Idaho’s two listed accelerated nursing options offer different routes into a BSN: Idaho State’s 12-month public-university program at four Idaho sites and GCU’s 16-month hybrid sequence in Meridian. Compare degree entry, required attendance and start dates alongside estimated tuition, which ranges from $9,777.36 to $53,550 before required fees, prerequisites and living expenses.
Last Updated: October 7, 2026
Idaho ABSN Programs at a Glance
| School | Est. Tuition | Duration | GPA | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Idaho State University Pocatello, Meridian, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene, ID | $9,777.36 | 12 months | 3.0 Set A prerequisites | May |
Grand Canyon University Meridian (Boise area), ID | $53,550 | 16 months | 3.0 pre-nursing; 3.25 prerequisites | Fall / Spring / Summer |
How to Compare Idaho ABSN Programs
Prior bachelor’s degree and one-year sequence: Idaho State University requires a bachelor’s degree in another discipline before the program starts, under its posted program admissions instructions. Its 57-credit nursing plan runs Summer, Fall and Spring, with one May entry each year.
Transfer-credit entry and more start opportunities: Grand Canyon University accepts qualifying applicants with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 applicable college credits, subject to completing its required preparation. The accelerated portion can take 16 months; students needing additional prerequisite or general education courses require more time before that sequence.
Compare the full bill: ISU has the lower resident tuition estimate, but substantial consolidated and nursing professional fees are additional. GCU publishes an accelerated-portion tuition estimate and bills ancillary program costs separately; neither opening figure is an all-in budget.
Program Format and Attendance
ISU’s four locations: Idaho State combines classroom and online instruction with required labs, simulation and clinical experiences. Students must live within daily commuting distance of the campus where they are admitted: Meridian, Pocatello, Twin Falls or Coeur d’Alene at Kootenai Health.
GCU’s Meridian learning site: GCU teaches nursing theory online, while exams are proctored in person and skills labs, simulation and clinical rotations require attendance. Its Boise-area site is at 1144 S. Silverstone Way, Suite 200, Meridian, ID 83642.
Plan around fixed attendance: Online coursework does not remove hands-on requirements or clinical travel. Review the entering cohort’s schedule and assigned locations before deciding where to live or how much employment you can maintain; GCU also integrates a Christian worldview into its nursing education.
Admissions and Prerequisite Differences
| School | Minimum GPA | Entrance exam and entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
3.0 Set A at application; 3.0 combined Set A + B before entry | ATI TEAS total 60%; bachelor’s degree before May start | |
3.0 across 60 required pre-nursing credits; 3.25 in designated prerequisites | HESI A2: English composite 80%, math 80%, anatomy/physiology 75%; qualifying prior degree or transfer-credit entry |
ISU preparation: Its 42–44 prerequisite credits are split into Set A, completed before applying, and Set B, completed before enrollment. Each course requires C or better; the application GPA uses Set A, and at least 12 Set A credits must be graded on a 4.0 scale. The program page applies a three-year limit to Pathobiology and Pharmacology and no expiration period to the other prerequisites.
GCU preparation: Its designated prerequisites include chemistry with lab, Anatomy and Physiology II with lab, microbiology with lab, pathophysiology, nutrition and lifespan development. General education includes additional preparation such as Anatomy and Physiology I, statistics and composition; transfer evaluation determines what remains, and a prior degree does not automatically waive every requirement.
Testing and transfer review: GCU’s reviewed Fall 2026 handbook applies a seven-year prerequisite recency rule and a two-year HESI validity window. Its required HESI section scores must come from one attempt. ISU requires adviser verification for application access and petitions for courses that do not transfer as direct nursing prerequisites; minimum eligibility at either school does not guarantee admission.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Start options | Final application deadline |
|---|---|---|
May, once annually | February 15 at 5 p.m. | |
Fall, Spring and Summer | Rolling secondary admission; requirements due at least seven days before the semester begins |
ISU’s next annual cycle: The published schedule opens November 15, 2026 at 8 a.m. and closes February 15, 2027 at 5 p.m. for the May 2027 cohort. The September 2026 application instructions require TEAS completion five days before closing—February 10 under that schedule—and call for prerequisite petitions at least 15 days before closing, with approval before applying.
