East Carolina University
Accelerated Second-Degree BSN (ABSN) · Greenville, NC · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveIn personlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses East Carolina says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01Anatomy & Physiology IAnatomy and Physiology I with lab · BIOL 2140 and BIOL 21413-hour lecture plus a separate 1-hour lab. A first-attempt B- earns a ranking point.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“BIOL 2140, Anatomy and Physiology I (3 semester hours) BIOL 2141, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (1 semester hour)”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeB- - 02Anatomy & Physiology IIAnatomy and Physiology II with lab · BIOL 2150 and BIOL 21513-hour lecture plus a separate 1-hour lab. A first-attempt B- earns a ranking point.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“BIOL 2150, Anatomy and Physiology II (3 semester hours) BIOL 2151, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (1 semester hour)”
credits4labrequiredmin gradeB- - 03MicrobiologyMicrobiology · BIOL 2110No lab is listed.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“BIOL 2110, Microbiology (3 semester hours)”
credits3min gradeC - 04General PsychologyGeneral Psychology · PSYC 1000
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“PSYC 1000, General Psychology (3 semester hours)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 05Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentDevelopmental Psychology · PSYC 3206
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“PSYC 3206, Developmental Psychology (3 semester hours)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 06General ChemistryCollege level ChemistryNo lab is listed.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“College level Chemistry course (3 semester hours)”
credits3min gradeC - 07NutritionCollege level Human Nutrition
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“College level Human Nutrition course (3 semester hours)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 08StatisticsCollege level Statistics
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“College level Statistics course (3 semester hours)”
credits3labnomin gradeC
Minimum grades
B- in Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs); C in Microbiology, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Chemistry, Human Nutrition and Statistics
source 1 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Completed the following prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B- by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program”
source 2 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Completed the following prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program”
Prerequisites at application
All prerequisites and the bachelor's degree must be complete by the end of the summer semester before the January start; courses not complete by the application deadline are excluded from the GPA
No minimum number of completed prerequisites to apply is stated, but the application-access request requires verification that all eligibility and course requirements are met.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Completed the following prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B- by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Course age limit Not published. Confirm with the school. No course age or recency limit on the HESI page, program page, admission page, FAQ, HESI FAQ PDF or ranking formula PDF. HESI scores explicitly do not expire.
Course attempt limits Not published. Confirm with the school. No cap on course retakes is published; a first-attempt B- in A&P I and II only affects ranking points.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“One (1) point is awarded for successfully completing the following courses (or equivalent courses) with a B- or better on the first attempt: BIOL 2140 & 2141 and BIOL 2150 & 2151.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission
3.0, using either all grades from accredited colleges attended or the 20+ credit hours taken after the first bachelor's degree, whichever is higher; not rounded; courses not complete by the deadline are excluded
Ranking points: 3.0 to 3.19 earns 2 points, up to 6 points for 3.8 to 4.0. No provisional band.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“A cumulative GPA of 3.0 of higher Grade point averages calculated for admission include either all grades from accredited college/universities attended OR grades from 20+ credit hours post-graduation with the first bachelor’s degree, whichever is highest. Courses that are not complete by the application deadline are not included in GPA calculations.GPA calculations are not rounded.”
Science GPA Not published. Confirm with the school. No science or prerequisite GPA; the ranking formula awards one point for a B- or better in A&P I and II on the first attempt.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam
HESI A2 required (Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Basic Math, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology): two attempts total, three-month wait before the second, attempts do not reset per cycle, scores never expire, super-scored; no minimum score, ranking points start at a 75% average
Ranking points by average: 97 to 100% = 6; 93 to 96.9% = 5; 89 to 92.9% = 4; 85 to 88.9% = 3; 81 to 84.9% = 2; 75 to 80.9% = 1; below 75% = 0. Attempts used for ECU's traditional BSN count against the ABSN limit. In person (Prometric) or remote (ProProctor only); about $125 per attempt.
