LPN to BSN
Advance your practice and expand your nursing career with a BSN from Ohio State.
Program overview
Our LPN to BSN Bridge track allows license practical nurses (LPNs) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through Ohio State's top-ranked program – #4 nationally and #1 among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.
This bridge program builds on your LPN experience and prepares you for the expanded role of a BSN-prepared registered nurse. You'll gain hands-on experience through clinical experiences, immersive labs and classroom learning that reflects real-world nursing practice.
After graduation, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). Join one of the top-ranked BSN programs in the nation. Apply to expand your career path while answering your calling to care.
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On-campus
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122 credit hours
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2 years of full-time study
To be eligible for admission, you must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements by the posted deadline:
- Graduate from an LPN program with a GPA of 2.5 or recent college work with a 2.75 or greater (good standing with Ohio State)
- Possess Ohio unencumbered LPN license
- 18 years old by first clinical course
- Submit official transcripts
- Complete prerequisites with a grade of C or higher
You must complete seven (7) prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher. Courses completed at other institutions will be considered for equivalency to one of the Ohio State courses listed below. Each of the subject areas below provides a list of Ohio State example courses that fulfill the requirements. Official transcripts, submitted by the deadline, must contain a final grade for the prerequisite courses.
Human Anatomy Must include a laboratory component, all body systems
- ANATOMY 2300, ANATOMY 3300 or EEOB 2510
Human Physiology Must include all body systems
- EEOB 2520, PHR 3100, PHYSIO 3101, PHYSIO 3102 or PHYSIO 3200
Chemistry Must include a laboratory component.
- CHEM 1110 1110, 1210, 1220, 1610, 1620, 1910H, 1920H, 2510, 2520, 2610, 2620, 2910H or BIO CHEM 2210
English
- ENGLISH 1110
Microbiology
- MICRO 4000 or 4010
Psychology
- PSYCH 1100
Sociology
- RURLSOC 1500 or SOCIOL 1101
To determine if a course completed at another institution will transfer as an equivalent, refer to Transferology. If you are unable to locate your courses, email the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions at gpadmissions@osu.edu to request assistance with evaluating your courses.
All prerequisite courses completed at other institutions are reviewed by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. If a course is not a direct equivalent, a further review will be needed. You are responsible for verifying that all the prerequisite courses taken (or planned) satisfy prerequisite requirements.
The following are other important aspects of completing prerequisite courses outside of Ohio State:
- The "To-Do List" in your Applicant Center will alert you if you have deficiencies related to your prerequisites. The College of Nursing will not inform you of any unfulfilled prerequisite courses or incomplete requirements.
- Courses taken outside of Ohio State may fulfill the admission criteria but may not fulfill a requirement towards earning the degree.
Time to degree: 2 years full-time study, including summers
Number of credit hours: 122
Educational delivery format: Classroom learning consists of both online and in-person experiences. Clinical and lab experiences will be in-person.
As LPNs, the Industry Transfer Assurance Guide (ITAG) credit (20 credit hours of the BSN curriculum) will be awarded per the following guidelines:
- Nursing 2450 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3 credit hours) must be completed to get credit for N2451 Nursing Pathophysiology & Pharmacology I (3 credit hours) and N2452 Nursing Pathophysiology & Pharmacology II (3 credit hours).
- Nursing 2000 LPN to BSN Bridge Course (6 credit hours) must be completed to get credit for the following courses listed.
- Nursing 2271 Foundational Knowledge for Nursing Practice I (4 credit hours)
- Nursing 2200 Art of Professional Nursing I (2 credit hours)
- Nursing 2272 Foundational Knowledge for Nursing Practice II (4 credit hours)
- Nursing 2201 Art of Professional Nursing II (2 credit hours)
- Nursing 2782 Foundational Principles of EBP and Nursing Science (2 credit hours)
Sample schedule
Year 1: Summer Semester
- N2450 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3 credit hours)
- N2000 LPN to BSN Bridge Course (6 credit hours)**
Year 1: Autumn Semester
- N3271 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I (4 credit hours)**
- N3460 Motivational Interviewing (1 credit hour)
- N5115 Mindstrong (1 credit hour)
- Thematic Course General Education Course (4 credit hours)
- N2500 Introduction to Social Justice and Health Policy (1 credit hour)
Year 1: Spring Semester
- N3272 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II (4 credit hours)**
- N3240 Population Health Local to Global (3 credit hours)
- General Education Launch Seminar (1 credit hour)
- Human Nutrition 2200 Nutrition for Health Professionals General Education Course (2 credit hours)
- Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World General Education Course (4 credit hours)
- N3780 Evidence-based Nursing Care for Patients in Palliative and End of Life Care (2 credit hours)
Year 2: Summer Semester
- N3280 Nursing Care of Women and Families During Reproductive Transitions (4 credit hours)**
- N3260 Nursing Care of Children and their Families (4 credit hours)**
- Historical and Cultural Studies General Education Course (3 credit hours)
- Literary, Visual and Performing Arts General Education Course (3 credit hours)
Year 2: Autumn Semester
- N4241 Synthesis of Determinants of Health to Address Population Health Outcomes (4 credit hours)**
- N4341 Nursing Clinical Judgement in the Care of Psychiatric and Mental Health Conditions (4 credit hours)**
- N4401 Innovative Strategies in Leadership and Systems-based Practice (2 credit hours)
- Race, Ethnicity and Gender Diversity General Education Course (3 credit hours)
- N4310 Science of Wellness and Self-care (1 credit hour) General Education Reflection (1 credit hour)
Year 2: Spring Semester
- N4402 Synthesis of Nursing Practice and Patient Care in Complex Healthcare Systems (2 credit hours)
- N4590 Practicum for the Utilization of Nursing Clinical Judgement (6 credit hours)**
- N4520 Utilization of Information and Healthcare Technology to Drive Decision Making in Nursing (1 credit hour)
- Statistics 1350 (3 credit hours)
#Human Nutrition 2200, Stats 1350 and MINDSTRONG are core major requirements.
