Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Apply to the traditional BSN program

The Traditional BSN is a pre-licensure pathway for those who don’t have a bachelor’s degree in any field or any prior nursing education. It requires four years of full-time study.

Eligibility to apply

To be eligible to apply to the traditional BSN program, you must be admitted to IU Bloomington as a degree-seeking student and complete between 20 and 24 credits of pre-nursing coursework, including all courses required for admission to the School of Nursing.

The IU School of Nursing uses a Holistic Standard Admission Review to determine academic potential for success. Learn how overall admission scores will be generated from three components.

Application deadlines

Applications for the fall 2026 semester will be accepted from January 15 to April 15. Applicants will be notified of an admission decision on June 1, with nursing coursework beginning in August.

Direct admission to the IU School of Nursing

A limited number of highly qualified applicants are selected for direct admission to the IU School of Nursing for the fall semester. Applicants must apply to Indiana University by the November 1 priority deadline, select pre-nursing as their intended major, and complete a supplemental IU School of Nursing application.

Learn more about direct admission

Interested in changing majors?

If you are a current IU student who is considering changing your major to nursing, please follow the information below.

  • If currently part of AMES (formerly University Division) or another academic program, please contact your current AMES advisor or email ames@iu.edu for information on changing your major.

To our high school students:

Admission to the Indiana University School of Nursing's traditional BSN pathway is extremely competitive. The program itself is very demanding and time-intensive, involving long hours of study as you learn the skills you need to be an outstanding nurse.

Our Traditional BSN is also very different from other IU schools in how we admit students and in how you apply.

We recommend you contact IU Bloomington Admissions to learn more about how to apply to Indiana University to begin your journey into the School of Nursing or any other major you choose. 

Licensure in Indiana

Indiana University School of Nursing academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure in Indiana

If you plan to pursue licensure in a state other than Indiana, please review each state’s educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact. Specific information regarding each state’s licensure requirements can be found on the NCSBN website.

Learn more about the Traditional BSN

Cost & financial aid information

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