The School of Nursing will be accepting students to the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program in Fall and Spring terms beginning in the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Please see the information below, " How can I receive an application to the nursing program? "
The School of Nursing accepts one cohort of nursing students to its program to start the nursing program each fall term and each spring term. An application to the School of Nursing is required for the competitive selection process.
Note: Transfer students are included in the review process once they complete the required university admissions process.
Eligible students are evaluated and selected for acceptance based on:
Only those students identified as eligible through the "rolling admission" or "academic advising" process will receive an application.
Eligible students who meet the following criteria may receive an application sent to their CSU (Columbus State University) email address.
Criteria of Eligibility
What is the program GPA and how is it used during the selection process?
The program GPA is calculated using the prerequisite course requirements. The course requirements include the core curriculum and Field of Study courses of a student’s degree plan. Please see the university catalog for more information.
To calculate your program GPA, please use the Program GPA Calculator provided by your academic advisor.
Application & Professional Recommendations Deadline - Eligible applicants identified through the “rolling admission” process will be provided with an online application which will include all deadlines for submission of the application as well as professional recommendations.
Through the “rolling admission” process, applicants may have different deadlines depending on when they are invited to submit an application.
RN Admission Assessment (HESI A2)
Fall Applicants: Students who are applying for fall cohorts of the nursing program are required to complete the RN Admission Assessment (required for admission to the CSU School of Nursing) by March 1.
Spring Applicants: Students who are applying for spring cohorts of the nursing program are required to complete the RN Admission Assessment (required for admission to the CSU School of Nursing) by August 1.
Note: The CSU Testing Center will send your test scores to the School of Nursing.
Note: RN Admissions Assessment must be taken at the CSU Testing Center OR coordinated through the CSU Testing Center. Scores reported from entities other than the CSU Testing Center will not be accepted as official.
Interested in our Nursing Program at Columbus State University? We would love to answer your questions at our Transfer Q & A session. Please use the registration link for the event, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Application Deadline - March 15 - Deadline for transfer students interested in applying to a fall cohort of the nursing program to submit an application to the university.
Document Deadline - April 15 - Transfer students who apply to the university by March 15 must be accepted to the university by this deadline to be eligible for the application process for a fall cohort of the nursing program.
Application Deadline - October 1 - Deadline for transfer students interested in applying to a spring cohort of the nursing program to submit an application to the university.
Document Deadline - October 15 - Transfer students who apply to the university by August 15 must be accepted to the university by this deadline to be eligible for the application process for a spring cohort of the nursing program.
Note: Transfer students are required to speak with a CSU ADVISE advisor to request an application. CSU ADVISE - Columbus State Univeristy
1. I want to be in the nursing program. How do I get started?The first step is to be accepted to Columbus State University and have official sealed copies of all previous transcripts sent to the Registrar’s Office. When you are accepted to CSU, you will need to schedule an advising appointment with CSU ADVISE.
2. Does CSU Advise offer phone advising appointments?
Yes, academic advisors have phone advising available. When you schedule your appointment in Accudemia, please indicate that you are scheduling for “phone” advising.
3. How do I get an application for Columbus State University?
Apply online to Columbus State University. Here, you will also find information about housing, financial aid, admissions, student accounts, Veterans Affairs and many other topics.
4. Is there a separate application for the School of Nursing? If so, when is the deadline?
Yes, there is a separate application for the nursing program. The School of Nursing accepts a class of nursing students to its program to start the nursing program each fall term and each spring term. An application to the School of Nursing is required for the competitive selection process. Admittance to the nursing program (upper-level clinical course sequence) is conducted through a rolling admissions process. Please see the “Home” tab for the advertised deadlines for submitting an application.
5. How do I get an application to the School of Nursing?
Students interested in applying for the nursing program are evaluated through a rolling admission process. Evaluation for the Fall cohort begins in November of each year, and students are selected by April of each year. Evaluation for the Spring cohort begins in March of each year, and students are selected by August of each year. *Transfer students are included in the review process once they complete the required university admissions process.
6. Do you require references?
Yes. You must furnish three professional and/or academic references for admission. We prefer recent academic and/or employment references. Recommendations submitted by “friends” or “family” will not be accepted.
7. How often do you accept students into the School of Nursing?
We accept students twice a year. We offer a fall cohort and a spring cohort.
8. How many students do you accept every year?
We currently accept 60-70 students each fall and spring semester.
The US history and US Constitution legislative requirements will be satisfied; however, the Georgia history and Georgia Constitution legislative requirements will not be. These can be satisfied by exam with the CSU Testing Center after enrollment at CSU.
11. How do you select the class each year?
Criteria of Eligibility
Students are evaluated on the following criteria to determine eligibility and to be selected for the CSU nursing program.
Please meet with an advisor to review these criteria and formally request an application for each eligible year.
Criteria #1 – PROGRAM GPA
Require a 3.0 overall GPA and a 2.75 "program" GPA to request application (to be met by the end of the term before acceptance to program)
COMPETITIVE PROGRAM GPA: During the selection process, students are competitively ranked by their program GPA. This criterion is impacted by the competitiveness of the applicant pool, and meeting the recommended program GPA does not guarantee selection into the program.
Criteria #2 – DEGREE PROGRESSION (to be completed by the summer term before acceptance to program)
Criteria #3 – EVOLVE REACH A2 ASSESSMENT TEST
Criteria #4 – NURSING DISPOSITION EVALUATION
Working with the Dean of Students, we will review any issues of academic misconduct or criminal history self-reported by students or reported to the university.
