All program locations are not currently accepting new applications. Aspen voluntarily surrendered its program approval with the Arizona Board of Nursing through a consent agreement with a two-year teach-out of Core component students: https://www.azbn.gov/education/nursing-programs-lists/programs-under-current-discipline. The Core component of the program is additionally being taught out in all locations.

NCLEX Pass Rate Disclosure

Prepare to be an RN, and earn your BSN with an affordable pre-licensure nursing program.

Aspen’s Pre-licensure BSN program provides students with opportunities to become a BSN-educated nurse and learn the essential skills needed to practice as a professional registered nurse (RN). Skills lab, clinical simulation, seminars and community-based clinical experiences anchor the curriculum. Upon completion of their studies, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in the state or territory in which they choose to practice (the NCLEX is the national registered nurse examination used by all states for potential registered nursing licensure). Students provide their state board of nursing applicable forms to the School of Nursing, which completes them on behalf of the individual student, and take the exam in the state in which they choose to practice. Upon passing the NCLEX, students then work with their state Board of Nursing to finalize their professional licensure.

We designed this program for students who do not currently hold a state registered nurse license and have little to no prior nursing experience. The BSN pre-licensure nursing program is currently approved by state boards of nursing in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Students must be able to attend Nursing Core classes at one of the two Aspen University locations in Phoenix, Arizona, or at an Aspen location in Austin, TX, Tampa, FL, Nashville, TN, or Atlanta, GA.  

Students are encouraged to review the state authorization information found on our website and within our Academic Catalog.

Salary and employment information for BSN program graduates is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Registered Nurse Summary
Employment and Wages
Job Outlooks

Program Highlights:

Finish FastComplete your BSN program in 36 months (9 semesters)
Enjoy an Innovative Hybrid Format83 of 120 credits completed 100% online*
Forge AheadCourses begin throughout the year
Build your Skills through Practice – Fully equipped Aspen Center for Applied Learning in each location
Achieve Educational Goals and Career MobilityInteract with respected nursing leaders; network as you learn

Hybrid Format

All non-clinical courses for the BSN prelicensure nursing program are completed online. On-ground courses include labs, hands-on clinicals including simulation, and seminars. *Students in Florida only will participate in an additional weekly in-residence component at the Tampa location in non-clinical courses only.

Arizona Clinical Partners

HonorHealth is a five-hospital, nonprofit system in Scottsdale and north Phoenix area. All five hospitals have been awarded Magnet recognition status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Consumers rely on Magnet designation as the ultimate credential for high-quality nursing.

Valleywise Health is a premier public teaching hospital and academic medical center for physicians, nurses, and allied health students. Valleywise Health provides clinical opportunities at their acute care hospital, regional burn center, federally qualified health centers, comprehensive health center and behavioral health hospitals.

Aspen also maintains clinical affiliation agreements with Banner Health, Mountain Vista Medical Center, Paradise Valley School District, Bates Foundation, Hospice of the Valley, and many others in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

View the BSN (Pre-Licensure) Handbook (Arizona)

Texas Clinical Partners

Aspen University’s Clinical Partnership is with the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. In the Austin/Round Rock region, clinical rotations are planned at 7 of the system’s largest hospitals and their associated acute care or community-based settings, ambulatory sites and clinics.

View the BSN (Pre-Licensure) Handbook (Texas)

Florida Clinical Partners

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Tampa/St. Petersburg provides expert pediatric care for infants, children and teens in its 259-bed hospital providing care in over 50 specialties. It is the regional pediatric referral center for Florida’s West Coast.

Aspen also maintains clinical affiliation agreements with Care Connections at Home and Global Nurse Network, and the American Red Cross. These agreements round out the competencies taught through clinicals to also include community health and psychiatric.

View the BSN (Pre-Licensure) Handbook (Florida)

Tennessee Clinical Partners

NorthCrest Medical Center is a 109-bed acute care hospital in Springfield that provides inpatient, outpatient, and emergency medical services. Clinical rotations at NorthCrest for nursing students may include Emergency Department, Women’s Services, Medical-Surgical, Surgery, and the Critical Care Unit.

