FAQs
What is the UL Lafayette · Ochsner Accelerated BSN Program?
The program is a partnership between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Ochsner Health that’s designed to address a critical – and growing – demand for registered nurses.
Who is the program for?
UL Lafayette · Ochsner Accelerated BSN Program is for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution who want to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Who directs the program?
Students in the UL Lafayette · Ochsner Accelerated BSN Program will enroll in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences and its LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing. Clinical rotations will occur at Ochsner Health facilities.
How many hours does the program require?
The program requires 120 credit hours to complete – 70 credit hours of nursing courses and 50 credit hours of general education prerequisites. View General Education Courses
Will credits transfer from my previous bachelor’s degree?
Yes, transfer credits for general education courses completed during the student’s previous bachelor’s degree program may be applied to the Accelerated BSN Program on a case-by-case basis. Once a qualified applicant has been admitted to the university, the College of Nursing will conduct a transcript review of all courses to determine which courses may transfer. The number of prerequisites needed for the program will vary depending on how many required courses a student took during their previous bachelor’s degree program. Science courses expire after ten years.
How quickly can I earn my BSN degree?
That depends. Nursing courses can be completed in 15 months, but prerequisites have to be completed before the first nursing course begins. Some general education credits from your previous bachelor’s degree may transfer, and that will enable you to start your 15-month accelerated nursing program more quickly.
Who qualifies for the program?
Students must have a bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university and have at least a 3.0 overall GPA on all previous college-level undergraduate coursework. In addition, students must attend an in-person interview with the college after attaining undergraduate admission to the university and have a US social security number. After all interviews have concluded, applicants who meet all of these criteria will be selected from the qualified pool of students and offered a seat in the limited enrollment program.
Note: admission to the university does not constitute admission to the Accelerated BSN program. Admission to the Accelerated BSN program is determined by the College of Nursing & Health Sciences once the applicant has completed the in-person interview.
Who covers tuition costs?
Ochsner will invest $2.8 million in the Accelerated BSN program for faculty and staff support and operational expenses. The investment also covers student tuition for nursing courses; students will cover costs for prerequisites. In exchange, program participants must contractually commit to work for Ochsner for three years after graduation. There is no exception to this contractual obligation or any option to pay the tuition yourself.
When does the program begin?
The College of Nursing & Health Sciences plans to offer the program’s third cohort of nursing courses beginning in May 2026.
However, applicants must complete prerequisites before they begin nursing courses, so it’s important that potential students apply as soon as possible. Students will have Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters to enroll in and complete outstanding prerequisite courses with a “C’ or better. Please be aware that many of the required prerequisite courses are only offered in an on campus, in-person format.
How do I apply?
You will need to begin with your application to the University. All applicants must apply for the SUMMER 2026 term for the Accelerated BSN program by the deadline of November 29, 2024.
Once your application is submitted, you have until December 13, 2024 to meet all the admission requirements of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and submit all required documentation (including official transcripts from each college/university you have attended). After this date, applications will be marked incomplete and will not be considered for inclusion in the qualified applicant pool.