Compare six Louisiana accelerated nursing programs with nursing phases lasting 15–18 months. Options include campus study, hybrid coursework and nursing tuition tied to an employment agreement; most require a prior bachelor’s degree, while Tulane also admits eligible first-degree students.
Last Updated: October 14, 2026
Louisiana ABSN Programs at a Glance
Tuition figures are current-rate estimates for the nursing sequence only. Fees, prerequisites and living expenses are extra. Covered tuition involves program-specific eligibility and service terms; it does not establish a comparable unsubsidized price.
Estimate basis: Figures marked “Est.” are planning estimates at published rates, not guaranteed cohort prices. Profile articles explain billing assumptions, residency and fees. Amounts labelled “incl. fees” are not tuition-only totals.
| School | Est. Tuition | Duration | GPA | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FranU Baton Rouge, LA | $33,493 | 16 Months | 3.0 | January, August |
Louisiana Christian University Pineville, LA | Est. $45,166–$50,808 | 17 Months | 2.6 | Confirm cohort |
Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA | $52,920 | 17 Months | Confirm entry GPA | Confirm cohort |
Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond & Baton Rouge Center, LA | Est. $14,445 | 18 Months | 3.0 | Usually spring/summer |
Tulane University New Orleans, LA | $65,280 | 16 Months | 3.0 | Fall, spring, summer |
UL Lafayette Lafayette, LA | Nursing tuition covered; work agreement | 15 Months | 2.6 to apply | Confirm cohort |
How to Compare Louisiana ABSN Programs
- Start with eligibility: confirm whether your first degree and transferred prerequisites meet the pathway’s requirements.
- Compare attendance: online theory still comes with scheduled classes, skills sessions or in-person clinicals.
- Budget beyond tuition: request a cohort-specific bill covering fees, prerequisites and required supplies.
- Consider service commitments: employer-funded tuition can come with required employment and contract terms.
Use the detailed school profiles to compare course sequences and application requirements. A lower advertised GPA, a covered-tuition agreement or a school-wide outcome does not guarantee admission, licensure or a particular student result.
Best Louisiana ABSN Programs by Goal
Match your priorities to the programs below. These are feature-based options for a shortlist, rather than an overall ranking.
Finish the nursing phase quickly: UL Lafayette advertises 15 months after prerequisites; its mandatory three-year Ochsner agreement is part of participation.
Seek nursing tuition tied to employment: UL Lafayette provides nursing-course tuition under its required contract; Tulane University offers a separate competitive LCMC scholarship with at least two years of RN work.
Prefer synchronous online theory: Loyola University New Orleans combines scheduled online classes with New Orleans-area in-person training.
Need fall, spring or summer starts: Tulane University lists all three annual start terms; confirm cohort application dates.
Apply without a prior bachelor’s degree: Tulane University admits eligible first-degree students through its transfer/core pathways.
Study on the Northshore: Southeastern Louisiana University offers a Northshore option alongside Hammond/Baton Rouge.
Prefer a Christian campus nursing environment: Louisiana Christian University integrates Christian nursing values and service in Pineville; FranU offers a Franciscan campus program in Baton Rouge.
Program Format and Attendance
| School | Learning Format | Location and Attendance |
|---|---|---|
Campus, full time | Baton Rouge; classroom instruction and in-person clinical learning. | |
Campus, full time | Pineville; Christian nursing mission, clinical learning and service. | |
Hybrid, full time | Synchronous online theory plus skills verification, simulation and Greater New Orleans clinicals. | |
Campus, full time | Hammond/Baton Rouge or Northshore; confirm the admitted location and clinical assignments. | |
Hybrid, full time | Online academic work with New Orleans-area labs, simulation and clinical rotations. | |
In-person and hybrid learning | Intensive Lafayette study and clinicals at Ochsner Lafayette General or affiliated agencies. |
These are intensive nursing phases after required preparatory study. Tulane advises approximately 45 hours per week; Loyola and Tulane do not recommend full-time work while enrolled. Build a schedule around assigned clinical shifts, travel and campus sessions before choosing a program.