source 1 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Students are limited to two (2) exam attempts total. ECU requires a three month waiting period before completing the second and final attempt. Students should complete all five sections on each attempt of the exam. If two HESI A2 attempts are completed, the average will be super scored using the highest score for each of the five required sections to calculate the highest possible average score for the ranking formula. Additional attempts for the HESI A2 exam do NOT reset with each ABSN admission cycle. If re-applying to the program, you must use your previous HESI A2 scores from your first two attempts. HESI A2 scores do not expire.”
source 2 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Completed at least one attempt on the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Where can courses be taken?
Pass/fail grades
Not accepted for any ABSN prerequisite
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“NOTE: Pass/fail grades are not acceptable in meeting any ABSN prerequisite requirement. At the university level, a student may receive transfer credit for pass/fail coursework, but those credits will not meet minimum letter grade requirements for the ABSN program.”
Online labs Not published. Confirm with the school. Only the A&P labs are listed; whether Microbiology or Chemistry need a lab, and whether online labs are accepted, is not stated.
Where prerequisites can be taken Not published. Confirm with the school. No statement on community colleges or named providers; applicants are referred to the College of Nursing's transcript review resources. The registrar may determine accreditation eligibility.
AP / CLEP credit Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles East Carolina publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
January start (annual cohort) · Greenville, NCDue June 15 each yearnext Jun 15, 2027 · opens April 15No year printed. The ABSN Application Request Form (2.2.26) gives the deadline as 'June 15th at 11:59 pm'. The program begins in January each year (no day given). Prerequisites and the first degree must be finished by the end of the summer semester before the January start. Interviews are typically held in late July, and decisions are usually sent by the end of August. Applicants must email CONAdvising@ecu.edu to request access to the online application.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“The ABSN application opens each year April 15 th with an application deadline of June 15 th .”
ECU university Second Degree application (Spring 2027 admission semester) · Greenville, NCDeadline Dec 15, 2026This is the university-level Second Degree admission deadline, not the nursing ABSN application deadline. Students offered ABSN admission must apply to ECU as soon as the application becomes available in mid-August. The Spring 2027 term corresponds to a January 2027 ABSN start.
source · admissions.ecu.edu
“Spring 2027 December 15, 2026”
Application
College of Nursing's own online application, with access granted by email after eligibility verification; a separate ECU undergraduate Second Degree application after admission. Not NursingCAS
source 1 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Once the application window is open, prospective applicants should email the College of Nursing Advising Center at CONAdvising@ecu.edu to request access to the online ABSN application.”
source 2 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Admission to the ABSN program is contingent upon undergraduate admission ECU as an undergraduate Second Degree student or International student.”
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 Not published. Confirm with the school. No ABSN program total or per-credit figure on any nursing.ecu.edu page; the admission page links to ECU Financial Services, an index of Fall 2026 per-credit rate sheets by residency.
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“As a clinical degree, the ABSN program does have additional costs to students for nursing uniforms, books and electronic academic resources, background checks, drug screening, clinical supplies, and liability insurance. Students must also obtain current CPR certification.”
Application fee Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior degree
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, earned by the end of the summer semester before the January start; NACES evaluation for foreign degrees
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college of university by the end of the summer semester prior to beginning the ABSN program”
Interview
Selected applicants interview in person at the College of Nursing, typically in late July; virtual interviews may be an option for those far from Greenville
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Admission interviews are typically held in late July in person at the College of Nursing. Virtual interviews may be an option for students who are not located within a reasonable driving distance to Greenville, NC.”
Personal statement
Written personal statement, scored 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent) by at least three committee members
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“All applicants are required to complete a written personal statement (see ABSN application for details), which is ranked from 1(very poor) to 5 (excellent).”
- ABSN Application Request Form with individual unofficial transcripts from every college attended; transfer credit shown on another institution's transcript is not acceptable
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Individual copies of unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. Transfer credit listed on another institution’s transcript is not acceptable and will deem an application request as incomplete.”
