Application and Admission Criteria
Dominican University offers a Direct Entry admission opportunity for a limited number of incoming first-year students to secure a place in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program beginning the fall semester of their junior year without additional applications. Admission into the Direct Entry Program is competitive and space is limited.
To qualify for the Direct Entry Nursing Program, freshman candidates must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5.
Direct Entry Program Application Process
- Apply for admission and be accepted to the university by completing either the Dominican University application or the Common Application.
- Select Nursing as your intended program on the application.
- If offered Direct Entry admission, complete the DEN intent to enroll form and pay your tuition deposit by the specified deadlines.
- Matriculate at the university as a first-time freshman student for fall.
- Maintain full-time enrollment at Dominican University.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative and prerequisite course grade-point average of 2.75
- Taking and passing the ATI TEAS exam with a minimum required score of 68.
- Affirm interest in entering the professional nursing sequence
- Achieve required grades in all nursing prerequisite courses
If a student does not meet the above criteria for admission into the direct entry program as an incoming freshman, the student can still pursue the professional nursing sequence of courses and apply to the BSN program toward the end of their sophomore year at Dominican through an internal application process.
To learn more about the Direct Entry Nursing Program or to see if you may qualify, please request information or contact Reuben Burnley, Director of Undergraduate Pathways.
Considerations for Prospective Dominican Nursing Students
Although nursing students need not possess a Social Security Number during their studies at Dominican, nursing licensing bodies, including the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), may require graduates to possess one in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and be granted licensure to practice nursing.
Transfer students may be considered for admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program through a three-step application process. Specific dates and deadlines can be found below the application steps.
STEP ONE: Dominican University Application Admission Review
- Apply for admission to the University. Choose “Nursing” as the program/major of interest.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
- Applicants meeting the minimum cumulative GPA (2.5/4.0) requirement will be offered admission to the university as a pre-nursing major.
STEP TWO: BSN Admission Review
- Applicants admitted as pre-nursing majors who also meet the minimum cumulative GPA (2.75/4.0) requirement for the BSN program and are on track to completing all nursing prerequisite courses prior to matriculation will be invited to submit official ATI TEAS scores and an optional prerequisite self-evaluation form.
- Applicants who submit official ATI TEAS scores with a minimum of 68% will be reviewed for admission into the BSN program by the Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee.
- The TEAS may be attempted twice within each application cycle (i.e., spring and fall). TEAS scores will be accepted for administrations occurring in the timeframes listed below.
- Applicants are responsible for creating ATI accounts and preparing, registering, and paying for proctored TEAS administrations.
- BSN admission decisions are announced on a rolling basis.
STEP THREE: Tasks for BSN Admits
- Applicants admitted to the BSN program will be notified of post-acceptance / pre-matriculation tasks— including health & CPR requirements, a drug screening, and a criminal background check—after receiving their decision letter.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Acceptance to the University and possessing the minimum requirements for the BSN program do not guarantee admission into the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing. Admission to the BSN program is highly competitive with limited seats. Subsequently, applicants are encouraged to complete steps one and two by the priority deadlines listed below in order to (if admitted) complete their post-BSN acceptance tasks in a timely manner and to ensure they can be placed in clinicals.
Activity |
Spring (January) Start Term |
Fall (August) Start Term |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 Submit University Application and Transcripts |
Priority Deadline: October 1 Final Deadline: November 15 |
Priority Deadline: March 15 Final Deadline: April 15 |
| Step 2 Submit ATI TEAS Scores and Prerequisite Self-Evaluation |
Priority Deadline: October 15 Final Deadline: November 15 |
Priority Deadline: March 15 Final Deadline: May 1 |
| Acceptable TEAS Scores | Up to two test administrations between May 2 and November 15 | Up to two test administrations between November 16 and May 1 |
| Step 3 - BSN Admits Successfully Complete Health and CPR Requirements, Drug Screening, and Criminal Background Check |
Deadlines for Step 3 tasks will be communicated after admission via the BSN Welcome Packet | |
To learn more about the transfer application process or to see if you may qualify, request information or contact a transfer admission counselor.
Considerations for Prospective Dominican BSN Students
Although nursing students need not possess a Social Security Number during their studies at Dominican, nursing licensing bodies, including the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), may require graduates to possess one in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and be granted licensure to practice nursing.
Current Dominican students may be considered for admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program through a three-step application process. Specific dates and deadlines can be found below the application steps.
STEP ONE: BSN Application
- Apply for admission to the BSN program.
- Dominican University transcripts and current course schedules will be added to application files on behalf of current students.
STEP TWO: BSN Admission Review
- Current students who meet the minimum cumulative GPA (2.75/4.0) requirement for the BSN program and are on track to completing all nursing prerequisite courses prior to matriculation will be invited to submit official ATI TEAS scores.
- Students who submit official ATI TEAS scores with a minimum of 68% will be reviewed for admission into the BSN program by the Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee.
- The TEAS may be attempted twice within each application cycle (i.e., spring and fall). TEAS scores will be accepted for administrations occurring in the timeframes listed below.
- Students are responsible for creating ATI accounts and preparing, registering, & paying for proctored TEAS administrations.
- BSN admission decisions are announced on a rolling basis.
STEP THREE: Tasks for BSN Admits
- Students admitted to the BSN program will be notified of post-acceptance / pre-matriculation tasks— including health and CPR requirements, a drug screening, and a criminal background check—after receiving their decision letter.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Possessing the minimum requirements for the BSN program does not guarantee admission into the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing. Admission to the BSN program is highly competitive with limited seats. Subsequently, students are encouraged to complete steps one and two by the priority deadlines listed below in order to (if admitted) complete their post-BSN acceptance tasks in a timely manner and to ensure they can be placed in clinicals.
Activity |
Spring (January) Start Term |
Fall (August) Start Term |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 Submit BSN Application |
Priority Deadline: October 1 Final Deadline: November 15 |
Priority Deadline: March 15 Final Deadline: April 15 |
| Step 2 Submit ATI TEAS Scores |
Priority Deadline: October 15 Final Deadline: November 15 |
Priority Deadline: March 15 Final Deadline: May 1 |
| Acceptable TEAS Scores | Up to two test administrations between May 2 and November 15 | Up to two test administrations between November 16 and May 1 |
| Step 3 - BSN Admits Successfully Complete Health and CPR Requirements, Drug Screening, and Criminal Background Check |
Deadlines for Step 3 tasks will be communicated after admission via the BSN Welcome Packet | |
Considerations for Current Dominican Students
Although nursing students need not possess a Social Security Number during their studies at Dominican, nursing licensing bodies, including the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), may require graduates to possess one in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and be granted licensure to practice nursing.