Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Program Overview
Offered at our main campus in Tallahassee, Florida, our nationally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides students with quality preparation to pursue nursing careers in all specialties and areas of nursing. The BSN program is a Specialized Admission upper-division major comprised of sequential course offerings and elective courses. Students are accepted each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Graduates of the BSN program are well-prepared for the national licensure exam to become a registered nurse (RN) and have the foundation necessary to pursue higher education.
The BSN program is FOUR consecutive semesters in length (15-16 months) and provides learning experiences in various clinical settings, including community health agencies, clinics, hospitals, and homes. Nursing courses include classroom and laboratory activities correlated with supervised clinical practice experiences. Students will develop skills in managing patients from various backgrounds and cultures. The program moves through the continuum of care and the spectrum of complexity in the clinical setting across the lifespan.
Applying for Fall 2027?
Please note that criteria for Fall 2027 differ from Summer 2027. Scroll down to view updated requirements and details.
Summer 2027 Admission Criteria
Admission to Florida State University College of Nursing is competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet all minimum admission requirements by the end of the semester in which they apply. All required application materials must be completed by the application deadline.
Minimum Admission Requirements:
Applicants must meet ALL of the following requirements:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Completion of all nursing prerequisites with a grade of C or higher.
- Note: A grade of C minus is not accepted. Prerequisite courses may be repeated once to receive a grade of C or higher.
- Completion of all FSU General Education requirements or an A.A. degree from an accredited Florida public institution. The Quantitative and Logic Thinking general education area must include MAC 1105 College Algebra or a course for which MAC1105 is a prerequisite.
- Completion of one of the following sets of FSU Graduation requirements:
- Option A: Ethics, 2 state-mandated writing, civic literacy course and assessment, exploring the human experience, and oral communication
- Option B: Ethics, 2 state-mandated writing, civic literacy course and assessment, and 2 exploring the human experience
- Completion of at least 60 credit hours applicable toward FSU General Education / Graduation Requirements
Completion and Conditional Admission
All nursing prerequisites, General Education and Graduation requirements, and applicable credit hours must be completed by the end of the application semester. Offers of admission are conditional until all requirements are verified and may be rescinded if an applicant does not meet the required coursework, grades, GPAs, credit hours, or other stated conditions.
Additional Information
For details about General Education and Graduation requirements, visit https://core.fsu.edu/
Admitted students must provide proof of current health insurance before enrollment. Instructions and the option to purchase individual coverage through the University will be provided with the admission offer. For more information, visit https://studentinsurance.fsu.edu/.
Fall 2027 Admission Criteria
The HESI A2 entrance examination is required for all applicants in the Fall 2027 application cycle, which opens Jan. 1 - Feb. 1, 2027.
Admission to the Florida State University College of Nursing is competitive. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee reviews each completed application in its entirety, including academic performance, employment, and community engagement. Clinical and classroom space is limited, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
All required application materials must be received by the posted application deadline. Students who do not attend FSU, including transfer students, must apply to the University and submit a separate College of Nursing application.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet all the following requirements by the end of the semester in which they apply:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
- Submission of HESI A2 Entrance Examination results
- All FSU General Education requirements or an A.A. degree from an accredited Florida public institution. The Quantitative and Logic Thinking general education area must include MAC 1105 College Algebra or a course for which MAC 1105 is a prerequisite
- One of the following sets of FSU Graduation requirements:
- Option A: Ethics, two state-mandated writing requirements, the civic literacy course and assessment, Exploring the Human Experience, and oral communication
- Option B: Ethics, two state-mandated writing requirements, the civic literacy course and assessment, and two Exploring the Human Experience requirements
- At least 60 credit hours applicable toward FSU General Education and Graduation requirements
Completion and Conditional Admission
All nursing prerequisites, General Education and Graduation requirements, and applicable credit hours must be completed by the end of the application semester. Offers of admission are conditional until all requirements are verified and may be rescinded if an applicant does not meet the required coursework, grades, GPAs, credit hours, or other stated conditions.
Additional Information
For details about General Education and Graduation requirements, visit https://core.fsu.edu/
Admitted students must provide proof of current health insurance before enrollment. Instructions and the option to purchase individual coverage through the University will be provided with the admission offer. For more information, visit https://studentinsurance.fsu.edu/.
