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 University of Iowa asks for, taken from its own admissions page.
What you'll need
- Essay
- Interview
- Transcripts
Direct admission (high school seniors): minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA, ACT 24 (Iowa resident) or 26 (nonresident) or SAT 1160/1230, UI application by November 2 and College of Nursing supplemental application by December 7, essays (1,500 characters each) and a required interview. Standard admission for current UI students: minimum 3.0 GPA, application opens December 1 and closes February 26, spring start, being phased out after February 2028.
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 University of Iowa. Open a category to see each one.
College courses
17
Entrance exams
1
Application basics
5
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
Acceptees
Acceptees whose paths lead to this program, and how they got in.
Anna
BSN grad from University of Iowa · class of 2025
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syd
BSN student at University of Iowa · Minnesota to Iowa
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Rayna
New grad nurse · UIowa alum · class of 2026
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Avery Galles
BSN grad from University of Iowa · new RN in Iowa
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user1016110805
BSN bound at University of Iowa · future RN
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Elizabeth Allore
BSN student · University of Iowa · Class of 2027
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