General Information

Admission Requirements

  1. Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam (most current version) 
    • This exam can be taken via  through ATI, at a testing center of your choice, and testing is available at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
    •  
    • Official scores must be sent to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Nursing from Assessment Technology Institute (ATI) and must be submitted with your application.  
  2. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  3. Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA from all coursework (undergraduate and graduate-if applicable).
  4. Course Prerequisites, all grades must be a C or higher. 
    • There are four science courses that are pre-requisites to start the program. To apply, three of them must be completed by the application deadline. There are no exceptions.  
      • CHEM 132: Introductory Chem with Lab (4 sem. Credits)
      • BIO 291: Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab (4 credits)
      • BIO 292: Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/ Lab (4 credits)
      • ENVH 260/261: Etiology of Infectious Disease w/ lab (3 credits) Note: this is a Microbiology course
  5. Nursing Prerequisites pre-requisites to start the program
    • ND 330 Human Nutritional Needs.  Equivalent 300 level course may be accepted.
    • NSG 346 Pathophysiology for Nursing (Recommend taking at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½; Equivalent 300 level course may be accepted. Email wcunursing@wcu.edu.)
    • MATH 170 Applied Statistics (3 credits)
    • Psychology 150 -General Psychology (3 credits)

For detailed information and commonly asked questions about prerequisites and equivalences including but not limited to North Carolina Community Colleges (NCCC), StraighterLine, and steps to take before contacting wcunursing@wcunursing.edu and the Registrar's office, review these documents:  Requirements & Helpful Hints  Prerequisites

 

Program Costs

Costs are based on 2025-2026 charges and are subject to change. 
 
 
For disadvantaged students who have been admitted to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and are planning to apply to one of our BSN program offerings, the PEN Scholars program will provide specific support services through a dedicated academic and faculty advisor. 
 
Refer to these links for related information about general , reduced undergraduate tuition , financial aid , available  and the . ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Scholarships are available for students once admitted to the university  (ABSN acceptance may be pending) and typically has a February 1st deadline annually. 
Tuition & Fees
  • Resident: $3524.78
  • Non-Resident: $5524.78
Includes Health Insurance fee of $1182.28 which can be waived if coverage is verified.
Additional Costs
  • ExamSoft $75.00
  • Books $100 (purchase)
  • ATI Package $550
  • Virtual Simulation $100
  • Liability Insurance $15
  • Nursing Lab Supplies $125
  • Uniform $250
  • CastleBranch $125
  • CPR Certification $85
  • Immunizations $Varies
Tuition & Fees
  • Resident: $3524.78
  • Non-Resident: $5524.78
Includes Health Insurance fee of $1182.28 which can be waived if coverage is verified.
Additional Costs
    • Books $100 (purchase)
    • ATI Package $550
    • Virtual Simulation $100
    • Nursing Lab Supplies $125
    • Additional Background Check $30-40
    • Additional Urine Drug Screen $45
Tuition & Fees
  • In-State: $171.71/credit hr
  • Out-of-State: $338.37/credit hr
Includes Health Insurance fee of $1182.28 which can be waived if coverage is verified.
Additional Costs
  • Books $100 (purchase)
  • ATI Package $550
  • Virtual Simulation $100
  • Nursing Lab Supplies $125
  • Additional Background Check $30-40
  • Additional Urine Drug Screen $45
Optional Costs
  • Uniform Refresh $125 (recommended)
  • Out of town hotel for clinical rotation at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist/Brenner's Hospital $300
Tuition & Fees
  • Resident: $3524.78
  • Non-Resident: $5524.78
Includes Health Insurance fee of $1182.28 which can be waived if coverage is verified.
Additional Costs
  • ExamSoft $75.00
  • Books $100 (purchase)
  • ATI Package $550
  • Virtual Simulation $100
  • Nursing Lab Supplies $125
  • Liability Insurance $15
  • Graduation Fee $60
  • Additional Background Check $30-40
  • Additional Urine Drug Screen $45
  • Application to Board of Nursing $75
  • Criminal Background Check (BON) $38
  • NCLEX Exam $200
Optional Costs
  • Nursing Pin $30+
  • Graduation Regalia $50+
  • Sigma Thea Tau membership $80+

Informational Videos

ABSN Biltmore Park Campus Tour

Admissions Questions

Does the ABSN program offer an official transcript evaluation? How do I determine how my previous courses will transfer?
We do not offer an official transcript evaluation prior to applying to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. 
Review the ABSN Admission Requirements to help evaluate previous coursework for applicability in meeting the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ ABSN prerequisite requirements. 

