Nursing Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN Program
Drexel's 11-month Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN program is for students who already have a bachelor's degree and are looking to receive their BSN in a faster time frame.
ACE is an innovative program that is geared toward students who will benefit from an accelerated education in nursing science rather than a traditional three- or four-year program.
ACE provides intensive immersion in nursing science as well as facilitated entrance into nursing practice. The rigorous program prepares you to take a position as a registered nurse in several types of settings: hospitals, outpatient clinics and offices, and insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
You're ready to take the next step, and Drexel University's Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN program could be your entrance into the nursing field. As one of the shortest accelerated BSN curriculums in the nation, Drexel's ACE program provides a unique, fast-paced environment that prepares students to flourish in any medical environment in as little as 11 months!
Learn More at an Information Session
Live infomation sessions take place throughout the year; some are for prospective students, and others are for admitted students.
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ACE Program Overview
Nursing Accelerated Career Entry 11-Month
The ACE 11-month option is a full-time nursing program for individuals who can commit to class and related course activity during the day, five days a week. Additionally, weekday, evening, and/or Saturday classes, as well as clinical work, may be required. The majority of classes are held on campus (with some very minimal online components as well). The intensive course of study provides students the opportunity to fast-track their nursing career in four consecutive 10-week terms and graduate in less than a year.
What Makes Our Program Unique?
- Our academic home in the new Health Sciences Building, a 460,000 square-foot building featuring state-of-the-art instructional and simulation spaces.
- Graduates of the program achieve a high National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) pass rate, 96.63% in the 2023-2024 academic year.
- A convenient, accelerated format.
- An innovative curriculum taught by world-class faculty.
- As part of the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, students have access to expansive clinical affiliations and environments, such as simulated health care scenarios.
What Skills Will I Earn as an ACE Graduate?
You will:
- Utilize the growing compendium of knowledge and information sources from nursing and other disciplines to learn, teach, heal, and conserve health.
- Utilize multiple technologies that access and manage information to guide professional practice.
- Participate in culturally sensitive health promotion activities that contribute to a community's health and wellness.
- Participate in ongoing educational activities related to personal growth, professional practice, and community service.
- Develop personal potential for leadership in a changing health care environment.
- Integrate ethical concepts and principles, the code of ethics for nurses, and professional standards into practice within professional, academic, and community settings.
- Utilize critical-thinking skills to improve the health outcomes of patients, families, and communities across the continuum of care.
The majority of our students take positions in hospital settings such as medical, surgical, critical care, emergency department, obstetrics, pediatrics, oncology, psychiatric, and gerontological units.
The most competitive applications have at least an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from the applicant's bachelor's degree, a strong GPA over their last 60 credits (3.0 or better), and prerequisite grades (B or better, especially in science courses). Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and receive a passing score (scores are only valid for up to two years from the test date), or Duolingo English Test (DET).
We will waive the TOEFL/IELTS for the following students:
- Those who have completed English Composition I and II earning a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- Those who have studied at, for a minimum of four years, and subsequently graduated from a high school or university where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Those that are U.S. citizens/permanent residents.
Additionally, students must take prerequisite courses before matriculating in the Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) program by the deadlines specified.
Prerequisites
We do not waive or substitute prerequisite courses.
The prerequisite courses below must be completed by August 1 for students admitted to the fall term and January 15 for students admitted to the spring term. No exceptions will be made. Applicants with a greater number of prerequisites completed will be considered more competitive. Transfer credit evaluations are not completed until you are admitted into the program.
- Bachelor's degree
- English Composition: 3 semester credits
- Developmental Psychology (lifespan): 3 semester credits
- Human Nutrition: 3 semester credits
- Statistics: 3 semester credits
- General Chemistry I with lab: 4 semester credits (General or Allied Health Majors)
- Microbiology with lab: 4 semester credits
- One of the following Anatomy and Physiology selections:
- Anatomy I with lab AND Physiology I with lab: 4 semester credits each, OR
- Anatomy and Physiology I AND Anatomy and Physiology II with lab: 4 semester credits each
Three of the four science prerequisites need to be completed at the time of application, with the Anatomy/Physiology sequence courses being two of them. Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology must be taken within five years prior to enrollment in the ACE Program. All other prerequisite courses must be taken within 10 years prior to enrollment.
