College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Accelerated BS in Nursing
Launch your nursing career in as few as 17 months with UMass Dartmouth’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
Program details
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science
- Modality
- Hybrid
- Enrollment
- Full Time
- Accreditation
- CCNE
- Average salary for Registered Nurses:
- $93,600 Average salary for Registered Nurses. View career outcomes.
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Actively accepting applications for the Fall 2027 cohort.
Why earn your Accelerated BS in Nursing at UMass Dartmouth?
Designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, UMass Dartmouth’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program provides a focused path to becoming a registered nurse. The full-time program combines online coursework with face-to-face lab and clinical experiences, giving you the flexibility of online learning along with the hands-on preparation essential to a career in nursing.
Through a rigorous nursing curriculum and immersive clinical experiences, you’ll build the knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence needed to provide high-quality patient care. The program prepares you to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), proven by our 2025 graduates achieving a 100% pass rate.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and in good standing with the Massachusetts Board of Registered Nursing, the UMass Dartmouth ABSN program prepares you to take the next step toward a rewarding career as a registered nurse.
Launch your career
Salary range: $93,600Where can a nursing career take you?
An Accelerated BS in Nursing from UMass Dartmouth prepares you to pursue a career as a registered nurse in a variety of healthcare settings. After completing the program and passing the NCLEX-RN, you can choose from many areas of nursing practice, from direct patient care to community health and beyond.
Start your career in areas such as:
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Emergency nursing
- Critical care / ICU nursing
- Operating room nursing
- Pediatric nursing
- Maternity health nursing
- Psychiatric nursing
- Public health nursing
- Home health nursing
Top employers
Curriculum
The second-degree accelerated BS in Nursing is a full-time, 17-month program consisting of 59 credits.
There are 5 prerequisites that may be completed at UMass Dartmouth or another accredited institution before enrollment. Students must have earned a minimum 3.2 GPA in the five prerequisite courses and have an undergraduate bachelor's GPA of 3.0.
In this program, you will learn to:
- Assess patients, develop individualized plans of care, and communicate with patients, families, and healthcare teams
- Provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based patient care
- Apply clinical judgment to address acute and chronic health conditions
- Promote health and wellness across diverse populations and communities
- Effectively use technology to support patient care
- Practice in a variety of healthcare settings through hands-on clinical experiences
Visit our Ready to Apply page for program application requirements.
Accolades
UMass Dartmouth is a nationally ranked R2 research university that combines the resources of a major university with a personalized educational experience. Ranked among the top 15 public research institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and in the top 17% nationally for return on investment, UMass Dartmouth is recognized for advancing research, social mobility, and career-ready education.
Nationally Recognized and Professionally Accredited Health Sciences Education
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers professionally accredited programs recognized for academic quality, clinical preparation, and graduate success. Its undergraduate nursing program ranks in the top 9% nationally, while strong licensure pass rates and employment outcomes reflect a commitment to preparing skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Nationally Ranked Online Education, Built for Real Life
- Dedicated student support: Receive personalized guidance from enrollment through graduation with support from advisors and student services teams.
- Resources to help you succeed: Access 24/7 online tutoring, writing support, library resources, and other tools designed for online learners.
- Flexible learning options: Complete coursework in formats designed for working adults, with year-round course offerings, including winter and summer sessions.
- Recognized online programs: Earn your degree from UMass Dartmouth, a nationally recognized institution with ranked online programs by U.S. News & World Report.
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Accreditations and distinctions
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The post-graduate APRN certificate program at UMass Dartmouth is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
UMass Dartmouth is a Military Friendly School, with leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.
Learn more about veteran services and benefits at UMassD.
UMass Dartmouth participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the Nursing—Second Degree Accelerated BS in Nursing BS (Hybrid) program? Here you will find answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.
The ABSN program offers one annual admission start date during the fall semester which usually begins the first week of September. The clinical rotation begins during the following week. There is a required 3-credit (non-matriculated) summer course that all accepted students must take prior to the fall start. This course is 4 weeks long and runs from late July to mid-August.
While lecture courses are fully online, this program does include in-person components, including laboratory skills, proctored exams, and clinical nursing practice at healthcare facilities. Students should expect to be on campus or at clinical sites 3–4 days per week during the semester.
This program's curriculum is run on weekdays and is a full-time program that will take 17 months to complete. The program consists of 59 nursing credits including:
- 38 classroom (course) credits
- 21 clinical credits
The clinical nursing practice sites are located throughout the Southcoast area and around Massachusetts. Sites include those in Fairhaven, Fall River, New Bedford, and Wareham, MA and Providence, RI.
The program requires five pre-requisites courses and a minimum earned GPA of 3.2 in those courses for admission. A pre-requisite course grade below a C+ will not be considered for admission.
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- BIO 221/BIO223 - Anatomy & Physiology I with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
- BIO 222/BIO 224 - Anatomy & Physiology II with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
- CHM 100 or higher - Chemistry—3 credits
- BIO 251/BIO 261 - Microbiology with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
- MTH 147 - Introduction/Basic Statistics—3 credits
Access the Transfer Dictionary.
We do not accept transfer credits into the ABSN program. The admission committee will review your transcript to make sure you have completed the prerequisite courses.