All students applying (direct admit and regular admit) must meet the following criteria:

1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
2. Meet Technical Standards.
3. Prerequisite courses for nursing must be taken for a letter grade with a minimum grade of C.
4. Before the fall semester of their sophomore year, students must complete the following four courses (or their approved prerequisite equivalent):  Bio 140, Bio 143, Chem 122 or 125, Psych 125 and at least one of the following:  Nurs 110, Psych 241, or a designated Soan course.
5. The remaining prerequisite courses must be completed, and official transcripts received by the St. Olaf registrar, before the beginning of the fall semester of the junior year.
6. Students who earn a grade below C in a required prerequisite course may repeat the course once to achieve a higher grade.  Any repeated course must be completed with a minimum grade of C prior to the nursing major application deadline.
7. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the nursing major.
8. Direct admit students:  if the above criteria are not met, you will not be granted admission.  You are welcome to apply the following year through the regular admission process.

The nursing major begins in the spring semester of the sophomore year.  Please visit the Academic Catalog for further information regarding requirements for the nursing major.

To be eligible to attend clinicals, clinical sites require students to provide health and immunization documentation to the nursing department annually prior to the junior and senior years in the nursing program.  Costs associated with this requirement are the responsibility of the student.

Documentation includes receiving an annual exam with a healthcare provider, completing TB testing with a negative result, receiving the seasonal flu shot, and submitting documentation of the following immunizations: immunity to Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (Chicken Pox), Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis B.

These requirements are in addition to the St. Olaf College health requirements.  Additional testing and/or immunizations may be required by clinical sites.

Students must be CPR certified by completing a Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers course according to American Heart Association or American Red Cross guidelines.  The course must include resuscitation of children and adults, one and two-person rescue techniques, and AED use. CPR certification must be valid for two (2) years.  A course for one (1) year will not be accepted.

Resources for finding an approved course include the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and St. Olaf Emergency Medical Technicians (SOEMTS)

Students will be required to submit a copy of their active CPR BLS certificate or card to the nursing department prior to attending clinicals.

Minnesota law requires the St. Olaf College Nursing Department to conduct a criminal background study for nursing students who will be providing direct contact services (care of patients) in clinicals.  The background study is conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and will be submitted upon a student’s entrance to the nursing program.

The study involves a review of specific records and will determine if a student is eligible to provide direct contact services (care of patients).  Eligible students will be issued a Clearance Letter from DHS, which is required for students prior to attending clinicals.

St. Olaf College pays for the background study.  The student is responsible for the fingerprinting fee, if fingerprinting is deemed necessary by DHS.

Students in the nursing program will incur expenses in addition to the comprehensive fee.  These additional expenses are associated with the requirements of the major.  Some examples include the costs associated with the annual exam and immunizations, TB testing, CPR certification, fingerprinting fee associated with the criminal background study, purchasing nursing uniforms, transportation costs to clinicals, textbooks, and the annual nursing fee.

The annual nursing fee, which is assessed by the College Provost, Chief Financial Officer, and the Nursing Department Chair, covers the expense of professional liability insurance.  We are required to have this coverage for all nursing students for protection in case of errors of commission or omission during clinicals.  In 2025-26, the fee was $1,500.