Early Action

Ready to fast-track your nursing career? Take advantage of our new Early Action timeline for the 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN), 24-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing (ABSN), and Master’s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice (MDE) programs. Submit your application and materials by September 15 to receive your admission decision by October 1—and make the most of the extra time to prepare and get ahead before starting in May 2026.

Early Action is perfect for motivated students seeking early clarity and flexibility. With more time to complete prerequisites, plan your transition, and explore exclusive funding and support, you'll be set up for success before the year even ends.

Why Apply Early Action?

Our Early Action deadline doesn’t just get you an earlier decision—it opens the door to exclusive benefits that help you plan ahead, stay competitive, and make the most of your nursing journey.

  • Get your admission decision sooner:  Complete your application by September 15 and hear back by October 1—giving you a clear advantage in planning your next steps.

  • Preferential consideration for tuition-free education: Eligible students enjoy priority access to competitive funding opportunities, and guaranteed first hospital choice for UR Nursing Scholars applicants.

  • More time to complete prerequisites: Early acceptance gives you more breathing room to finish outstanding prerequisite coursework prior to starting the program.
  • Plan ahead with confidence: Get clarity sooner, while retaining flexibility to explore options, make plans, and finalize decisions on your timeline.
Accelerated nursing students talking with a nursing leader during an Admissions event

Get Started

Apply Early Action by September 15 to take advantage of early decisions, exclusive funding, and priority opportunities. Your future in nursing starts now.

Apply Now

Your Path to Full Funding

Eligible students have two incredible opportunities to receive full financial and academic support for the 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing (ABSN) program. Whether you're driven to serve underserved communities or seeking mentorship and career growth, these initiatives can help you get there. Explore our UR Nursing Scholars Program and New York State's Career Pathways Training Program—both offering full tuition coverage and unique benefits to support your next step toward a meaningful nursing career.
Accelerated nursing students talking with a nursing leader during an Admissions event

UR Nursing Scholars Program

Apply for consideration for the UR Nursing Scholars Program to receive:

  • Full tuition coverage to ensure financial peace of mind
  • Personalized career support and mentorship from expert nurse leaders
  • Guaranteed three-year employment at Strong Memorial, Highland, or F.F. Thompson Hospital in Rochester, NY
  • Priority placement at your first choice hospital location

Learn More about UR Nursing Scholars Program

Career Pathways Training Program

This is your last chance to apply for this time-limited offering, which provides:

  • Coverage for tuition, fees, and books for residents of New York and surrounding states
  • Academic support, career coaching, and job placement assistance
  • Three-year service commitment at any eligible healthcare provider in New York State
  • Exclusive opportunity—this is the last cycle this initiative will be offered

Learn More about Career Pathways Training Program
Accelerated nursing students talking with a nursing leader during an Admissions event

LEARN MORE

Attend Our Open House

Meet faculty, tour our state-of-the-art facilities, talk with current students, and connect with Admissions for help completing your application before the Early Action deadline.

📅 Monday, September 8 @ 5:00 p.m.

📍 University of Rochester School of Nursing

Quotation Mark

What I’ve enjoyed most about my experience at the School of Nursing has been the people and the hands-on learning. Being able to care for patients and learn directly from experienced, knowledgeable nurses has not only helped me build my skills, but also deepened my understanding of what it means to be a nurse.

Sarah Mullen ’25N

UR Nursing Scholar
Solid Organ Transplant Team, Strong Memorial Hospital

Quotation Mark

What I’ve enjoyed most about my experience at the School of Nursing has been the people and the hands-on learning. Being able to care for patients and learn directly from experienced, knowledgeable nurses has not only helped me build my skills, but also deepened my understanding of what it means to be a nurse.

Sarah Mullen ’25N

UR Nursing Scholar
Solid Organ Transplant Team, Strong Memorial Hospital

FAQs

Our new Early Action timeline is only available for the 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN), 24-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing (ABSN), and Master’s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice (MDE) programs. To participate, you must meet eligibility requirements for your chosen academic program.

Students interested in full funding opportunities should note that eligibility varies by program. For complete eligibility details, please visit the UR Nursing Scholars program and Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program pages.

Our new Early Action timeline is only available for the 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN), 24-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing (ABSN), and Master’s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice (MDE) programs.

To be considered for Early Action, ensure your application and all materials are submitted by September 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET

See program pages for full program eligibility details.

Early Action applicants will receive an admission decision by October 1. You may be accepted, denied, or waitlisted for further consideration during the Regular Decision process. If you’re waitlisted and later offered admission, your final decision will be released in late December. All decision letters will be available in your Applicant Status Portal, and you’ll be notified by email when they’re ready.

By applying Early Action, you’re showing strong interest in the University of Rochester School of Nursing—and in return, you’ll receive an admission decision weeks earlier than the regular timeline. Early Action applicants are evaluated by the same academic standards as all candidates, and while an early application signals motivation, it won’t offset any major weaknesses in your eligibility or materials.

In addition to meeting eligibility criteria for your academic program of choice, applicants must also meet certain requirements to qualify for funding through the UR Nursing Scholars program or Career Pathways Training Program.

Learn more about eligibility requirements for funding through the UR Nursing Scholars program or Career Pathways Training Program.

To successfully prepare for our both our 12-Month and 24-Month ABSN programs, and our Master's Direct Entry (MDE) program, we require completion of several prerequisite courses. Review our prerequisite requirements.

We require official transcripts as proof of completion for prerequisite coursework no later than three weeks prior to the start of the program. While the Early Action timeline provides you additional time to complete your prerequisites, your admission offer—whether Early Action or Regular Decision—will be "provisional" or contingent on successful completion of your remaining coursework before the program starts.

You may register to complete self-paced, online prerequisite courses through the Center for Lifelong Learning, the School of Nursing's healthcare career development center. If registering for courses at another accredited institution, you may contact the Admissions Office to check that the course description is appropriate to satisfy our requirements.

Connect with Us

Interested in becoming a nurse? Connect with us to learn more about the Accelerated Nursing Programs from the University of Rochester.

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