10 Best Accelerated Nursing Programs with 2.5 GPA Requirement in 2024[UPDATED]

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Michael Tijani

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing careers in the USA because of its high demand. This can be attributed to the ever-increasing demands of medical attention needed globally.  And because of that, most American institutions provide various nursing programs that help people build a nursing career for these demands. Among the programs is an accelerated nursing program.

An accelerated nursing program is a nursing degree option designed for students who want to complete their BSN or MSN faster than standard, on-campus programs. Just like every other program has its criteria, accelerated nursing programs also have requirements every applicant must meet before they can be accepted into any school.

One of the common requirements amongst all schools is a GPA score. A GPA score has been a primary admission requirement for most nursing programs in prestigious institutions. 

Although most prestigious institutions in the United States of America accept a minimum of 3.0 GPA, hundreds of them allow students with as low as 2.5 GPA requirements. 

To help narrow the search, we have listed some top institutions with the best accelerated nursing programs with 2.5 GPA requirement

So, if you’re looking for institutions with nursing programs that accept students with a minimum GPA of 2.5, this article is for you. 

What exactly is a Nursing Accelerated Program?

An accelerated nursing program is a nursing program that helps students complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing faster.

While some of these programs allow working nurses to increase their knowledge and qualify for advanced roles, others allow non-nurses to build nursing careers quickly.

Basically, accelerated BSN programs are for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and want to pursue a nursing degree. 

That means students can gain their bachelor’s degree in nursing without returning to school for another four years. 

How Does an Accelerated BSN Program Work?

Each accelerated nursing school’s organization, course styles, and curriculum differ, but they all seek to get non-nurses up to speed and ready to be clinicians in two years or fewer. 

Nursing students who pursue an associate’s degree learn the foundations of nursing practice and patient care. They receive experience through on-the-job clinical, classroom instruction, and laboratory coursework. 

Moving forward, BSN degree programs typically dig into advanced nursing theories, policies, and issues, preparing students for expanded leadership responsibilities. 

They are however designed to teach students the fundamentals of nursing and the wellness continuum, as well as advanced information.

How Long Does an Accelerated Nursing Program Take?

Accelerated programs have a completion time of 11 to 18 months. Most programs require 700 to 800 hours of clinical time to be completed. 

The programs are full-time and intense, with no time off between classes. You will need to take nursing courses because you already have a bachelor’s degree. 

What Are the Typical Accelerated Nursing Program Requirements?

 An expedited second-degree nursing program has three fairly typical requirements: a prior bachelor’s degree, a non-nursing curriculum, and a minimum GPA. 

Some programs need you to take the TEAS, and other variables can help your application stand out, but these are the fundamental necessities:

A bachelor’s degree is required. Each school differs differently, but an accelerated nursing program usually requires a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. 

Many second-year nursing students at Utica have psychology, biology, or healthcare management backgrounds. Some already hold graduate degrees.

Then, non-nursing programs. You should have studied non-nursing courses that are still relevant to your career as part of your bachelor’s degree. 

Because accelerated nursing programs focus primarily on all nursing-related courses, the prerequisites for an accelerated nursing degree will generally contain a list of courses you must complete before your start date.

A minimum grade point average. You must have a minimum GPA between your bachelor’s degree and your required courses. 

This varies depending on the program you choose. While some programs require a GPA of 2.5 or better, others opt for a 3.0 GPA as their upper limit. 

10 Best Accelerated Nursing Programs with 2.5 GPA Requirement 

Below is a list of some institutions with accelerated nursing programs with 2.5 GPA requirement, we made available their various acceptance rates and other admission requirements to aid you make an informed decision in your career pursuit.  

1. Georgetown University 

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 3700 O St NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States

Acceptance rate: 15%.

First on our list of accelerated nursing programs in the USA with 2.5 GPA requirements is Georgetown University. Georgetown University is a prestigious American university with the best ABSN program. 

This program is focused on helping students gain clinical skills and basic knowledge in the biological, physical, and social sciences and nursing theory. 

As a student, you will access diverse health systems, community-based organizations around the Washington region, and the O’Neill Family Foundation Clinical Simulation Center.

Admission to Georgetown University’s Accelerated Nursing Program (ANP) is based on your undergraduate GPA and prior work experience in healthcare settings. 

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

2. Biola University

Program GPA: 2.5%

Address: 13800 Biola Avenue in La Mirada, California.

Acceptance rate: 64%.

Bachelor of Nursing Education at Biola University is next on our list of best-accelerated nursing programs that accept students with a 2.5 GPA.

This program offers students the opportunity to start a nursing career while also maturing their spiritual approach to providing care. Students must first be admitted to a two-year pre-clinical phase before applying to the nursing major. 

However, completion of the pre-clinical phase does not ensure entry into the clinical stage for the next three years. Students with a GPA of 2.5 in all required courses are eligible for admission to the clinical phase. 

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

3. Arkansas State University

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 2105 East, Aggie Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401, United States

Another school that offers accelerated nursing programs you can apply to with a 2.5 GPA requirement is Arkansas State University. 

