Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University is a public university and part of the University System of Georgia. The campus is set on 168-acres of land in the center of Valdosta, Georgia. Valdosta is a small city on the southern border of Georgia and is mostly known for the university and the abundance of azaleas grown in the region. The university serves over 11,000 students with both undergrad and grad programs at two campuses. The main campus includes most of the administrative and academic buildings, while the north campus is used for satellite facilities. Valdosta State University is structured into five colleges with 56 undergrad degree programs and 40 graduate programs and degrees.

The College of Nursing & Health Sciences at VSU offers nine different health professional programs, three of which are nursing programs. Nursing students can apply to the BSN, accelerated BSN, or MSN programs. All three programs are accredited by the CCNE and the Georgia Board of Nursing. The BSN programs allow students to work in various clinical settings, including hospitals and doctor’s offices. The MSN program offers three nursing career tracks, including Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The MSN program is a hybrid program that utilizes weekend on-campus classes and online learning.

Updated on: 23 Oct, 2025

Program Length & Format

4 semesters, approximately 15 months (May enrollment through following July)
cohort begins each May (Summer cohort)
Course load while enrolled in nursing program: 15 credit hours per semester

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field required
Overall cumulative GPA minimum: 2.8
Nursing certification GPA minimum: 3.0 (nursing certification GPA includes specified core courses)
If previously enrolled in a nursing program within last five years, submit petition to School of Nursing Admissions and Progressions Committee plus letter of good standing and official transcripts

Entrance Exams

HESI Admission Assessment Exam required
Minimum score: 75 or higher in each of the following areas: Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Anatomy & Physiology, Math
Test attempts: up to two attempts per application cycle
HESI administration options: VSU University Testing Center and HESI Distance Testing Program

Prerequisites

Courses subject to five-year rule and repeat policy include:
- BIOL 2251K Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 2252K Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIOL 2260K Microbiology in Health and Disease
- NURS 2700 Pathophysiology
- PSYC 2103 Introduction to Human Development
- Lab Sequence #1 and Lab Sequence #2
- MATH 1401 Elementary Statistics
Minimum grade: C in each math and science course in Areas D.2.B and F
Five-year rule: courses in Areas D.2.B and F older than five years at application deadline must be retaken; each expired course may be retaken only one time

Deadlines

Application portal opens: first Monday in October (for Summer cohort)
Application deadline: first Friday in November (for Summer cohort)
Official transcripts submission deadline: November 15
Official HESI score report submission deadline: November 15

Application

Step 1: apply for admission to Valdosta State University (Undergraduate Admissions)
VSU application fee (undergraduate admissions): $40
After VSU admission, use MyVSU username/password to access College of Nursing and Health Sciences application portal
Required items for CONHS application: official college transcripts and official HESI score report
Student identification number required for CONHS application; provided after applying to the university

Selection Process

Applicants notified of admission status 8 to 10 weeks after application deadline
Cohort intake data:
- Summer 2025: 24 students admitted; average overall GPA 3.19; average nursing GPA 3.43
- Summer 2024: 26 students admitted; average overall GPA 3.30; average nursing GPA 3.43

Contacts

CONHS Advising Center phone: 229-253-2866
College of Nursing and Health Sciences main phone: 229.333.5800
CONHS fax: 229.333.7300
CONHS building address: Health Sciences and Business Administration Building, 2525 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698
CONHS mailing address: 1500 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31698