Choose the path that is best for you!
There are three entry points for you to start earning your undergraduate nursing degree at USI:
Direct admission applies only to students who are first-time degree seeking students and who are applying within the first calendar year of high school graduation.
How do I qualify?
To qualify for direct admission, students must have both:
- A high school junior year cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.
- Minimum ACT of 26 or a SAT of 1240 (reading and math, with a minimum score of 580 in each area).
What is required to remain in the program?
To maintain direct admission status, students must:
- Earn a college GPA of 3.0+ on a 4.0 scale.
- Achieve a grade of "C" or better in required first year courses.
Students will work closely with an advisor to determine an individual schedule.
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Conditional direct admission applies only to students who are first-time degree seeking students and who are applying within the first calendar year of high school graduation.
To qualify for conditional direct admission, students must have:
- A high school junior year minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.4-3.49 on a 4.0 scale
- One standardized exam score that meets the following requirements:
- SAT taken after March 2016 with a minimum combined score of 1210 (reading and math, with minimum 560 in each area)
- ACT minimum composite score of 25
Accepted conditional direct admission students must maintain eligibility by:
- Earning a college GPA of 3.3+ on a 4.0 scale
- Completing the first year prerequisite courses by the specific fall or spring nursing courses start.
Students will work closely with an advisor to determine an individual schedule.
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Mission of the Standard Admission Process: The mission of the BSN Standard Admission process is to identify compassionate, dedicated applicants, with diverse experiences in leadership and community engagement, who possess a broad knowledge base and the communication skills necessary to grow into nurses who are safe, competent, critical thinkers prepared to meet the constantly evolving needs of the community.
Vision of the Standard Admission Process: Develop nurses who embody attributes needed to become change agents within a global society.
Standard Admission to the undergraduate nursing program may occur after completion of 31 hours of required university courses. Students accepted through the standard admission process must maintain eligibility.
Admission to the program is based upon the following:
- Calculated GPA score using the applicant's first-year courses
- Submission of a 150-word Personal Statement describing why you want to become a nurse
- Submission of the Leadership and Community Engagement Resume.
- Participation in a personal interview
USI’s undergraduate nursing program uses a paperless application system. Applicants will complete the initial undergraduate nursing program application and required supplemental documentation online.
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April 1, 2024 – Application Deadline for All Applicants
April 15, 2024 – Document Deadline for All Applicants
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- Personal Statement for Standard Applicants
- Leadership and Community Engagement Resume for Standard Applicants
April 20, 2024 – Interview Date for Standard Applicants
May 3, 2024 – First Year Courses Completed for All Applicants
July 26, 2024 – First Year Courses Completed for All Applicants
August 9, 2024 – Application Deadline for All Applicants
August 16, 2024 – Document Deadline for All Applicants
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- Personal Statement for Standard Applicants
- Leadership and Community Engagement Resume for Standard Applicants
August 24, 2024 – Interview Date for Standard Applicants
August 25, 2023 – Application and Document Deadline for Standard Applicants
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- Personal Statement
- Leadership and Community Engagement Resume
August 11, 2023 – First Year Courses Completed for All Applicants
August 26, 2023 – Interview Date for Standard Applicants
Clinical Experiences
USI nursing students will complete clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare and community settings. In order to optimize clinical learning experiences, students may be required to travel up to 70 miles and provide their own transportation to assigned agencies or institutions.
English Proficiency
Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements as established by the USI Center for International Programs.
Learn More
Are Your Sights Set on an Advanced Degree?
USI offers BSN graduates a pathway into advanced practice nursing roles. Find out more here:
Graduate Nursing Programs
Launch Your Nursing Career with the
University of Southern Indiana's
Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing
Are you ready to enter the in-demand field of nursing by obtaining your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree? Nurses – especially BSN prepared nurses – are in high demand and work across nearly all healthcare settings.
At the University of Southern Indiana, our undergraduate nursing program is designed to prepare you – as a professional nurse – to plan, implement and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families and groups in institutional and community settings.
Through USI's nursing degree program, you'll gain direct experience with patients in medical, surgical, pediatric, mental health, women's health and many more clinical and community-based settings. The clinical experience you'll gain through USI's BSN program will prepare you for professional nursing careers in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, medical clinics, government health organizations and other healthcare facilities.
What Can You Do With a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing?