Their accelerated nursing program, known as the 2nd bachelor’s degree, allows students with an undergraduate degree from another field to complete the course of study for a BSN degree.​​

This course is a 14-month completion course that presents you with a broader range of opportunities after completion. You can work in home health environments, industries, rehabilitation centers, or nursing homes.

To apply, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree. And if you are an international student, you need a TOEFL test score of 83 and an IELTS score of at least 6.5.

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

4. Baylor University

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 1311 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76706, United States

Acceptance rate: 39%

The Accelerated BSN program at Baylor University is another nursing program that permits students with a 2.5 GPA to apply. 

The program is an intensive full-time program with teaching methodologies, including online courses, clinical and lab experiences, and hybrid interactive learning courses.

While taking this nursing program, you will gain clinical experience, learn through a Christian worldview, and benefit from solid academics and a well-earned reputation.

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

5. Metropolitan State University of Denver

Program: GPA: 2.5

Address: 890 Auraria Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, United States

Acceptance rate: 61.3%.

The Metropolitan State University of Denver is among the schools that offer accelerated nursing programs with a 2.5 GPA requirement. 

This university’s bachelor of science in nursing program is specifically designed for students with bachelor’s degrees from any other field of study. 

Although the school accepts students with a 2.5 GPA, it is highly competitive. Before applying, you must have met their nursing requirements and taken the HESI A2. 

Note, the course is a 17-month completion course that, once you complete, you can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. (NCLEX-RN).

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

6. American University of Health Sciences

Program: GPA: 2.5

Address: 1600 E Hill St, Signal Hill, CA 90755, United States

The CCNE-accredited baccalaureate nursing program at the American University of Health Science prepares nurses with a Christian and holistic perspective. 

For admission, you need high school coursework or GED results, several proctored online entrance exams, an essay, two reference letters, and two interviews.

To get in, both high school and transfer applicants must have a GPA of 2.50 on all high school courses and a GPA of 2.50 on all transferable lower division courses.

You can apply during the winter and summer semesters for pre-nursing students or BSN significant entrants in the autumn and spring semesters.

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE. 

7. Cumberland University

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, TN 37087, United States

Online Master’s Nursing program at Cumberland University is among the accelerated nursing programs with a minimum GPA of 2.5 you can apply for. 

The nursing program takes nurses through proper training to improve their careers. As a nursing student, you’ll learn communication, critical thinking, and decision-making nursing skills. 

With a GPA as low as 2.5, you can complete two graduate school courses with a grade of B or above to achieve final admittance.  Apart from the GPA, it is also expedient to have RN and BSN certifications before applying for this program. 

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

8. Benedictine University 

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL 60532, United States

Benedictine University is among the schools that offer accredited nursing programs for both national and international students.

The university is an inclusive academic community aspiring to be a thought leader in Catholic higher education. One of their accelerated nursing programs for applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.5 is their MSN program. 

This accelerated nursing program teaches nurse graduates how to challenge the current healthcare environment. 

Aside from that, graduates from this program will gain all the knowledge it takes to advance in their nursing career, which is the dream of every professional nurse. 

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

9. Montana Technological University

Program GPA: 2.5

Address: 1300 West Park Street Butte, MT 59701

Next on our list is Montana Technological University. 

Montana Technological University is one of the prestigious accelerated nursing schools that offers nursing courses for national and international students.

The Compressed BSN Program is one of the accelerated nursing programs that any student with a minimum GPA of 2.5 can get into if they meet the other requirements. 

This program is a 2-year program that is rewarding for applicants aspiring to build a nursing career. Apart from the GPA, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

As an applicant, you must have completed 15 credits of coursework at least and be ready to take the GRE test. 

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

10. Loyola University Maryland 

Program GPA: 2.5 

Address: 4501 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21210, United States

Acceptance rate: 76%

Another accelerated nursing program you can apply for with as low as a 2.5 GPA is at Loyola University Maryland. Loyola University Maryland is a private Jesuit institution founded in 1852 by the Society of Jesus in Baltimore, Maryland.

The accelerated nursing program at this school is for students with at least three years of experience working as an RN or who have completed their BSN degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. 

This program is designed to help you prepare for your board exam so that you can start working towards becoming an RN with great potential, as soon as possible.

To learn more about this nursing program, visit the school’s official website HERE.

What to Consider Before Choosing an Accelerated Nursing Program

When you are looking for accelerated nursing programs, there are a few things that you need to consider. The first thing is the acceptance rate, which is the number of students accepted into the program and enrolled.

Then, the GPA requirement and tuition cost. Some nursing schools have more than one campus, while other institutions only offer online or on-site courses.

Some of these best-accelerated programs have high acceptance rates but low GPAs, so they may not be ideal if you’re planning on getting into medical school after graduating from this program. 

Also, you must consider the school’s accreditation status. Some colleges require validation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Radiologic Technology (ACR) before accepting graduates into clinical rotations or residency programs.

So make sure that any institution offering accelerated ACR has approved courses before applying elsewhere!

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In conclusion, the accelerated nursing programs at the top schools in the United States provide an excellent education to help students become registered nurses. 

The programs are designed to be completed in a shorter time frame than traditional nursing programs and offer many opportunities for hands-on clinical experience.