3.0 cumulative GPA and completed prerequisites; the ABSN does not require TEAS... read more.
UConn ABSN Program
Storrs, Avery Point, Waterbury | $39,015 | 12 Months
UConn’s 12-month BS/CEIN begins in January and includes 45 nursing credits. Hybrid coursework combines with campus labs, simulation and clinical placements at Storrs, Avery Point and Waterbury. Admission requires a prior bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA, prerequisites and TEAS... read more.
University of Bridgeport ABSN Program
Bridgeport | $49,416 | 15 Months
Bridgeport’s ABSN takes 15 months, with January and May starts and four full semesters described in its admissions guide. Campus learning, simulation and clinical placements serve students with a prior bachelor’s degree. Admission requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA and prerequisites; TEAS is not required for ABSN... read more.
University of Saint Joseph ABSN Program
West Hartford | $55,140 | 15 Months
USJ’s 15-month Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing in West Hartford begins in May and includes 61 nursing credits. Classroom learning, simulation and clinical experience cover adult, mental health, pediatric, maternal and community nursing. Applicants need a prior bachelor’s degree and 3.0 cumulative GPA... read more.
Western Connecticut State ABSN Program
Danbury | $16,055 | 15 Months
Western Connecticut State University’s 15-month ABiN begins in May in Danbury. The primarily daytime program includes selected online courses, clinical rotations and a 135-hour final practicum. Applicants need a 2.7 GPA and completed prerequisites, including sciences with in-person labs... read more.