Yes, students admitted to the College of Nursing are eligible for college-specific scholarships. More information is available on the Undergraduate Funding page of the College of Nursing website, which also includes links to external funding resources. Prospective students can also contact the Office of Admissions for information about university-wide scholarships available as part of the admissions process.

Students will complete approximately 756 clinical hours over the duration of the program. Clinical experiences take place in a variety of settings throughout southeast, west, and mid-Michigan—including hospitals, early childhood development centers, and assisted living facilities. Clinical groups consist of 8 students at each placement site, accompanied by a BSN-prepared Clinical Instructor.

The Clinical Placement Coordinator assigns placements, and flexibility is encouraged. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites, though many choose to carpool.

The BSN classes of 2021–2024 have an average placement rate of 96%. For more detailed information, visit the Career Services Network website.

Yes, international students are welcome to apply. The College of Nursing does not set any additional requirements for international applicants beyond those required of all students. However, the MSU Office of Admissions establishes specific requirements for international students, such as documentation, language proficiency, and visa eligibility. We encourage you to work closely with the Office of Admissions to learn about these requirements and how to meet them. For questions about your university application or visa process, you may also contact the Office for International Students and Scholars. Please note that all international applicants must meet U.S. visa requirements.

Yes, you are eligible to apply as long as your degree will be conferred by the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the program.

The program is offered at two locations: MSU’s main campus in East Lansing and the Detroit Medical Center.

The ABSN program admits approximately 80 students each year: 48 seats are available in East Lansing and 32 seats are available in Detroit.

Students may indicate their site preference—East Lansing or Detroit—on the ABSN application. While every effort is made to accommodate these preferences, placement at a preferred site is not guaranteed, and final assignments are determined based on program needs and available space.

Yes, each admission cycle includes a waitlist of approximately 15 students. We may offer admission to waitlisted applicants until the cohort is full. Thirty days before classes begin, the waitlist is dissolved. If you remain on the waitlist, we encourage you to reapply for future admission cycles.

Applicants with the highest prerequisite GPAs receive top consideration, as the prerequisite GPA accounts for 50% of the overall admission score. However, strong grades alone do not guarantee admission. All application materials are considered, including your Personal Reflection responses and your list of experiences, each of which makes up 25% of your admissions score. You may retake a prerequisite course if needed; the College of Nursing will use your most recent attempt when calculating your prerequisite GPA.

No. There is no preference regarding where you complete your prerequisite coursework, as long as it has been approved to satisfy the ABSN admissions prerequisite requirements. Additionally, students who earned their first degrees at MSU do not receive any advantage in the admissions process.

Yes, coursework completed at online institutions is accepted as long as the institution is properly accredited and the courses have been approved to satisfy the ABSN admissions prerequisite requirements.

No, the ABSN program does not use rolling admission. All applications are reviewed together, and admissions decisions for fall are typically communicated in late May.

Yes. There is no limit on the number of application attempts.

The program is 16 months long, spanning four semesters at MSU (fall, spring, summer, and fall). It begins annually at the end of August and concludes in December of the following year.

We strongly recommend that students do not work while enrolled. The program requires a significant time commitment and a high degree of flexibility, making employment very challenging. Most students spend between 40 and 70 hours per week on coursework, studying, and clinical practice. The most successful ABSN students are typically those who can focus solely on their studies during the 16-month program.

No, the ABSN program is a full-time, in-person program.

ABSN tuition is assessed per credit hour. As of June 2025, the resident tuition rate is $855.25 per credit. The ABSN program consists of 61 credit hours, totaling approximately $52,000 for tuition across all four semesters. Additional expenses — including fees and taxes — also contribute to your overall Cost of Attendance. For the most current tuition rates, refer to the Office of the Controller’s website. For questions about costs, contact the Office of Financial Aid. There are also start-up costs associated with beginning a nursing program; a detailed breakdown is available here.

No. Students from any major are able to apply as long as they have met the eligibility requirements. Pre-Nursing students are not given any preference during the admissions process.

Yes! Students can apply to both MSU and the TBSN program at the same time by completing the university application and the supplemental application to the TBSN program. Please note that students are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are received by MSU, including updated transcripts. Transfer students must also verify that the coursework completed outside of MSU has been approved for transfer credit to satisfy the prerequisite requirements, which can be done by utilizing the Transfer MSU website.

The cumulative GPA of admitted students has ranged from 3.4–4.0, with an average of approximately 3.89 in recent semesters. The cumulative GPA is calculated using the grades earned in coursework prior to attending MSU, plus the grades earned for credits completed at MSU.

Students are allowed to reapply for admission. There is no limit to the number of application attempts; however, the College of Nursing recommends that students apply no more than two times. If a student applies twice and is not admitted, it is in the student’s best interest to discuss alternative options with an academic advisor.

No. Each attempt will require a new application to be completed in full.

The TBSN program is six semesters in length (fall and spring only). Students are not able to accelerate or condense the program into fewer semesters; all coursework must be completed in the prescribed sequence.

Yes! The RN to BSN program at MSU College of Nursing is offered in a completely online format. Courses are offered in a traditional semester format, but you can log on to your coursework at any time and day of the week that is convenient for you. The College of Nursing has a long history of providing a quality learning experience to distance, lifelong learning, and working students.

Nursing today is very challenging. Nurses need to be able to think critically and have knowledge of the healthcare systems and society in which they practice. Earning your BSN from MSU will help advance your critical thinking skills as you study the various issues that nurses face. You will also gain valuable experience in community health and nursing leadership settings. BSN-prepared nurses also have more career options and job flexibility available to them, as earning your BSN expands your professional horizons.

Also, earning your BSN may be a stepping-stone to earning your MSN, DNP, or PhD.

Applications for the RN-BSN program are reviewed on a rolling basis, with three available start terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Your application deadline depends on the term for which you are applying:
- Fall: March 1
- Spring: September 1
- Summer: January 1

You need a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA from your associate degree in nursing program.

You must complete two separate applications:
1. An Undergraduate Transfer Application to MSU. Students new to MSU should apply through Admissions. Former MSU students should instead submit a Readmission Application through the Office of the Registrar.
2. An RN-BSN Application to the College of Nursing, including:
- University Application
- Essay
- Resume
- College of Nursing Supplemental Application
Both required applications are available online.

Michigan State University grants 30 credits for successfully passing your NCLEX-RN exam. In addition to those 30 credits, a maximum of 60 credits may be transferred from a community college. All transfer credits must be evaluated and approved by the University.

Prior to starting the RN to BSN program at Michigan State University, you will complete the prerequisites to the program at a community college or university near you. Many students find they have already completed many of the prerequisites during their ADN programs. You can find the list of prerequisites and university graduation requirements on our  website.

Students are encouraged to utilize the Transfer MSU website to determine course equivalencies. Students must also have a current, unencumbered RN license before taking NUR courses.