Admission Criteria

Students must have at least 30 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 completed by the application deadline (June 7). The following courses must be completed with a “C” or higher prior to application deadline:

• ENG 1003 Composition I

• ENG 1013 Composition II

• MATH 1023 College Algebra

• PSY 2013 Intro to Psychology AND/OR SOC 2213 Intro to Sociology 

• BIO 2203/2201 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab

• At least one of the following courses/labs.
  • BIO 2223/2221 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab
  • BIO 2103/2101 Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health & Lab
  • CHEM 1043/1041 Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry & Lab
• At least one of the following courses.
  • HIST 2763 U.S. History to 1876
  • HIST 2773 U.S. History since 1876
  • POSC 2103 U.S. Government

English Proficiency requirements (see website for details)

Consideration will be given for Spanish proficiency.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

The College of Nursing and Health Professions requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure/certification.

International Students

Students from non-English speaking countries or for whom English is not a native language must take one of the following tests:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 83 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 6.5 and a spoken band score of 7.
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 56.

The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal non-immigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. In contrast, the term native born refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: 1) born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) born in United States Insular areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; 3) born abroad to at least one U. S. citizen parent.

Exemption

You may be exempt for the English proficiency testing if you are foreign born but attended school in the United States since kindergarten. For the exemption you must provide official school records showing continuous enrollment in U. S. schools since kindergarten.

TOEFL Information

The TOEFL is available at the A-State Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011.

English as a Second Language Program

Students who do not meet the required English language proficiency may enroll in A-State’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program in the English Language Academy. Potential students enrolled in the ESL program must maintain an average of 85 or higher in levels 0 through 4. In the final or 5th level of the ESL program an average of 90 or higher must be maintained. Upon completion of the ESL program, the potential student must take the internet based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Upon successfully meeting the proficiency requirement, potential students are eligible to apply to the BSN Program.

How to Apply  - Effective Spring 2023, the traditional BSN will have two admission cycles - Spring and Fall.

To apply for the Traditional BSN program, candidates must follow the steps below:

• Apply for admission to Arkansas State University.
• Applicants must take the HESI A2 admission exam. The HESI A2 admission exam will consist of 5 sections, Anatomy & Physiology, Reading Comprehension, Math, Vocabulary and Critical Thinking. Testing will be on A-State Jonesboro Campus.  Dates, when available, are posted on the School of Nursing webpage.  Please email  NRSTesting@astate.edu with questions.
• Submit the online BSN application form by the appropriate deadline - Spring - available August 31, deadline October 15; Fall - available April 30, deadline June 7.
• Applicants must submit all transfer coursework to the registrar's office by May 25th. DO NOT submit official transcripts to the School of Nursing.

Additional Admission Information

Documentation

Upon being admitted into the BSN program, students will be required to supply additional documentation including current CPR certification, Hepatitis B immunizations, TB skin test or chest x-ray, Tetanus and MMR. (These are NOT required for initial application)

Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that lead to licensure upon graduation are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission. 

All documentation required by the School of Nursing must be kept current at all times during the course of your program.

Deadlines

All applications and transcripts must be received by June 7 to be considered for admission.

Limited Positions Available

Please note that class size is limited and that all applicants may not be accepted into the program. Applicants will be ranked for admission by cumulative GPA, and admission exam score.

Applying for RN Licensure

Upon completion of the BSN program, the student is eligible to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse. A first time applicant for any licensure by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing will have a state and national criminal background check. Any offense identified in section §17-87-312 of the Nurse Practice Act may prohibit a graduate from obtaining a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Arkansas.

Although an appeal may be possible, there are offenses that permanently disqualify an applicant from a license. A complete list of criminal acts that prevent licensure as a registered nurse can be found at the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website (www.arsbn.org) and on the nursing website. If students have any reason to believe that they may be ineligible to write the NCLEX-RN, they should discuss this matter with someone knowledgeable about nursing laws and/or contact the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN).

Readmission Criteria

For those seeking readmission to the BSN program, a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required as well as any other requirements detailed on your individual readmission letter.

