Michigan State University

Program Length & Format

• Full-time, four-semester program (16 months)
• begins annually in late August and concludes in December of the following year
• In-person instruction at two sites: East Lansing (MSU main campus) and Detroit Medical Center
• Clinical courses begin in the first semester

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, conferred by the end of the spring semester prior to program start
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA minimum: 2.75 (includes all undergraduate coursework from every institution attended)
• Minimum grade of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) required in each ABSN prerequisite course
• Final transcripts due May 15, 2026 (for applicants to the 2026 cohort)

Prerequisites

• ANTR 350: Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals (must be completed within 5 years of program start)
• PSL 250 or PSL 310: Introductory Physiology (must be completed within 5 years of program start)
• CEM 141: General Chemistry
• MMG/MGI 201: Fundamentals of Microbiology
• HDFS 225 or PSY 238: Lifespan Human Development / Developmental Psychology
• HNF 150: Introduction to Human Nutrition
• PSY 101: Introductory Psychology
• STT 200: Statistical Methods
• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of 2.0 or higher by the end of the spring semester preceding program start

Deadlines

• Application deadline: February 1 at 5:00 PM ET
• Final transcripts deadline: May 15, 2026 (for applicants to the 2026 cohort)
• Admissions decisions typically communicated in late May
• Waitlist dissolved 30 days before classes begin

Application

• Submit ABSN application online and indicate site preference (East Lansing or Detroit)
• Official college transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal Reflection responses (required; used in admissions scoring)
• Documentation of professional and life experiences (required; used in admissions scoring)
• Applicants may apply while first bachelor’s degree is in progress if degree will be conferred by end of the preceding spring semester

Selection Process

• Admissions scoring weights: Prerequisite GPA 50%, Personal Reflection Responses 25%, Professional and Life Experiences 25%
• Applications reviewed together (no rolling admission); decisions typically communicated in late May
• Prerequisite GPA is primary factor; the most recent attempt of a retaken prerequisite course is used for prerequisite GPA calculation
• No preference given for where prerequisite courses were completed or for prior degrees earned at MSU
• Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Wait List Policies

• Typical cohort size: approximately 80 admitted students (48 seats East Lansing, 32 seats Detroit)
• Waitlist size: approximately 15 students per admission cycle
• Offers may be made from waitlist until cohort is full
• Waitlist dissolved 30 days before classes begin; applicants remaining on waitlist after that date must reapply for future cycles

Cost & Financial Aid

• Resident tuition rate as of June 2025: $855.25 per credit hour
• ABSN program credit total: 61 credit hours
• Tuition estimate: approximately $52,000 (61 credits × $855.25) as of June 2025

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Total clinical hours: approximately 756 hours over the program
• Clinical settings located in southeast, west, and mid-Michigan, including hospitals, early childhood development centers, and assisted living facilities
• Clinical groups: 8 students per placement site with a BSN-prepared Clinical Instructor
• Clinical placements assigned by the Clinical Placement Coordinator; students responsible for their own transportation

Credit Transfer

• No preference for where prerequisite coursework is completed if courses are approved to satisfy ABSN requirements
• ANTR 350 and PSL 250/310 must be completed within 5 years of program start
• Most recent attempt of a retaken prerequisite course is used for prerequisite GPA calculation

Contacts

• College of Nursing address: 426 Auditorium Road, Room 250, East Lansing, MI 48824
• Application status and specific contact points available via MSU College of Nursing admissions web pages (refer to College of Nursing website for phone and email contact details)