TrustPoint Hospital provides physical rehabilitation, medical psychiatry, and inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services. Located in Murfreesboro, TrustPoint specializes in treating adolescents, adults, and seniors experiencing crises from substance abuse or mental health issues through individualized care and methods.

Nashville General Hospital opened over 130 years ago as Nashville’s first full-fledged medical facility and continues to serve the city through a wide range of primary and specialty care services. Nashville General has earned high recognition from the NCQA for Patient-Centered Care and Diabetes Care.

View the BSN (Pre-Licensure) Handbook (Tennessee)

Get in touch to learn more about Aspen’s BSN Pre-Licensure nursing program. 

For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.

Admission Requirements

  • Completed application.
  • High School Transcripts: An official transcript demonstrating a completed high school diploma.
    • Waived if the student has completed at least 15 credits of college-level coursework at an institution that is accredited by a CHEA-recognized accrediting body or an international equivalent. 
    • Applicants who have a GED will enroll as a Continuing Education (non-degree seeking) student and complete the following courses: COM100, MAT140, MAT130, BIO210, and CMP160. After completion of those credits, students with a 2.75 cumulative GPA may reapply for the BSN Pre-Licensure program.
  • Official Transcripts for all previous college credit earned.
  • Submission of the signed Nursing Essential Functions Form.
  • Minimum GPA: a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for all previous high school or college credit.

Competitive Evaluation Process for the Nursing Core

Aspen uses a competitive evaluation process to assess student readiness for the Nursing Core. The Nursing Core begins during the session in which students would enroll in SEM101, N110, N320, and N320L. Students are not guaranteed entry to the Nursing Core. Entry to the Nursing Core additionally requires:

  • Minimum GPA: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for all Pre-Professional Nursing Coursework.
    • Successful completion of CMP160, MAT140, BIO201/L, BIO202/L, BIO210, and BIO220 with a “B” or higher
    • During the competitive ranking process, the number of course withdrawals and retakes the student has had within the last five years may also be reviewed when necessary
    • During the competitive ranking process, grades for individual courses may also be reviewed when necessary.
  • HESI A2: Minimum required scores for English Composite-80; Math-80; A&P-75. 
    • Students must meet all required scores on the first attempt
    • The exams must be taken at Aspen University
    • Scores from other institutions or locations are not accepted
  • Criminal Background Check: Submission of a passed criminal background check.
  • Fingerprint Clearance Card: Submission of a fingerprint clearance card.

Pre-Professional Nursing (41 Credits)

    This course provides a study of human communication by covering major communication concepts, theories, research, and trends. This introduction communications course will help students to understand their own communication behavior as well the communication behavior of others. Concepts covered include basic theories of communication, understanding individual communication styles, the use of communication across cultures, and listening and critical thinking skills. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: SPC 2300

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    College Algebra will dive deep into problem solving, algebraic reasoning, linear functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, compositions and inverses, and graphing and analyzing data. The student will develop a personal framework for problem-solving. Real-world scenarios are used throughout the course to ensure an understanding of how each concept is used in one’s life. Students will create, interpret, and revise models and find solutions to problems while utilizing real-world situations. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: MAT 1140

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course covers principles of microbiology with emphasis or microbial anatomy, microbial disease, and disease prevention and treatment. The course includes a broad overview of both the historical and current field of microbiology with focus on microbial pathogenicity, the spread of microbial pathogens, the methods of human immunity, and best practices for the diagnosis and treatment of microbial disease. A lab component is included within the course. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: MCB 2010

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course is designed to help students master the traditional five-paragraph essay and variations of this essay. Four principles are presented as keys to effective writing: unity, support, coherence, and sentence skills. The first part of the course focuses on the first three principles and to some extent on sentence skills. It shows, respectively, how these four principles apply in the different patterns of essay development and in specialized types of writing. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: ENC 1101

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course focuses on the many voices of psychology. To some, the science of psychology provides its students with a better understanding of others' behaviors. Others view psychology as a pathway to self-understanding. Others see the potential for a future career, and some are drawn to psychology by the opportunity for intellectual discovery that its study provides. The overall goal of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview to the subject of psychology. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: PSY 2012

