Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs in New Jersey, also known as second degree BSN pathways, provide a rigorous, fast-track option for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and wish to transition into nursing. These programs are designed to address the state's increasing demand for highly skilled registered nurses, particularly as hospitals and health systems like Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health continue to expand their services. By compressing essential nursing coursework and clinical training into an intensive format, ABSN programs prepare graduates to enter the workforce quickly and contribute to critical patient care needs across New Jersey's diverse healthcare landscape.
2027 Best ABSN Programs in New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ - Public 4-Year - tcnj.edu
Bachelor's - Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
The College of New Jersey's Accelerated Second-Degree BSN is a 14-month hybrid program designed for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree. Blending synchronous and asynchronous online coursework with hands-on training in high-fidelity simulation labs, the program delivers a rigorous clinical foundation across medical-surgical, pediatric, and community health settings at partner facilities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Applicants must submit TEAS exam scores and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. CCNE-accredited and enrolling one cohort per summer, total tuition runs approximately $34,000. Financial aid and scholarships are available, and on-campus housing is offered. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
- CCNE accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- $34,000 total program tuition
- 14-Month program
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts summer
- Synchronous and asynchronous options
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
Felician University
Lodi, NJ - Private 4-year - felician.edu
Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Felician University offers a hybrid Accelerated BSN designed for career changers holding at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a prior non-nursing degree. Completable in as few as 16 months, the full-time program merges online coursework with on-campus labs in Parsippany, alongside hands-on clinical rotations through Atlantic Health System. Students sharpen clinical decision-making via advanced simulation labs before entering diverse real-world healthcare environments. The program holds New Jersey State Board of Nursing approval and posted a 92% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025. Three start dates annually — fall, spring, and summer — provide scheduling flexibility, and no prior healthcare experience is necessary to apply. Financial aid is accessible through FAFSA.
- 2 concentration options
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- 92% licensure pass rate
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid available
- Clinical placements with Atlantic Health System
- Hybrid or on-ground option
Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Campus Based - Visit Website
At Felician University's Rutherford campus, the on-ground Accelerated BSN delivers an immersive, cohort-based nursing education for individuals with prior college credits or a non-nursing bachelor's degree. The rigorous full-time curriculum covers nursing fundamentals and clinical decision-making, reinforced through high-tech simulation labs and direct patient care experiences at top-tier facilities including Atlantic Health System. Students graduate in as few as 16 months, fully prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — reflected in the program's strong 92% pass rate. Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, the program welcomes applicants without healthcare backgrounds and offers three annual start dates. Financial aid is available.
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- 92% licensure pass rate
- Cohort-based structure
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid available
- Clinical placements within Atlantic Health System
- High-tech simulation labs
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ - Public 4-Year - camden.rutgers.edu
Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Rutgers University–Camden's Accelerated BSN program offers a rigorous 15-month pathway for individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing discipline. Built on a foundation of prerequisites including chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, statistics, and nutrition, the curriculum integrates intensive classroom instruction with substantial hands-on clinical training. Students benefit from small cohort sizes, which means direct access to experienced faculty and a more personalized learning environment. The program delivers the same comprehensive clinical preparation as Rutgers Camden's traditional BSN track, equipping graduates to enter diverse healthcare settings with confidence and competence from day one.
- 15-Month program
- Prerequisite courses required
- Financial aid available
- For non-nursing degree holders
- Fast-track into nursing
- Same clinical practice as traditional BSN
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, NJ - Private 4-year - fdu.edu
Bachelor's - Nursing BSN Accelerated
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Accelerated BSN program in Florham Campus offers a compelling pathway for career-changers who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. Spanning 15 months full-time, the 56-credit curriculum tackles pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology, health assessment, and nursing management across adult, pediatric, women's, and psychosocial health contexts. A distinctive hyflex delivery model blends online coursework with mandatory in-person labs and clinical rotations, demanding roughly 40 hours of weekly commitment. Students should note a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, and all prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past 10 years. Rolling admissions with a recommended December 1 deadline and a summer start make planning straightforward. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN.
- 15-Month program
- 56 total credit hours
- Rolling admissions
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts summer
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- For non-nursing bachelor's degree holders
- Hyflex class options with in-person clinicals
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ - Public 4-Year - ramapo.edu
Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Visit Website
Ramapo College of New Jersey offers a 16-month, full-time, cohort-based Accelerated BSN program tailored for career-changers who have already fulfilled all prerequisite coursework. Running on a campus-based format with start dates in both summer and fall, the program blends rigorous coursework with hands-on clinical training to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam. For students who still need to complete prerequisites, a 24-month bridge pathway is available, broadening access to diverse applicants. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty create an engaged learning environment, equipping graduates to pursue registered nursing roles across hospitals, clinics, and community health settings.
