Undergraduate Admission Requirements
BSN Early Admissions
Deadline: November 15th
The School of Nursing offers a minimum of 10 Direct Admission spots to graduating high school seniors each year. The minimum requirements to apply are as follows:
- A minimum high school grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted).
- Minimum composite ACT score of 25 or SAT 1200.
- Minimum Math ACT sub-score of 25 or SAT MSS 590.
- First-time freshman application is on file with the UofL Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students must be admissible to the lower division of the BSN program.
Deadline: April 1st
The School of Nursing offers 40 Guaranteed Early Admission spots for UofL first time freshmen each year. The minimum requirements to apply for this are as follows:
- Successful completion of NURS 101 freshman orientation course.
- Successful completion of the first year of full-time coursework with a minimum 3.25.
- Completion of CHEM 105 and BIO 102 (or their equivalents) with a minimum grade of B.
Admission Criteria (KCTCS)
- Current enrollment in good standing at KCTCS School
- Successful completion of first ADN semester at KCTCS School
- No prior failures in a nursing course
- 2.0 cumulative GPA
Admission Criteria (Ivy Tech)
- Minimum grade of a B in the first Ivy Tech Nursing Course
- Cumulative GPA of 2.3 - 4.0 on a 4.0 scale GPA. Students with a 2.2 - 2.29 cumulative GPA will be considered on an individual basis.
BSN Traditional - Louisville
Prospective freshmen students will apply to lower division through the UofL Office of Undergraduate Admission website. Please select major code NU BSN.
Applicants must meet one of the following admissions options in order to be admitted into lower division:
- Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0, an ACT Composite of 22, and ACT Math sub-score of 22.
OR Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 and Accuplacer test scores, instead of ACT or SAT scores. Minimum Accuplacer test scores required for admission are:
- Math QRAS score of 263
- Reading score of 250
OR
- Test Optional admission requirements are a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5, completion of 4 years of high school English with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a rigorous high school math curriculum with an A or B in each math course. Must include one of the following math courses during junior or senior year:
- AP Calculus
- AP Precalculus
- Dual Credit College Algebra
- Dual Credit Pre-Calculus
- Dual Credit Calculus
Instructions on how to test remotely or in person are available on the Testing Center webpage.
Prospective transfer students will apply to lower division on the Office of Undergraduate Admission - Transfer Services website. Please select major code NU BSN.
Applicants with 24 or more transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited institution must meet the following admissions requirements to be admitted into lower division:
- Minimum 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA of all colleges attended.
- Does not have 2 or more NURS prefix grades of C- or below from previous institutions.
- Not previously dismissed from a Nursing program.
Applicants with 12-23 transferrable credit hours earned at a regionally accredited institution must meet the following admissions requirements to be admitted into lower division:
- 3.0 GPA (excluding dual credit courses)
- Grade of C or higher in an equivalent College Algebra course
Note: Transfer Students from KCTCS Schools and ULtra with 24 or more transferable credit hours are asked to email their appropriate advisor to request an evaluation of coursework for lower division. All transfer students are required to be advised prior to registering.
Students who are currently enrolled at UofL may transfer into the lower division by completing a Change of Major Request through their ULink account. All Change of Major requests are reviewed at the end of the semester term.
In addition to a change of major request, internal transfers must meet the following admissions requirements to change enroll in the lower division nursing program:
- Minimum 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA of all colleges attended.
- 12 hours completed at UofL.
- Does not have 2 or more NURS prefix grades of C- or below from previous institutions.
- Was not previously dismissed from a Nursing program.
- No more than one failure with a grade below C, in the following courses: ENGL 101 or 102, MATH 111 College Algebra, BIOL 257, BIOL 258, BIOL 260, BIOL 261, BIOL 262, 264, 265, CHEM 105 or Nutrition.
