WKU Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Before your application to the BSN program will be considered for admission, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

• If admitted to WKU prior to fall 2024, a minimum undergraduate overall GPA of 2.75 is required. If admitted to WKU fall 2024 or after, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required.
• Have attained a minimum of a "C" in all required science courses, *Biology 131 Anatomy and Physiology I, *Biology 231 Anatomy and Physiology II, Biology 207 Microbiology, and Chemistry 109 Chemistry for Health Professionals.  *Anatomy and Physiology I & II  must have been completed no more than 5 years prior to application to the nursing program at the same institution. Students who have obtained a minimum grade of "C" in Anatomy and Physiology more than 5 years prior to application to the nursing program must either retake the courses, or demonstrate current competency by scoring 77% or higher on the Anatomy and Physiology section of the HESI Entrance Exam prior to application to the nursing program. Applicant must have completed at least 10 of the 15 hours of pre-requisite science classes at the time of application to the program.
• Pre-nursing students must also earn a minimum of a "C" in the prerequisite courses listed: Nursing 102 Introduction to Professional Nursing, Nursing 337 Health Promotion, Math 115 or 116 College Algebra, HMD 211 Human Nutrition, Psy/Psys 220 Developmental Psychology, Statistics (3 hours) student may take any ONE of the following courses to meet the Statistics requirement, Math 183, Econ 206, Social Work 344, Soc 300, PH 383 or Psy 301. Effective beginning catalog term Fall 2016.
• Applicant must be enrolled in the last semester of pre-requisite courses by application deadline date. Pre-requisite courses may be completed during the summer or winter term. Students must show proof of registration in these courses to be offered their seat.

Applicants seeking admission to the baccalaureate-nursing program with an overall GPA less than 3.0 for college level courses may apply when the following criteria are met:    

1. Gain admission to Western Kentucky University.   
2. Completed a minimum of 80 hours of college level coursework. 
3. Complete all designated prerequisite courses by the time of nursing program entrance.
4. Attains an overall GPA of 3.0 in the nursing designated pre-requisite courses.
5. Attain a minimum grade of “C” or higher in all required courses:  BIOL 131, 231, 207, CHEM 109, MATH 115/116, INTRO STATS, HMD 211, PSY/PSYS 220, NURS 102 and NURS 337. 

Students are eligible to apply to be a nursing major only after completing the majority of the pre-requisite classes. Students must have either successfully completed all pre-requisite courses or be enrolled in the remaining pre-requisite courses at the time of application into the nursing program.

All applicants are required to complete the HESI Nursing Entrance Exam prior to applying to the BSN program and to send a copy of those scores with the application. The HESI exam evaluates general knowledge in areas of Reading Comprehension, Anatomy & Physiology and Math. Students may take the HESI exam one time during each application cycle. Students may not retake the SAME exam version. The HESI nurse entrance exam scores are valid for one calendar year.

Click here to register for the HESI Entrance Exam

A completed School of Nursing and Allied Health BSN Application, a copy of your HESI entrance exam scores, and if required TOEFL scores, must be submitted electronically as attachments in an email to nursing@wku.edu by the application deadline date. Please indicate BSN Application in the subject line.  

NOTE:  Applicants with previous course work that does not directly transfer to WKU as one of the nursing pre-requisites, can be given permission to use other courses by sending the syllabus for that course to the program coordinator for evaluation.  This should be completed prior to your application to the BSN program. You may send the syllabus as an attachment in an email to the nursing@wku.edu email address and request approval.   

If using a MAC, applicant must utilize Adobe Reader (and not Adobe Preview) to electronically complete any PDF document, including the BSN application.

Applications for Fall admission must be submitted by Feb. 1

Applications for Spring admission must be submitted by Sept. 1

Application: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

In addition to the above requirements, transfer students must have all transfer coursework evaluated by WKU by the application deadline date. Please be aware that this process can take 2-3 weeks. If you are currently taking classes at a different institution you must send a copy of your class schedule with your School of Nursing application to the department by the application deadline date.

In addition to the above requirements, students who have a bachelor's degree (or higher) not awarded by WKU, must send official transcripts and current class schedule (if applicable) to the School of Nursing by the application deadline date. 

Students applying for the BSN program must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 (students entering WKU in Fall 2024 or after will require a 3.0 minimum GPA to apply). 

Guaranteed Nursing Admission (GNA) to the BSN program is available to first–time, full-time college freshmen (not available for transfer students), with an Unweighted High School or WKU college freshman GPA of 3.6 or ACT composite score of 23 or SAT composite score of 1130 or above. 

• For consideration, please complete the GNA Application, and send electronically to nursing@wku.edu
• GNA Applications must be submitted after student has received WKU ID number and WKU email address
• GNA Applications must be submitted during student's freshman year of study at WKU
• If awarded a GNA, students must maintain full-time status, a minimum 3.25 GPA each semester, and a grade of  "B" or above in the following courses:  BIOL 131, BIOL 231, BIOL 207,  CHEM 109, NURS 102, and NURS 324.
• GNA students who maintain the above standards will be guaranteed admission to WKU BSN program in either the Fall or Spring semester on or before the third year.  If the student is not able to enroll in the BSN program during this timeframe for any reason, the student will forfeit the GNA status and must reapply to the nursing program with the general applicant pool to compete for a space in the BSN program.
• GNA Application

The BSN program will accept applications of students who have been dismissed from a nursing program on a case-by-case basis. Students who are accepted under this policy must repeat the entire BSN (upper division nursing) curriculum. Students seeking readmission after WKU BSN program withdrawal or dismissal must apply for readmission to the Academic Standards committee and the BSN program by February 1 (for fall admission) or by September 1 (for spring admission). Readmission is contingent upon meeting admissions criteria, committee approval, and space availability.