**Along with class experiences, courses contain clinical and/or laboratory components. Clinical and laboratory requirements will be 1-2 days per week depending on the course required hours reported to the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your applicant center.
Early Action Deadline: TBD for 2027
Regular Admission Deadline: TBD for 2027
The application and all required materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.ET. Your application status will show "pending" until a decision is posted. You are encouraged to check your application status regularly until a decision is posted, as the status of checklist items for specific application materials can change at any time.
Early Action Deadline: TBD for 2027
Regular Admission Deadline: TBD for 2027
For early action applicants completing prerequisite courses in autumn semester, updated transcripts are required to be resubmitted by date to be determined.
Official transcripts for test scores and/or AP exams completed outside Ohio State must be received by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. All official transcripts should include grades for classes completed by the transcript deadline, including any prerequisite courses.
Early Action Decision: Early-October
Regular Admission Decision: Late-March
You will be notified of your application decision through your applicant center as well as by email from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.
Two weeks post decision
You will have two weeks after the posted decision notification to accept your offer online. If you are a newly accepted student, you will be required to pay a $100 acceptance fee. This acceptance fee is not required for current Ohio State students.
If you are unable to begin your studies in the term to which you applied, you will be required to reapply in the future.
How to apply
Complete the online application through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. A $60 fee is required at the time of submission of the application.
Two essay questions, included in the application, must be answered prior to submitting the application. You are encouraged to work on the essay in a separate word processing program and then copy and paste your response into the application.
All transcripts and test scores (including those demonstrating completion of prerequisite courses) must be received by the posted deadline. You must submit official transcripts from all colleges, career technical schools and universities that you have previously attended or currently attend. This includes transcripts for any college credit earned through dual credit (i.e. college credit plus) education programs. If your LPN training is only listed on your high school transcripts, submit your high school transcripts.
Applicants do not need to submit transcripts for coursework completed at Ohio State. Official transcripts are submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. If a transcript for a college or university is listed as required on your application to-do list but you never attended that institution, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions and College of Nursing at nursing@osu.edu.
*If you are applying for early action and completing prerequisite courses in autumn semester, you are required to submit updated transcripts by January 9, 2026.
Failure to complete all required steps by the deadline (11:59 p.m. ET) will result in your application not being considered for admission.
Contact
FAQ
Some general education credits may transfer and be applicable to the general education requirements at Ohio State. Once you accept the offer of admission, you can find out more information about transfer credit on the University’s Registrar.
We accept college-level courses from institutions recognized/accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. How credit transfers into Ohio State may vary based on the type of accreditation the institution holds.
The courses submitted may apply towards prerequisites, but the transfer credit from the university on your degree audit is another type of approval. Approval by the university is not required for admission or graduation as long as general education credit is met. Connect with one of our academic advisors for a personal 1:1 meeting to review your transfer credits and answer your questions. Schedule your time.
Yes, prerequisite coursework is required for admission into the LPN to BSN program. Prerequisites required are Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, English, Psychology, Microbiology and Sociology.
No, we have not placed a time limit on prerequisites.
Yes. All admitted students will need a valid and unencumbered LPN license in Ohio before starting the program. The program will also require you to be on-campus and complete clinicals around the Columbus area.
You will pay tuition and fees each semester you are enrolled in the program, based on the number of credit hours you are completing.
This program is designed to be completed in 2 full calendar years (May-May).
No.
The Clinical Placement Office will arrange your clinical experiences.
The LPN to BSN courses are offered on-campus only.
This will vary throughout the program, but at least two days a week can be expected.
You cannot enroll in nursing classes unless you have applied and been admitted into the LPN to BSN program.
Yes, an Ohio unencumbered LPN license is required for admission into the program. You are required to submit a copy of the LPN license when completing the LPN to BSN application.
Yes.
We invite you to consider our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing option.
No, international students are not eligible for the LPN to BSN program.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Nurse, Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (NEPQR-PRNP) Grant UD749618 entitled the LIVEWELL LPN to BSN Bridge Program as part of an award totaling $3,999,074. 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. For more information, visit HRSA.gov.