Accelerated Nursing Program Near Boise
Earn Your ABSN in Boise Area in 16 Months1
With Grand Canyon University’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program near Boise, you can prepare to make a career switch to nursing. With three start dates per year and online courses,(See disclaimer 2) GCU’s accelerated nursing program near Boise (Meridian, ID) brings greater flexibility and convenience to the process of becoming a registered nurse (RN).
In-person immersive simulation and skills labs, along with clinical rotations, provide hands-on opportunities to develop nursing judgment and patient care skills — from administering medication to IV insertions and beyond. Offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, this ABSN program can allow you to graduate with a nursing degree in as few as 16 months.(See disclaimer 1)
Where Is GCU’s Accelerated BSN Site Near Boise Located?
Grand Canyon University is approximately 15-minutes from Boise, ID, located just off Interstate 84, close to North Eagle Road and East Central Drive.
Office Building 2 at Eagle View Landing
1144 S. Silverstone Way, Suite 200
Meridian, ID 83642
View our Postsecondary State Authorizations and SARA and State Disclosures information for Idaho.
What To Expect in GCU’s Accelerated Nursing Program Near Boise
Our ABSN program near Boise in Meridian, Idaho, can help you transition to the nursing field faster. By leveraging your prior education, you may complete a BSN degree in just 16 months(See disclaimer 1) and be ready to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. While fast-paced, the ABSN curriculum provides comprehensive preparation for entry into the nursing field.
GCU’s nursing program integrates our Christian worldview into the curriculum, encouraging future nurses to act as servant leaders who provide patient care with integrity while making a positive difference in their communities.
Near Boise, accelerated nursing didactic coursework is taught online,(See disclaimer 1 )reducing your commuting time while facilitating a more flexible schedule. You will also have exams that are proctored in person at the ABSN site. This format can be particularly ideal for career switchers with families.
Grand Canyon University’s Meridian, Idaho learning site partners with nearby healthcare facilities to offer immersive clinical learning experiences to our ABSN students. You’ll complete clinical rotations in various nursing specialties to gain clinical experience providing direct patient care under supervision.
GCU’s ABSN program includes in-person skills labs and immersive simulation suites. You’ll practice performing fundamental nursing skills, such as IV insertions, during nursing skills labs. In simulation suites, you’ll work with your cohort to develop clinical judgment as you navigate simulated clinical situations.
Explore Boise Metro Area ABSN Program Details and Requirements
Admission Process
Eligibility to apply to our ABSN program is dependent upon multiple factors, including prior college education. You may be eligible to apply if you have a completed non-nursing baccalaureate degree or a minimum number of credits to transfer.
Applicants may need to complete additional credits, including nursing prerequisite courses with labs. To discuss your eligibility and learn how to enroll, fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor.
Our specialized university counselors help make the admission process as seamless as possible. Working exclusively with prospective ABSN students, these university counselors know the nuances of the program and provide personalized support throughout the admission process. Even if you are unsure of whether you are eligible to apply for admission, our ABSN university counselors welcome your questions and will assess your eligibility.
Talk to a university counselor
Fill out the form on this page to speak with a specialized university counselor about our ABSN program and its admission requirements.
Complete prerequisite courses and pre-admission interview
Your university counselor will determine which prerequisites you need to take, as well as help you schedule a pre-admission interview.
Apply to the ABSN program
You can complete your application online and make arrangements to submit supporting documents, such as official transcripts.
What Makes the Boise Area a Great Place To Study Nursing?
Students attending GCU near Boise can take advantage of all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. The relaxed lifestyle in the Boise area is facilitated by a vibrant downtown area and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. Between study sessions, you can enjoy diverse dining opportunities, recreational sports, cultural attractions and more. Nursing students in particular may appreciate the highly ranked local healthcare facilities, which may offer employment opportunities following RN licensure.
Some of the top benefits of studying nursing near Boise include:
Local lifestyle
The Boise area has much to offer you as an ABSN student. Located in the middle of the Rocky Mountain region of the Pacific Northwest, you’ll love the stunning mountain landscape and natural beauty of the region. Depending on the season, you may choose to go for a round of golf near the mountains, float down the Boise River, ski down the Bogus Basin or enjoy a scenic bike ride near the Boise Foothills.
City attractions
Downtown Boise has more than 100 restaurants and shops for you to fulfill all your shopping and dining needs.(See disclaimer 3 )
The city also offers many unique and popular attractions, such as the Anne Frank Memorial, Boise Art Museum, the Discovery Center — an interactive science museum — as well as annual music festivals.
Area amenities
You will complete your hands-on immersive simulation and skills labs in Meridian, Idaho, just a few miles west of downtown Boise. This area has many scenic parks where you can take a stroll or hang out for an afternoon concert, as well as a waterpark, various dining options, multiple movie theatres and a popular shopping center known as The Village.
Healthcare facilities
One factor to consider when relocating to the Boise area for nursing school is the quality of the healthcare facilities at which you may pursue employment after graduation. Idaho has numerous highly ranked healthcare facilities, including the Boise VA Medical Center, which earned a 5-star Overall Hospital Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).(See disclaimer 4)
Median annual salary of RNs in Boise, ID as of May 2024(See disclaimer 7)
The Need for Nurses and Career Outlook in Boise
There is a significant nursing shortage in the state of Idaho. As of May 2024, there were 14,540 registered nurses in Idaho,(See disclaimer 5) which falls short of the healthcare needs of Idahoans.(See disclaimer 6) Additionally, 6.8% of the RNs and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Idaho are of retirement age. On average per month, the number of vacant job postings for nurses ranges between 750 and 1,000.(See disclaimer 6)
Our accelerated nursing program, close to Boise (Meridian, ID), can help fill these employment gaps and lessen the nursing shortage by preparing students for their nursing careers. By graduating educated nurses in 16 months,(See disclaimer 1) this ABSN program strives to add more job-ready RNs into the nursing workforce.
ABSN Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking to become an RN by enrolling in an ABSN near Boise (Meridian, ID), our frequently asked questions can help provide you with more information on this career path.
How long is GCU’s accelerated nursing program near Boise?
How do I become a nurse in the Boise area?
Does GCU offer ABSN programs in other locations?
What are the prerequisites for GCU’s accelerated BSN program in Boise?
How does the ABSN program prepare you for the NCLEX-RN?
How does GCU incorporate faith into nursing education?
Make the switch to nursing faster. If you’re ready to begin your nursing career near Boise (Meridian, ID), contact a university counselor at GCU.
- Secondary Applicants must transfer a minimum of 60 of the required 123 credits or have completed a baccalaureate degree which includes nine prerequisite courses/labs and 10 general education courses prior to starting the core nursing courses, which can be completed in as few as 16 months. Direct Entry Applicants that do not transfer 60 credits but meet the minimum requirements can complete these credits through GCU prior to starting the core nursing courses. Depending on the state where student has enrolled or intends to complete the program, student may require additional courses. This may include, but is not limited to, additional general education courses, courses in the major, clinical courses, or a different course sequence. See University Policy Handbook.
Clinical, practicum and immersion hours completed locally.
- Visit Boise. (n.d.). Downtown. Retrieved April 2026.
- Idaho Business Review. (2025, Oct. 2). Four Idaho Hospitals Earn 5-Star Ratings From CMS. Retrieved April 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (May 2024). May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Retrieved April 2026.
- Idaho Center for Nursing. (2024, Oct. 23). Idaho 2024 Nurse Workforce Report Highlights Growing Shortages Amid Changing Supply and Demand. Retrieved April 2026.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Registered Nurses as of May 2024, retrieved April 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as registered nurses, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.