Undergraduate Admission Policies & Procedures

Students are responsible for all undergraduate admissions policies and procedures as outlined in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

There are two ways to apply for admission to the Nursing Program.

Admission as a High School Senior to Nursing Program as a Freshman

Slots for admission as a freshman are limited. Admission is not guaranteed as students with the highest GPA’s and ACT/SAT scores will have priority selection. Preference is given to students graduating from Southern Colorado high schools and/or Health Academy programs. In order to be admitted directly in to the program as a freshman, students must:

• Demonstrate proof of high school diploma. Students must show proof of 3 years of science, including biology and chemistry and proof of algebra or equivalent.
• Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Meet required math scores for enrollment in MATH 156.
• Remain a full-time CSU Pueblo student and maintain a 3.0 cumulative average and 3.0 nursing prerequisite average while taking courses at CSU Pueblo.
• Have prerequisites and general education completed by the start of the second semester sophomore year.

If students do not meet these requirements, they will lose their opportunity to progress directly into the nursing program.

Students denied admission as freshman are eligible to apply as second semester sophomores through the regular admissions process or through the Health Sciences route to the accelerated BSN program.

Admission as a Second Semester Sophomore from CSU Pueblo or Transfer from an Accredited School

All pre-nursing students will be Health Sciences majors with a pre-nursing concentration. Admission to the University does not imply acceptance to the nursing program. The undergraduate program is very competitive and applicants are ranked based on their GPA for the general education and prerequisites required by the program combined with points from a holistic admissions process. Fifty percent of the prerequisites and general education courses must be completed by the application deadline. Special consideration will be given to students completing all of their prerequisite and general education coursework at CSU Pueblo, veteran status, first generation students, and residency in Southeastern Colorado. Only students admitted to the Nursing or Health Sciences majors are eligible to take nursing courses as indicated in their degree plan. For the basic nursing option student admission:

• Requirements are a minimum GPA of 3.00 for all required general education and prerequisites. All prerequisites must be passed with a C or better (C- is not acceptable) and be completed prior to the term of entrance into the nursing program. Students receiving a grade less than C in a nursing prerequisite course are not eligible for admission. Prerequisite courses may be repeated one (1) time only for admission eligibility.
• All general education must be completed prior to the term of entrance into the nursing program.
• The student needs to be admitted to CSU Pueblo first, and then submit a separate application to the nursing program the year prior to the spring (basic) or summer (accelerated) term they plan to start the program. During the pre-nursing phase of the application process, students will be advised by the pre-nursing advisor.

Students will be notified via email of their admission status to the program. Those students who are accepted to the program must return receipt of acceptance by the stated deadline or the admission status will be revoked.

Students who are residents of another country must have a TOFEL of 550 or have completed the University requirements of English and Speech skills.

Undergraduate Nursing Program Application Process

Applications to the nursing program may be obtained at Basic Admission | Admissions | CSU Pueblo or in the nursing department. The completed applications must be submitted to the School of Nursing by the scheduled deadline. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applicants should contact the School of Nursing with questions regarding applications.

Undergraduate Post Acceptance Requirements

Before a student starts the nursing program they must attend a mandatory orientation.

The following must be submitted through the nursing tracking system after receiving a Net ID number from the University and instructions from the Department of Nursing prior to orientation. Failure to do so by the stated deadline will result in loss of admission status.

• Background check per Colorado Law. (House bill 97-1084).
• A urine drug screen.
• Current certification in CPR from the American Heart Association with BLS.
• Current physical examination within the last year and current immunizations including, hepatitis B series, TB test or two step if necessary, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, covid-19, tetanus and varicella and/or titers.
• Proof of current health insurance.
• Proof of current nursing student malpractice insurance from organization specified by School of Nursing.

The following must be submitted to the School of Nursing prior to orientation by the stated deadline:

• Current unofficial transcripts showing completion of all prerequisite and general education classes.
• Return receipt for program acceptance.

In order to register for undergraduate nursing courses, students must have unconditional acceptance into the nursing program and follow their option degree plan, or register by permission of the nursing undergraduate program director.

Degree Plus to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accelerated (BSN) Option

Students will be notified by email of their admission status to the program. Students who are accepted to the program should acknowledge acceptance by return email.

The degree-plus student is expected to meet with the pre-nursing advisor for advisement and plan development. The student must have a cumulative nursing prerequisite GPA of 3.0 and follow all admission and post acceptance requirements set forth in the Basic Nursing Option. Due to the intensity of the curriculum, it is advised that the student not work and be able to attend to their studies full-time. Students must maintain a cumulative nursing 3.00 GPA to progress.

Admission to this option is very competitive and applicants are ranked based on their prerequisite GPA combined with points from a holistic admissions process.  Special consideration will be given to students completing their prior degree at CSU-Pueblo, veteran status, first generation students, and residency in Southeastern Colorado.

Time Limits

For applicants to all options (except registered nurses), Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Intro to Human Development, and Pathophysiology completed (5) years or more before applying to the nursing program will not be accepted as satisfying the prerequisite requirement.