Widener's accelerated bachelor's in nursing ABSN program is designed for students who already earned a bachelor's degree in another field and want to pursue a rewarding career change in the field of nursing. Courses are taught in person through an immersive, hands-on experience.
The accelerated BSN program (ABSN) is designed for students with an existing bachelor's degree in another discipline that want to make a career change into the nursing field. By transforming earned credits from your previous study, you can complete your ABSN in as little as four semesters.
The second-degree, accelerated BSN program is taught in person at our Chester, PA campus located 20 minutes from both Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE. Here you'll experience the power of hands-on coursework taught by faculty mentors who continue a tradition of nursing excellence that spans more than 50 years. Courses begin in mid-August.
Unsure if the ABSN program is the best bachelor's in nursing pathway for you?
If you haven't completed a bachelor's degree, our traditional BSN degree program is right for you.
Students must have already earned a bachelor's degree or must be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree prior to the program start.
Students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from all previous colleges/universities attended.
Students must complete the following pre-requisite courses from an accredited institution prior to enrolling. For questions related to accredited institution requirements, please contact jcgilbert@widener.edu.
Chemistry (4 credits, including lab)
Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits, including lab) taken within 5 years
Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits, including lab) taken within 5 years
Microbiology (4 credits, including lab)
Statistics
Nutrition
Chester Campus
Regular action deadline: January 15
Final action deadline: March 1
Program start: students start as a junior in the fall semester
All applications submitted by the final action deadline will be reviewed and given consideration for admission eligibility.
We are no longer accepting ABSN applications for our Harrisburg Campus.
Students studying benefit from a highly competitive, flat tuition rate of $48,000.
International applicants, immigrants to the U.S., and U.S. permanent residents are required to submit the results of an English proficiency test taken with 2 years, unless they are from a TOEFL-exempt country.
Seat availability for the nursing program is limited. Once seat capacity is reached, students may be placed on a waiting list and they will be notified as seats become available and as soon as possible. Admission into the program is not a guarantee for students placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is not deferred to the next available intake, but students can apply again if so desired.
Students enrolled within the Widener University School of Nursing may be considering licensure (NCLEX) and/or advanced practice certification. Each state/jurisdiction has requirements that candidates must meet in order to obtain licensure and/or certification. To view Widener’s licensure qualifications by state, please visit the School of Nursing Licensure by State webpage or visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) directly.
ABSN Accelerated BSN Nursing Program Options
View Loading... requirements for the accelerated BSN program.
Continue your graduate education at Widener through the School of Nursing's robust program offerings which includes master's, doctoral (PhD/DNP), and post-graduate certificates.
Set yourself apart academically by participating in the School of Nursing honors program.
Nursing students can join Widener's ROTC program to help develop leadership abilities by learning critical-thinking skills; the value of character; competence and courage; self-discipline; and team building. ROTC Cadets are eligible to apply for generous scholarships.
With an 8:1 student-faculty ratio in clinical settings, you'll practice in a supportive, individualized learning environment.
Why Study Nursing at Widener?
Learn Beyond the Classroom
Throughout your nursing education, you'll gain real-world clinical experience in a variety of specialties and settings. You'll problem-solve clinical scenarios in our modern nursing sim lab, practice quick-thinking assessments in our annual disaster simulation event, and have opportunities to give back to the local community through Widener's Community Nursing Clinics.
When it's time for clinical rotations in your junior and senior year, you'll not only feel prepared you'll get matched within our network of the region’s top hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Widener's full-time traditional nursing program offers an opportunity that's hard to find within many other nursing programs—study abroad. Through a partnership with the Universidad San Pablo CEU, Montepríncipe Campus, you can experience your fall semester of sophomore year in Madrid, Spain.
Live and learn with fellow classmates in the N.E.T (Nurses Educated Together) Living Learning Community (LLC). This unique experience enables you to form even closer relationships with nursing majors in and out of the classroom while spending time with nursing faculty who are dedicated to your success.
Nursing majors also have the opportunity to join various nursing clubs and organizations to expand their network and engage with Widener nursing alums, including the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and many more.
We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.
Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.
Choosing your college major is a big decision. Take a deeper dive into what pursuing a BSN is like and what doors will open for you after you graduate.
"My goal is for students to challenge themselves to become life-long learners who contribute new knowledge to this wonderful profession. Both novice and experienced nurses should take risks to seek out new learning experiences that ignite their passion for nursing and drive them toward improving outcomes for their clients."
As a Nurse Educator, one of the pedagogical strategies I use is experiential learning, an approach that links course objectives with activities to contextualize learning as students develop clinical judgement. Experiential learning is particularly impactful in combination with community engagement, especially for raising social awareness and emphasizing the importance of social justice in health care.
Four years ago, we met Kelsey Byrd, a freshman who followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother to enroll in Widener’s nursing program. Now, as a member of the Class of 2022, Kelsey reflects on her transformative college experience and what it means to be the newest Widener nurse in the family.
Commencement is a milestone moment. For Gary and Stephanie Pollino, this commencement season is even more special as the father-daughter duo will both receive bachelor degrees from the School of Nursing.
Our financial aid team takes the guessing game out of applying for financial aid. To determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants, apply and complete the financial aid process. You might be surprised at how much we can offer in assistance.
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We are no longer accepting ABSN applications for our Harrisburg Campus.
