FAQs
Prospective students should have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher from their previous degree program to be considered for the Second Degree Accelerated BSN (BSNExpress).
The commonality among Second Degree Accelerated BSN (BSNExpress) students is that they are all different! Our students are not just from our region but are from all over the country. Some are recent college graduates, some have been out of school for many years. They have worked in business, law, marketing, science, insurance, theater, and education. We have had a soap opera actor, a singer, an entrepreneur, and a mountain climber complete the program. Students come to us with bachelor’s and master’s degrees and even doctorates. Their undergraduate degrees span a variety of areas including: varied liberal arts backgrounds, business, social and behavioral sciences as well as health sciences.
So, is there someone exactly like you? No, and that’s what makes the program so great! Has there been someone your age, with your type of education and interests? Most likely, yes. We welcome you to apply to be a member of our diverse and very interesting cohort!
Villanova University is a Yellow Ribbon school. If you’re an active duty military service member, veteran or dependent, please visit the Office of Veterans and Military Service Members web page to learn more about VA benefits, the GI Bill®, and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Complete a Second Degree Accelerated Track Request Information form. The information on this form is required so that we can email the results of a transcript review.
- Email copies of all college or university transcripts for a preliminary transcript review to determine outstanding prerequisites to kristin.barkdoll@villanova.edu. (Copies of transcripts are acceptable for the preliminary review. If you complete an application, official transcripts are required)
Prerequisites may be completed at any accredited college or university. Students who choose to complete their prerequisites at Villanova University need to complete an application through the College of Professional Studies.
International students must have foreign degrees and courses evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service such as World Education Services, Inc. (www.wes.org). If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must send your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores to the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. In order to be considered for admission, applicants must score at least 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 85 on the internet-based test. When you register for the TOEFL, please request that your results be sent directly to Villanova (our institutional code is 2959). Accepted international students are required to submit a Certificate of Finances form along with their registration deposit before they can be issued the I-20 form needed to receive a student visa. Need-based financial assistance is only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit Villanova University and the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. Villanova University is easily accessible. You will find transportation information and a map on the University site and may take a virtual tour of the University. Visit our admissions web site to schedule an on-campus tour. Prospective students are welcome to attend the our Virtual Open Houses offered numerous times throughout the year.
Potential students may also visit the Fitzpatrick Coillege of Nursing for a tour of the Simulation Labs with a member of the recruitment staff. Schedule a tour.
The current tuition cost for the Second Degree Accelerated BSN (14-month BSNExpress) for 2023 is $51,000. This cost is for the entire 14 months. In addition to tuition and living expenses, other expenses you may anticipate include books; transportation to clinical sites; parking; uniforms; physical examination and required immunizations; background checks for agency compliance; stethoscope, protective mouthpieces and eye shields; CPR certification; and standardized tests at the completion of major courses in preparation for the national licensure examination.
While students in this track are not eligible for Villanova University scholarships (they are for first degree students only), there are other financing options available. If you are interested in pursuing additional assistance to finance your education, you will need to work with the University Office of Financial Assistance. Students interested in pursuing federal financial assistance while enrolled in the program can apply for the Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, and the Nursing Student Loan program by submitting the Villanova University Second Degree Accelerated BSN (BSNExpress) Institutional Financial Aid Application, the appropriate year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and signed copies of the previous year’s U.S. Income Tax Returns and W-2 forms.
Students who are not interested in applying for federal assistance but are looking for additional financing options may utilize the Villanova Financing Plan. Information about financing plan can be obtained from the Bursar’s Office. Questions regarding federal and alternative financing opportunities should be addressed to the Office of Financial Assistance at finaid@villanova.edu. Many of the funding opportunities for second degree students are “non-traditional.” Due to the present shortage of nurses, prospective employers may be interested in assisting students prior to graduation in return for the student agreeing to work for the agency after graduation. This applies to healthcare agencies, as well as all branches of military service; check healthcare employer and military advertisements and websites for information. Some students have worked as nursing assistants or in other capacities for a hospital and that hospital either agreed to pay for their education or promised a sign-on bonus.
University Housing is always at a premium, even for our basic undergraduate students. The standard dormitory housing available to traditional students is not available to second degree students. However, there are many options for housing in the Villanova and Greater Philadelphia area. Villanova’s Residence Life has created a website with off-campus housing information.