The University of Iowa College of Nursing is consistently ranked as one of the best nursing programs in the nation. Our graduates are sought after as highly skilled professionals who have received a rigorous education of the highest quality. Established in 1898, the UI College of Nursing has a rich history of preparing nurses to achieve excellence in clinical practice, research, and leading systems of health care.
Direct Admission Program
Direct Admission to the College of Nursing is designed for high-achieving high school students. There are two direct admission options: early action or regular decision. Each cohort is comprised of 80 first-year students. You must meet the criteria below to be considered for either option.
Eligibility Requirements
- Meet the high school course requirements:
- 4 years of High School English
- 1 year of High School Biology
- 1 year of High School Chemistry
- 1 year of High School Physics
- 1 year of each: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry
- 3 years of High School Social Studies
- Minimum 2nd-level proficiency in one world language
- Present a cumulative high school GPA of 3.80 or higher (can be weighted or unweighted).
Standardized test scores will not be used as a part of the review process for Nursing; students will be required to meet all other direct admission requirements.
Qualified applicants will be invited to submit a supplemental application for direct admission. Please note that each high school course is considered a separate requirement. Applicants must meet all minimum requirements. All Direct Admission candidates are expected to complete high school course content requirements prior to enrollment at Iowa.
International Students: see the specific TOEFL requirements.
Application Process
The first step is to apply for admission to the University of Iowa via the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and indicate Nursing Interest as the major area of study.
First-Year Admission to Liberal Arts & Sciences
Qualified students who meet the Direct Admission eligibility requirements will see the link to the Supplemental Application on their Admission Profile in MyUI. The link should appear 24-48 hours after being admitted to the University of Iowa.
To be considered for Direct Admission, students must submit the Supplemental Application which includes essay questions, information regarding activities/experiences, and an official high school transcript. Without these components, an application is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Please have official high school transcripts mailed to:
Enrollment Management
2900 University Capitol Centre
201 S. Clinton St.
Iowa City, IA 52242
Electronic transcripts can be sent to admissions@uiowa.edu; however, for transcripts to be considered official, they must be sent directly from the student’s school.
All complete Direct Admission applications will be reviewed by the faculty admission committee. Admission is competitive, thus, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Components of the Supplemental Application
The Supplemental Application includes several essay questions and an opportunity to provide information about activities, experiences, and leadership (including work and/or volunteering).
Students also have the opportunity to submit an activities and work/volunteer experiences and can mention several activities they have been involved in within the past five years that they would like to share with the faculty. This information is an equally important part of the faculty review process.
Application deadline
Direct Admission: January 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. is the submission deadline for the Nursing Supplemental Application and official documents.
Applicants will receive an admission decision in early March.