LPN to BSN

LPN to BSN Bridge Program

• Designed for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) ready to advance to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Applicants must hold an active, unencumbered LPN license.
• LPN to BSN Cohorts start each Spring semester (January).
• Deadline for priority application consideration: December 1st
• Apply Today! LPN to BSN Application

Transfer Students:

• Tailored for students transferring from other institutions (without an LPN license).
• Minimum cumulative GPAL 2.75, science prerequisite GPA: 2.70
• TEAS exam proficiency within 3 months of the Nursing Cohort start date.
• BSN Cohorts start each Fall semester (August).
• Deadline for priority application consideration: February 1st

First-Year Standard RU Students:

• For students already enrolled at Rockford University, aspiring to join the nursing program.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and science prerequisite GPA of 2.7 required for admission.
• TEAS exam proficiency within 3 months of the Nursing Cohort start date.
• Deadline for priority application consideration: February 1st

Early Action for High School Seniors:

• Ideal for high achieving seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50. High school coursework should include Biology, Chemistry, English (4 years), and Math (2 semesters, including 1 semester of algebra).
• Deadline for Early Action application: March 1st of high school senior year

Additional Information:

• LPN to BSN Cohorts begin each Spring Semester, and are capped at 40 students.
• BSN Cohorts begin each Fall Semester, and are capped at 40 students.
• Regardless of entry path to Nursing Program, all applicants must meet specific GPA requirements and conduct stipulations, including background checks and drug testing.
• Maintaining requisite GPAs and ethical standards throughout the program is essential.
• To view the complete prerequisite course list and details on admission requirements such as the TEAS exam, please see the Admission and Prerequisite Requirements page.

At Rockford University, we believe in providing students a community in which they can learn, grow, and develop.

First and foremost, we encourage all nursing students to join the Nursing Student Organization or NSO during their time at RU. This organization brings together nursing students and others interested in a healthcare-based career to offer support and fellowship. They organize activities, community events, and educational opportunities that bring together a diverse student population.

Beyond the NSO, Rockford University also offers student organizations that encourage campus involvement. These groups turn the campus into a community while allowing for the exchange of ideas and cultures across demographics.

Expanding Career Horizons in Nursing

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, nursing careers offer many exciting opportunities. The aging U.S. population coupled with a shortage of nurses has created a surging demand for skilled professionals in the field. Nursing has evolved beyond traditional roles, propelling nurses to the forefront of healthcare delivery thus opening up expansive career prospects.

With a 4-year nursing degree, you embark on a rewarding career and position yourself for one of the highest starting salaries in any field. Furthermore, as you continue your education, your earning potential can soar, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually.

Diverse Career Paths

A nursing career is both challenging and diverse. Nurses have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and extended-care facilities. Alternatively, you might collaborate with private practice healthcare providers, contribute to community health agencies, work in federal nursing agencies, enter the corporate world, join educational institutions, or even serve in the military. Over the course of your career, you can explore various client populations and settings as your interests evolve.

Nursing specialties include medical-surgical, cardiac, pediatrics, neonatal, women’s health, critical care, forensic, community, psychiatric nursing and many others. Nurses may also go on for graduate degrees to become nursing practitioners, midwives, nurse educators, and nurse anesthetists, to name a few. Employment opportunities abound in the Rockford area’s local hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, school systems, and other community settings.

Entrepreneurial Nursing

Innovative nurses are exploring entrepreneurial avenues by combining their nursing expertise with other specialty skills to establish new businesses. Possibilities range from nursing informatics (melding nursing with technology) and legal nurse consulting (merging nursing with law) to various home healthcare ventures. With creativity and determination, the possibilities in nursing are virtually limitless.

Explore the diverse world of nursing, where opportunities abound and your journey to making a significant impact begins!

The nursing faculty at Rockford University are experienced nurses who possess the skills and dedication to educate future members of the nursing community. These faculty members are not just nurses. They are also authors, researchers, and leaders in their areas of specialty. Their depth of knowledge includes over a century of real-world nursing experiences, and their willingness to impart their learned lessons allows students to begin their career with a head start.