Hospital-Sponsored Tuition and Employment Agreements
UL Lafayette provides nursing-course tuition under a mandatory three-year Ochsner employment agreement. Its FAQ states there is no self-pay alternative or exception to the service obligation. The contract includes a three-year job after graduation and required licensure; students pay prerequisite tuition and should confirm coverage of fees and other expenses.
Tulane University offers the separate LCMC Health–Tulane Nurse Scholars Program, covering tuition and select fees for accepted scholars who complete the BSN within 16 months and commit to at least two years of full-time RN work at a matched LCMC facility. BSN admission, scholarship selection and job matching are distinct steps.
Request the actual agreement before accepting either arrangement. Review covered charges, licensure and employment conditions, facility matching and repayment terms; a sponsor’s overall investment is not an individual tuition quote.
Admissions and Prerequisite Differences
| School | Minimum GPA | Key Admission Detail |
|---|---|---|
3.0 | Calculated from completed required prerequisites and prior coursework applied to the BSN; non-nursing bachelor required. | |
2.6 cumulative | Prior bachelor required. Current handbook and Fall 2027 application limit TEAS to traditional BSN applicants; confirm the accelerated checklist. | |
Confirm with nursing admissions | Prior non-nursing bachelor required; the 2.5 Loyola GPA rule concerns progression after enrollment. | |
3.0 in degree prerequisites | Prior bachelor required; C or better and the department’s biology completion/recency rules apply. | |
3.0 overall/core and prerequisites | Eligible first- or second-degree students; seven nursing prerequisites total 25 credits. | |
2.6 advertised application minimum | Prior non-nursing bachelor and interview required; NURS 260A catalog entry also states a 3.0 overall course-entry GPA. Confirm its application. |
A transcript review determines which first-degree courses transfer. Common science and support requirements include anatomy/physiology, microbiology, chemistry, statistics and psychology, but course content, labs and accepted equivalents differ.
- FranU: five-credit pathophysiology is a prerequisite, with a three-year recency standard and limited attempts.
- Tulane: prerequisites require C or better within ten years; repeat limits and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA apply.
- UL Lafayette: the program requires 50 general-education credits before the 70-credit nursing phase; sciences have a ten-year limit.
- LCU: obtain an approved transfer and nursing plan before enrolling in additional courses.
GPA definitions differ, so the numbers are not directly interchangeable. School admission and LSBN clinical-enrollment approval are also separate requirements.
Start Dates and Application Deadlines
| School | Start Information | Application Planning |
|---|---|---|
January and August | August 30 for January entry; January 30 for August entry. | |
Confirm accelerated cohort | Request the current accelerated cohort’s final application deadline. | |
Confirm entering cohort | Applications accepted year-round; ask for the cohort file-completion deadline. | |
Usually spring and summer for prior-degree option | General nursing progression dates are February 1/September 1; confirm the accelerated cohort’s applicable deadline. | |
Fall, spring and summer | Ask for the entering cohort’s deadlines; SoPA/NTC and sponsor applications have separate requirements. | |
Program reports 2027 cohort closed | Current program page says 2028 applications open September 2026; confirm the portal and final deadline. |
Allow time for transcript evaluation, prerequisite completion and required screenings. A year-round application process does not guarantee a seat in every term; use the current cohort’s written instructions.
