At the UW–Madison School of Nursing, we prepare nurses to make a direct impact on patients and advocate for changes in health care and the communities we serve. Our accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program is for non-nursing bachelor’s degree holders who want to become a leader in nursing in just 12 months.
Application window:
May 1-September 15
In-person delivery
1-year
time frame
96% NCLEX pass rate on first attempt
Your ABSN Experience
Fast-Track The Career You Want
We prepare you for the nursing career you want in 12 months. Our ABSN graduates work in a variety of nursing careers, confidently improving patient care and community health.
Join the Badger Nurse Community
Learn alongside a close-knit cohort of aspiring nurses whose varied experiences will enrich your perspective. Grow together through the ABSN program and build lifelong connections as future Badger nurses.
Prepare With Cutting-Edge Technology
Experience advanced simulations and gain hands-on clinical training, all under the guidance of experienced professionals using the latest health care technology.
Gain Experience in Varied Clinical Settings
Build confidence and clinical expertise through placements that we arrange for you across a wide range of settings—from schools and correctional facilities to rural and urban hospitals and clinics.
Discover Madison
Madison, often voted one of the best places to live in the U.S., blends the city and campus, green spaces and urban areas, to create a place unlike anywhere else.
Your Future in Nursing
As an ABSN graduate, you’ll be prepared to lead improvements in care quality and health systems through nursing research and advanced practice.
Badger Nurses in Action
Meet Thu McKenzie ’24
Thu McKenzie ’24 shares her journey into nursing, why she chose the accelerated BSN program at UW–Madison, and her vision for the future of health care.
Student & Alumni Stories
UW–Madison School of Nursing’s Undergraduate Program Ascends to No. 8 in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
2026 rankings place School of Nursing’s BSN program in top one percent of programs nationwide.
Nursing Through a Different Lens
For Will Joyce ’25, the nursing journey wasn’t linear. But after years in the classroom and time spent traveling through Europe, he had what he calls an “epiphany" which led him to UW–Madison’s accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program.
A Badger Nurse Bond Built Through Mentorship
In a world that often feels disconnected, the Badger Nurse Mentorship Program is fostering a community of connection — one conversation, one coffee, one shared story at a time.
- More Stories
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Request for Information
Contact Us
Undergraduate Admissions
Email:
admissions
Phone: 608-263-5180
Address:
Suite 1100 Signe Skott Cooper Hall