Northern to launch bachelor’s in nursing program; SDSU’s accelerated nursing program to continue through 2026

After providing nursing workforce for the Aberdeen community for more than a decade, South Dakota State University will discontinue its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Aberdeen in December 2026, as Northern State University begins graduating students from its recently approved bachelor’s of nursing program.  

Through an agreement between SDSU and Northern, SDSU has been offering the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program on Northern’s campus to students who had completed Northern’s pre-nursing courses. The launch of the BSN program at Northern will help maintain a steady stream of nursing graduates needed to fulfill the area’s health care needs. 

Northern has recently received approval from the South Dakota Board of Regents and South Dakota Board of Nursing to create its own Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. The new program will complement Northern’s pre-nursing program that has been in place for decades. Development is well underway, and Northern anticipates its first cohort will graduate in May 2027. 

“The fall 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program launch is contingent on obtaining new applicant status from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and final approval by the Higher Learning Commission, Northern’s institutional accreditor,” said Mike Wanous, NSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. 

“SDSU has enjoyed a successful nursing program over the years in the Aberdeen community through our partnership with Northern State,” said Dennis Hedge, SDSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our two universities will continue to work together to ensure there is no disruption in providing a well-trained workforce for the Aberdeen area via a seamless academic transition to the degree program Northern is planning to offer. We remain committed to providing opportunities in nursing and meeting the needs of communities throughout South Dakota.”