12. Do I have to complete all of my prerequisites before I can apply to the School of Nursing?
No. We will consider your application before you have completed all prerequisite courses if:
You will have completed all the “IMPACTS” science area as well as the “Field of Study” courses with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the semester before you wish to enter the program,
You have completed both English courses and the math requirement of the general core curriculum.
You have no more than approximately 9 hours of other course work to complete (which you may take the summer between your junior and senior year).
Only grades posted or submitted by official transcript at the time of the selection process are considered.
13. When will I know if I am accepted into the School of Nursing?
An email is provided to notify students of their acceptance through the “rolling admissions” process. Timeframes will vary depending on when applicants are evaluated for admission. Applicants for the fall cohort are notified by the first business week of June of each year. Applicants for the spring cohort are notified by the first business week of September of each year.
14. Can I attend the School of Nursing part-time?
No. At this time we only have a full-time program for upper-level nursing courses.
15. Can I work full-time while attending your program?
We strongly advise students not to try and work full-time while in the program. You should consider your studies in the nursing program to be a full-time commitment. The program is very challenging and requires a significant amount of homework and study outside of class. Most students find it extremely difficult to work more than 12 hours per week without jeopardizing their grades.
16. What is the lowest GPA you accept?
Advisors provide applicants with information related to the competitive window recommended for the “program GPA” that is used in selecting the class. The GPA is subject to change on a yearly basis. Therefore, we recommend you work directly with an advisor when examining your program GPA.
17. What is the usual average GPA for acceptance into the Nursing Program?
We do not have a “usual” GPA. Each year the lowest GPA is driven by the applicant pool. We recommend you work directly with an advisor when examining your program GPA.
18. I had to retake some of my science courses because I failed the first time. Will this hurt my chances of selection?
It could. Please review the School of Nursing “Science Policy:”
We generally have 200+ applicants each year.
20. Do you have a waiting list?
Yes. We do generate a wait list of 5 – 10 students per application process.
21. Can I find out where I am on the waiting list? What are my chances of getting in the program? How long is the list?
Notification will be provided via email by the first business week of June for individuals who are placed on the “wait list” for the current application process.
Several factors impact the wait list, and there are no standard factors that impact the “chances” of getting into the program.
We do generate a wait list of 5 – 10 students per application process.
22. How can I improve my position on the waiting list?
Once applicant status has been set, no additional factors will impact their ranking/place on the wait list.
23. Since there is such a nursing shortage, why do you only accept 70 students in Fall and Spring?
Nursing students must have both classroom and clinical instruction. The number of students we can admit is limited by the number of full-time and part-time nursing faculty, campus classroom/lab space, and availability of clinical sites for clinical experience.
24. I have taken different courses than are listed in areas of the core. Can any of these be substituted for the courses required at Columbus State?
Each course must be evaluated by the advisor, and substitutions often must be reviewed by the specific department chair over that area. That department chair’s decision is final.
All “IMPACTS” science area courses as well as “Field of Study” science courses must be less than 7 years old at the time you begin nursing courses. For example, if a student plans to enter nursing fall 2024 and took BIOL 2221 in fall 2016, the biology course will have to be repeated because the period between fall 2016 and fall 2024 is greater than 7 years.
27. How will you reach me if I move or change my address, phone number or email address?
It is your responsibility to provide current contact information to the School of Nursing. Any changes to the contact information should be emailed to the Student Services Coordinator (BSN@ColumbusState.edu) as soon as possible.
28. I am an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) applicant and need a letter of acceptance into the program before your selection deadline. How can I comply?
We provide a packet of information to individuals applying to the AMEDD program. However, a letter of acceptance cannot be provided until the end of the application process. Please schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss the content of the packet provided.
Students interested in the BSN program are first classified as “BS in Health Science with Nursing Interest.” Students work with an Academic Advisor to determine when to apply to the BSN program.
The School of Nursing accepts one cohort of nursing students to its program to start the nursing program each fall term and each spring term. An application to the School of Nursing is required for the competitive selection process.
Students apply to the Nursing program while they are completing core coursework (prerequisites). The following policies apply to applicants as a condition of their acceptance to the nursing program:
Students must meet the terms of the School of Nursing Science Policy:
Additional Program Requirements
For academic advising, you can make an appointment via Accudemia in your MyCSU portal. You may also visit the CSU ADVISE website for information on how to schedule an appointment:
Students interested in applying to the nursing program will have the following major prior to beginning the nursing program:
CSU ADVISE - Students interested in applying to the nursing program will work with an academic advisor in CSU ADVISE.
Once a student is accepted to the Nursing Program, they will work with the School of Nursing designated BSN academic advisor.
For undergraduate advising please see the following resources for CSU Advise:
CSU Advise Resources
Students interested in applying to the nursing program are advised by undergraduate academic advisors in CSU ADVISE before being admitted to the nursing program. Undergraduate advising is related to prerequisites for the nursing program as well as criteria of eligibility for selection to the nursing program.
School of Nursing – Advising resources
Once a student is accepted to the CSU School of Nursing program, they will be advised through School of Nursing Student Services.
School of Nursing
Columbus State University
Mailing Address:
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, GA 31907-5645
Physical Address:
Frank Brown Hall, Room 2026
1127 Broadway
Columbus, GA 31901
