University of Wisconsin-Madison
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing · Madison, WI · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveIn personlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses UW–Madison says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01General ChemistryChemistry · CHEM 103 / CHEM 108 / CHEM 109Science prerequisite; complete by application deadline and within 7 years of program start.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“Chemistry CHEM 103 CHEM 108 CHEM 109”
min gradeC - 02MicrobiologyMicrobiology · MICROBIO 101 / CHEM 343 / NUTR SCI 332Science prerequisite; complete by application deadline and within 7 years of program start.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“Microbiology MICROBIO 101 CHEM 343 NUTR SCI 332”
min gradeC - 03Anatomy (standalone)Human Anatomy · ANAT&PHY 337Alternatively A&P I and II together; cannot mix combined and standalone.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“One semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology, or”
min gradeC - 04Physiology (standalone)Human Physiology · ANAT&PHY 235 / ANAT&PHY 335Alternatively A&P I and II together.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“One semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology, or”
min gradeC - 05Anatomy & Physiology IAnatomy and Physiology IAlternative to separate Anatomy + Physiology; must be taken at the same school as A&P II.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Both A&P I and A&P II.”
min gradeC - 06Anatomy & Physiology IIAnatomy and Physiology IIAlternative to separate Anatomy + Physiology; must be taken at the same school as A&P I.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Both A&P I and A&P II.”
min gradeC - 07General PsychologyPsychology · PSYCH 202
source · guide.wisc.edu
“Psychology PSYCH 202”
min gradeC - 08SociologySociology · ANTHRO 100 / ANTHRO 104Any SOC course with social science attribute, or ANTHRO 100/104.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Any sociology course that carries a social science attribute”
min gradeC - 09Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentHuman Growth and Development · ED PSYCH 320 / 321 / 331, HDFS 262 / 263, PSYCH 460 / 464
source · guide.wisc.edu
“Human Growth and Development ED PSYCH 320 ED PSYCH 321 ED PSYCH 331 HDFS 262 HDFS 263 PSYCH 460 PSYCH 464”
min gradeC - 10Communication / Public SpeakingCommunications Part A: Literacy ProficiencyGeneral education requirement; Communication B not required for ABSN.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“one course with the Communication A designation”
- 11College AlgebraQuantitative Reasoning Part A: QR ProficiencyGeneral education QR-A designation; mapped to college-level math.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“one course with the Quantitative Reasoning A designation”
- 12OtherQuantitative Reasoning Part B: Enhanced QR ProficiencyGeneral education QR-B designation.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“one course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation”
- 13Social Science (elective)Ethnic StudiesGeneral education Ethnic Studies designation.
source · guide.wisc.edu
“one course with the Ethnic Studies designation”
Minimum prerequisite grade Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“C or higher in each prerequisite” vs “C (2.0)”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Courses in progress at application Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“All four science prerequisites and at least two of four general education requirements must be done when you apply; the rest by program start (early May)” vs “All four science prerequisites and at least 2 of 4 general education courses must be done at application; everything must be done by program start”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Science course time limit
Science prerequisites within 7 years of program start
Applies to chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“have completed all four nursing science prerequisite courses within seven years of the program start date.”
Course attempt limits Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission
2.75 on all undergraduate college credits, at application and by program start
All attempts, including repeats, are factored in.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75** on all undergraduate college credits.”
Minimum prerequisite GPA
2.75 on completed prerequisites at application; 2.75 on all seven by program start
When multiple courses satisfy one prerequisite, the more advantageous outcome is used. Test credit does not count in the GPA.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“have a minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 2.75** on all prerequisites completed at the time of application.”
Science GPA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam
Not required
ACT/SAT also not required of second-degree students.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“No, we currently do not require applicants to complete the TEAS exam.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Where can courses be taken?
Community/technical college courses
Equivalency tables are published for Wisconsin technical colleges and Madison College
No explicit restriction on community college credit stated.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Wisconsin Technical Colleges View Equivalency Tables”
Test credit
Accepted to satisfy prerequisites; not counted in prerequisite GPA
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Test Credit accepted by UW–Madison as a course replacement can be used to satisfy a prerequisite requirement but will not count towards the GPA calculation.”
Online labs Not published. Confirm with the school.
Pass/fail courses Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles UW–Madison publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
Summer (mid-May) start – NursingCAS application · MadisonDue September 15 each yearnext Sep 15, 2027 · opens May 1No year printed. Program starts in mid-May ('before the ABSN classes begin in mid-May'); catalog lists deadline as 'Mid-September' with decisions on or before December 31.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Applications are open from May 1–September 15. Check all the steps before you apply.”
Summer start – UW–Madison second-degree university application · MadisonDue October 1 each yearnext Oct 1, 2027Separate required university application; materials due October 15 (no year). Page banner says '2027 Applications are Now OPEN!' but the cohort year for the summer term is not stated.
source · admissions.wisc.edu
“Summer Term (accelerated BSN only) Application Deadline: October 1 Materials Deadline: October 15 Decision Release: on or before December 31”
Application route
NursingCAS plus a separate UW–Madison second-degree application
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“In addition to submitting the application to the School of Nursing through NursingCAS you must submit your UW–Madison second-degree application by October 1.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Cost
Tuition and fees as the school publishes them. Living costs vary; the source link has the full table.
