The College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) Accelerated Second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program starts each year at the end of May. The program takes 14 months to complete.
Due to the rigorous and accelerated nature of this program, students are strongly discouraged from working or maintaining any employment while completing this program.
The program is divided into three educational components:
Class: synchronous interactive and discussion on campus or online
Clinical/Simulation and Lab Experiences:
Clinical experiences are held one to two days a week (depending on the class) for up to 12 hours at facilities in New Jersey or Pennsylvania
Simulation and lab experiences take place on campus in our fully functional, high-fidelity lab. Throughout the program, scheduled simulation and lab time is built into each course and open simulation and lab time is offered for additional practice
Online Coursework: students are responsible for completing online coursework (readings, videos, class preparation, discussion forum posts, assignments) on their own time
Step 1: Submit Your Application
The first step in the application process consists of submitting your online application through the TCNJ Online Application and the following supporting documents:
All official transcripts (GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred) from every higher education institution you have attended. Submit your official transcripts to ABSN@tcnj.edu.
Take the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®) Exam and submit your official ATI TEAS® Exam Score Report (scores of Proficient or better is required). Submit your official transcripts to (The College of New Jersey or ABSN@tcnj.edu)
Step 2: Completing Requirements
After your preliminary application is complete, your transcripts will be evaluated, and you will be contacted by email regarding any outstanding requirements
Step 3: Application Review
When all requirements are complete, your file will be reviewed by the ABSN Program Admissions Committee, and you may be invited for an interview.
Please note: a completed application does not guarantee an interview invitation. Additionally, an interview does not guarantee admission to the program.
All application requirements described in Step 1 and Step 2, including prerequisite courses, must be completed by the following application deadline: November 1st
Complete a previous bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Completion of all prerequisite courses prior to acceptance.
Complete the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®) Exam. The ATI TEAS® Exam measures basic essential skills in the academic content areas of reading, mathematics, science, English, and language usage. A score of Proficient or better for the overall score is required. Official TEAS® score reports should be sent to (The College of New Jersey or ABSN@tcnj.edu)
Submit an online application, with the required supporting documents, and a nonrefundable application fee. All requirements, including the online application, supporting documents, prerequisite courses, and nonrefundable application fee, must be received by TCNJ by the application deadline.
Applications are not evaluated by the ABSN Admissions Committee until they are complete and all requirements have been met.
Attend an interview (we will schedule this for you).
A GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred, but you can still apply and your application materials will be reviewed by the ABSN Admissions Committee.
A completed application includes the following required documents:
Online application (with nonrefundable application fee)
Official ATI TEAS® Exam Score Report
American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Professional card
All official (unopened) transcripts from every higher education institution you have attended (including Advanced Placement Tests)
Please note: a completed application does not guarantee an interview invitation. Additionally, an interview does not guarantee admission to the program.
All applicants are required to take the ATI TEAS® Exam. On ATI’s website, https://www.atitesting.com/teas, you can register for and schedule the exam at a time/location convenient for you. Please select The College of New Jersey on ATI’s website to send the official results.
A score of Proficient or better is required for the overall scores. You are allowed to take the exam two times. We recommend studying/preparing for the exam. Study materials are provided by ATI and can be purchased on their website.
The course required is American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR & AED Training for Healthcare Professionals. Yes, it needs to be provided by the American Heart Association.
The ABSN Admissions Committee will review your application and supporting documents. If your application meets the requirements and the ABSN Committe , you may be invited to an interview.
TCNJ takes a holistic approach to the review of our applicants, considering student abilities and involvement beyond academics. All other criteria used in the evaluation process are in the “Requirements” section. A waiting list is created when more qualified applicants than seats are available.
Please note: a complete application does not guarantee you an interview invitation. Additionally, an interview does not guarantee you admission into the program.
Yes. Applicants who meet the requirements are invited to interview with the ABSN Admissions Committee as part of the competitive admissions selection process.
Please note: a complete application does not guarantee you an interview invitation. Additionally, an interview does not guarantee you admission into the program.
Here are four sample questions to help prepare for the interview.
Yes, you can take prerequisite courses at TCNJ. You will need to submit a non-matriculated application. The application fee is $75, but you will only pay this once if you apply to the ABSN program.