- Letter from the dean or director of a former nursing program if you were previously admitted to an ADN or BSN program and did not finish the clinical portion
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Prospective applicants who have been previously admitted to but did not finish the clinical portion of an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at a community college or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at another university will be required to submit a formal letter from the Dean or Director of their former nursing program with their ABSN application.”
- Separate ECU undergraduate Second Degree application after ABSN admission; official transcripts before the January start
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“Admission to the ABSN program is contingent upon undergraduate admission ECU as an undergraduate Second Degree student or International student.”
- Veteran, active-duty or reserve applicants earn a ranking point with a DD-214 or military transcript
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“One (1) point is awarded to applicants who are veterans, active duty, or in the reserves.”
- Additional costs: uniforms, books and electronic resources, background check, drug screening, clinical supplies, liability insurance and current CPR certification
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“As a clinical degree, the ABSN program does have additional costs to students for nursing uniforms, books and electronic academic resources, background checks, drug screening, clinical supplies, and liability insurance. Students must also obtain current CPR certification.”
Letters of recommendation Not published. Confirm with the school. No general letters are listed; only a letter from a former nursing program's dean or director if you previously left an ADN or BSN program.
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.
Format
Full-time, in person on campus for the entire year
source 1 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Yes, the Accelerated Second-Degree BSN option is a full-time campus based option that will last for 12 months.”
source 2 · nursing.ecu.edu
“Students must be able to attend full-time and in person for the entire year.”https://nursing.ecu.edu/bsn/absn/ · tier 1
Start
January, once a year
source · nursing.ecu.edu
“This is a 12-month program that begins in January each year with students graduating in December.”
Ranking formula
Points for GPA (2 to 6), HESI A2 average (0 to 6), first-attempt B- in A&P I and II (1), veteran or military status (1) and personal statement (1 to 5)
Veteran point requires a DD-214 or military transcript.
source 1 · nursing.ecu.edu
“One (1) point is awarded to applicants who are veterans, active duty, or in the reserves.”
source 2 · nursing.ecu.edu
“One (1) point is awarded for successfully completing the following courses (or equivalent courses) with a B- or better on the first attempt: BIOL 2140 & 2141 and BIOL 2150 & 2151.”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for East Carolina, 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.
- ABSN program pagetier 1 · program page · checked Oct 9, 2026
- ABSN admission requirements and applicationtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 9, 2026
- ABSN pre-admission exam (HESI A2)tier 1 · policy · checked Oct 9, 2026Notes that the Elsevier registration platform changes for the 2028 admission cycle.
- ABSN FAQtier 1 · faq · checked Oct 9, 2026
- ABSN HESI A2 Exam FAQs (updated 9.8.26)tier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 9, 2026
- ABSN Ranking Formula 2025 (approved 09/12/24)tier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 9, 2026
- ECU Financial Services: tuition and fees indextier 3 · tuition · checked Oct 9, 2026Links to Fall 2026 per-credit rate sheets by residency; no ABSN figure.
- Second Degree | Undergraduate Admissions | ECUtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 23, 2026
Open questions we're still checking
- The application window (April 15 to June 15) is stated without a year, so the cycle has no ISO dates; the next window should be 2027 for a January 2028 start.
- No course age limit is published anywhere on the ABSN pages or PDFs (HESI scores explicitly never expire).
- ABSN tuition is not published on nursing.ecu.edu; the university page only links to Fall 2026 per-credit rate sheets by residency.
- Whether Microbiology or Chemistry require a lab is not stated; only the A&P labs are listed.
- ECU's GPA may be the post-degree GPA over 20+ credit hours if that is higher; the checker only sees the cumulative GPA.
- The HESI registration platform changes for the 2028 cycle; registration instructions were not yet posted.
- No online-lab, community-college or AP/CLEP policy is published.
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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