Please email NRStesting@AState.edu for questions regarding readmission. 

BSN Pass Rates

• 2022- 93%
• 2021- 92.2%
• 2020- 95.1%
• 2019- 94%
• 2018- 95.7%

Career opportunities include a variety of work settings such as hospitals, clinics, home health environments, schools, industries, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and public health units.

When do I apply to the program?             

The application deadline for Fall admissions is June 7th. You should consider applying if you have completed all prerequisites by the end of the spring semester of that year.

The application deadline for Spring admissions is October 15th. You should consider applying if all of prerequisites will be complete by the end of the fall semester.

How does the admissions process work?              

Once the application deadline has passed, all applications are gathered and analyzed individually by a faculty committee.  Applicants are given an admission score that includes consideration for overall GPA, prereq GPA, HESI A2 score, and proven proficiency in a second language. On average, 85-100 students are admitted to the program based on clinical availability.  This number may fluctuate based on availability of faculty and clinical sites.  Then 5-10 applicants are placed on a waiting list in case someone declines their admission.        **If part of your application is determined to be missing, you may receive an email to follow up on the missing part. Please be vigilant in checking your email during this time and respond appropriately to that email. 

How will I know my application is received?       

You will get a verification after you submit your online application. Please keep a copy of this for your records.

When will I find out if I’ve been accepted?         

Once the faculty committee has analyzed all qualified applicants and student ranks have been determined, a letter will be sent to students who have been admitted to the program. This usually takes approximately 2 weeks after the application deadline. Students will also receive notification if they have been placed on the waitlist or if they did not qualify for admission.

How many students are accepted into the program?      

Approximately 85-100 students are accepted each fall, and approximately 20-40 students are accepted each spring. Acceptance to the program is dependent on clinical site availability.

How many people apply to the program?            

Approximately 150-200 students typically apply each year.

When is the HESI-A2 exam offered?       

The HESI-A2 is offered several times each fall and spring. You can register for the exam through the School of Nursing website.

Do I need to include my HESI A2 test results with my application?           

No, if you have taken the HESI-A2, the admissions committee will have access to your results and attach these to your application.

Is there a prep for the A2?           

Yes. Each fall and spring faculty offer a preparation session for students who wish to get more information prior to taking the exam.

How long is the HESI A2 good for once I take it?

The HESI A2, once taken, is usable for one calendar year.

What are good resources/study materials for the HESI-A2?         

The School of Nursing offers a free HESI-A2 review in the spring. Flyers are usually posted around the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The HESI-A2 study guide is recommended.

Do I need to get my flu shot prior to starting the program?         

You will be required to get a flu shot each year that you are in the program. You do NOT have to get it before starting the program, however.  Usually the flu shot for a given flu season becomes available in late September-early October.

What is the minimum GPA requirement to be accepted into the program?         

3.0 cumulative and 3.0 pre-requisite

When do classes start? 

Classes begin the same day that classes start for the University during the fall and spring semesters of each year. Incoming 1st semester students are typically required to attend an orientation the Friday or Monday prior to the first day of classes.

Once accepted, will I be able to work outside of school?               

It is recommended that a student’s combined employment AND classroom/clinical load not exceed 40 hours per week. Hours in excess of 40 hours per week are very likely to be detrimental to the performance of the individual, both as a student and as an employee. Professional behavior regarding patient safety is important; thus it is recommended the student refrain from working the shift immediately prior to class or clinical.

Who is my academic advisor?   

Prior to admission all students who have declared nursing as their major will be assigned to the pre-nursing advisor. The pre-nursing advisor's name and contact information can be found on the School of Nursing website. After admission to the program, students are assigned to a faculty advisor for the remainder of their program of study.

Whom do I contact for help with my schedule?

Students should contact their advisor for questions pertaining to their course schedule. Prior to admission all students who have declared nursing as their major will be assigned to the pre-nursing advisor. The pre-nursing advisor's name and contact information can be found on the School of Nursing website.

What are the pre-requisites for this program?    