Admission requirements are subject to change.
Florida Common Prerequisites
Complete all eight prerequisites listed below. Questions about course equivalency may require a detailed course syllabus.
Biological or Physical Sciences, 3 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: BCHXXXX or BSCXXXX or CHMXXXX or PCBXXXX or PHYXXXX
- FSU course equivalent: CHM1045 highly recommended
Human Nutrition, 3 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: HUNX201
- FSU course equivalent: HUN1201
Anatomy and Physiology 1 with lab, 4 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: BSCX085/X085L or BSCX085C or BSCX093/X093L or BSCX093C
- FSU course equivalent: BSC2085/2085L
Anatomy and Physiology 2 with lab, 4 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: BSCX086/X086L or BSCX086C or BSCX094/X094L or BSCX094C
- FSU course equivalent: BSC2086/2086L
Microbiology with lab, 4 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: MCBX000/X000L or MCBX004/X0004L or MCBX010/X010L or MCBX010C or MCBX013C
- FSU course equivalent: MCB2004/2004L
Statistics, 3 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: STAX014 or STAX023 or STAX122
- FSU course equivalent: STA2023 or STA2122
Individual and Lifespan Development, 3 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: DEPX000 or DEPX004 or DEP X054
- FSU course equivalent: FAD3220
Social and Behavioral Science, 3 credits
- Florida common prerequisite: PSYXXXX or SOPXXXX or SYGXXXX
- FSU course equivalent: PSY2012 highly recommended
Admission to Florida State University College of Nursing is competitive. The College of Nursing at Florida State University utilizes a holistic admissions process that assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee reviews each completed application in its entirety, considering academic performance and information provided in the application, including employment and community engagement. All application requirements for Admission must be received by the application deadline to be eligible for admission consideration.
All non-FSU students and transfer students must apply to the University as well as complete the College of Nursing application.
- Beginning with the Fall 2027 admission cycle, all applicants must complete the HESI A2 as part of the application process. The HESI A2 provides an additional standardized measure considered as part of the College of Nursing holistic admission review.
Please Note: The Admissions Committee uses a holistic assessment process that considers many factors, including student experiences and academic metrics. Due to clinical space limitations, not all qualified applicants can be admitted.
Application Info Sessions are offered on Zoom throughout the year. Check the schedule and register for the Zoom sessions on our Upcoming Events page.
How to Apply:
- Submit the NursingCAS application.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (including FSU) must be submitted to NursingCAS.
- All transcripts must be received by the application deadline. Applicants missing transcripts after the deadline cannot be reviewed by the FSU College of Nursing.
- The application must reach “Verified” status to be considered.
- Please refer to the NursingCAS website for more information.
- All transfer and non-FSU applicants must ALSO submit the Florida State University Transfer application.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and any necessary test scores must be sent to Florida State University in addition to NursingCAS.
- The university application must be completed with all materials received by the NursingCAS deadline.
- Please refer to the Florida State University Office of Admissions website for more information.
- Complete the HESI A2 Examination
- Schedule Early: Register and schedule your exam via the HESI Test-Taker Portal
- Get Your Course ID: Open the ProctorU Portal | Elsevier – HESI guide and locate your Course ID. You will need this code to register for your exam.
- Prepare Your Tech: Download the required Guardian Browser ahead of time and test your equipment (webcam, microphone, and internet connection) prior to exam day.
- Know What to Expect: Watch the ProctorU Test-Taker Experience Video.
- Exam Guidelines:
- HESI A2 exam registration instructions are available here: ProctorU Portal | Elsevier – HESI.
- All applicants must complete the HESI A2 by the application deadline.
- Applicants may only complete the HESI A2 for Florida State University.
- The HESI A2 exam must be completed in a single session. Please ensure that you have adequate time to complete the exam before starting.
Questions?
- Click here for our BSN NursingCAS Application Guide
- NursingCAS Applicant Help Center
- FSU Transfer Application – Call (850) 644-6200 or email admissions@fsu.edu
- Nursing Requirements – email info@nursing.fsu.edu
*This cost breakdown is an estimate only.
