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Transfer Students:
Minimum requirements for application and admission to the nursing major

Admission to Rockford College does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.  In order to be successful as a Rockford College nursing student, the Nursing Department has established minimum entrance requirements prior to enrolling in courses with the intent of pursuing a major in nursing. These include:

1. Complete an application to Rockford College and be accepted for admission.
2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on transferable course work at time of application.
3. Make application to the nursing program no later than March 1 for fall entrance or September 1 for spring entrance.  Late submissions will not be accepted.  Application forms are available in Starr 216, the Starr Science Secretary's office or from your academic advisor.  Forms should be submitted to the Starr Science Secretary, Office 216. 
4. Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours at conclusion of semester preceding entrance to nursing major.
5. Complete the nurse entrance exam; cost to student is $35 (fee subject to change). 
6. Pre-requisites
7. Demonstrate math competence by one of the following means:  
   • Have an ACT math component score of 20 or higher within the last 5 years, or
   • Have completed MATH 120 - Functions and Models or a College Algebra course with a grade of C or better within the last 5 years, or
   • Achieve proficiency level or higher on TEAS math sub score

Students will be notified of their status by letter from the chairperson no later than May 1st for fall entrance or November 1st for spring entrance.  When notification of an offer of admission to the nursing program is received the student will make an appointment with their academic advisor to complete the Declaration of Major form.

Requirements of All Applicants:

1. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75 at the time of application. For transfer students, a CGPA will be determined from course work accepted in transfer, which must be a minimum of 2.75 for consideration.
2. Maintenance of a minimum CGPA of 2.75 from Rockford College at the end of the semester in which application is submitted.
3. Achieve any "C” grade in each of the required natural and social science support courses (see list of required supporting courses). A student who receives a grade lower than a C- in any required natural and social science support course may repeat the course and have the repeated course grade counted toward the CGPA.  Only one of the required natural and social science support courses may be repeated.  If a student receives a grade lower than a C- grade in more than one of the required natural and social science support courses, they will not be considered for admission to the major.  All students must inform the Registrar’s Office when they are repeating classes.
4. Science courses older than five years will not be considered as equivalent to Rockford College courses. 
5. Students who are granted medical withdrawals and medical incompletes in required natural and social science support courses have a maximum of two times to achieve a passing grade of "C-" or better. For example, a student enrolls in Biology 209 and receives a medical incomplete. That student then makes arrangements with the instructor to repeat Biology 209 the next time it is offered. The student fails to achieve a passing grade and then withdraws from the course with a "MW” (medical withdrawal). The student repeats Biology 209 again and then receives a passing grade. The student (who has essentially attempted the same course three times) may not be considered for admission into the nursing program.
6. Students who have been denied admission to the nursing program due to a CGPA of less than 2.75 may submit an application requesting admission to the nursing program, if admission criteria are met, during the next application period.  Automatic admission to the program for the next academic year is not guaranteed.  Each student case will be considered individually and are handled on a space-available basis.
7. There are essential capabilities necessary for admission and progression at Rockford College in the complex discipline of nursing.  To enter or progress in the nursing curriculum, the candidate must be able to perform all of the essential capabilities (with or without accommodations).  See Appendix A of the Nursing Student Handbook for Essential Capabilities of Nursing Majors.
8. All students admitted to the nursing major are required to complete a background check and a random urine drug screen.
9. The nursing faculty reserves the right to consider the merit of individual cases.

See page 5 of the Nursing Student Handbook for Sample Plan of Study
Requirements for Progression and Retention in the Nursing Major

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