Nursing Admissions

Nursing
Nursing Admissions

Students are encouraged to express an interest in the nursing major when they apply for admission to St. Olaf College. Applying to the nursing program is a separate process. Please let the Admissions Office know that you are interested in nursing and they will direct you to the additional application required for nursing. Direct Admission is limited and competitive. Because enrollment is limited, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee program acceptance.

Should I Apply Direct Admission or Regular Admission?

St. Olaf offers two opportunities for students to apply for admission to the nursing program; Direct Admission or Regular Admission.

If you decide that you would like to apply for direct admission, please contact the Admissions Office so they can communicate with you the additional steps that occur when you apply to St. Olaf. Direct admission in no way binds you to your choice. We are committed to helping you identify your passion. If you discover it is something other than nursing, we will help you find that path.

If you decide that you would like to apply for regular admission, please contact the Nursing Department chair once you have made the decision to pursue the nursing major. Students who are listed with the nursing department as an applicant will receive information on the application process.

Regular admission occurs in the fall semester of the sophomore year. Students not accepted for direct admission or students who develop their passion for the nursing major while at St. Olaf are welcome to apply at that time.

Direct Admission

Students intending to major in nursing at the time of application to St. Olaf College may be considered for direct admission to the nursing program. This allows prospective students to apply directly from high school. Students who wish to apply for direct admission must first apply to St. Olaf College via the Common Application or Coalition Application. Contact the Admissions Office for assistance.

Offers of direct admission are conditional. If direct admit students do not meet the admission criteria, they will not be granted admission. Students are welcome to apply the following year through the regular admission process.

Students who did not apply or were not selected for direct admission to the nursing program may apply for admission during the fall of their sophomore year.

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in January.

Preparation

Start preparing for the nursing major while in high school. Find opportunities to develop your critical thinking skills, reading, writing, and calculation skills, and skills that develop communication and collaboration. Gain hands-on experience in the nursing field such as working or volunteering in a hospital or nursing home and taking a nursing assistant course.

Regular Admission

Students enrolled at St. Olaf may apply to the nursing program during the fall semester of their sophomore year. Once a student decides to pursue the nursing major, they should contact the Nursing Department chair to express their interest. Communication about nursing advising and the application process will be sent to students who are listed as applicants with the nursing department.

Students will submit a resume and will participate in a small group interview with other nursing applicants, conducted by nursing faculty members. The Piper Center is a great resource to assist applicants with resume writing and practicing mock interviews.

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in January.

Preparation

Once you decide to pursue nursing, find opportunities to develop your critical thinking skills, reading, writing, and calculation skills, and skills that develop communication and collaboration. Gain hands-on experience in the nursing field such as working or volunteering in a hospital or nursing home and taking a nursing assistant course.

Conditional Acceptance

Admission decision letters are provided to applicants to the nursing program every January. Conditional acceptance to the nursing program is necessary in order to matriculate to the 200-level nursing courses required for the major. The nursing major begins in the spring semester of the sophomore year.

Conditional acceptance to the nursing program for all applicants (direct admission and regular admission) will become final only if the student meets the required criteria prior to the fall semester of their junior year.

2023 Median Pay for Registered Nurses

$86,070 annually & $41.38 per hour

Job Outlook 2022-32

6% (faster than average)

Academic Catalog

Technical Standards