Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Applicants must be admitted to the University of South Carolina Upstate and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Minimum GPA requirements must be maintained through the completion of all prerequisite courses.
• Applicants must earn a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses to be considered for admission.
• Applicants must have a minimum required science GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • The five courses included in the science GPA are:
  • * Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II   
  • * Chemistry of Living Things
  • * Pathophysiology
  • * Microbiology
  • These courses must be successfully completed in two attempts (W, WF, and AUD count as one attempt) to remain eligible for admission.

• An applicant who fails two required science courses, any two nursing courses*, or a combination of the two by earning a grade less than a C will be ineligible for admission.
  • Examples that would cause ineligibility include, but are not limited to:
    • A grade below a C in Chemistry twice
    • A grade below a C in Anatomy and Physiology I and Medical Terminology
    • A grade below a C in Anatomy and Physiology II and Microbiology
    • A student withdraws and receives a W for A&P I. Then in a second attempt, earns a grade below a C in A&P I. The student has exhausted the attempts for the course.
    • A student withdraws and receives a W or WF for A&P I. Then in a second attempt, the student withdraws and receives another W or WF for A&P I. The student has exhausted the attempts for the course.
  • Retaking a course for a passing grade does not negate a previous failure.
• The College of Nursing does not recognize the grade forgiveness policy of USC Upstate or any other school.
• Applicants must have completed all prerequisite requirements prior to beginning upper-division nursing courses. All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the previous major semester (fall or spring). If applying for a fall term, one course is allowed to be taken over the previous summer at a USC campus only.
• Applicants must successfully complete a pre-admission exam. The details for this exam will be updated and posted in the most current application instructions when available.
• If a student has an academic integrity violation on record, their eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Upon tentative acceptance to the program, students must successfully complete:
  • a criminal record background check
  • a drug screening
  • American Heart Association Healthcare Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • clinical requirements as mandated by our clinical settings

Four-Year Admission Criteria (Español) (PDF)

Instructions for filling out Nursing application:

This application is only for students planning to begin Upper Division in Fall 2026 or the RN-BSN program in Summer or Fall 2026. If you are looking for the application to the university, you may find that here: https://uscupstate.edu/admissions/apply/

Log in using the same email you used to apply for admission to the university if you remember it. Doing so will allow the application to access information you entered as part of that process and save you from needing to reenter it. Otherwise set up an account. Note: you MUST also apply to USC Upstate and be accepted to be able to be considered for the Upper Division program.

Once logged in, select Start New Application and click Create Application, and then Open Application.

Begin completing the application. Do not use a mobile device to complete this application.

A few things to note:

• You can exit the application and return to it as many times as needed. You do not need to complete it all at once.
• Your USC ID number begins with a letter and then 8 numbers (ex. B55555550)
• Select the proper branch of the application you need: Prelicensure is for students who are NOT currently a nurse and RN-BSN is for nurses who have earned an associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited program and have an active, unencumbered RN license
• Having a copy of your transcript(s) handy will make the process of entering your courses much easier
• This applies to individuals completing the prelicensure application only: The holistic assessment questions are video response questions that are designed to capture a spontaneous reaction, so you will only get one attempt to answer them. Ensure you have adequate time before you click on that question, because you must answer it once you begin it. You will be given 150 seconds to read the question and consider your answer and then up to 150 seconds for your answer. You do not need to use the entire time to answer. When you have finished recording, make sure you give it time to upload before moving on to the next question.
• The final holistic question will ask you the following, so please prepare your answer prior to answering that question: Please take a few minutes to share anything about your life experiences that you haven’t yet had a chance to discuss and that you think would help us better understand your situation. You might want to mention things like whether you’ve completed a degree before, any experience working in healthcare, or personal challenges that may have affected your GPA or academic progress.

To comply with clinical agency contracts, each accepted student must complete clinical requirements. Students who are accepted to the program will receive detailed information regarding these requirements. An Information Session will be held to answer all questions. Completion of these requirements is not part of the application process. The requirements may include:

• Immunizations/Titers
  • MMR
  • Tdap within the last 10 years
  • Varicella
  • Flu
  • HepB 
• TB Skin Test
• Physical Examination and Health History
• Waiver forms for clinical sites
• Health insurance as required by our clinical agencies
• CPR – must be Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare providers by the American Heart Association only.
• A Criminal Record Background Check

In addition to the science and nursing* course notes above:

• Applicants must have completed two of the five required science courses and be enrolled in a third required science at the time of application.
• All science and nursing* courses must be completed within the last five years.
• If an applicant has two nursing failures from any school within the last five years, he/she would be ineligible for the program.
• Science and Nursing policies are not an option for student appeal.

*Nursing courses are defined as any USC Upstate course with the prefix of NURS or any course that is accepted as an NURS course for our program.

*Applicants that meet one of the two following admission criteria are encouraged to apply (3.0 Cumulative GPA or 2.5 Science GPA). These students will be considered on a case by case basis when seats are available.

National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse

Upon successful completion of the four-year track, graduates will be eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a registered nurse.