Are you interested in one of our Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Then it’s time to apply.
You will need to meet the admission requirements of Ball State. Then, you will need to apply to the School of Nursing as early as your sophomore year (30 credits).
1. Apply to Ball State
You will need to meet the university’s admission criteria for students and apply through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Apply to Ball State
2. Apply to the Program
You will need to be accepted into the baccalaureate program as early as your sophomore year (30 credits) in order to fully declare a major in nursing.
Admission to our program is competitive. Neither admission to the university nor fulfillment of minimum requirements guarantees admission to the program itself.
Applications are available online during the following times (unless noted otherwise for each concentration below):
- to start in the Spring – the first 10 days of the fall semester
- to start in the Fall – the first 10 days of the spring semester
If you are selected for admission to the baccalaureate nursing program and do not accept a space in the class, you must reapply if you later change your mind and wish to enter the program.
APPLY TO THE PROGRAM
General Admission Information and Requirements
Need to raise your GPA in order to gain admission to the School of Nursing?
This table illustrates the time, effort, and performance required to raise you GPA based on the number of credit hours taken.
What are the requirements for a degree in nursing? A Ball State University undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or higher based upon a minimum 30 semester credits completed. Preference will be given to students who matriculated at Ball State University who meet this requirement.
- Credit in ANAT 201, CHEM 101, BIO 113, PSYS 100, and SOC 100 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher and repeated no more than one time. A grade of C- or less is not passing in these courses for the baccalaureate nursing program. If a course is repeated, the highest grade earned will be used. If the repeated course grade is a C- or less, the applicant will be removed from the applicant pool.
- Credit in NUR 228 and PHYS 215 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or these courses in progress at the time the application is filed and repeated no more than one time for a grade of C (2.0) or higher on completion. (Same stipulations apply as above).
In order to apply, students must have met the prerequisite course requirements. Students must be ranked as a sophomore and will be ranked by:
Pre-nursing GPA (30% of Consideration)
This based on the following Ball State course grades or grades in course equivalents:
- CHEM 101
- BIO 113
- ANAT 201
- PSYS 100
- SOC 100
Science courses including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology must have been completed within the past seven years. If you have credit in these courses that is more than seven years old, you will need to retake or transfer course credit.
Pre-nursing Assessment Score (35% of Consideration)
Cumulative GPA (35% of Consideration)
A Ball State University undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher based upon a minimum 30 semester credits completed.
Applicants must submit disclosure of criminal background at the time of application. Nursing applications may not be accepted from students with pending charges, a conviction of, or entry into a diversion for a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense.
This includes, without limitation, the following types of charges:
- driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
- sex crime
- Medicare/Medicaid exclusion (abuse or fraud)
- battery
- theft
Admitted Students
You must submit a criminal background check by the required date—and annually thereafter. If you have already been admitted to the program and have received new or pending charges, you are not permitted in clinical settings. You will need to withdraw from clinical courses. Drug screens and further background checks may be required by clinical agencies. All checks and screens are at the student's expense.
Concentration-Specific Admission Requirements
Regular Concentration
Students admitted to the university with an interest in nursing may follow the General Applicant Track.
Students apply to the nursing program during the first 10 business days of the first semester sophomore year.
We post the application link on the first day of the Fall and Spring semesters.
Degree in 3
Students admitted to the university as matriculating freshmen will submit a letter of request to the School of Nursing to enter the Degree in 3 Track.
During Freshman Orientation, you will sign a contract. You must submit a copy of the contract to the School of Nursing during the first month of the fall semester.
You will take all prerequisite courses in order via the three-year plan of study.
You will apply online to the nursing program during the first ten business days of the second semester of the freshman year.
We post the application link on the first day of the Fall and Spring semesters.
LPN to BS
Along with the general admission requirements listed above, to qualify for admission into the LPN transition track, you must:
1. Submit a current unencumbered Indiana LPN license and be in good standing with the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
2. Have credit with a grade of C (2.0) or higher in the following (or their equivalent transfer courses):
- COMM 210
- EDPSY 270
- FCSFN 340
- HSC 180
Accelerated (Second) Baccalaureate
Students, who have already earned a baccalaureate degree in another major, as verified by an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university, will follow the second baccalaureate degree plan of study.
Second baccalaureate degree applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
RN to BS
Our RN to BS bachelor's degree completion program has rolling admissions—which means you can apply any time.
After admission to Ball State, nursing applications are reviewed in the spring semester for fall admission to the nursing program.
You must contact the School of Nursing to request admission to the nursing courses and to be reviewed.All university core requirements must be met prior to starting nursing courses.
Minimum admission requirements for the RN to BS degree are:
- Be a graduate of a nursing program accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
- Provide evidence of current unencumbered state RN licensure in your state of practice.
- Earned an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale in a basic nursing program or a 2.75 GPA. Or achieve a 2.75 GPA or higher after the completion of 16 credit hours at Ball State.
- Successfully completed all nursing prerequisites or transfer equivalents.
- Successfully completed all university core curriculum requirements or transfer equivalents.
- Successfully pass a criminal background check (completed annually thereafter).
Application Deadlines
- Fall semester—July 1
- Spring semester—December 1
- Summer semester—April 1
Students from Other States
Ball State is authorized to accept online students from all U.S. states. Certain conditions may apply depending on what regulations your state has and what degree you are seeking. Learn more about state authorization for non-Indiana students.
Have Questions?
If you have questions about the admissions process, use our request for information form.