Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Illinois University

Overview

Tuition $14,085

Licensure pass rate (2025) 92%

Accreditor CCNE

Duration 4 years

A bachelor's-level nursing degree that prepares graduates for RN licensure and broader leadership, community-health, and evidence-based-practice roles. Many hospitals now require the BSN for advancement.

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 Western Illinois University asks for, taken from its own admissions page.

Minimum GPA 3.0

Recommendation letters 2

Apply through NursingCAS

What you'll need

Prerequisite courses
Immunizations
Transcripts

Minimum cumulative GPA 3.0 on all post-secondary work; nursing support courses (MICR 200, NUTR 109, ZOOL 330/331) need C+ (2.33) or better; two professional references (one academic, one employer). NursingCAS application due March 1 for fall (program page: accepted to May 31 if space allows) and October 1 for spring; prerequisites and health documentation due August 1 (fall) or January 2 (spring). Highly competitive; cohort size varies with capacity.

Prerequisite courses

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 Western Illinois University. Open a category to see each one.

College courses

11

Health and background checks

3

Application basics

4

Paths

Routes into BSN. The first step is where you enroll today.

Pre-Nursing to RN

University BSN pathway

Pre-Nursing BSN

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

View path

Pre-Nursing to RN

HBCU BSN pathway

Pre-Nursing BSN

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

View path

CNA Exam Prep to RN

University BSN pathway

CNA Prep BSN

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

View path

Georgia CNA to RN

University BSN pathway

CNA BSN

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

View path