Tuition and Costs
The table presents current-rate estimates and published program prices. LCU’s estimate uses the catalog’s stated 63 nursing credits; Southeastern’s estimate assumes five full-time accelerated terms. Fees, prerequisites and future rate changes may increase actual bills.
| School | Tuition Basis | Fees and Budget Notes |
|---|---|---|
50 credits × $669.86 clinical rate = $33,493 | Assumes all sequence credits use the clinical rate. Current term fees add about $4,754.50; prerequisites and personal expenses extra. | |
Est. $45,166–$50,808 | The listed five-term course loads give a $45,166 scenario, but the catalog’s listed credits and stated total differ. Obtain the final plan; course and other fees extra. | |
54 credits × $980 hybrid ABSN rate = $52,920 | Confirm general and nursing program fees for the hybrid cohort; prerequisites and graduation expenses extra. | |
Est. $14,445 | Fall 2026/Spring 2027 resident listed tuition/fees total $4,855; nonresident total $11,094. Neither is an ABSN total; nursing fees apply. | |
60 credits × $1,088 = $65,280 | Four current-rate fee sets add $3,836; one-time charges add about $884. Books, insurance and living costs extra. | |
Nursing tuition provided under required contract | Students cover prerequisites; confirm fees, supplies, insurance and other coverage in writing. |
Current published rates can change during a program that spans academic years. Compare tuition-only estimates first, then add required fees and your own living/transportation budget. Tuition coverage tied to employment should be evaluated alongside the full contract, rather than ranked as a zero-cost program.
Clinical Training and NCLEX Outcomes
Loyola University New Orleans publishes 960 clinical hours in its 2026 progression plan. Tulane University specifies 720 clinical hours; simulation and skills learning complement rotations. These figures describe clinical rotations; the profiles explain separate skills and simulation experiences.
Clinical placements require in-person attendance and program/agency clearance. Loyola advertises guaranteed program-arranged placements, while Tulane arranges rotations but does not guarantee a particular facility. UL Lafayette’s clinical learning uses Ochsner or affiliated agencies; Southeastern assignments depend on location.
The reviewed BSN programs report nursing accreditation through ACEN or CCNE and appear on the LSBN approved-school list. State approval, nursing accreditation and institutional accreditation are distinct. Confirm individual clinical and licensure eligibility before enrollment.
LSBN’s report of 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN results lists Loyola at 74.29% (26 of 35). This is a program-level result, not an ABSN-only measure, and it does not establish a ranking across these pathways. Follow the detailed profile’s accreditation and outcome context when comparing schools.
Louisiana ABSN Program Summaries
FranU ABSN Program
Baton Rouge | $33,493 | 16 Months
FranU’s 16-month campus ABSN in Baton Rouge uses a 50-credit nursing sequence, community practice and an RN-precepted transition course. Estimated sequence tuition is $33,493 before fees and prerequisites.
Louisiana Christian University ABSN Program
Pineville | $45,166–$50,808 | 17 Months
LCU’s 17-month ABSN in Pineville combines Christian nursing values, clinical learning and service. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and 2.6 cumulative GPA; obtain the finalized credit plan and cohort budget. Estimated program cost: $45,166–$50,808. See the profile for assumptions and additional expenses.
Loyola University New Orleans ABSN Program
New Orleans | $52,920 | 17 Months
Loyola’s 17-month hybrid ABSN combines synchronous online study, New Orleans clinical placements and 54 nursing credits. Estimated tuition is $52,920 before fees and prerequisites; the published progression plan lists 960 clinical hours.
Southeastern Louisiana University ABSN Program
Hammond & Baton Rouge Center | $14,445 | 18 Months
Southeastern’s 18-month on-campus ABSN offers Hammond/Baton Rouge and Northshore options. Prior-degree applicants use prerequisite transfer evaluation and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA; cohort billing and registration require an individual plan. Estimated program cost: $14,445. See the profile for assumptions and additional expenses.
Tulane University ABSN Program
New Orleans | $65,280 | 16 Months
Tulane’s 16-month hybrid BSN includes 60 nursing credits and 720 clinical hours. Estimated tuition is $65,280 before fees; eligible LCMC Nurse Scholars receive tuition support with a separate two-year RN commitment.
UL Lafayette ABSN Program
Lafayette | Nursing tuition covered | 15 Months
UL Lafayette’s 15-month Ochsner-partnered ABSN accepts eligible prior-degree applicants with a 2.6 GPA. The mandatory contract provides nursing-course tuition and a three-year employment commitment; prerequisites and other expenses require separate budgeting.