Upper Division Admission Deadlines:
- Fall Cohort: Open March 1 - May 1
- Spring Cohort: Open September 20 - November 1
Upper Division Admission Requirements
Admission to Upper Division is selective. The School of Nursing admits up to 100 students each fall and spring semester. Students interested in Upper Division must meet the following minimum admission criteria to apply:
- Students eligible to apply for the Upper Division must be admitted to the University of Louisville and the Lower Division of Nursing. Transfer students must have a complete undergraduate application on file with the UL Office of Undergraduate Admission for lower division admission review by October 1 for spring term consideration and by April 1 for fall term consideration.
- Current UL students in a non-nursing major are not eligible to apply until they have submitted a change of major request in ULink to Lower Division (program code NU BSN). Deadline to submit change of major request: October 1 for spring consideration and May 1 for fall consideration.
- Students eligible to apply to Upper Division must have either completed all Lower Division requirements or be in the last semester of completing Lower Division requirements.
- Minimum program of study grade point average of 3.0 and minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 are required to be considered for admission. Please contact your assigned advisor for your most recent program of study to determine eligibility to apply.
- Students who plan to apply for fall admission can complete remaining Lower Division course work the summer prior and still be eligible for fall semester admission.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply for Upper Division, please contact your academic counselor.
BSN Traditional - Owensboro
Lower Division Deadlines – July 1 for Fall Term; December 1 for Spring Term
Students who have 24 or more transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited institution are considered transfer students. To be eligible for admission to the lower division of the nursing major, a transfer student must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA of all colleges attended.
- Does not have 2 or more NURS prefix grades of C- or below from previous institutions.
- Was not previously dismissed from a Nursing program.
Students who meet the criteria to apply as transfer students may apply to the lower division of Nursing-Owensboro by visiting the Office of Undergraduate Admission - Transfer Services website. Please select major code NU BSNOW.
Transfer Students from KCTCS Schools with 24 or more transferable credit hours are asked to email Owensboro Advisor, Victoria Ochoa (victoria.ochoa@louisville.edu), to request an evaluation of course work for lower division. All transfer students are required to be advised prior to registering.
Students who are currently enrolled at UofL may transfer into the lower division of Nursing by completing an intra-university transfer request. To be eligible to transfer into the lower division of Nursing, a student must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and have completed one semester at UofL. Intra-university transfer requests are approved at the end of each semester.
Upper Division Admission Deadlines
- Fall Cohort: Open March 1 - May 1
- Spring Cohort: Open September 20 - November 1
Upper Division Admission Requirements
Admission to upper division is selective. The School of Nursing Owensboro Extension admits up to 35 students each fall and spring semester. Students interested in upper division must meet the following minimum admission criteria to apply:
- Students eligible to apply for the Upper Division must be admitted to the University of Louisville and the Lower Division of Nursing. Transfer students must have a complete undergraduate application on file with the UL Office of Undergraduate Admission for lower division admission review by October 1 for spring term consideration and by April 1 for fall term consideration.
- Current UL students in a non-nursing major are not eligible to apply until they have submitted a change of major request in ULink to Lower Division (program code NU BSN). Deadline to submit change of major request: October 1 for spring consideration and May 1 for fall consideration.
- Students eligible to apply to Upper Division must have either completed all Lower Division requirements or be in the last semester of completing Lower Division requirements.
- Minimum program of study grade point average of 3.0 and minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 are required to be considered for admission. Please contact your assigned advisor for your most recent program of study to determine eligibility to apply.
- Students who plan to apply for fall admission can complete remaining Lower Division course work the summer prior and still be eligible for fall semester admission.
If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply for Upper Division, please contact your academic counselor.
RN - BSN
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
- Unrestricted RN license or eligibility to take NCLEX
- Cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on all undergraduate work (on a scale of 4.0)
- A certified criminal background check is required before taking the clinical course. Details are available on the School of Nursing website
- The background check costs $50.00. Cost may be subject to change over time.
