Nursing

Accelerated MSN Program Admissions

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in any area of study from an accredited institution and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the bachelor's degree earned.. Applicants may apply to the Accelerated MSN program while still completing their bachelor's degree, but must receive their degree prior to beginning enrollment in the program.
  • Complete prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of B-minus. Prerequisite courses must have been completed within the past 10 years; Pharmacology with Nursing Component must have been completed within one year of application.     
Prerequisite Courses
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology I and II (semesters) or I, II and III (quarters)
Sciences

Microbiology (Elementary Bacteriology)*

Pathophysiology**

Pharmacology with Nursing Component***

Nutrition
Nutrition for Health and Nutrition Disease****

*If taken at the University of Cincinnati, students must first complete Anatomy & Physiology I.
**If taken at the University of Cincinnati, students must first complete Anatomy & Physiology I and II.
***If taken at the University of Cincinnati, students must first complete Pathophysiology.
****If taken at the University of Cincinnati, this requirement is satisfied with one course.


Application Deadlines

Accelerated Direct-Entry MSN Application Deadlines by Semester Start
Semester Start  Application Open Application Deadline Class Start
Spring 2027 Mar. 1, 2026 Sep. 15, 2026 Jan. 11, 2027
Summer 2026 Sep. 1, 2025 Feb. 15, 2026 May 11, 2026

Application Process

All information required to apply to our Accelerated MSN program should be submitted through NursingCAS

  • Official transcript verifying a previous bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing, conferred by an accredited institution and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the bachelor's degree earned.

  • Official transcripts from all schools previously attended, including community colleges and two- and four-year colleges and universities should be sent directly to NursingCAS.

Changes to Transcript Requirements due to COVID-19

UC College of Nursing maintained the traditional grading process for Spring 2020 courses. Applicants to the Accelerated Direct-Entry MSN program who completed coursework during the Spring 2020 semester and have a Pass/Fail grade listed on their transcript should submit a letter from their instructor or the university/college informing the letter grade earned in the courses required for admissions.

Provide your CV or resume in PDF format.

Make sure that your CV or resume provides relevant work history and reflects any contributions beyond normal job expectations. Include military service, community service, membership in professional associations and any certifications that you currently hold. Please also include any scholarship, such as publications or presentations.

Three letters of reference from individuals who can attest to your academic and professional skills.

Your personal statement should:

  • Discuss why you wish to transition to a career in nursing;
  • Identify how your academic, professional and volunteer experiences thus far make you a unique candidate for this program;
  • Explain the role of a nurse as you understand it.

This statement should be between 500-700 words.

  • NursingCAS application fee: $80 
  • UC Graduate School application fee (non-refundable): $65 ($70 for international students)
  • Matriculation fee upon acceptance (non-refundable): $300, applied toward your first-semester tuition 

The International Student Services office provides assistance to international graduate students and supplies additional information upon receipt of the university application. This information addresses how to obtain a visa, anticipated expenses, health and accident insurance (required), housing and general information concerning the university, as well as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

English Proficiency

Proof of English proficiency is required of all applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who were educated in a country where the official national language is not English. Applicants can demonstrate English proficiency via standardized test score or by meeting the requirements for one of the waivers below. 

The following exams and minimum scores are accepted as proof of English proficiency:

  • TOEFL: minimum score of 4.5 (on the 1-6 scale) or 80 iBT (on the 0-120 scale)
    • In-person and at-home (online) exam scores accepted. TOEFL Essentials and My Best Test scores are not accepted. 
  • IELTS: minimum score of 6.5 overall band 
    • In-person and at-home (online) exam scores accepted. One Skill Retake is not accepted. Only IELTS Academic exam is accepted.
  • Duolingo (DET): minimum score of 110
  • PTE: minimum score of 54

UC only accepts official scores sent directly from the testing agency to UC, preferably via electronic sending methods. For TOEFL, please use school code 1833. IELTS scores must be sent directly from your testing center to UC.

Self-reported scores will not complete your application nor will scores that are below the minimum qualifying scores listed above.

For proper matching of your test score(s) to your application, please use the same email address for both your test registration and your admissions application. 

Automatic Waiver of English Language Testing

When completing the graduate application, international applicants will automatically be exempted from the English Proficiency testing requirement if they have received or will receive a bachelor's or higher degree from one of the following countries where English is the official language:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Denmark, Dominica, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Scotland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe


Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.