USI's BSN program focuses on developing your creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Additionally, you'll expand your communication abilities to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing healthcare delivery system.
USI's award-winning faculty possess extensive clinical and classroom experience. You can expect personalized faculty attention that fosters supportive relationships and maximizes your academic and career success.
You'll earn a BSN degree that prepares you to enter the workforce with confidence, experience and career-boosting preparation. Your USI BSN degree will open doors to numerous career paths.
All students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet clinical agency requirements, be able to perform essential functions, be eligible for RN licensure, and capable of fulfilling clinical practice requirements.
Drug Screening and Criminal Background Checks
Information regarding the College of Nursing and Health Profession’s Drug Screening and Criminal Background policies are found in the College of Nursing and Health Professions Handbook.
CastleBranch
Students admitted into USI’s BSN program are required to purchase and complete all CastleBranch requirements one week prior to the start of spring semester. Students who have not completed the CastleBranch requirements by the due date will not be admitted into the BSN program and will be administratively removed from the spring nursing courses (NURS 246, NURS 247, NURS 251).
Submission and verification of all required documents is through CastleBranch. Students are responsible for updating all required documents throughout the program.
The number of students admitted to the nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites.
Mandatory Annual TB, OSHA, and HIPAA Training for Students, Faculty and Staff
Students requesting a transfer to USI’s undergraduate nursing program from another nursing program must:
- Be admitted to the University of Southern Indiana. Admission to USI DOES NOT guarantee admission to the Nursing program.
- Meet the Undergraduate Nursing Admission Criteria.
- Complete the undergraduate nursing application process. The application is found on the undergraduate nursing website. All students must meet the admission criteria and apply by the appropriate deadline.
- After admission to the nursing program, course faculty will review those nursing courses completed within the last three years. In collaboration with the Undergraduate Program Chair, the course faculty, will determine if any transfer nursing courses are equivalent to USI undergraduate nursing courses.
- Students who have two nursing courses with grades resulting in a D or F are not eligible for USI’s undergraduate nursing program. However, should the student feel that extenuating circumstances existed and contributed to their unsuccessful nursing courses, an appeal letter may be sent to the Nursing Admission and Progression Committee for review.
- Anatomy and physiology and chemistry course credit must be earned or equivalent competence demonstrated within five years of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.
For more information on Transfer Students, visit this page.
The University of Southern Indiana Nursing Programs uses the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Baccalaureate and Graduate Essentials documents and other specialty specific national guidelines and standards as a guide to offer high quality programs that meet national standards.
The Undergraduate Nursing Program has been accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing since inception. The Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) since 1999. The MSN program was approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in 1994, and the DNP program in 2008. The Post MSN Certificate Program is offered for all MSN specialty tracks. The MSN specialty tracks are based upon national guidelines developed by the Essentials of Masters Education in Nursing, Criteria for evaluation of NP programs, Clinical Nurse Specialist Core Competencies, Population – focused nurse practitioner competencies, Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP competencies, The National League of Nurses Scope of Practice for Nurse Educators, The American Organization of Nurse Executives Competencies. All nursing programs are fully accredited through CCNE. Accreditation is an indication of public approbation, attesting to the quality of the educational program and the continued commitment of the sponsoring institution to support the program.
For further information about the accreditation of the program, please contact the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education at the following address: One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791.
The Nursing program prepares individuals for employment in the state of Indiana upon successful completion of the registered nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). The university has not determined if students from other states need to meet additional requirements for employment in those states.
Gain Real-World Experience and Insights Through USI's Nursing Degree Program
Gain practical, direct experience through clinical hours in a variety of healthcare settings, including acute and primary care, ambulatory care centers and community healthcare agencies. You'll also get many opportunities throughout our undergraduate nursing program to further hone your skills in our Clinical Simulation Center, a realistic healthcare environment offering state-of-the-art technology.
Choose the Nursing Degree Program that Focuses on Your Success
At USI, our BSN program is designed to optimize outcomes for our students and is based on a student-centered foundation of caring, critical thinking, knowledge, competence, communication and professionalism. You'll be supported by teams offering academic advising, counseling, tutoring and professional mentoring.
When you graduate from our BSN program, you can be confident you have a highly respected nursing degree supported by varied clinical experiences that provide a strong foundation for your nursing career.
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).