ACNU Graduates

Accelerated Nursing Track

Details

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, our nationally accredited, accelerated nursing program track lets you earn a second bachelor’s degree that enables you to become a Registered Nurse (RN). The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Carroll College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

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About the Program

In just 15 months, you’ll learn theory and practical application from accomplished faculty who are passionate about the nursing field and nursing education.

Carroll nursing program graduates are more than bedside nurses — they are community leaders, critical thinkers, change agents in the nursing field, and compassionate caregivers. 

The Carroll College accelerated nursing program track will help you make a lasting difference.

Apply via NursingCAS portal

View the application video tutorial

ACNU Student Nurses

A Holistic Approach

Carroll’s accelerated nursing program track takes a holistic approach to health care, which allows you to care for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. You will develop a well-rounded skillset and knowledge base that enables you to respond to a wide range of problems while understanding that every patient and situation is unique.

Accelerated Nursing at Carroll College

State-of-the-art facilities

Accelerated nursing track coursework and the clinical skills you develop in our state-of-the-art nursing simulation center prepare you to join one of the hottest career fields in the country. The Holistic Health Lab and Learning Center complement your nursing education by providing a space dedicated to helping you learn and apply holistic healthcare modalities to enhance self-care and the wellness of others.

CCSNA Walk

Serving Others

A Carroll education is also backed by our diocesan Catholic mission. As a nursing student, you can join your peers in service activities throughout the year, including those offered by the campus chapter of the Student Nurses Association (CCSNA).

Accelerated Nursing Splash
Check out this introductory video about Carroll College's Accelerated Nursing program.

I appreciated how much time and effort professors were willing to put into helping us be successful. I felt that the small nature of the school and design of the program allowed for them to really focus on what each individual student needed to be successful. I loved that I felt comfortable going to each of them if I needed help or was struggling and I greatly appreciated that I never felt judged or discouraged.

Carroll College Nursing Student 2023 graduate

ACNU Student Nurses

Clinical + Classroom Learning Opportunities Combined

From the beginning of your nursing education, you learn in the classroom and in real-life situations by completing approximately 850 hours of time in clinical and simulation lab settings. These experiences take place in a wide variety of environments, from hospitals and public health/community-based facilities to psychiatric and school settings. 

Applicants to the accelerated nursing track must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to their enrollment in the program. Contact our Admission Office if you do not fulfill the admission requirements below to learn about how you can complete prerequisites at Carroll College.

Those admitted to the accelerated nursing track must:

  1. Complete or be enrolled in the following prerequisites (or their equivalent) with a “C -” or better at the time of program enrollment. This coursework needs to be completed prior to the program start, with official transcripts on file with the Registrar's office.
    • Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs
    • Essentials of Chemistry + lab
    • Organic & Biochemistry
    • Microbiology with lab
    • Intro to Sociology
    • Statistics
    • General Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Oral Communication
    • Written Communication

  2. May be completed upon application or taken concurrently with the accelerated nursing classes.

    • One theology class
    • One philosophy class

    Note: For the theology or philosophy classes, one must be an ethical reasoning course.

  3. Other requirements:
    • Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
    • Have an overall college career Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale (This includes all attempted credits at an accredited college or university).

May 2025 cohort timeline

  • August 8, 2024 - Applications become available in NursingCAS
  • October 2, 2024 - Rolling admission until cohort capacity is reached
  • May 1, 2025 - First tuition payment due
  • May 16, 2025 - Accelerated Nursing orientation
  • May 19, 2025 - Classes begin
  • August 2026 - Completion date for May 2025 cohort

Should prospective students wish to take college-level coursework elsewhere, specifically the theology and/or philosophy requirement (if applicable), Carroll College will need to receive an official college transcript in order to evaluate courses for transfer.

Final tuition and fees are located on our cost of attendance page. The accelerated nursing track is four semesters and students will be sent full tuition and fee information at the time of inquiry.

Financial aid administered by the Financial Aid Office is designed to assist students in paying for their expenses associated with earning a degree. Federal financial aid is available to assist in paying for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and student living expenses while enrolled. Students may qualify for federal work-study, and loans only. Post-baccalaureate students (2nd Bachelor’s Degree) are not eligible for any Carroll College gift aid or tuition benefits unless donor-designated.

A post-bacc student may be eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loan limits based on their annual FAFSA results and aggregate loan limits ($7,500-12,500 annual limit). First-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrowers must complete a Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling. Students may also be eligible for private student Loans which are loans available for students who need extra funding after receiving the annual maximum in Federal Direct Stafford Loans. These are credit-based loans and generally require a co-signer. For more information on some private loan options, you may view our FastChoice Comparison Tool. For information regarding aid at Carroll, view our Federal Loan Financial Aid webpage.

There are also several scholarship opportunities listed on the Carroll website: Scholarships: General - Carroll College. Look for ones that note "Accelerate Nursing eligible". We also have had numerous students successfully pursue a VA or HRSA Nurse Corps scholarship to cover the program expenses. You can find more information about these options at: About HPSP - Veterans Affairs Scholarship Program (intelliworxit.com) and Apply to the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program | Bureau of Health Workforce (hrsa.gov).

Housing Options  
Students for the accelerated nursing track must live in Helena due to the intense 15-month focus from May through the following August. Students in this track are eligible to live in the Carroll College apartments. Due to the accelerated track being over two summers, only the apartments are available. The Carroll College apartments are conveniently located on campus. Housing information will be sent to students at the time of admission.

Veterans: Yellow Ribbon  
Any student that is 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI-Bill, has remaining entitlement, and meets the admission requirements is eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. To learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact Brandy Keely.

Careers for Accelerated Nursing Program Track Graduates

Nurses are among the country’s most in-demand professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of RNs is projected to grow by 6% through 2032, which is faster than other occupations. On average, the agency predicts approximately 193,100 openings for RNs each year. 

Carroll graduates often enter health professions dedicated to shaping the future of U.S. public health policy and helping communities and people enjoy long lifetimes of good health. Students who graduate from our nursing program achieve NCLEX pass rates that are consistently above state and national averages. In fact, our accelerated nursing track graduates have a 100% NCLEX pass rate on the first try.

After you complete Carroll’s accelerated nursing track, you’ll be ready to join top graduate programs or provide high-quality, holistic healthcare in whatever city you choose around the world. 

 

ACNU Students 2024

Academics  |  Press Release 

Accelerated Nursing students and faculty meet with Senator Tester

Aug 9, 2024

ACNU Nursing Student

An Accelerated Nursing Track Built on Excellence

Building on a long-standing history — our inaugural nursing class was welcomed in 1973 — Carroll College created its accelerated nursing track in 2021 to help the nursing field fulfill the increasing demand for nurses. Our long commitment to excellence is continued by our experienced faculty who provide personal attention and guidance in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. We maintain a low student-to-faculty ratio to provide a learning experience that prepares you to succeed in the nursing field.
 

First Nursing Class

1973

Apply to the Accelerated Nursing Track

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