RN to BSN Admissions

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the RN to BSN program students must have:

An associate degree in nursing or nursing diploma

Students must have an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma from an institution with a nursing education program accredited through the ACEN or CNEA. Students may apply to the RN to BSN program while their degree or diploma is still in progress, but must receive it by the start of their term of admission.

A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Cumulative GPAs include all coursework attempted at the undergraduate level at all attended colleges/universities and is calculated by Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions office. 

Applicants who are current or former Ohio State students must also have an Ohio State GPA of 2.0 of greater.

Reside in an authorized state

To participate in the RN to BSN program, a student must reside in a state that authorizes The Ohio State University to offer this professional licensure program through distance learning to its residents. You can check the authorization of your state on this map. 

A professional license is required to practice in the field of this academic program, or to advance or specialize in that field. This program meets licensure requirements in the State of Ohio and is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. If you are planning to seek a professional license in a state other than Ohio, it is highly recommended that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency to seek information and guidance before beginning the program. In addition, online program availability may vary by state. For more information on state authorization requirements and disclosures related to online programs and state licensing board contact information, please visit the Office of Distance Education and eLearning website.

An active and unrestricted RN license

You must have an active, unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state where you practice by the start of the NRSADVN 4240 Community Health Nursing course.

International student credentials

International students applying to the RN to BSN program must hold an active unencumbered RN license to practice in the United States or a Credentials Evaluation Service Report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

How to Apply

To apply for the RN to BSN program, students must complete the following by the application deadline: 

1. Submit the online application

You can complete an application online through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions by clicking on the following link. A $60 application fee is required at the time of submission of the application.

The application includes a set of essay questions that you must answer. You may begin an application and exit it after saving your progress and then can continue it later. This will allow you to work on the essay questions outside of the application or in multiple sittings if needed. Once an application is submitted, all responses are final and cannot be changed.

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2. Submit your official transcripts

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have previously attended at both either the undergraduate or graduate levels. This includes transcripts for any post-secondary courses taken during high school or of coursework that appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts from The Ohio State University do not need to be submitted.

Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Please request your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to:

The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004

or

gpadocs@osu.edu

Applicants may upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or after by way of the Admissions Uploader. However, documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial, but will suffice for the purposes of application. Web based documents, online grade reports, and related materials are not acceptable. If an applicant is admitted, they will be required to supply official transcripts sent direct from your previous institutions.

For details regarding these methods of submitting transcripts, please visit The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions office’s website. Please direct all transcript related questions to the Graduate and Professional Admissions office at 614-292-9444 or to gpadmissions@osu.edu.

3. Provide English proficiency test scores (International applicants only)

Details regarding what English Proficiency tests are acceptable, the scores required and how to submit scores may be found on the website of Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions office.

Failure to complete all required steps of this application process by 11:59 pm EST on the day of the posted deadline will result in your application not being considered for admission.  

You can review the status of your application anytime at appstatus.osu.edu. If you have any questions about the RN to BSN program or the application process, please email nursing@osu.edu.

Students transferring from another RN-BSN program are welcome to apply. Our policy allows for a maximum of four (4) RN-BSN credit hours to be transferred. Once admitted, syllabus reviews will be completed to determine course equivalencies.

Admission Timeline and Deferrals 

All required materials listed above must be submitted by the posted deadline. Please allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status webpage. 

Application decisions are made on a rolling basis. Most applicants will receive a decision on their application within one month of completing the full application process. You can view an overview of the admissions timeline here. 

Students may defer their admittance to a future semester. If you are unable to begin your studies in the term to which you applied, please contact your adviser for further assistance with deferral.

For questions regarding our admissions process or requirements, please contact our Student Affairs team at nursing@osu.edu. 

In accordance with the non-discrimination policy of The Ohio State University and the College of Nursing, we strictly prohibit any discrimination based upon age, color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, religion, pregnancy, or veteran status in its application, admission, or enrollment practices. 

Ohio State is committed to treating applicants fairly and with dignity and respect. Please click here to review Ohio State’s post-admissions policy.