Overview
Career outlook
Employers hire BSN-prepared registered nurses for direct patient care as well as roles requiring expanded leadership, research, and community-health competencies across nearly every healthcare setting.
Getting in
What Eastern Illinois University asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Essay
- Prerequisite courses
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
- CPR certification
Four-year prelicensure BS in Nursing; students apply to the nursing major by March 1 of the spring of freshman year with a 2.75 cumulative prerequisite GPA, 2.75 math/science prerequisite GPA, C or better in all prerequisites, a written essay response, at least one reference and the Safety and Technical Standards Form. Before clinicals: CastleBranch background check, 10-panel drug screen, immunizations, physical exam and CPR. EIU also runs a separate online RN to BSN (2.0 GPA, RN license, 5 start dates per year, tuition $8,902).
Checked Oct 2026 on the school's site. Requirements change each cycle, so confirm before you apply.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites you'll need to meet to apply to this program at Eastern Illinois University. Open a category to see each one.
College courses
14
Certifications
1
Health and background checks
5
Application basics
4
Paths
Routes into BSN. The first step is where you enroll today.
Pre-Nursing to RN
University BSN pathway
Ready to become a nurse? Start with Pre-Nursing, find university BSN programs that fit your goals, and get help planning your prerequisites and applications.
- Timeline
- 4 years
Pre-Nursing to RN
HBCU BSN pathway
Ready to become a nurse? Start with Pre-Nursing, find BSN programs at historically Black colleges and universities, and get help planning your prerequisites and applications.
- Timeline
- 4 years
CNA Exam Prep to RN
University BSN pathway
Ready to become a nurse? Start by preparing for your CNA exam, gain patient care experience, and get help planning your path into a university BSN program.
- Timeline
- 4 years
Georgia CNA to RN
University BSN pathway
Ready to become a nurse in Georgia? Start with your CNA, gain patient care experience, and get help planning your path into a BSN program at a Georgia university.
- Timeline
- 4 years