Allow time before the deadline: ISU directs applicants to meet an adviser early, at least two weeks before closing; decisions arrive around March 1 or early March. GCU reviews secondary applications on a rolling basis, but the seven-day cutoff is not a recommended starting point for transcript evaluation, entrance testing or clinical clearance; confirm the selected cohort’s actual start date.
Tuition and Costs
The opening figures cover the accelerated nursing sequence before financial aid. ISU’s estimate applies current university rates across its verified three-semester plan; GCU publishes its program calculation. Rates can change in future terms, and any additional preparation increases costs.
| School | Tuition basis | Required fees and additional costs |
|---|---|---|
$9,777.36 resident: three full-time terms × $3,259.12 at 2026–27 rates | $4,231.14 consolidated fees + $4,836 nursing professional fees; $18,844.50 tuition plus these fees | |
$53,550: 63 accelerated-portion credits × $850 | Ancillary program fees, clinical placement software, health insurance, course materials, supplies/equipment and graduation charges are separate |
ISU’s summer billing and residency: Accelerated nursing uses a flat full-time summer billing model rather than ordinary per-credit summer tuition. The estimate applies the latest 2026–27 full-time rates across all three 19-credit terms; future rates are not guaranteed. The corresponding nonresident tuition estimate is $38,929.86, or $47,997 with the same consolidated and nursing professional fees; approved WUE or nonresident waivers may reduce eligible students’ charges.
GCU’s credit basis: The 63-credit tuition calculation includes its 60-credit nursing major plus three-credit NSG-310, taken during the accelerated portion. Prerequisites and other remaining general education are additional; the official ABSN tuition page explicitly excludes ancillary program fees from the $53,550 estimate.
Build a personal budget: Include books, uniforms, supplies, screening, BLS certification, insurance, transportation, possible clinical lodging, housing and meals. ISU advertises nursing scholarships through BOSS, generally announced in April/May; check school-specific aid eligibility and complete FAFSA for consideration for applicable federal aid.
Clinical Training and Travel
ISU’s assigned placements: Idaho State’s accelerated plan lists 630 clinical hours, with assessment and foundations lab hours separate. Its clinical assignments can involve travel up to 200 miles, overnight stays and evening or weekend schedules; students pay transportation and lodging costs.
GCU’s Boise-area experiences: GCU pairs online theory with in-person simulation, skills practice and rotations through nursing specialties at nearby healthcare facilities. Assigned placements and clearance requirements govern attendance; a specific hospital or commute is not guaranteed.
Clinical readiness and licensure: Both pathways require health documentation, BLS/CPR and screening consistent with school and agency policies. ISU’s BSN and GCU’s Idaho nursing offering identify CCNE accreditation; graduation prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and remaining licensure requirements. Review any pass-rate figure by reporting year and population before comparing schools, because a university-wide BSN result does not establish an Idaho ABSN-specific outcome.
Program Summaries
List of ABSN Programs in ID
Grand Canyon University ABSN Program
Meridian (Boise area) | $53,550 | 16 Months
GCU’s Meridian learning site offers a 16-month accelerated nursing sequence with online theory and required in-person exams, labs, simulation and clinical rotations. Applicants may qualify with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 applicable college credits, subject to prerequisite, GPA and HESI requirements. Three annual starts are available; estimated tuition is $53,550 before ancillary program fees and additional preparation.
Idaho State ABSN Program
Pocatello | $9,777.36 | 12 Months
Idaho State’s 12-month ABSN has one May start and a 57-credit Summer–Fall–Spring nursing sequence. Classroom and online learning is paired with required labs and assigned clinical experiences in Meridian, Pocatello, Twin Falls or Coeur d’Alene. Applicants need a 3.0 Set A prerequisite GPA and TEAS 60%; estimated resident tuition is $9,777.36 before required fees and other costs... read more.
Explore Nearby ABSN Options
Compare programs in Utah, Washington and Arizona, or explore ABSN programs nationwide. Each state’s clinical attendance, transfer rules and costs warrant a separate review.