Note: Prerequisites are based on semester-based institutions. For example, if the Anatomy/Physiology courses are taken at a quarter-based institution, Anatomy/Physiology I, II, and III must be taken to meet the requirement.
Prerequisite Course Equivalencies
You may take prerequisite courses at any regionally accredited university or community college, and you must earn a grade of "C" or higher for credits to transfer. Online courses can be accepted if they were taken at a regionally accredited college or university. Download our Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN Admission Requirements [PDF] to view course equivalencies from schools near Drexel.
View the College of Nursing and Health Professions' Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation for more information.
International Students Eligibility
The NACE program includes a mandatory clinical training component that requires authorization for off-campus employment through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for students in F-1 visa status.
Please be advised:
To qualify for CPT, U.S. immigration regulations require that a student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a U.S. college or university in valid immigration status for at least one full academic year (e.g., two semesters or three quarters) immediately prior to the start of CPT.
As such, international students who have not met this one academic year requirement are not eligible for CPT and therefore cannot fulfill the clinical training requirement of the NACE program in F-1 status.
If you require F-1 visa sponsorship and are unsure whether you meet the CPT eligibility requirements, please contact the International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) office at isss@drexel.edu.
Compliance
The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that is required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete, so please plan accordingly. Students are expected to have clear background checks. (Please note that certain requirements, including background checks and clearances, can only be completed post-confirmation.)
Review for the ACE program begins about a year in advance to the start of the term. Once the priority application deadlines for a term passes, all applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the class fills. The ACE program enrolls in the fall (September) and spring (late March/early April) terms. Please note, students can only have one active application at a time.
Fall Term
| Deadline | Documents Due |
|---|---|
| October 15 (Priority One) | Applications and all supporting documents are due for the Priority Application One deadline. Students who choose to apply by the Priority Application One deadline are guaranteed to have their application reviewed by the Admissions Committee by November 30. |
| December 1 (Priority Two) | Applications and all supporting documents are due for the Priority Application Two deadline. Students who choose to apply by the Priority Application Two deadline are guaranteed to have their application reviewed by the Admissions Committee. |
| Rolling starting on December 2 | Applications received on or after December 2 will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the fall term class fills. Application review takes five to six weeks once the application and all supporting documents are received. If the class fills before a decision can be made on your application, you will be notified with recommendations for next steps. |
| Rolling | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due (not required for admission). We encourage you to file this as soon as possible so that we can provide you with the most comprehensive financial aid package. Visit How to Apply for Aid for more information. |
Spring Term
| Deadline | Documents Due |
|---|---|
| April 15 (Priority One) | Applications and all supporting documents are due for the Priority Application One deadline. Students who choose to apply by the Priority Application One deadline are guaranteed to have their application reviewed by the Admissions Committee by May 30. |
| June 1 (Priority Two) | Applications and all supporting documents are due for the Priority Application Two deadline. Students who choose to apply by the Priority Application Two deadline are guaranteed to have their application reviewed by the Admissions Committee. |
| Rolling starting on June 2 | Applications received on or after June 2 will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the fall term class fills. Application review takes five to six weeks once the application and all supporting documents are received. If the class fills before a decision can be made on your application, you will be notified with recommendations for next steps. |
| Rolling | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due (not required for admission). We encourage you to file this as soon as possible so that we can provide you with the most comprehensive financial aid package. Visit How to Apply for Aid for more information. |
The following materials are required to complete your application.
Undergraduate Admission Application
To be considered for our accelerated 11-month BSN program, you must have a bachelor's degree or be on track to receive your bachelor's degree with proof of conferment by August 1 (for fall admission) or January 15 (for spring admission).
