Indiana has 15 schools that confer associate degrees in nursing (ADN). Nursing students complete ADN programs typically within two years. Bethel College has two campuses in Indiana for applicants to choose from and teaches nursing with a basis in Christian liberal arts. It also has a one-year bridge program for licensed practical nurses to obtain their ADN. Vincennes University also has a two-year ADN program and a one-year licensed practical nurse to ADN program. Both schools admit students for matriculation in the fall semester only.
Twenty three universities in Indiana offer traditional four-year nursing programs that confer bachelor's nursing degrees (BSN). In addition to the traditional BSN track, Goshen College also offers a 19-month bridge program for ADN-prepared RNs. This RN to BSN option consists of only night classes to allow students to continue working. Both programs start each fall. Purdue University has similar traditional and RN to BSN tracks that admit students in both the spring and fall.
Graduate nursing degrees include master's and doctoral nursing degrees; Indiana has 15 nursing schools that have graduate programs. Anderson University, a Christian school, has a master's nursing (MSN) programs for education and administration. The school also has a combined MSN-MBA track and a bridge program for ADN-prepared RNs to obtain their MSN. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis offers MSN programs for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, educators and administrators. It also has both clinical-based (DNP) and research-based (Ph.D.) doctorate options.
Direct-entry programs admit non-RN students who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. Indiana has one MSN direct-entry program, located at the University of Indianapolis. Students spend the first 15 months of the 27-month program obtaining their RN license. Afterwards, they proceed onto the master's portion of the program that specializes in nursing and health systems leadership. The school conducts the second half of the program primarily online.