Preferred Application Deadline | Term | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| August 1 | Fall | August |
| October 1 | Fall | October |
| December 1 | Spring | January |
| February 1 | Spring | Late February |
| April 1 | Summer | May |
| May 1 | Summer | June |
Program Background
The LPN-to-BSN Pathway Program at the University of Louisville School of Nursing offers scholarships and stipends to support Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This accelerated pathway allows LPNs to transition into RN roles more quickly by awarding credit for prior learning and enabling students to complete ADN and BSN coursework concurrently. The program aims to increase diversity within the nursing workforce and prepare nurses to provide culturally competent care in medically underserved regions across Kentucky. Scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, while stipends assist with childcare, transportation, and other expenses. (*eligibility may vary based on set HRSA Grant criteria)
By alleviating financial barriers, this program empowers dedicated LPNs to achieve their goal of becoming RNs and giving back to communities in need.
Scholarship & Stipend Criteria
Scholarship Criteria
- Current enrollment in good standing at a KCTCS school
- Active, unrestricted Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license
- Successful completion of first semester ADN courses at a KCTCS school
- No prior failures in a nursing course
- 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Unrestricted LPN License
Stipend Criteria
- Current enrollment in good standing at a KCTCS school
- Active, unrestricted Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license
- Successful completion of first semester ADN courses at a KCTCS school
- No prior failures in a nursing course
- 2.0 cumulative GPA
Required Documentation
- A copy of your FAFSA submission summary document
- A copy of an unrestricted, LPN license
- A copy of your total student loan debt (see instructions below)
Total Student Loan Debt information may be found on your www.studentaid.gov dashboard. Steps to follow once on dashboard: My Aid > View Details > Loan Tab > Total Balance available on front page > Save a screenshot to use as an attachment for the scholarship application.
*This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,985,972 with 0.0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Second - Degree Accelerated BSN
Application Timeframe: August 15 – November 15 for priority consideration.
Applications in verified status with Nursing CAS will be accepted on a space-available basis through January 10.
- Official transcripts representing all college coursework must be submitted. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school is required. Applications will still be accepted for those who will complete a bachelor’s degree in the fall or spring term prior to beginning the upper division portion of the degree.
- Recommend a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale and minimum nursing program grade point average of 3.0. The nursing program grade point average is based on the prerequisites for admission.
- Applicants with 2 or more NURS prefix course failures C- or below; or applicants who were dismissed from another nursing degree program, are not eligible to apply. However, applicants are welcome to submit a petition for consideration to the School of Nursing BSN Academic Affairs Committee. Please contact your location advisor for more information.
- Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
- Within the CAS application be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Goal Statement (500 words or less):
Describe your personal qualities as they pertain to a successful nursing career. Address your perception of the nursing profession and how you came to choose this career. Describe your short- and long-term nursing goals. Include information about previous degree(s) and/or work experience. - Leadership Experience (250 words or less):
Describe your leadership experience and how the experience(s) may translate to successful completion of the nursing program and a career in nursing. Include organization(s) or event(s), leadership role(s), and date(s) of involvement over the last 3 years. - Community Engagement (250 words or less):
Describe your experiences with community engagement, including any volunteerism and work with community organizations. How might these experiences impact your future career as a nurse? Include organization(s) or event(s), role(s), and date(s) of involvement over the last 3 years. - Healthcare Experience/Exposure (250 words or less):
Describe your health care experience and how it will translate to success both in the nursing program and in the nursing profession. Include position(s), organization name(s), and dates of employment/exposure over the last 3 years.
- Goal Statement (500 words or less):
- Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English Proficiency
Prospective students applying for the lower division ABSN prerequisites will apply on the Office of Undergraduate Admission - Transfer Services website. Please select major code: Accelerated BSN Louisville or Accelerated BSN Owensboro.
Applicants must meet the following admissions requirements to be admitted into lower division ABSN:
- Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution
- It can be in progress but must be completed before starting the upper division portion of the program.
Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.4 on a 4.0 scale of all colleges attended.
Note: For "Application Type" select Transfer Student. If you previously attended UofL, select Returning Student. Do not select post-baccalaureate.
