For current and fall 2026 incoming UI nursing interest students–and in some situations, incoming fall 2027 students who meet specific criteria–the final opportunity to apply for standard admission is February 2028 as the standard admission option to the BSN (pre-licensure) program is being phased out. Students admitted in the last cycle will begin nursing classes in the spring 2029. If you have questions about whether you may be eligible or need clarification regarding this update, please contact us at nursing-programs@uiowa.edu.
Students currently enrolled at the University of Iowa as nursing interest students are eligible to earn admission to the college via the standard admission process. These students must complete designated prerequisites and apply for admission to the college after or while completing the final prerequisites for the nursing major. Standard admission applications are only accepted for the spring semester.
The program is competitive and meeting the requirements does not guarantee admission.
Dec 1
Feb 26
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants starting study from spring 2027 to spring 2029:
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- On track to complete a minimum of 48 s.h. at the end of the application semester
High School Prerequisites (collegiate course work can be used to complete high school deficiencies):
Minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA
4 years of English
1 year of Biology
1 year of Chemistry
1 year of Physics
1 year of each: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry
3 years of Social Studies
4 years (fourth level proficiency) of the same world language or two years (second level proficiency) in two different world languages, or two years of the same world language plus additional required coursework. World Language requirements must be completed. Applicants for whom English is not the first language please see TOEFL information.
College Prerequisites (all require a grade of C or higher at the time of application):
Natural Science
Student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, the following natural science* prerequisites (or comparable courses):
- CHEM:1070 Gen Chem I
- CHEM:1080 Gen Chem II
- BIOL:1141 Human Bio: Health Professions
- Physics (if not completed in high school)
- At least one of the following:
- ACB:3110 Principle of Human Anatomy
- HHP:2400 Fundamentals of Human Physiology
- MICR:3164 Microbiology for Human Health
- HHP:2310 Nutrition and Health
*All natural sciences must have been completed within 10 years of matriculation (enrollment) in the nursing major.
Social Science
Student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, at least one of the following social science prerequisites (or comparable courses):
PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology
NURS:1030 Human Development & Behavior
SOC:1010 Intro to Sociology OR SOC:1030 Contemporary Social Problems
General Education
Student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, ALL of the following general education prerequisites (or comparable courses):
Literary, Visual and Performing Arts (LVPA) – 3 s.h.
International and Global Issues (IGI) – 3 s.h.
Values & Society (VS) or Understanding Cultural Perspectives (UCP) – 3 s.h.
(Note: Understanding Cultural Perspectives courses are only available at the University of Iowa.)
Other courses
Student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, ALL of the following prerequisites (or comparable courses):
STAT:1020 Elementary Statistics and Inference
RHET:1030 Rhetoric
NURS:3111 Caring for Vulnerable Populations
Transfer courses
If you choose to take courses at another institution, please access our transfer equivalency database: http://myui.uiowa.edu. Select "Courses", then select "Transfer Courses" on the right side of the screen.
TOEFL requirement for admission to the College of Nursing
International students seeking admission into the College of Nursing must meet the admissions requirements for their pathway. BSN student applicants who are citizens of a country in which English is not the official language must have a score of 5.0 on the iBT TOEFL.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application OPEN | Application RECEIVED by | Notified of admission decision |
|---|---|---|
December 1 | February 26 | Early Summer |
Current Student Applications | Transfer Student Applications |
|---|---|
Current University of Iowa students should fill out the Change of College application located in MyUI. Work closely with your academic advisor to ensure you are on target for meeting all eligibility and admission requirements or visit Testing | New transfer students should fill out the transfer application to the University of Iowa and select the College of Nursing. Click on the Transfer Admission Application to begin. |
College of Nursing supplemental application
Essay questions: These are a very important part of your application. We recommend writing your responses in a separate document (using Microsoft Word or Google docs) and pasting them into the application when complete. This allows you to proofread and save your responses. Each essay question has a 1,500-character limit (including spaces).
Activities and work/volunteer experiences: As you write your responses to both sections, be sure to articulate how these opportunities have developed you as a person and contribute to your future success as a nurse.
Submit OFFICIAL high school transcript
By mail:
Enrollment Management
2900 University Capitol Centre
201 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA 52242Electronically:
Transcripts can be sent to admissions@uiowa.edu or submitted via the Common App.IMPORTANT: For transcripts to be considered official, they must be sent directly from the student’s school.
All students who meet eligibility criteria will receive an invitation to schedule a virtual interview with members of the admissions committee after the application deadline has passed.
FALL Semester Start
In the rare event that seats become available in a fall-start cohort, the College of Nursing will consider offering a fall start to students who have been selected for standard admissions for the spring session AND who meet the following criteria:
Meet all published admissions standards, including a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Have a minimum of 90 s.h. earned toward a degree, or have already earned a non-nursing undergraduate bachelor’s degree.
Have completed all prerequisites, including Caring for Vulnerable Populations, general education coursework, world language, and the physics requirement by June 1 of the application period.
If you meet these criteria, please contact your academic advisor for guidance in developing an appropriate plan of study.
Please email nursing-programs@uiowa.edu with any questions.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
The College of Nursing only accepts transfer applications for Standard Admission from students who are transferring from another college or university within the state of Iowa.
Students can complete pre-requisite courses at institutions outside of Iowa but must transfer to a school within Iowa at least one semester before applying to the College of Nursing. If you are hoping to complete pre-requisites at schools other than the University of Iowa, it is valuable to have a transcript evaluation completed. If you would like a transcript evaluation, please follow the steps below.
Transcript Evaluation:
Collect transcripts from all institutions where you have completed collegiate coursework. Scan the documents so that they can be attached to an email (pdf preferred). For a transcript evaluation, we do not need to see official transcripts. When you apply for admission, official transcripts will be required.
Send an email to nursing-programs@uiowa.edu and attach all transcripts. Please write "Transcript Evaluation Request" and your name in the subject line.
In the body of the email, please note whether you completed one year of physics in high school, the number of years of which world (foreign) language that you completed in high school, and the list names of all institutions where you have completed collegiate coursework.
An evaluation will be completed and returned to you electronically.
Finding Comparable Courses:
To search and identify comparable courses at another institution, please utilize our transfer equivalency database, which is available at myui.uiowa.edu/my-ui/courses/transfer, or access the College of Nursing Transfer Guides for course equivalencies at select Iowa community colleges.
Please contact nursing-programs@uiowa.edu for information.
FACTORS CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION
Students must complete designated prerequisites and apply for admission to the College of Nursing after or while completing the final prerequisites for the nursing major.
The College of Nursing only accepts transfer applications for standard admission from students who are transferring from another college or university within the state of Iowa.
Students who attend the University of Iowa directly out of high school will have five semesters to complete prerequisite courses. These students should anticipate a minimum 4.5-year plan of study.
Factors Considered for Admission
The admissions committee considers many factors while reviewing applications, including but not limited to*:
Academic preparation, including GPA
ACT composite or SAT total score
Advanced placement, honors, and/or dual enrollment credit
Demonstrated commitment of service to others
Essay responses
Experiences that develop qualities that contribute to becoming a successful nurse
Experience in caregiving
Military service
Understanding of professional nursing practice
*This list is in alphabetical order and does not indicate order of importance. It is not all inclusive.
Please contact nursing-programs@uiowa.edu for information.