Understanding the Costs of the USF ABSN Program
For individuals holding a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at the University of South Florida (USF) provides an opportunity to transition into a nursing career. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the costs associated with the USF ABSN program, covering tuition, fees, and other related expenses.
Overview of the USF ABSN Program
The Accelerated Second Degree BSN pathway at USF is a full-time program designed to be completed in four consecutive semesters (16 months). It is offered at the USF St. Petersburg campus. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experiences. Transportation for clinical experiences is the responsibility of the student, and some locations may be as much as two hours from the USF St. Petersburg campus. Students will be assigned a clinical region. Generally, you will have courses, clinicals, and labs during the day Monday - Friday, although you may be assigned clinicals on the evening or weekend. You will have Preceptorship in your last semester that may include overnights and weekends. The College of Nursing reserves the right to require clinical/lab participation on weekends as well as overnight. All students admitted to the Fall 2025 Accelerated Second Degree pathway have a program plan that structured sequentially over four consecutive semesters: Fall 2025; Spring 2026; Summer 2026 (12 weeks); and Fall 2026. The anticipated graduation date is Fall (December) 2026.
Direct vs. Indirect Costs
When evaluating the cost of the USF ABSN program, it's essential to distinguish between direct and indirect costs:
- Direct Costs: These are the expenses that appear directly on your bill from USF. They include tuition, mandatory fees, and potentially health insurance if you enroll in the USF-sponsored plan.
- Indirect Costs: These are estimated expenses that you will incur but will not be billed by USF. They include textbooks, school supplies, personal items, and travel expenses.
Tuition and Fees
The displayed tuition figure represents an estimated tuition cost at University of South Florida. Tuition is based on full-time enrollment for the academic year (fall and spring semesters). Students taking fewer than 12 credits (or more than 18 credits) will be charged $2,275 per credit during the fall/intersession/spring terms. Tuition, fees, housing, and food costs increase slightly each year.
Tuition Estimation: The tuition estimate is based on required 26 units during Fall & Spring terms. The cost per unit is $1,735.
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AGSUSF Fee: A $40 AGSUSF fee is applied each fall and spring semester, totaling $80 annually.
Health Insurance: Graduate students who are registered in 6 or more units will see a $4,585 charge for the USF-sponsored health insurance plan reflected on their billing statement. This charge is automatically applied but may be waived if the student meets the criteria for a health insurance waiver. Students enrolling in the USF-sponsored health insurance plan should plan to add $4,168 to their direct costs.
Other Program Costs
In addition to University tuition and fees, there are other costs associated with the nursing program.
ATI: You will be requried to purchase ATI. Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) is an online learning platform designed to supplement the curriculum with resources to help nursing students learn, improve, apply, and test for NCLEX success. The cost of ATI is about $1000 spread out over 4 payments. More information about purchasing ATI will be provided at orientation and again at the beginning of the semester.
Textbooks: You will need your first semester textbooks by the first day of classes. Textbooks are available for purchase or rent through the USF Bookstore. The USF St. Petersburg and Sarasota Manatee Campus Regional Director, Dr. Then, select NUR for department, course number and section number to view and and add your selection to the cart. *If no textbooks are listed, it may mean that your instructor has not yet added them. Contact your instructor for more information. The Bookstore Advance Purchase Program (BAPP) allows students to charge books and supplies at any USF campus bookstore using your financial aid before it is paid.
Read also: University of Kentucky ABSN Tuition
Uniforms: All undergraduate students participating in clinicals and lab must follow the College of Nursing's uniform and dress code, which can be found in the College of Nursing Student Handbook. You will need to purchase a Nursing scrub top, and Nursing scrub pants through one of the three USF Bookstores: USF Tampa Bookstore, USF St. Petersburg Bookstore, or USF Sarasota-Manatee Bookstore. You must purchase your tops in person at the bookstore, and can purchase your pants online or in person at the bookstore.
MS-DSAI Student Activity Fee: MS-DSAI COA costs: MS-DSAI Student Activity Fee, $500.
