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Degree

Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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School

Nursing and Health Sciences

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Next Classes Start

May 2025

Program at a Glance

Have you decided to switch gears and enter the nursing workforce? TCNJ’s Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing will get you there quickly — and with all the expert preparation you need. In just 14 months, you’ll earn your BSN, connect with top regional employers, and be ready to work. Our highly ranked program offers small class sizes, community-engaged learning, and faculty-mentored opportunities for research. Plus you’ll be well equipped to take the NCLEX-RN nursing licensing exam. (Our 2022 pass rate for first-time test-takers was 96 percent, and our five-year average of 97 percent is about 10 percent higher than the national average.)

Program Coordinator: Vicki Brzoza, absn@tcnj.edu, 609.771.2591

Duration

  • Full time: 14 months

Availability

  • On campus: fall and spring
  • Some blended summer
    coursework opportunities

34k

  • Flat-rate tuition
  • Subject to change

72

  • Credits

97%

  • NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate
  • Five-year average

100%

  • Full-time employment
  • Six months after graduation

Who Should Pursue This Program?

If you hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, have taken the necessary prerequisite courses, and are looking for an accelerated path to earning your BSN, this program is for you. It’s also a good fit for those who want to continue on past the BSN to earn a master’s in nursing. The course delivery makes this program ideal whether you live in New Jersey or in a nearby state.

Engaged Faculty

Learn directly from nationally recognized nursing faculty who know their students by name; you won’t find TAs or mass lectures here. Our nursing students often work on faculty-mentored research and have an opportunity to co-publish and present at national and international conferences.

Extensive Network

Create a network that can take you places. Study with like-minded peers, learn from faculty who have valuable industry contacts with prestigious hospital partners, and network with a well-connected alumni community.

Careers

Six months after graduation, 100% of our recent graduates who sought full-time employment are working. The average RN salary in New Jersey is $89,690, and our graduates work for top regional employers, including Johns Hopkins, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Jefferson Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Health, Duke Medical Center, New York University, University of Pennsylvania Medicine, NY Presbyterian, and Sloan Kettering.

Application deadline: November 1.
All material and prerequisites must be complete by the application deadline.

TCNJ takes a holistic approach to the review of our applicants, considering student abilities and involvement beyond academics. All other criteria used in the evaluation process are in the “Requirements” section below. A waiting list is created when more qualified applicants than seats are available.

  • A bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited university or college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • A level of proficiency or higher is acceptable for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), a standardized, multiple-choice entrance exam required of students applying to nursing and allied health programs in the United States.
  • Satisfactory completion of the following prerequisite courses:
    • General Chemistry or Organic Biochemistry or General Chemistry II (4 credits with lab)*
    • Anatomy and Physiology I & II (8 credits)*
    • Microbiology (4 credits)*
    • Statistics (3 credits)
    • Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
    • Nutrition (3 credits)

    *On-ground or face-to-face labs will only be accepted for these courses

  • Additional requirements for accepted students:
    • CPR certification - will only accept Basic Life Saving (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association
    • Criminal background check
    • Drug test
    • Vaccinations, boosters, and titers
    • Adherence to the health requirements of the college, the department, and any clinical facilities

Application Instructions

  • Click on the “Apply Now” button below.
  • Create an account on the application management webpage.
  • Log in to your new account and click on the “Start New Application” link.
  • Select “Undergraduate Application (desired year)” from the accompanying drop-down menu.
  • Select the "Accelerated Second-Degree BSN Program" application.
  • Click on the “Create Application” button to begin.
Apply Now

Our students start getting hands-on clinical experience during the first summer of the program. You’ll have access to two simulation labs — a state-of-the-art high-fidelity lab and a practice skills lab — as well as the opportunity to work with realistic mannequins and use the latest virtual reality to practice interacting with patients and families.

» View Simulation and Lab Facilities

The accelerated bachelor’s in nursing program can be completed in 14 months of full-time study.

» View Program Details

The ABSN program has been submitted for accreditation. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing at The College of New Jersey are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001. 202-887-6791

» View Accreditation Details

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TCNJ's Department of Nursing is not accepting transfers into our four year traditional bachelor’s of science in nursing program at this time. The RN to BSN program is accepting applications at this time, visit https://nursing.tcnj.edu/programs/rn-to-bsn-program/ to learn more. The ABSN program is accepting applications at this time.Learn More
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