Cleveland State University - Nursing Programs

Cleveland State University is a public institution in Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 after purchasing the buildings of Fenn College. It also acquired the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969. It is now part of the University System of Ohio. Over 70 majors are available at the university, along with 27 master’s degree programs. These programs are offered through the nine colleges and five specialty-schools operated by the university, including the School of Nursing. The campus is the downtown Cleveland area. There is also a satellite campus in Westlake, which is part of the greater Cleveland area.

Students may enroll in undergrad or graduate nursing programs at CSU. These options include traditional BSN, RN to BSN, accelerated BSN, and MSN programs. All four options are accredited by the CCNE. The university has partnerships with several major healthcare centers in the area, including University Hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic, and MetroHealth. The university also has a high NCLEX-RN exam pass rate, with over 90% of students passing the first time they take the exam. Students who are interested in the traditional BSN program must complete prerequisite coursework, which includes anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, physiology, and several other required courses.

Updated on: 21 Oct, 2025

Program Length & Format

16 months / four consecutive semesters; full-time enrollment required
69 credit hours total
734 clinical hours and 201 lab hours (online ABSN figures)
In-person track begins in January (students graduate in May of following year); online track starts in Fall and Spring
Online coursework with two mandatory on-campus residencies and two intakes per year (Fall and Spring)

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university required
Cumulative undergraduate GPA minimum 2.5
Prerequisite GPA minimum 3.0
Two of five science prerequisites must be completed at time of application; all prerequisites must be completed and official transcripts submitted prior to program start

Prerequisites

Required courses: Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab; Chemistry I & II with lab; Microbiology with lab; Introduction or General Psychology; Statistics; Health Care Ethics or General Ethics; proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Grade requirements: Anatomy & Physiology I & II and Microbiology require grade of B or better; Chemistry I & II, Psychology, Ethics, and Statistics require grade of C or better
Science prerequisites must be no more than 10 years old at application deadline; each prerequisite may be repeated up to two times (withdrawals not included); failing grade defined as C- or lower

Deadlines

In-person ABSN application deadline: June 1 (annual)
Online ABSN Fall 2026 application deadline: May 1, 2026; start date: August 22, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit materials at least two weeks before the deadline; late applications considered case-by-case

Application

Submit School of Nursing application and application fee
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
Two letters of recommendation and a résumé
Interview and written essay required for selected applicants
Apply to Cleveland State University four to six weeks prior to School of Nursing application deadline

Selection Process

Selection factors: prerequisite GPA, cumulative GPA, references, résumé; interview and essay for selected applicants
Healthcare-related experience encouraged (volunteer or job experience)
Seat limits: 80 students for in-person track; 30 students for online track
No ongoing waiting list; applicants not admitted must reapply

Cost & Financial Aid

In-state tuition: $301.17 to $338.81 per credit ($21,684 total) plus $8,432 in fees (rates as of 08/28/2025)
Out-of-state tuition: $428.95 to $482.57 per credit ($30,884.64 total) plus $8,432 in fees (rates as of 08/28/2025)
Student loan programs available; contact Cleveland State Campus411 at (216) 687-5411

Clinical & Simulation Lab

734 clinical hours and 201 lab hours required (online ABSN)
Clinical placement services provided; placement team assigns sites and coordinates preceptor details
Two on-campus residencies for online students at a downtown Cleveland nursing laboratory
Clinical rotations supervised by assigned preceptors and CSU clinical faculty

Credit Transfer

Transfer applicants from other nursing programs must provide a letter from the previous program director verifying departure in good academic standing
Acceptance of transfer coursework is not guaranteed and requires advisor/recruiter evaluation

International Students

Submit official transcripts; credential evaluation of foreign transcripts is strongly recommended
Provide official translation if transcripts are not in English
Contact the Center for International Services and Programs for visa questions
ESL applicants must contact the English as a Second Language Department for an English skills assessment

Contacts

School of Nursing mailing address: Cleveland State University, School of Nursing, 2121 Euclid Avenue, IM 116, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Campus location: Center for Innovation in Medical Professions, Room 116, 2112 Euclid Avenue
School of Nursing phone: (216) 687-3598; Recruiter/Advisor phone: (216) 687-3850
General university phone: (216) 687-2000; School of Nursing fax: (216) 687-3556