About the Accelerated BSN Program

The College of Nursing offers an accelerated course of study for students with a baccalaureate degree or higher in another field to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The Accelerated BSN program is offered at the Gainesville and UF Health Jacksonville campuses.

Track Description

The Accelerated BSN track builds on previous learning experiences and transitions individuals with undergraduate and graduate degrees in other fields into nursing. Courses and course sequencing in the accelerated baccalaureate option parallel the existing baccalaureate curriculum. The accelerated baccalaureate curriculum begins each May and is completed following four consecutive semesters of full-time study, finishing the following August.

Why Gator Nursing?

Asa Cooley

ABSN student Asa Cooley shares how she continued a Gator Nursing legacy and discovered her passion for the profession.

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Tuition and Costs

Update: Summer 2026 Accelereated BSN

Application deadline extended!

Completed, eligible applications submitted by December 1 will be reviewed while we will continue to accept and review applications through February 1, 2026.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for our program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a field other than nursing.
  • If you attended an international institution, all documents must be accompanied by certified, literal (exact) English translations for documents not originally issued in English, along with a credential evaluation for a course-by-course evaluation with a grade point average calculation.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, calculated using the most recent 60 credits taken toward the bachelor’s degree, or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on a master’s or doctoral degree.
  • OR a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for a master’s or doctoral degree.
• The University of Florida requires proficiency in spoken and written English. This helps ensure that students who speak English as a second language can participate fully in university life, both in and out of class. Applicants from locations, including Puerto Rico, where English is not the official language, must submit language testing scores that are compliant with university expectations.
  • International students whose primary language is not English will have to demonstrate a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based, or 80 on the web-based version of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

All applicants must meet admissions requirements by the end of the spring semester before the summer term they intend to apply to be considered for admission.

The Admissions Committee uses a holistic assessment process that considers many factors, including student experiences, attributes, and academic metrics. Due to classroom and clinical space limitations, not all qualified applicants are admitted.

Ready to apply?

Update: The Summer 2026 Accelerated BSN application deadline has been extended!

Completed, eligible applications submitted by December 1 will be reviewed and we will continue to accept and review applications on a through February 1, 2026.

To be eligible for admission consideration, all applicants must complete the following:

• Submit the University of Florida Post Baccalaureate Application.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and any necessary test scores.
  • Please refer to the University of Florida Office of Admissions website for more information.
• Submit a NursingCAS application.
  • An essay that responds to questions specified on the NursingCAS site, one academic letter of reference and one personal letter of reference, a CV, or a resume must be submitted with the NursingCAS application.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and any necessary test scores.
  • Please refer to the NursingCAS website for more information.
• Complete the HESI A2 examination.
  • HESI A2 exam registration instructions are available here: ProctorU Portal | Elsevier – HESI.
  • All applicants must complete the HESI A2 by the application deadline.
  • Applicants may only complete the HESI A2 for the University of Florida once.
  • The HESI AS Entrance Exam is used by nursing programs nationwide as a tool to screen applicants.
  • The HESI A2 consists of both an academic portion and a personality portion. The required examination areas for the University of Florida College of Nursing include Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Grammar, Math, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Learning, and Personality Style.
  • The HESI A2 exam must be completed in a single session. Please ensure that you have adequate time to complete the exam before starting.
  • We do not have a minimum required or recommended score for the HESI A2exam; however, a competitive score would be a cumulative score of 85 and a critical thinking score of 800 or higher.
  • Should applicants have any questions or need assistance, please get in touch with the following:
    • Elsevier Support at (800) 222-9570 for questions related to setting up an Elsevier account
    • Please direct questions about ProctorU to (855) 772-8678
    • For ProctorU testing accommodations, please use the form available here: Submit a request – ProctorU

Important Notification:

All applicants must disclose any arrests or criminal charges in their UF Program application. Upon disclosure, further information may be requested. All students must undergo a new background check, fingerprinting, and a drug test. Disclosure of arrest or conviction information may impact your admission to the Nursing Program.

All admitted nursing students, regardless of campus status, must complete a background check, mandatory immunization verification (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Influenza, Tetanus, Tuberculosis), fingerprinting, and drug screening. The College of Nursing follows CDC guidelines and adheres to the safety regulations of our clinical partners. Additionally, all students must provide proof of current health insurance. Upon admission into the program, students will be given the steps to complete this process.

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