Undergraduate Nursing Program Admission

Pre-Licensure Nursing Program Admission Process

Admission Criteria

Students must meet all requirements before applying to the WSU Pre-Licensure Nursing program. 

There are two admissions routes: Direct Admission and Holistic Admission. Most students go through the Holistic Admission process. 

Undergraduate Nursing Department policies and requirements are subject to change.

Direct Admission Criteria

Direct admission guarantees admission to the nursing major for students with exceptional ACT/SAT scores who earn excellent college grades.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements may apply no earlier than their first semester at WSU to begin the major in their second semester.

Holistic Admission Criteria

This route is for students without direct admission status and transfer students. Most students take this application route. 

Holistic Admission applicants may qualify for the interview process based on their scores on the Academic Achievement and Personal Achievement criteria.

Holistic Admission applicants may qualify for admission based on:

1. Academic Achievement
2. Personal Achievement
3. Interviews (if offered)

Prerequisite Courses 

Admitted and declared pre-nursing students must have at least 12 college credits post high school graduation and complete prerequisite courses to be eligible to apply to the Pre-Licensure (Generic Option) Nursing major. 

When applying, you must have completed 45 college credits and earned a grade of C or better in:

• At least 4 of 5 Natural Sciences (at least 3 lab courses, not including Nutrition). If a student chooses to complete CHEM 212 and 213, the student may apply after completing 4 of 6 natural sciences.
• At least 3 of 4 Social Sciences
• English 111 or equivalent
• Statistics 110 or equivalent

Any remaining prerequisites must be completed before starting the major. 

Community Service Hours 

All Direct Admission (PNDA) and Holistic Admission (PNHA) candidates must complete at least 10 hours of volunteer service per fall and spring semester while a degree-seeking student at WSU. 

Learn more about volunteer/community service hours (PDF).

Additional Requirements

You must complete the following requirements before you begin the upper division nursing major:

• Be certified as a nursing assistant, and be listed as “active” on a Nursing Assistant Registry within the United States
• Be certified in CPR for One & Two Person, Infant, Child and Adult (only American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS))
• Provide a copy of CNA & CPR certifications to the Department of Undergraduate Nursing through the Student Passport system (students receive access to the Student Passport system once admitted to the nursing major)
• Pass Minnesota and/or Wisconsin and National background checks to be eligible for clinical experiences
• Complete Health Information forms required by the Undergraduate Nursing Department

Find details about health requirements in the Section IV.B.1 of the Undergraduate Pre-Licensure BS Nursing Student Handbook (PDF). Health information is submitted through the Student Passport system.

See CNA and CPR FAQs (PDF) for more information.

Apply to the Pre-Licensure Nursing Program

Applications are available from Aug 1. – Oct. 1 for Spring admissions and from Dec. 1 – Feb. 1 for Fall admissions. All components of the application are due by Oct. 1 (Spring start) and Feb. 1 (Fall start).

You will start Term 1 Nursing programs in the following semester once you are admitted.

All applicants should verify their volunteer hours and check their references (Holistic only) are completed by the application deadline.

Use the checklist (PDF) to ensure your application is complete.

Apply the Undergraduate Nursing Program

Holistic Admission interviews for the admission process to start Spring 2025 will be Oct. 14. Candidates should be available on this date and will be contacted via their WSU email for their availability after the Oct. 1 deadline.

We will contact applicants after the application deadline with further information.

RN-BS Completion Admission Process

Before you can be considered for admission into the Undergraduate Nursing Department, you must first apply for admission to WSU.

Apply early to secure a seat in the RN-BS Program for the semester you want to begin.

Get Admitted to the RN-BS Program

Once you receive your acceptance notification from WSU, contact the RN-BS Program at 507.285.7349 or email rn-bscompletion@winona.edu to set up an appointment with your academic advisor.

You will be provided with your academic advisor’s name and contact information to schedule a time to discuss plan of study and orientation to the program.

Student advising is done on a rolling basis, and seats are limited each semester.

Admission Criteria

A DARS cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for admission into the RN-BS Completion Program. A 2.5 cumulative grade point average is required.

If a student has less than 2.5 GPA, then the most recent 50 credits are counted to determine if a 2.5 has been met.

Students whose GPA is less than 2.5 are encouraged to meet with the Nursing Department Chair.

An RN license is required within the first semester (determined by advisor).

Applicants who received associate degrees in nursing prior to 1985 and graduates of diploma nursing programs should contact the Nursing Department Chair.

Complete Remaining Requirements

You will receive your official acceptance letter from the Department of Nursing with the next steps, such as:

• Sign up for Clinician Nexus
• Complete all the necessary requirements for clinicals including immunizations, RN License, CPR and other important documents
• Register for classes

You can enroll in necessary electives or statistics, if needed prior to starting nursing courses.

If you have any questions or need help, connect with your Nursing Advisor or the Administrative Assistant.