Mount Saint Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's College is an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college which provides a values-based undergraduate education for women, as well as innovative programs for professional men and women on two historic campuses in Los Angeles. The Mount is the only Catholic college primarily for women in the Western United States.

Admissions Requirements

• Admission to the Nursing program is based upon consideration of the completed application form, the student's academic achievement, personal statement and two satisfactory recommendations from individuals.
• Overall GPA of 2.75 and a Science GPA of 2.5

For complete information, please see the college's ADN student Handbook for Details.

LVNs who meet the admission requirements for the program must also possess a current LVN license in good standing.

Candidates with previous Registered Nursing education may be given transfer credit for previous nursing courses equivalent to the Nursing Department courses. 

Program Length & Format

• 12-month program completed in 3 consecutive semesters
• On-campus
• Classroom sessions scheduled approximately 2 days per week (about 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
• Clinical rotations scheduled approximately 3 days per week (about 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), held at Los Angeles area hospitals
• Program housed at Doheny campus; classes may also be offered at Chalon campus

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution required
• Minimum cumulative GPA 3.0 required for admission consideration
• Completion of all prerequisite courses with grade of C or better prior to enrollment
• Interview required for qualified applicants after application deadline
• Applicants may not apply to more than one MSMU nursing program within the same start term

Entrance Exams

• No entrance exam required

Prerequisites

• Required courses (semester units / quarter units): Chemistry or Physics 3 / 4; Human Anatomy w/lab 4 / 6; Human Physiology w/lab 4 / 6; Microbiology w/lab 4 / 6; Introduction to Psychology 3 / 4; Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology 3 / 4; Human Nutrition 3 / 4; English 1A or ENG 1B 3 / 4; Introduction to Communication (Public Speaking) 2-3 / 3-4; Lifespan/Human Development 3 / 4; LACE Central Core – Community 3 / 4; LACE Central Core – Global Awareness and Understanding 3 / 4; LACE Central Core – Women and Gender 3 / 4
• Science prerequisites (chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology) must be completed within five years prior to program start
• Up to two prerequisites may be in progress at time of application; only one in-progress course may be a science
• Prerequisites graded C/NC or P/NP are not accepted unless a letter grade of C or better can be provided
• Prerequisite retake policy: course may be retaken only if grade was C- or below and may be repeated only once; failing any two prerequisite courses (grade C- or below) results in non-admission

Deadlines

• Summer term application: opens August 1; deadline November 1 (all items due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time)
• Fall term application: opens December 1; deadline March 1 (all items due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time)
• Mailed materials must be postmarked by the deadline; electronically submitted items must be time stamped by the deadline

Application

• Application steps: Start New Application → Create Application → select Application Category "Nursing Transfer" → select "ABSN" as Nursing Transfer Anticipated Major
• Required documents: official transcripts from all previously attended institutions (sent directly to MSMU); proof of enrollment for current/upcoming prerequisite courses; two references on official letterhead; AP score reports if claiming credit
• Personal essay: submit 2-3 typewritten, double-spaced pages addressing specified program and personal readiness questions; returning applicants submit one double-spaced page describing changes since last application
• AP credit: official College Board score report required; score of 4 or higher required for most credits; psychology credit accepted with score of 3 or higher

Selection Process

• Initial eligibility based on completion of prerequisites and minimum GPA
• Qualified applicants are invited to an in-person interview after the application deadline; returning applicants interview again if qualified
• Admission decisions made after application review and interview; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Wait List Policies

• Applicants may be placed on a waitlist for the current term only
• Waitlisted applicants will be notified when the program stops taking applicants from the waitlist
• Applicants not admitted may reapply for future terms; previously waitlisted applicants are not given priority for future terms

Cost & Financial Aid

• ABSN tuition (2025-2026): flat rate $25,236 for 12–18 units per semester
• Additional fees: Nursing Program Fee (Clinical) $527; Nursing Professional Fee $561; University Services Fee $752 per semester
• Health insurance fees: $1,154 Fall 2025; $1,855 Spring & Summer 2026; $832 Summer 2026 (new incoming only); health insurance fee can be waived with proof of insurance
• ABSN tuition deposit: $400

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical rotations begin in first semester at hospitals in Los Angeles County
• Clinical schedule: three clinical days per week, approximately nine hours per clinical day
• Clinical specialty rotations include adult medical-surgical, pediatric, mental health, maternal-newborn, advanced medical-surgical, community health, leadership, gerontology, and professional nursing practice
• Clinical hours are mandatory and require schedule flexibility

Credit Transfer

• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions must be sent directly to MSMU
• Applicants must request a comprehensive course-by-course transcript evaluation to be sent (procedure referenced in application materials)
• AP credit awarded per College Board scores as specified in application requirements

International Students

• Tuition/housing deposit for International & Baccalaureate Nursing Transfer applicants: $350
• International applicants required to submit official transcripts and a comprehensive course-by-course transcript evaluation as part of application materials

Contacts

• Mailing address for official application materials: Office of Admission, ATTN: Office of Admission, 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90007
• Fax number for admissions materials: 213.477.2569
• Contact for licensure questions for practice outside California: Beverley Brownell (contact details available from admissions office)

The Mount St. Mary’s College Master of Science in Nursing, program is designed to encourage personal and professional development.

It is intended to prepare nurses who intend to work in the nursing field to offer students a range of mobility and better career options.  The different graduate specialties develop core theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for practice at the graduate level. The program includes foundational courses in nursing theory, health policy, nursing research, ethical practice and healthcare systems financing.

The curriculum is a rigorous program which intends to strengthen the ability of students to work with a health care setting. Specific courses and pre-requisite examinations may be required for specific graduate tracks. Applicants who are deemed to be insufficiently prepared may be required to sit for special examinations to meet undergraduate pre-requisites.  

Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university
2. Official transcripts for all coursework completed at the undergraduate and graduate level
3. Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees
4. Scores for the Graduate Record Examination (as required)
5. Scores for the California Basic Educational Skills Test
6. Health clearance (tuberculosis clearance included)
7. Admission interviews with admissions committee  

Graduates from all tracks are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board on Certification and Re-certification.