You can submit an application to be considered for the Non-Matric Program. Please click here: Apply for Non-Matric .
Please note that all our prerequisite courses are taught on campus, in person. The cost per 1 Unit (4 credits) is approximately $2,006.08 plus miscellaneous fees. You can see our cost breakdown here. If you are looking for 2 courses, that would be 2 Units.
There are no time limits on prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses and bachelor’s degree must be completed prior to acceptance into the program.
| Prerequisite Course | Required Credits |
| Anatomy and Physiology 1 with Lab | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology 2 with Lab | 4 |
| Microbiology with Lab | 4 |
| Chemistry with Lab | 4 |
| Nutrition | 3 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Developmental Psychology (Across the Lifespan) | 3 |
Yes. The prerequisites must be taken at a regionally accredited institution. If you have a question about which courses are acceptable, you can contact the ABSN Coordinator for assistance. Please provide the college/university name, course number, course name, and course description.
The College of New Jersey prefers to receive transcripts electronically through one of the many secure services with which we participate. Please send them to ABSN@tcnj.edu. If transcripts must be sent by mail, please send to:
Trenton Hall, Room 206
The College of New Jersey
ABSN Coordinator
P.O. Box 7718
Ewing, NJ 08628
The College of New Jersey will not evaluate transcripts from other countries. We will accept credit recommendations from one of the following agencies when the recommendations are based on a course by course evaluation and sent as an official transcript to TCNJ. Transcripts must be submitted to a United States agency that provides foreign credential evaluations before being sent to TCNJ. The College of New Jersey will accept foreign credential evaluations from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Click here or see below for a list of current NACES members approved by TCNJ.
A2Z Evaluations, LLC
Academic Evaluation Services, Inc.
Center for Applied Research, Evaluation & Education, Inc.
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc.
Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc.
Foundation for International Services, Inc.
Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Globe Language Services
Institute of Foreign Credential Services, Inc.
International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc.
International Consultants of Delaware, Inc.
International Education Evaluations, Inc.
International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. International Education Consultants
SpanTran: The Evaluation Company
World Education Services, Inc.
Tuition: $34,000.00 + fees (subject to change)
Estimated associated costs are approximately $5000 per program. Below are other estimated costs not included in the tuition.
Books/Electronic resources: costs vary.
Clinical Compliance: costs vary by health care practitioner.
Major Medical Health Insurance: costs vary by plan.
Professional Liability Insurance: $30.00 (costs vary by plan)
New Jersey Board of Nursing Application Fee: $300.00
NCLEX-RN Application/Exam Fee: $300.00
Yes. A $600 nonrefundable deposit is required within 2 weeks of notification of acceptance.
Yes, you can get financial aid, but please be advised that if you have a previous bachelor’s degree, you may not qualify for Pell Grant funding. You must submit your FAFSA in order to be considered for financial aid. It is advisable to do this as soon as possible. Furthermore, do not rely on federal and state financial aid to cover your entire tuition, living expenses, books, equipment, uniforms, or other expenses. You may have to seek private, credit-based sources of funding, scholarships, etc. For questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (609) 771-2211 or email at osfa@tcnj.edu.
Financial aid and any private loans must be in place and accepted prior to the start of your first term. If you plan to pay all or a portion of their tuition out of pocket, that payment must be made prior to the first day of class. Students with outstanding balances on their accounts will not be permitted to attend class or clinical.
Scholarships are available. View scholarship information or visit Johnson & Johnson Nursing for outside scholarship information.
If you want to apply to on-campus housing, click here . You will need to log in with your email and PAWS ID. Direct website link: https://tcnj. starrezhousing.com/ StarRezPortalX/C7E98A35/1/1/ Home-Welcome_to_MyHousing? UrlToken=6E88B42E
Interested in housing off campus, click here for more information about Campus Town located across the street from campus. Direct link is: https://www. campustowntcnj.net/
You can get housing beginning in the summer at either location.Contact us through email at ABSN@tcnj.edu. If you do not hear back from a representative within 96 hours, please contact our Nursing office at (609)771-2591.
Department of Nursing
Trenton Hall, Room 206
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628 609.771.2591
nursing@tcnj.edu Department Directory