The BSN Program is approximately 60 credit hours. Please refer to the university website for more information on tuition costs and fees.
- Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinicals.
- During Semester 2, students may be required to travel to surrounding counties for community clinicals. Students are responsible for their own transportation.
- During Semester 3, students attend clinicals outside of Tallahassee. Students may be assigned clinical rotations in locations such as (but not limited to) Jacksonville, Pensacola, Orlando or Atlanta. Students are responsible for all transportation and lodging costs.
- During Semester 4, students may be placed outside Tallahassee for their internship. Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ requests for placement. Students are responsible for all transportation and living costs.
When does the program begin?
FSU College of Nursing BSN program admits students every semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Every admit term is the same duration, which is four consecutive semesters (15-16 months).
Is the program offered online?
No, the BSN program is a full-time in-person program in Tallahassee for the first three semesters. Semester 4 is asynchronous, meaning you can complete your coursework anywhere across the state where we have an affiliation agreement.
Which prerequisite courses need to be completed by the time I apply?
All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed by the end of the semester in which you are applying to the program (end of Spring for Fall, end of Summer for Spring, and end of Fall for Summer). See Admission Requirements for more information regarding these guidelines.
Does FSU require a nursing entrance exam like the HESI or TEAS?
Beginning with the Fall 2027 admission cycle, all applicants must complete the HESI A2 as part of the application process.
Is AP, IB, AICE credit accepted?
FSU accepts credit by testing for all of our prerequisite courses. See the FSU Admissions website for more information on test credit course equivalency.
How competitive is the program?
The BSN program can receive 300-600 applications each semester, with a goal of admitting up to 150 qualified students per admission cycle (final enrollment may vary). The average GPA of admitted students is around 3.7 to 3.8. Meeting the minimum requirements DOES NOT guarantee admission into the program.
Where can I take my prerequisite courses?
Prerequisite courses can be taken at any accredited university or community college. We recommend that current FSU students complete nursing prerequisites at FSU.
How do I know if the prerequisite course I am enrolled in is accepted as a course equivalent at FSU?
Email info@nursing.fsu.edu with your school name and course code. A syllabus may be needed to evaluate course equivalency.
When is advising offered?
Advising for current FSU students is typically offered Monday-Friday. Walk-in advising is available, or you can schedule an appointment via Campus Connect. For more information and hours, check our Advising page on the Student Resources website. Non-FSU students can schedule a Zoom appointment through our Bookings link.
Can I schedule a tour at the College of Nursing?
Tours have limited availability due to the space being heavily used by faculty and students. Information sessions are offered both in person and online. Dates and sign-ups can be found in the Upcoming Events tab. For inquiries, email info@nursing.fsu.edu.
Admission to the College of Nursing is highly selective.
Due to the thoroughness of the application review process, it is unusual for an admission decision to be reversed.
Applicants not initially offered admission may submit one appeal for reconsideration. Appeals are limited to new information only and are not an opportunity to dispute admissions methodology or decisions. All appeal decisions are final, and submission of an appeal does not guarantee a change in admission status.
Acceptable Grounds for Appeal
- Grade Changes - One or more previously earned grades have changed. This does not include grades for courses that were in progress at the time of application. Please include an updated unofficial transcript reflecting the grade change. An official transcript must also be sent to FSU Admissions.
- Learning Differences - A documented learning difference that impacted academic performance. Please include documentation from a credentialed practitioner describing the condition and its impact on academic performance.
- Medical - A medical condition, illness, or surgery that negatively impacted academic performance. Please include documentation from your healthcare provider detailing the medical condition and its impact.
- Other - An extenuating circumstance that severely impacted academic performance. Please include supporting documentation of the circumstance.
Appeal Submission Requirements: Applicants must submit (1) a written appeal statement, authored by the student, clearly outlining the new information and its relevance to the application and (2) supporting documentation as outlined in the Acceptable Grounds for Appeal section above.
Appeal Deadlines
| Admit Semester | Appeal Deadline | Final Decisions |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | April 20, 2026 | May 20, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | August 28, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| Summer 2027 | December 18, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
If you wish to continue with your appeal request, you must complete the Appeal Request form below and submit the required Appeal Letter and supporting documentation.