Accelerated BSN
My first degree is still in progress, am I still eligible?
Yes, as long as your degree is conferred prior to ABSN Orientation in mid-May.
How many students are admitted to the program each May?
This program admits approximately 60 people to begin each May. Admissions notification are anticipated to happen in February.
Can international students apply for this program?
International students may apply for admission, and are encouraged to contact the MSU Office of Admissions and the Office for International Students and Scholars for assistance with application and visa inquiries. International applicants are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES), and will be expected to comply with any additional visa requirements.
Is there a waitlist?
For each admission cycle, we carry a waitlist of approximately 20 students to pull from until the cohort is full. Once that cohort starts courses, the waitlist is dissolved. Applicants remaining on the waitlist are encouraged to re-apply in future admissions cycles.
How can I increase my chances of being accepted?
This is the most frequently asked question. For the past several application cycles, we’ve admitted students with a 3.6 – 3.7 average GPA, with a range of 3.1 – 4.0. Students with the highest GPAs (both overall cumulative and prerequisites only) will receive top consideration, though all application materials will be considered as well. Applicants who aren’t happy with any prerequisite course scores are encouraged to think of retaking coursework as an opportunity to raise their prerequisite GPA. Please see the Applications and Prerequisites document for more information!
How long is the program, and when can students begin the required courses?
This program is 15 months in length, encompassing four semesters at MSU (summer, fall, spring, and summer). The program begins annually in mid-May, and concludes the following August.
Are students able to work while enrolled in the program?
We strongly recommend that students in this program choose not to work. The time commitment and the degree of flexibility that the program requires make holding any type of employment difficult. Most students find that they spend between 40 to 70 hours per week devoted to the various aspects of this program (attending class, studying, practicing clinical skills, etc.). The most successful ABSN students are typically those who are solely focused on their studies during those 15 months.
Can students attend the program part-time?
There is no part-time option available.
What about clinical requirements?
Approximately 765 total clinical hours are required in this four-semester program.
Clinical experiences are completed in a variety of settings and locations throughout southeast, west and mid-Michigan. Students will gain experience not only in the hospital environment, but early childhood development centers and assisted living facilities as well.
Clinical groups of 8 students are compiled for each placement site. A BSN-prepared Clinical Instructor will join each clinical group as well to provide guidance and instruction in the clinical and lab settings.
Each semester, students are given the opportunity to rank their clinical placement preferences. Our Clinical Placement Coordinator then assigns students to a clinical site. Flexibility is encouraged.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from their clinical locations. Many students car-pool to clinical locations.
Where is the ABSN program offered?
Two locations of study are offered: MSU’s main campus in East Lansing, and the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine site at the Detroit Medical Center.
Students may list their site preference on their ABSN Application.
BSN (Traditional)
What is the application process for this program?
All application materials are online and will need to be completed through the online system at time of application. This includes the essay, resume and two reference forms. Once the application is started each component will be accessible and accompanied with detailed instructions on what to include and how to complete.
Transfer students:
Apply to Michigan State University. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to MSU at least six months prior to the intended semester for which they seek admission to the Traditional BSN program.
Transfer students must be admissible to the university, meet all general university and College of Nursing admission requirements in order to be considered an eligible applicant for the Traditional BSN program.
After or while completing the general MSU transfer application process, applicants will complete the Traditional BSN application via the College of Nursing website. Completion of the application will be dictated by prerequisite coursework. Students are eligible to apply after or while in progress of completing final admission prerequisite courses.
Current MSU Student:
Current MSU students will complete the Traditional BSN application via the College of Nursing website after or while in progress of completing final admission prerequisite courses.
When can an application be submitted?
There are two opportunities every year to submit an application for the Traditional BSN program. Applicants interested in starting the Nursing program in a spring semester should submit applications by December 1. Applicants interested in a fall start should submit applications by May 1.
Applications will open the first week of classes in fall and spring.
There is no summer application option. Applicants completing final prerequisite coursework over the summer will be eligible to apply during the fall semester for a spring start. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
What is the average GPA of the students admitted?
The average GPA changes every semester but has ranged from 3.79-3.90. The average is dictated by the pool of applicants that apply.
The average GPA is based on a cumulative GPA calculation which consists of all completed courses. The College of Nursing also calculates an admission GPA which consists only of the courses required for admission to the program.
What happens if a student is not admitted after they apply?
Students are allowed to reapply for admission. However, the College of Nursing recommends that students apply no more than 2 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.
RN-BSN
Can a student still earn a BSN while busy with work and family responsibilities?
Yes! The RN to BSN program at MSU College of Nursing is offered in a totally online format. Courses are offered in a traditional semester format, but you can log on to your course work 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, life-long learning, and working students.
Why should an RN consider earning a BSN?
Nursing today is very challenging. Nurses need to be able to think critically, and have knowledge of the health care 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.
When is the application deadline?
The RN to BSN program application is on a rolling basis. MSU has three semester starts: Fall (late August), Spring (January) and Summer (mid-May). The semester you are eligible to start is determined by your individual program plan.
Is there a minimum grade point average I need to be eligible for application?
You need a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative grade point average in your associate degree in nursing program.
How do students apply for this program?
Application for the RN-BSN program requires a candidate to submit two separate applications, an Undergraduate Transfer Application to MSU, and a RN – BSN Application to the College of Nursing. Both applications are available online.
MSU alumni should submit a Readmission Application to the University through the Registrar’s Office.
The College of Nursing application includes the application form, two reference forms, an essay, and resume. All applicants must submit the College of Nursing Supplemental application.
Will a student receive credit for any courses taken in an ADN program?
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.
What does a student need to do before starting at MSU?
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.