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts summer/fall
- Cohort-based structure
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Bridge program for prerequisite-deficient students
- All prerequisites must be completed prior to admission
List of New Jersey Accelerated BSN Programs
Camden, NJ
Rutgers University-Camden
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- 15-Month program
- Prerequisite courses required
- Financial aid available
- For non-nursing degree holders
- Fast-track into nursing
- Same clinical practice as traditional BSN
Ewing, NJ
The College of New Jersey
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- CCNE accredited
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- $34,000 total program tuition
- 14-Month program
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts summer
- Synchronous and asynchronous options
Galloway, NJ
Stockton University
- Bachelor's - Accelerated BSN
Campus Based - Website
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, New Jersey Board of Nursing accredited
- 2 start dates per year
- Starts fall/spring
- 3.5 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX
- Requires criminal background check
- Requires urine drug screening
Jersey City, NJ
New Jersey City University
- Bachelor's - Nursing—Accelerated Program (Second Degree), B.S.N.
Campus Based - Website
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: HESI
- 12-Month program
- Apply by 2026-02-16
- Full-time enrollment
- 1 start dates per year
- Starts fall
- Cohort-based structure
Saint Peter's University
- Bachelor's - Accelerated BSN Program
Campus Based - Website
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: TEAS
- $28,800 total program tuition
- $450 per credit
- 15-Month program
- 64 total credit hours
- 2 start dates per year
- Starts spring/fall
Lakewood, NJ
Georgian Court University
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Nursing Program (ABSN)
Campus Based - Website
- $835 per credit
- 15-Month program
- Apply by 2026-05-28
- 2 start dates per year
- Starts summer/fall
- 100% licensure pass rate
- 3.2 GPA minimum
- $84,000 median earnings
Lodi, NJ
Felician University
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Campus Based - Website
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- 92% licensure pass rate
- Cohort-based structure
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid available
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)
Online & Campus Based - Website
- 2 concentration options
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts fall/spring/summer
- 92% licensure pass rate
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid available
Madison, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Bachelor's - Nursing BSN Accelerated
Online & Campus Based - Website
- 15-Month program
- 56 total credit hours
- Rolling admissions
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts summer
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Mahwah, NJ
Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- 16-Month program
- Full-time enrollment
- Starts summer/fall
- Cohort-based structure
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Bridge program for prerequisite-deficient students
- All prerequisites must be completed prior to admission
Newark, NJ
Rutgers University-Newark
- Bachelor's - Second-Degree BS in Nursing
Campus Based - Website
- 14-Month program
- Accelerated 4-semester program
- Builds on prior bachelor's coursework
- Offered on Newark Campus
- Close-knit cohort experience
- Clinical practice integrated
South Orange, NJ
Seton Hall University
- Bachelor's - Second Degree Accelerated B.S.N.
Campus Based - Website
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, New Jersey Board of Nursing accredited
- 14-Month program
- 62 total credit hours
- Apply by 2026-06-01
- Starts fall/spring
- Cohort-based structure
- Prepares for NCLEX
- Financial aid available
Teaneck, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- 15-Month program
- Complete in 56 credits in 15-month timeframe
- 56 total credit hours
- Rolling admissions
- Starts summer
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Prerequisite courses required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Trenton, NJ
Thomas Edison State University
- Bachelor's - Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Online & Campus Based - Website
- CCNE accredited
- $46,140 total program tuition
- 15-Month program
- 60 total credit hours
- Full-time enrollment
- Cohort-based structure
- Prerequisite courses required
- $50 application fee
Woodland Park, NJ
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
- Bachelor's - LPN to BSN Accelerated Pathway
Campus Based - Website
- Entrance exam required
- Exams: HESI
- 7-Semester program
- Seven semesters of full-time study
- Rolling admissions
- 2 letters of recommendation (minimum)
- Work experience required
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
2027 Affordable ABSN Programs in New Jersey
| School Name | Highlights | Annual Estimated Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-Camden |
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| Felician University |
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| Saint Peter's University |
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| Georgian Court University |
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| The College of New Jersey |
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| Thomas Edison State University |
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| Seton Hall University |
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| New Jersey City University |
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| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
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| Stockton University |
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Students exploring nursing schools in New Jersey will find a wide range of pathways to enter the profession, from traditional BSN programs to accelerated and bridge options. Each route is designed to meet different academic and career backgrounds, ensuring that prospective nurses can choose the program best aligned with their goals. With strong connections to leading healthcare systems across the state, New Jersey nursing schools provide both the education and clinical experiences necessary to prepare graduates for today's complex patient care environments.
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