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course focuses on the writing needs of students in allied health fields. Proofreading and revision exercises help develop critical thinking skills in writing and a keen eye for written work. The course reviews basic writing concepts but also builds knowledge specific to communication in healthcare fields. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: ENC 1102

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the basic components of the human body and how it functions on a cellular level to organismal level. The fundamentals of chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology will be presented along with the skeletal, muscular, nervous and integumentary systems. Structure, function, and integration of these systems in health and disease will also be discussed. **Textbook is available in classroom; no additional purchase necessary.** Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: BSC 2085

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    The purpose of the laboratory portion of this course is to explore histology in a hands on manner under the microscope and to explore the gross anatomy of the skeletal, muscular, nervous system, and special senses. While much of the physiology and microscopic anatomy of this course is covered in the lecture portion, the lab is designed to fill in the gaps and focus more on anatomical structures and recognition of such. This course must be taken concurrently with BIO201, which is the complementary didactic course. **Textbook is available in classroom; no additional purchase necessary.** Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: BSC 2085L

    1 Credits
    Required Books

    This introductory course in sociology gives students the opportunity to use sociological imagination to master their social world. It examines aspects of the social environment that students might otherwise ignore, neglect, or take for granted. It looks beneath the surface of everyday life to help students understand and anticipate human behavior in a variety of environments. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: SYG 2000

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the systems of the human body including the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, immune, urinary and reproductive systems. Fundamentals of fluid and electrolyte balance, cellular communication, human nutrition and gene inheritance will also be presented. The structure, function, and integration of these systems in both health and disease will be discussed. This course is a continuation of BIO201. **Textbook is available in classroom; no additional purchase necessary.** Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: BSC 2086

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    Prerequisites: BIO201 BIO201L

    The purpose of the laboratory portion of this course is to explore histology in a hands on manner under the microscope and to explore the gross anatomy of the skeletal, muscular, nervous system, and special senses. While much of the physiology and microscopic anatomy of this course is covered in the lecture portion, the lab is designed to fill in the gaps and focus more on anatomical structures and recognition of such. This course is a continuation of BIO201L. This course must be taken concurrently with BIO202, which is the complementary didactic course. **Textbook is available in classroom; no additional purchase necessary.** Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: BSC 2086L

    1 Credits
    Required Books

    This course is a comprehensive survey of common diseases affecting each body system. This class presents the basic principles of human disease, organized by human organ system. Included in the course are new diagnostic tests and lab procedures, treatment and diagnostic sections to include common treatments and general medical options, coverage of disease statistics, risk factors for diseases and disease prevention. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: MCB 2000

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course focuses on understanding and managing diversity. Clearly, diversity is an interdisciplinary field. Much of its theoretical framework originates in the social sciences. There is some disagreement among scholars on the definition of diversity; much less what materials should be included in a course about diversity. To meet this challenge we have selected a text for this course that gathers a wealth of information from the salient issues surrounding the topic of diversity. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: ANT 2410

    3 Credits
    Required Books

    This course is designed to enhance existing understanding of the pathophysiological processes of disease as they affect clients across the lifespan. The interrelationship of structural and functional reactions of cells and tissues to genetic alterations and injurious agents provide the foundation for comprehending clinical manifestations and treatment protocols. Critical thinking and nursing management are enhanced through the use of case studies that integrate nutritional and pharmacological concepts. The understanding of environmental and biological risk factors provides the nurse with the knowledge to provide health promotion and prevention education. **Textbook is available in the classroom** Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: NUR 3125

    3 Credits
    Required Books
    Prerequisites: BIO202L BIO201 BIO202 BIO201L

    Using an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes culture and family, Human Development challenges students to understand development from a broader perspective. Students draw on their own experiences as they weigh the research and ideas presented in the course. The course explores controversies about human development, often within a specific cultural context. Florida Course Numbering System Equivalent: DEP 2004

    3 Credits
    Required Books

Nursing Core (79 Credits)