Students must have at least 30 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 completed by the application deadline. The following courses must be completed with a “C” or higher prior to application deadline:

• ENG 1003 Composition I
• ENG 1013 Composition II
• MATH 1023 College Algebra
• PSY 2013 Intro to Psychology OR SOC 2213 Intro to Sociology
• BIO 2203/2201 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab
• At least one of the following courses/labs.
• BIO 2223/2221 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab
• BIO 2103/2101 Microbiology for Nursing and Allied Health & Lab
• CHEM 1043/1041 Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry & Lab
• At least one of the following courses.
• HIST 2763 U.S. History to 1876
• HIST 2773 U.S. History since 1876
• POSC 2103 U.S. Government

How do I know if a class I have previously taken can be transferred?      

You can submit a transcript to the Office of the Registrar for review.

Where can I locate a degree plan?           

The most current degree plan is found here (the downloadable file is on the left-hand side of the page).  

What can I expect once I have been accepted? 

You will receive a letter at the address you indicated notifying you of your acceptance. The letter will contain specific details regarding actions required on your part including, but not limited to, completing an intent to register and attending orientation.  More information will be provided at orientation.

What grade average must I maintain once accepted into the program? 

All nursing courses and support courses (pre-requisites, all sciences/labs and statistics course) must be completed with a "C" or better. 

What are the estimated costs of the program (including uniform, books, etc.)?

• American Heart Association BLS CPR certification:$30-$50 biannually
• ATI standardized tests/books/web modules: approximately $300 per semester, except for last semester
• Examsoft testing software: approximately $40 per semester
• Students are required to have access to a laptop computer (Chromebooks are not acceptable).
• Graduation expenses during final semester:
• Graduation fee—approximately $45-$125
• Arkansas State Board of Nursing application approximately $100
• Criminal background check (for nursing license) approximately $50
• NCLEX-RN exam approximately $200
• School pin approximately $40 (optional)
• Student professional uniforms (prices vary depending on personal preference): $100-$200
• Additional costs for clinical experiences:
• Drug screening: approximate cost is $40, annually
• Criminal background check: approximately $100
• Malpractice Insurance: $55-$100, annually
• TB mask fitting: $25-$35, annually
• Textbooks—approx. $900 1st semester and $500 in subsequent semesters.
• Watch (with a second hand)………………………………….$25-$50
• Stethoscope…………………………………………………$20-$150
• Bandage Scissors………………………………………..……..$3-$10
• Pen light…………………………………………………..……..$3-$5
• Mask or facial covering…………………………………..…$5-$10

Is financial aid/scholarships offered for this program?  

Any loan obtained for use at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Campus may be used to pay for tuition for nursing courses, as they would be for any course on campus.  All institutional scholarships are applicable to courses taken on the Jonesboro campus in the nursing program.  There are several private scholarships for which students may apply as well. No financial aid is awarded by the program, but financial aid may be reached at http://www.astate.edu/a/finaid/  

Should I declare a minor?            

Declaration of a minor is an individual decision. Many students are required to take 15 credit hours per semester for their scholarship.  Students who enter the program having already completed all general education requirements may find that they have additional "time" in their schedule that has to be utilized for scholarship purposes. These students may choose to take their additional courses all in one topic area/program.  In these instances, it may be possible for the student to obtain enough credits to be awarded a minor.  Students who believe this may apply to them and wish to do so should discuss this option further with their advisor.

If I have completed my prerequisites, what courses would be beneficial to take prior to application and admission?                

There are many courses that students pursuing a degree in nursing may find beneficial. A few of those include:

• HP 2013 Medical Terminology
• CLS 4212 Interpreting Laboratory Data
• HLTH 2523 First Aid and Safety
• HLTH 2513 Principles of Personal Health
• HP 2112 Intro to U.S. Healthcare System
• HP 3413 Cultural Competence in Health Professions
• NS 2203 Basic Human Nutrition
• DPEM 2433 Basic Sign Language in DPEM
• DPEM 3503 Principles of Disaster Management
• NRS 4223 Forensic Nursing
• HIST 4553 History of Medicine
• Foreign Language Courses
• Many 1 credit hour PE courses are half term courses