Nursing Admissions

Nursing
Nursing Admissions

St. Olaf College offers two opportunities for prospective students to apply for admission to the nursing program: Direct Admission and Regular Admission.

Direct Admission allows prospective students to apply directly from high school when they apply for admission to St. Olaf College.

Regular Admission allows students enrolled at St. Olaf College to apply during the fall semester of their sophomore year.

Applying to the nursing program is a separate process from applying for admission to St. Olaf College. Admission to the nursing program is limited and competitive.

Prospective students intending to major in nursing at the time of application to St. Olaf may apply and be considered for direct admission. Prospective students must complete the nursing application at the same time they submit an application to the college.

Please visit the Admissions Office Apply Page to access the nursing program application link.

Direct Admission

Direct Admission allows prospective students to apply directly from high school when they apply for admission to St. Olaf College. Direct Admission does not bind 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.

Students who wish to apply for Direct Admission must first apply to St. Olaf College via the Common Application or Coalition Application. Students must complete the nursing program application at the same time you submit an application to the college. The nursing program application includes two additional essays. Please visit the Admissions Office Apply Page to access the Common, Coalition, and Nursing Program applications.

Offers of direct admission are conditional. If direct admit students do not meet the admission criteria, they will not be granted admission to the nursing program. Students who are not selected for direct admission are welcome to apply to the nursing program during the fall semester of the sophomore year.

Because enrollment is limited, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee nursing program acceptance.

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in January.

Preparation

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

Regular Admission allows students enrolled at St. Olaf College to apply during the fall semester of the sophomore year. Students will participate in the interview process and submit a resume.

Students should contact the Nursing Department Chair once they have made the decision to pursue nursing. Communication about the application process will be sent to students who are listed as applicants with the nursing department.

Students who were not selected for Direct Admission and those who develop their passion for the nursing major while at St. Olaf are welcome to apply for Regular Admission.

Because enrollment is limited, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee nursing program acceptance.

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in January.

Preparation

Conditional Acceptance

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in 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.

2025 Median Pay
Registered Nurses

$97,550 per year
$46.90 per hour

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Outlook 2025-35
Registered Nurses

6% growth
Faster than the average for all occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Academic Catalog

Technical Standards