Please note that all prerequisites must be completed for this program by August 1 for students admitted to the fall term and January 15 for students admitted to the spring term.
To expedite the application process, please include your full name (no nicknames, please) on all items submitted. If you need to make changes after submitting your application, please email enroll@drexel.edu or call 215.895.2400.
Transcript(s)
Official transcript(s) from each institution (college, trade, or tech school) you have attended must be sent directly to Drexel from that institution; otherwise your admission decision may be delayed. The transcript(s) should include all courses in progress and completed.
All ACE applicants who have coursework from an institution outside of the United States — except study abroad — must provide a course-by-course transcript evaluation, instead of the actual transcript, from one of the following agencies:
- World Education Services (WES)
- International Consultants of Delaware
- Educational Credential Evaluators
Standardized Test Scores
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or Duolingo English Test (DET) and receive a passing score (scores are only valid for up to two years from the test date). We will waive the TOEFL/IELTS/DET for the following students:
- Those who have completed English Composition I and II earning a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
- Those who have studied at and graduated from a high school for a minimum of four years where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Those who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents.
Results must be forwarded to the Admissions Office. Drexel encourages you to submit scores each time you take either of these exams. All students should use Drexel's TOEFL code, 2194, to send us TOEFL score reports.
Passing test scores:
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum combined score of 79 with a 26 score or higher in the speaking section, OR...
- TOEFL paper-based exam: Total score of 550 and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) exam with a minimum score of 55, OR...
- ELTS: Minimum combined score of 6.5 with a 7.5 score or higher on the speaking section.
Applicants who wish to request a waiver of the TOEFL exam based on their high school credentials must submit a copy of their high school transcript(s) reflecting all four years of attendance and graduation date. Transcripts may be sent via email to enroll@drexel.edu, fax to 215.895.1285, or mail to one of the addresses below.
Mailing Addresses
By Postal Mail:
Drexel University
Application Processing
PO Box 34789
Philadelphia, PA 19101
By Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.):
Drexel University
Application Processing
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2876
Tuition Rates for 2025–2026
| Program | Tuition Per Term | Full Program Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Accelerated Career Entry 11-Month Day | $15,459 | $61,836 |
Program Fees
| Program | First Term Program Fees | Future Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Accelerated Career Entry 11-Month Day | $4,036 | $50 |
View Undergraduate Tuition and Fee Rates for Housing, Dining Plans, and Miscellaneous Fees.
- Federal Direct Student Loans – These loans are awarded based upon the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The government offers both subsidized and unsubsidized loans to undergraduate students. You can find information about loan eligibility on the Student Aid website.
- Private Scholarships – You can search and apply for scholarships from private organizations that can help finance your ACE education. The eligibility criteria for these scholarships are determined by the organizations offering them. Drexel recommends you use one of the following search engines when looking for private scholarships:
Complete the FAFSA (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)
U.S. citizens and permanent residents interested in Drexel's federal and state need-based financial aid should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can review instructions for completing the FAFSA and start the application using Drexel's school code, 003256, any time after October 1 on the FAFSA website. You will not be packaged for financial aid without filing a FAFSA. Additionally, U.S. citizens and permanent residents are required to provide their Social Security number to be considered for financial aid.
You should not wait to be accepted to Drexel to submit the FAFSA. We strongly encourage you to complete it as soon as possible.
Proof of Financial Responsibility (International Applicants Only)
It is Drexel's expectation that every family fulfills and understands the financial responsibility for educational costs at Drexel. Since you and your family or sponsors must assume responsibility for your student expenses, Drexel requires proof of financial responsibility that shows sufficient financial support for education in the United States in order to obtain a student visa for students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Review the information for New International Students to learn about the I-20/DS-2019 application process.
Alternative Financing Options
- Payment Plans – Drexel offers quarterly payment plans to allow families to spread a balance due for a particular quarter into monthly installments.
- Private Education Loans – Private education loans are available to students who are creditworthy and/or have an eligible cosigner. Drexel strongly recommends considering all other financing options before utilizing private education loans.
