Bachelor of Science in Nursing

BSN Program Eligibility and Requirements

To apply for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, students must meet all of the following requirements before submitting their application: 

General Requirements 

• Be admitted to Wichita State University (WSU) as an active, degree-seeking undergraduate student.
• You must reactivate your student status if you were admitted to WSU but haven’t taken classes in the past two years. Visit the WSU Reactivation Page for help.
• Submit all official transcripts from other schools showing completed courses with final grades.
• Include a plan for finishing any remaining prerequisite courses.
• Provide unofficial transcripts for any courses you are currently taking.
• Find all prerequisites listed in the BSN checksheet.

Academic Requirements 

• You may have no more than 6 credit hours of general education or elective courses left when the nursing program begins.
• You must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75.
• You must have already completed three of the four required science courses :
  • Chemistry
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Biology 

Application Requirements 

• Submit your application by:  
  • August 15th (spring start)
  • January 15th (fall start)
• Make sure your application packet is complete and submitted by the deadline. 

Program Entry Requirements 

After admission, to be eligible to enter the nursing program, students must meet the following academic and administrative requirements: 

Academic Requirements 

• Maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Maintain a WSU GPA of 2.00 or higher (if applicable)
• Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better
• Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher in the required science courses.
  • Chemistry
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Biology
• Have no more than 6 credit hours of general education or elective courses remaining during the nursing program 

Important Update for Spring 2027 Applicants 

• Beginning with the Spring 2027 application cycle, all fall entry applicants must complete all prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester prior to starting the program. 

• Prerequisite courses may not be taken during the summer semester immediately before the program begins. 

Transcript Submission 

• Submit all official transcripts for courses taken outside of WSU (including WSU Tech and KSU) to the WSU Registrar’s Office immediately after the semester ends. 

Program Deposit 

• A non-refundable $100 deposit is required to reserve your spot in the program. 
  
  Deadline: 
  • December 1st for spring start
  • May 1st for fall start 

Orientation Requirement 

• Attend the mandatory nursing program orientation, typically held the Thursday or Friday before the first day of classes each semester. 

Final Academic Check 

• The Ascension Via Christi - Wichita State University School of Nursing will conduct final academic checks the week before classes begin. 
  Students who do not meet all entry requirements at that time will not be allowed to start nursing classes. 

How to Apply 

Applications Cycles

• Fall Program Start
  • Application window: December 1 to January 15
  • Admission notifications sent by: March 15
• Spring Program Start
  • Application window: July 1 to August 15
  • Admission notifications sent by: October 15

Before You Begin Your Application 

Make sure you have the following ready: 

• Your WSU ID (e.g., X989Z989)
• Your WSU Email (e.g., firstinitiallastname@shockers.wichita.edu)
  
  Note: Your WSU email includes your name, not your ID. All communication will be sent to your WSU email address. If you need help setting up your email, please contact the WSU Help Desk.
• Unofficial transcripts from all outside institutions (including WSU Tech and KSU) 

Ensure your name is visible and current courses are listed. 

• Licenses or certifications (e.g., LPN, CNA, CMA) (if applicable) 
  Must include:
• Your full name
• Certification or license number
• Date issued
• Healthcare experience (if applicable) 

Include employer name and dates of employment for at least 6 months of hands-on, paid experience. 

• Bachelor’s degree information (if applicable) 
  Include degree name, institution, and date conferred (e.g., Bachelor of Science, Washburn University, Dec. 2019). 

Essay Submission 

Submit a typed essay (max 350 words) addressing: 

• Your understanding of the role of the nurse
• Why you want to be a nurse
• Essays may be reviewed using AI detection tools.  

Selection Rubric 

GPA

Your overall GPA will be multiplied by 10 to determine your score. 
Example: A GPA of 3.65 × 10 = 36.5 points 
The total possible score for the science course requirement is a maximum of 40 points. 

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How Science Courses Are Scored

To meet the science requirement for admission, applicants must successfully complete three out of four designated science courses. Each course is scored using the highest grade earned.

First Attempt (First Time Taking the Course)

• A = 10 points
• B = 7 points

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat a course with a passing grade (C or higher) to improve their score. There is no penalty for repeating a course in this situation, the most recent grade will be used.

However, if a course is repeated due to a failing grade (below a C), a reduced point system applies:

Second Attempt (Second Time Taking the Course - After Failing)

• A = 7 points
• B = 3 points

Third Attempt (Third Time Taking the Course - After Failing Twice)

• A = 3 points
• B = 0 points

Only the most recent grade for each course is used in the final admission calculation. The maximum total possible score for the science requirement is 40 points. 

For Example:

Attempt	#1	#1	#1	#2	#2	#2	#3	#3	#3
Grade	A- to A	B- to B+	C to C+	A- to A	B- to B+	C to C+	A- to A	B- to B+	C to C+
Points awarded	10	7	0	7	3	0	3	0	0

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Healthcare Experience (Maximum 3 Points) 

Points are awarded based on qualifying healthcare experience as detailed in your application packet. The total possible score for the healthcare experience requirement is a maximum of 3 points. 

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Volunteerism (Maximum 2 Points) 

You must have completed at least 20 volunteer hours within the last 5 years. 
The total possible score for the volunteerism requirement is a maximum of 2 points. 

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Previous Bachelor's Degree (Maximum 2 Points) 

Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree posted on their transcript at the time of application will receive 2 points. The total possible score for the previous bachelor's degree requirement is a maximum of 2 points. 

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Typed Essay (Maximum 3 Points) 

Submit a typed essay (no more than 350 words) addressing both of the following prompts: 

• Your understanding of the role of the nurse
• Why you want to become a nurse
• Both prompts must be answered. 

The total possible score for the typed essay requirement is a maximum of 3 points. 

 

Program FAQs

• Program entry point is in the Fall and Spring
• Average program length is 4 years; 2 years of pre-professional and 2 years of professional courses
• Study plan options include full-time during the day, night or weekends
• Application deadline is January 15th for fall semester entry, and August 15th for spring semester entry
• Average class size is 80 students
• The application ratio is 1:2
• GPA minimum to apply is a cumulative of 2.75 in all college work and a grade of C (2.0) or above in prerequisite courses.