College of Nursing

Admission requirements for transfer students
Students may be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program after satisfactory completion of pre-nursing courses in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or another college. Most students apply to the College of Nursing during the second semester of their first year.

The College of Nursing also offers an RN-BSN program for RNs who want to earn a BSN. Another path to a nursing career is to earn an undergraduate degree in another area and apply to enter the 18-month graduate-level Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.

BSN Program
Admission to the BSN program is very competitive, and meeting the following requirements does not guarantee admission. About 80 students are admitted each fall.

• Complete all High School Course Requirements
• Complete Prerequisite College Courses
• A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.70 or higher and a grade of C (2.00 GPA) or higher in the prerequisite college courses
• Applicants for whom English is not the first language also are required to present a minimum TOEFL score of 550

Prerequisite course work can be completed at The University of Iowa or another college. All nursing course work must be completed at The University of Iowa, however. Transfer students should plan to complete only the prerequisites above, along with a maximum of two general education courses, before transferring to Iowa.

It takes at least three years to complete the curriculum after admission to the basic nursing program.

The BSN application deadline is April 1 for fall admission.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program

RN-BSN Program
The RN-BSN Program is delivered largely online, for associate degree and diploma-prepared RNs who are ready to expand their nursing skills and professional potential by earning the BSN. The deadline for applications for summer admission is January 15.

RN-BSN Program

MSN-Clinical Nurse Leader Program
This unique program allows a student with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing area to pursue a career in nursing by earning a master's degree as well as RN licensure. The application deadline is June 1.

MSN-Clinical Nurse Leader Program

Degree Evaluation
When you are admitted, you will be able to view your Degree Evaluation on your Admissions Profile in ISIS. The evaluation: 

• Tells you whether you have completed the necessary High School Course Requirements
• Specifies which Prerequisite College Courses you still need to complete, and which requirements for your major you still need to fulfill
• Indicates (for pre-business, pre-nursing, and pre-pharmacy students) which prerequisite courses necessary for applying to the respective colleges need to be fulfilled
• Monitors other degree requirements including semester hours, GPA, residency requirement, and college-specific regulations

Credit evaluation
The Office of Admissions evaluates transfer courses applicable to High School Course Requirements and General Education Program requirements, as well as a number of courses applicable to the requirements of your major. Your major department makes decisions about how the rest of your transfer courses apply toward the requirements for your major.

Transfer policies
Review the Transfer Policies to find out about calculating your transfer GPA, Iowa's course-repeat policy, and other Iowa credit transfer policies.

Course equivalency guide
Search the Transfer Equivalency Guide for commonly transferred courses offered at other Iowa institutions and our major out-of-state transfer colleges. The system is designed for prospective students who want to know how courses will transfer to Iowa and for UI students who plan to take courses at other institutions in the summer or at other times.

Undergraduate degrees available from the College of Nursing
This college awards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and has an RN/BSN Program for students who have an associate's degree in nursing or who completed a diploma program and already are registered nurses.