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ONLINE RN-TO-BSN ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

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Getting Started

Each Purdue University Northwest degree program has specific requirements that you must meet in order to enroll. Please read the admissions guidelines for the RN-to-BSN program listed below. For specific questions or more details, view our admissions FAQs or the RN-to-BSN Student Handbook.

PNW Online RN-to-BSN Admissions Requirements

Admissions Requirements

Only applicants from Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin, or Purdue Northwest alumni are authorized to enroll in the online RN-to-BSN program.

Learn more about nursing in Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin.

Applicants must have:

  • Graduated from a regionally accredited institution 
  • Completed a nursing program that had national nursing accreditation at the time of attendance and graduation (ACEN, NCEA or CCNE)
    • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing: ACEN (formerly NLNAC) is a national accrediting body that provides accreditation to diploma and associate's degree programs. A list of ACEN-accredited nursing programs can be found on the ACEN website (http://www.acenursing.org).
    • National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation: CNEA is a national accrediting body that provides accreditation to LPN/LVN, diploma, and associate's degree programs. A list of CNEA-accredited nursing programs can be found on the CNEA website (http://www.nln.org/accreditation-services) 
  • Active licensure as a registered nurse
  • A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.3 from an accredited associate's degree or diploma program in nursing. Applicants with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.29 may submit a petition letter to the director of the online program that will be reviewed by the RN-to-BSN Admission, Progression and Graduation Committee and documents the following:
    • What circumstances caused the low GPA?
    • What is different now to control those issues?
    • What mechanisms are in place to ensure academic success?
    • A list of career/employment accomplishments

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores may apply if applicant's native/first language is not English and the applicant does not hold a bachelor's degree or higher degree.

Authorized Provider

Purdue Northwest ADN alumni residing outside of Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin must confirm that PNW is authorized for online higher education in that particular state. Current students who, after being accepted, move to a state where PNW is not approved for online higher education must receive state Board of Nursing authorization to continue in the program. Current students and alumni can confirm their state's online education status by emailing bsn_adms@pnw.edu.

Transfer Students

In addition to meeting the RN-to-BSN admissions requirements stated above, an applicant transferring from another college must submit:

  • A completed application for admission
  • $30 transcript evaluation fee
  • $25 application fee
  • Official college/university transcripts from each institution attended
  • Copy of RN license number

Transfer Credit and Transcripts

Transferring Credits From Another RN-to-BSN Program

At least 32 credit hours at the 300 level or higher must be completed at PNW. The 34 credit hours in the nursing core courses fulfill that requirement. Applicants wishing to transfer nursing coursework in at the 300 level may not (in most cases) be able to do so because of our residency rule. Such requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Transcripts

Please send all previous college transcripts to PNW. To do so, you will need to request to have your official transcripts sent to PNW. We accept electronic transcripts so long as they are sent to us directly by your respective college and/or university. Transcripts can be sent electronically using Parchment if your school participates in this service.

Send transcripts to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Lawshe Building, Room 259
Purdue University Northwest
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094

Email: bsn_adms@pnw.edu


Upon admission to the University, students must submit all official transcripts from all previous schools attended. These transcripts are factored into a cumulative GPA, which must be a 2.3 or higher to gain admission to the program. Transcripts that were not presented at the time of admission will not be accepted by the College of Nursing and will not be applied toward transfer credit.

Upcoming Start Dates

Calendar and Enrollment Deadlines

View the Carousel of Nursing Courses.

September 27, 2021
Start Date

Application Deadline: 9/1/2021

Documents Deadline: 9/7/2021

Registration Deadline: 9/20/2021

Tuition Deadline: 9/24/2021

November 8, 2021
Start Date

Application Deadline: 10/13/2021

Documents Deadline: 10/19/2021

Registration Deadline: 11/1/2021

Tuition Deadline: 11/5/2021

January 10, 2022
Start Date

Application Deadline: 11/24/2021

Documents Deadline: 11/30/2021

Registration Deadline: 12/13/2021

Tuition Deadline: 1/7/2022

February 21, 2022
Start Date

Application Deadline: 1/26/2022

Documents Deadline: 2/1/2022

Registration Deadline: 2/14/2022

Tuition Deadline: 2/18/2022

RN-to-BSN Admissions FAQs