Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track

Indiana’s top-ranked nursing program in an accelerated format

If you have earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and would like to pursue a nursing career, our second degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track is designed for you.

How long is the program?

Our program moves at a fast pace—16 months of full-time study, including summer sessions—allowing you to launch your nursing career quickly while receiving a top-tier education.

What will I learn?

You’ll engage in a concept-based, cutting-edge curriculum designed to prepare you for real-world nursing. Through high-fidelity simulation labs, interprofessional education experiences, and immersive clinical experiences, you’ll build clinical judgment and readiness for practice.

What kind of hands-on experience will I get?

After mastering foundational skills, you’ll gain care experience in hospital and community settings, applying evidence-based care under the guidance of expert faculty. The program culminates in an immersive capstone experience, where you’ll be alongside experienced nurse preceptors to refine your skills and gain confidence before graduation.

Why choose us?

As Indiana’s #1 nursing program, our exceptional faculty, provide cutting-edge learning opportunities, and outstanding clinical placements, ensuring our graduates are prepared to lead and make an impact in improving the health and wellbeing of those we serve.

Eligibility to apply

You must be admitted to at least one of our core campus locations offering this program—IU Columbus, IU Fort Wayne, IU Indianapolis—as a degree-seeking student. Additionally, you will have graduated from a 120 credit hour accredited baccalaureate degree program in a non-nursing field with at least a 2.7 undergraduate GPA.

You must complete all prerequisite courses required for admission to the IU School of Nursing with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA nursing prerequisite academic performance. Admission to the ABSN program is competitive, and meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee that you will be admitted to the program.

Apply for the ABSN track on your campus

Your path to becoming an IU Nurse begins with your application to the Indiana University campus of your choice.

Learn how to get started

Already admitted to IU? Start your nursing application

If you have already been admitted to one of our three ABSN campus locations—Columbus, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis—and have completed a planning sheet with an admissions advisor, you can begin your nursing application.

Apply now

Program learning outcomes

As a graduate of the Accelerated BSN track you will be:

A critical thinker who demonstrates intellectual engagement and uses evidence as a basis for clinical reasoning and decision making
A culturally sensitive individual who provides holistic, individual, family, community, and population-centered nursing care
A knowledgeable care coordinator who facilitates access to resources across the continuum of healthcare environments in order to meet the evolving healthcare needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations
An individual who understands and considers the impact of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments on care delivery
An individual who embodies the professional identity of the nurse and who translates the inherent values of the nursing profession into the ethical and legal practice of nursing
An effective communicator who collaborates with interprofessional team members, patients, and their support systems for improved health outcomes
A competent care provider who is prepared to practice to the full capacity of the professional nurse role in diverse healthcare environments
An accountable leader and manager who applies principles of systems and organizational processes and balances resources to promote quality care and patient safety
An individual who embraces and employs innovations in information management and technology in the delivery of quality patient care

Have a question? Talk to an nursing admissions team member on your campus

IU Columbus

IU Fort Wayne

IU Indianapolis