Nursing (B.S.) Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

How do I apply?

Freshman and transfer students applying to the NIU nursing program, must first apply to the university and select nursing as your intended major. Once accepted to the university, you will be reviewed for admission to the School of Nursing. All documents must be received by Undergraduate Admissions prior to the January 15 deadline to be considered for review.

Current on-campus students must complete and submit an online application. The online application is open from September 1 to January 15. All applications must be submitted by January 15 in order to be considered. Learn more about admission to the nursing program.

Contact Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Can I apply for the spring semester? Do you permit students to begin nursing courses in spring semester?

Applications are accepted once a year regardless of which semester you will begin nursing courses.

Students may begin taking nursing courses in either the fall or spring semester at the discretion of the Nursing Program Admissions Committee. Admission to each term is based on factors such as prerequisite GPA, completed prerequisites and overall GPA.

Students who are admitted directly from high school will typically begin nursing coursework during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

What are the freshman admission requirements?
  • Completed application for admission with nursing listed as area of academic interest
  • An official high school transcript or an official GED score report
  • Students must have prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75

Applicants with less than 24 semester hours of college credit will apply as freshmen.

What are the transfer student admission requirements?
  • Completed application for admission with nursing listed as area of academic interest
  • Completed nursing online application
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended. If taking courses at another institution during the fall term prior to the deadline, send final transcripts with grades posted.
  • Priority will be given to students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with a C or better by the January 15 deadline:
    • BIOS 103 and BIOS 105
    • BIOS 357
    • CHEM 110 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 210 and CHEM 212
    • ENGL 203
    • STAT 100
  • Students must have prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.

Applicants with more than 24 semester hours of college credit will apply as transfer students.

What are the current NIU student requirements?
  • A minimum of 12 hours at NIU applied toward their major, minor or general education requirements
  • An online application for admission to the School of Nursing
  • Priority will be given to students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with a C or better by the January 15 deadline:
    • BIOS 103 and BIOS 105
    • BIOS 357
    • CHEM 110 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 210 and CHEM 212
    • ENGL 203
    • STAT 100
  • Students must have prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.
When is the application deadline?

Nursing applications are accepted between September 1 and January 15.

Applications are accepted once a year regardless of which semester you will begin nursing courses.

Is there a minimum GPA?

Students must have prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. Admission to the NIU School of Nursing is competitive and extremely limited. There is no guarantee of admission. Students should work with an academic advisor regarding the competitive nature of the program.

Admitted nursing majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

Is there a waitlist?

Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive and limited. Seats are filled based on the credentials and standings of applicants and space. If space becomes available for your placement, you will be contacted via email around mid-June. Please understand that there are no guarantees that students on the waiting list will be admitted.

Coursework and Tuition

Do you have online courses?

There are very few online nursing courses available for the traditional undergraduate nursing student. The majority of courses for the B.S. degree program are on the DeKalb campus.

Where do classes meet?

Nursing classes meet in the School of Nursing, 3100 Sycamore Road in DeKalb. Classes are typically offered Monday through Friday during the day. The nursing program is a cohort-style program so students should expect to be in classes three to five days per week.

How long is the nursing program?

The NIU nursing program is a five-semester sequence of courses. Students are typically enrolled in 10-15 credit hours per term.

I work full-time. Can I go to school part-time for nursing?

The traditional NIU nursing program is a full-time program. Students are typically enrolled in 10-15 credit hours per term so students are not advised to also hold a full-time position. Students should expect to be in courses or clinicals three to five days per week.

When do I start clinicals?

Students begin clinicals their first semester in the program in the Simulation Lab on campus and at a local clinical site. In the second semester, students begin clinicals in various healthcare settings.

Where are clinical sites located?

NIU works with a large number of clinical sites in northern Illinois. Students usually have about five to six choices per clinical to pick from. Students should expect that not all clinical placements will be at the same agency or in DeKalb. Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites; however, many students carpool to various sites.

We've moved!

The School of Nursing programs have a new home. Beginning in the fall 2023, we are teaching and learning in our new location, the Wellness and Literacy Center at 3100 Sycamore Road. We are excited to share our new home with other healthcare disciplines including audiology, physical therapy and speech-language pathology.

Contact Us

School of Nursing
3100 Sycamore Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-6554
nursing@niu.edu

Hours

Monday through Friday
8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

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