MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Bethel University is opening two new doors into its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program: Direct Entry admission for first-year and transfer students, and a dedicated LPN to BSN pathway for working nurses. The expansion comes as Tennessee faces a serious nursing shortage, with the Tennessee Hospital Association projecting a statewide shortfall of more than 8,500 registered nurses by 2035. Together, the two programs remove barriers to a nursing degree at both ends of the pipeline, letting incoming students start nursing coursework on day one and letting licensed practical nurses build on the experience they already have, without pausing their careers to do it.
“Tennessee needs nurses, and Bethel is answering that call from both directions,” said Bethel University President Dr. Perry Moulds. “We are welcoming students into the profession earlier and helping the nurses already serving our communities go further. That is what it means to equip individuals for a life of service.”
Direct Entry: A Clear Path from Day One
Traditional nursing admissions require students to gain general university acceptance, complete prerequisite coursework and then apply for a seat in the nursing program itself, often with no guarantee of admission. That uncertainty pushes some qualified students out of nursing entirely.
Bethel’s Direct Entry pathway removes that second gate. Students who meet the published entry criteria are admitted straight into the nursing program their first semester, with no separate application, no prerequisite coursework and no competitive seat allocation. The new pathway places Bethel among a small number of Tennessee universities offering direct entry to nursing.
Students admitted through Direct Entry are also eligible for Bethel’s academic merit scholarships.
“Direct Entry means we are telling students something powerful the moment they choose Bethel: we believe in you,” said Interim Provost Joe Hames. “You do not have to prove yourself twice. We are ready to walk this journey with you from the very first day of class.”
LPN to BSN: A Path Built Around Working Nurses
For LPNs already in the field, Bethel offers a different kind of direct route to the BSN, and what sets it apart is where students can start. While many LPN to BSN pathways require an associate degree or transferred college credits before enrollment, Bethel students can begin with only their LPN license and no prior college coursework, completing general education, prerequisites and the nursing major in one continuous path to a four-year degree.
The program is hybrid: coursework is mostly online, with on-campus intensives for hands-on learning, and clinical hours completed in the student’s own community, so LPNs don’t need to relocate. Tuition is $400 per credit hour, and the program admits one cohort per year, starting each fall. Full admission requirements are available on the LPN to BSN website.
“This pathway allows students to continue progressing professionally while developing the knowledge, leadership, and clinical judgment necessary to provide excellent patient care. LPNs bring something to the classroom you
cannot teach,” said Ashley Johnson, interim director of the nursing program. Johnson added, “Real experience caring for real patients.”
Proven Outcomes, One Standard
Both pathways lead to the same degree from the same program. Bethel’s BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and maintains a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, an 89% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 with a five-year average of 92%, and a 100% employment rate among graduates seeking employment. Students train in a dedicated nursing building with a simulation lab open 24/7, and clinical placements include partners such as Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“In our nursing program, you are not a number; you are known,” said Delecia Parker, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Our faculty walk alongside students through every challenge, every clinical rotation, every breakthrough. That kind of relationship changes how students learn and who
they become as nurses.”
Whether students arrive as incoming freshmen through Direct Entry or as working LPNs, both routes open the same opportunities beyond the BSN, including advanced practice roles like nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator. Nursing remains one of the most in-demand careers in the country, and Bethel is positioning itself to meet that need from both directions: fewer gates, clearer paths and a nursing education that meets students exactly where they are.