Do you accept credits from companies like StraighterLine, SOPHIA Learning, Study.com, or Saylor Academy?
Many students will utilize online proprietary educational institutions to meet prerequisite requirements.  Check the ABSN Admission Requirements which details common coursework accepted for ABSN prerequisite requirements.

What TEAS score do I need to be a strong applicant?
The TEAS score is one element we evaluate. Historically, the average TEAS score for accepted applicants has ranged between 85-89%.

Can international students apply to the program?
Absolutely! The best way to start the process is by contacting the Office of Global Engagement to find out what additional information will be required to apply to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, and what your next steps will be. Please note that review of coursework completed outside of the United States will require additional steps, such as submission of course descriptions and course syllabi for coursework evaluation. This process will take longer due to complexity of the review.

Is there a time restriction for prerequisites (i.e., all courses must be taken in the last __ years?)
The ABSN program does not have a time restriction for the completion of any prerequisite coursework.

Can I apply before completing all prerequisites?
You must complete 3 of the 4 science prerequisites prior to applying. You can complete other prerequisites after the application deadline, as long as you finish them prior to starting ABSN courses in the fall. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of a C or higher. Nursing course prerequisites (ND 330 and NSG 346) are typically completed after notification of admission to the program.

Where/how should I take NSG 346 and ND 330?
Because they are taught at the 300-level, most students are not able to transfer NSG 346 and ND 330 from other institutions. The majority of ABSN students take these courses online through ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ during the summer after being admitted to the ABSN program, before officially starting classes in the fall. Slots are held for all admitted ABSN students.

Can I substitute Calculus or another high-level math class for MATH 170 (Applied Statistics)?
We require a statistics course for admission. A statistics course in another discipline besides math may be considered. The ABSN Admission Requirements details common coursework accepted for ABSN prerequisite requirements and the process for having a transfer course evaluated by the School of Nursing.

Can ABSN faculty or the School of Nursing check over my application on NursingCAS to make sure I have everything I need?
Prior to submission, we do not have access to applicant materials in the NursingCAS platform. The best thing to do is look carefully over all the information on the ABSN website and the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ ABSN application instructions in NursingCAS to ensure you’ve included all required materials.

Are there information sessions or open houses?
We offer many Virtual Open Houses throughout the academic year, which are led by faculty and give a great overview of the program. If you’d like to schedule a time to see the Biltmore Park campus, you can start that process by emailing wcunursing@wcu.edu.

Does the ABSN program consider anything else in admission decisions besides test scores and GPA?
The ABSN program admission process includes a comprehensive evaluation of all applicants based on the submitted materials detailed in the NursingCAS application. The evaluation of an applicant is not exclusive to metrics alone (such as test scores and GPA).

How many do you accept in each admission cycle?
We currently seat a class of 55 students.

Program Questions

What is the course schedule like?
It varies from semester to semester. In general, you should expect 2-3 days of in-person classes at the Biltmore Park campus and 1-3 days of clinical experiences at surrounding healthcare facilities, depending on the semester and the week. In general, you should plan on being in class, lab, or clinical 4-5 days per week. More details can be found in the ABSN Curriculum Overview video.

Does NC Promise apply to the ABSN Program?
Yes. Additional ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and ABSN fees do still apply for all students. For more information, visit the NC Promise page.

Can I work during the program?
Many students do work part-time during the program, but this can vary depending on the semester’s course load, your work schedule, and other factors. We typically recommend that students plan to limit hours during the first semester (until they get used to the workload of the program) and re-evaluate each semester. More details can be found in the ABSN Curriculum Overview video.

What kinds of clinical experiences will I have during the program?
You’ll complete clinical rotations in a variety of acute care and community health areas. These can include specialties like medical-surgical care, stepdown units, intensive care, operating room/surgery, emergency department, labor and delivery, pediatrics, home health, mental health, health department, primary care, endoscopy, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, wound care, cath lab, electrophysiology lab, interventional radiology, substance use treatment, and case management.