Tuition
$45,000 flat (WI residents and MN reciprocity); $60,000 nonresidents
Additional expenses (compliance, textbooks, transportation, etc.) listed separately.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Tuition is a flat rate of $45,000 for Wisconsin residents (including reciprocity for MN residents) or $60,000 for nonresidents.”
University application fee Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“$80 (UW–Madison second-degree application)” vs “$80 (non-refundable)”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior degree
Non-nursing bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by program start (early May)
May apply at the beginning of the last undergraduate year and be admitted conditionally.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution.”
Interview
Virtual group interview with three faculty and three–four applicants
Failure to respond to scheduling request removes the application; reschedules only for extenuating circumstances.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“All applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in a virtual group interview.”
Essays
Two essays on the UW–Madison second-degree application
source · admissions.wisc.edu
“We ask you to answer the following questions on your application, each in the form of an essay.”
Letters of recommendation
Not required or accepted
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“No, we do not require or accept letters of recommendation.”
CNA
Not required
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“No. A CNA is one way students learn about the nursing profession and gain experience in the field, but we do not require a CNA license for admission.”
Prior nursing program enrollment
Must not have previously enrolled in a professional BSN program elsewhere
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“have not previously enrolled in a professional bachelor of science in nursing program at another institution.”
Licensure states not met
Program does not meet licensure requirements in California and New York
source · guide.wisc.edu
“California, New York”
- Be prepared to submit course descriptions or syllabi for outside prerequisites.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Applicants who complete prerequisites at another institution should be prepared to submit course descriptions and/or syllabi so that we can determine equivalencies.”
- Caregiver Background Check; disqualifying results can revoke admission.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“You provide false or misleading information on your application or compliance documents, or your Caregiver Background Check reveals disqualifying information.”
Healthcare experience Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Good to know
What the school says about the program that is not a requirement: how it selects, how many it admits, what to expect.
Delivery format
In person
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“In-person delivery”
Start term
Summer only (classes begin mid-May)
Catalog: no fall or spring starts.
source · admissions.wisc.edu
“Accelerated BSN* : Second degree applicants to the Accelerated BSN program may only apply for the summer term.”
Reapplication
No limit on reapplications
Decisions cannot be appealed.
source · nursing.wisc.edu
“Currently, there is no limit on the number of times one may apply to the ABSN program.”
ABSN/TBSN same-year rule
An ABSN offer disqualifies you from applying to the Traditional BSN starting in the same calendar year
source · admissions.wisc.edu
“Being offered admission to the Accelerated BSN program disqualifies a candidate from then also applying to the Traditional BSN program that begins in the same calendar year.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for UW–Madison, with when we last checked it. Tier 1 is the program's own pages; tier 2 the nursing school's general pages; tier 3 university-wide pages.
- Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing – School of Nursing – UW–Madisontier 1 · program page · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Accelerated BSN Application Process – School of Nursing – UW–Madisontier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Apply as a Second Degree Student – Office of Admissions and Recruitment – UW–Madisontier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- BSN Prerequisites – School of Nursing – UW–Madisontier 1 · prereqs · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Tuition & Fees – School of Nursing – UW–Madisontier 1 · tuition · checked Oct 15, 2026
- BSN Course Equivalencies – School of Nursing – UW–Madisontier 1 · prereqs · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Ask Bucky – Campus and Visitor Relations – UW–Madisontier 2 · faq · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Nursing, BSN (Accelerated Program) < University of Wisconsin-Madisontier 1 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
Open questions we're still checking
- The catalog lists 6 credits of Humanities/Literature among general education requirements, but the program's apply and prerequisites pages refer to only four general education requirements (Comm A, QR A, QR B, Ethnic Studies). Which applies?
- No year is printed for the May 1–September 15 application window or the October 1 university deadline; the exact cohort year and program start date are not stated.
- NursingCAS application fee and portal URL are not stated.
- Credit counts and lab requirements for prerequisites are not specified.
- The catalog lists a 6-credit Humanities/Literature general education item that the School of Nursing pages omit; it is unclear whether this is required for ABSN.
- The NursingCAS application fee is not stated.
- Course credit minimums and lab requirements for the prerequisites are not stated.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on min_prereq_grade: C or higher in each prerequisite | C (2.0).
- Two readings of the page disagreed on partial_completion: All four science prerequisites and at least two of four general education requirements must be done when you apply; the rest by program start (early May) | All four science prerequisites and at least 2 of 4 general education courses must be done at application; everything must be done by program start.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on application_fee: $80 (UW–Madison second-degree application) | $80 (non-refundable).
Something wrong here? Report an error
ABSNcheck summarizes requirements that schools publish on their own websites, with a link to each source and the date we last verified it. Schools change requirements, sometimes contradict themselves, and make individual decisions. Results show whether you meet published minimums; they are not an admission decision or a guarantee, and are not official advice from any school. Always confirm requirements with each program before you apply or enroll in a course.
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