Technology: All USF College of Nursing students are required to have a laptop/notebook computer with wireless internet connection and a web browser. Students are also required to have a compatible webcam and microphone; the webcam and microphone should either be built into your laptop/notebook or be a portable model. Specific information on requirements can be found below. Students in all nursing courses are expected to meet these requirements to successfully participate in their courses. Failure to meet these technology standards may result in inability to complete program requirements. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all requirements are met before the semester starts. Contact the USF Computer Store for additional assistance at 813-974-1779. Windows (PC) Minimum Requirements Hardware Requirements: ⢠Intel Core i5/i7 series of processors OR AMD Ryzen series processors purchased in thelast 2 years ⢠14â or higher display running 1366 X 768 resolution or higher ⢠512 GB Solid State Hard Drive ⢠16 GB RAM The College of Nursing's Student Computer Requirement has specific information on hardware requirements. The USF Computer Store offers laptop "bundles" for registered students. ⢠Port for Ethernet wired connection (if a port is not provided you will need to purchase aseparate USB Ethernet adapter cable) ⢠Ethernet cable ⢠Wireless B/G/N Wi-Fi connection ⢠Power Adaptor ⢠Must have an HD webcam with at…
Cost of Attendance
Total Cost of Attendance: (Direct + indirect costs. Housing and food costs are estimates based on the average full-time graduate student.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The USF College of Nursing offers scholarships and financial aid to assist nursing students in achieving their academic goals. The following topics will assist you in getting started with funding your nursing education here at USF and beyond.
Read also: UCF Accelerated Nursing
FAFSA: No matter what type of funding you are applying for, start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for most types of financial assistance and allows you to be automatically considered for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs based on your dependency status and Student Aid Index.
USF AwardSpring: To apply for scholarships, you will need to complete a USF AwardSpring questionnaire hereduring the designated application period (December to May). This questionnaire will match you with scholarships you may be eligible to receive. The College of Nursing offers more than 50 scholarship opportunities through USF AwardSpring. In the USF AwardSpring Database, use the keyword “nursing” to search and view the current scholarships for nursing students. To apply for scholarships through AwardSpring, you must first be admitted to USF. Once you're admitted to USF and activate your Net ID, you'll gain access to AwardSpring, regardless of whether you've been admitted to the College of Nursing.
College of Nursing Scholarships: The USF College of Nursing offers scholarships each academic year for both undergraduate and graduate students. All scholarship applications must be submitted through AwardSpring. The College of Nursing may have specific supplemental scholarships opportunities available to currently enrolled students. Students can apply for scholarships directly through the AwardSpring Database during the published application cycle. All scholarship notifications are contingent upon final approval from the Office of Financial Aid. Students notified of their scholarship award who accept their terms & conditions and provide thank you notes prior to the start of a semester should expect to receive disbursement before the fee payment deadline. All scholarships will first apply to any remaining balance on tuition and fees. College of Nursing Scholarships are sent to the Office of Financial Aid for processing to student accounts. If both requirements are complete by the start of a semester, students should expect their scholarship disbursement the Monday following the Drop/Add period. Nursing scholarships will cover any remaining balance of tuition and fees on a student's account first. If a scholarship award is less than a student’s tuition balance, then their entire scholarship award will be utilized.
Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE): The LINE Fund is a state grant available to Florida educational institutions to expand nursing education opportunities. Scholarships and other funding opportunities made available through LINE will be communicated to eligible students directly during their program.
Florida Navy Nurse Corps Association Scholarship: The Florida Navy Nurse Corps Association Scholarship Committee has established a fund to award scholarships to deserving nursing students and/or Registered Nurses to continue their studies for a baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing.
Graduate Assistantships: The USF College of Nursing awards admitted students through grants and endowed funding. Types of financial assistance include graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. PhD students who work as a TA 10 hours per week will receive a half-tuition waiver; students working 20 or more hours per week will receive a full-tuition waiver. This is evaluated on a semester-by-semester basis. TAs are appointed for a minimum of 10 hours per week and a maximum of 29 hours per week. TAs will be assigned to a clinical team or specific course(s) with an identified supervisor. A specific work schedule is developed in collaboration with the appropriate faculty supervisor. Training will be provided for each position. These positions may require travel to different sites. Note: The student is responsible for any fees not covered by the tuition waiver. Graduate research assistants (GRA) are available for full-time students only unless their program plan requires less than full-time coursework, and then an exception request must be made to the college. A full-time student takes 9 credits in the spring and fall semesters and 6 credits in the summer. PhD students who work as a GRA 10 hours per week will receive a half-tuition waiver; students working 20 or more hours per week will receive a full-tuition waiver. This is evaluated on a semester-by-semester basis. GRAs are appointed for a minimum of 10 hours per week and a maximum of 29 hours per week. GRAs will be assigned to a faculty research mentor who will also serve as the student’s supervisor. A specific work schedule is developed in collaboration with the appropriate faculty supervisor.
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program: Students can borrow up to $35,000, and after the end of the teaching commitment, 85% of the loan is forgiven. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a nursing education program.
Additional Resources
USF Office of Financial Aid: The services offered by the USF Office of Financial Aid are an excellent place to start understanding and managing your college finances.
USF Health Office of Financial Aid: Contact the USF Health Office of Financial Aid once you become an admitted student for assistance in navigating the financial aid process.
Office of Veteran Success: See the Office of Veteran Success for details to on how to apply for VA Education Benefits at USF.
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