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.
Students Applying for fall 2027: An ACT or SAT score is required for Direct Admission to Nursing. Although the University of Iowa is test optional, the College of Nursing requires an ACT or SAT score for Direct Admission eligibility.
Direct Admission Program
Up to 168 high-achieving high school students can earn direct admission to the BSN degree program. To be considered for direct admission, students first apply to the University of Iowa with a major of Nursing and will first be admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as an Open (Health) major where they will remain throughout the direct admission process. If a student meets the eligibility requirements, they will be invited to apply for direct admission, and a link to the nursing supplemental application will be available in their Admissions Profile.
Eligibility Requirements
- Meet the high school course requirements:
Minimum 3.80 or higher cumulative GPA (weighted/unweighted) ACT score of 24 for Iowa residents or 26 for non-residents* (SAT score of 1160 for residents or 1230 for non-residents). We do not superscore.
4 years of high school English
3 years of high school Natural Sciences §, which must include: 1 year of high school Biology and 1 year of high school Chemistry
1 year of each: high school Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry
3 years of high school Social Studies
Minimum second-level proficiency in one world language ‡
Qualified applicants may submit a supplemental application for Direct Admission. Those who meet all eligibility criteria will have their applications reviewed. The written portion of the Direct Admission application has a deadline of Dec. 7, 2026. The interview portion of the application will be conducted in January 2027, with admission decisions in late February-early March 2027. Students who are selected for direct admission to the College of Nursing, will have their major updated from Open (Health) to Nursing (BSN).
Students who apply and are not selected for Direct Admission to the College of Nursing will remain in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with Open (Health) as the designated program of study. Open majors will need to declare a specific degree-granting major by the time they earn 60 semester hours (s.h.).
Admission is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee admission.
* International Students are required to submit an official TOEFL score of 5.0 or higher to be considered for direct admission.
† Direct admission candidates are expected to complete required high school course content deficiencies prior to enrollment at Iowa.
§ Students may fulfill the physics requirement by completing one year of physics in high school OR one semester of physics in college, and must be completed prior to starting nursing curriculum in their third year at the University of Iowa.
‡ Completing fourth-level world language proficiency can be beneficial to a student for a variety of reasons, including other University of Iowa options, minors, certificates, and other program requirements.
Application Process
Students must apply to the University of Iowa with a major of Nursing by the Early Action Deadline of November 2 (and provide all required documents by Nov. 9) to be eligible for Direct Admission to Nursing.
The Direct Admission supplemental application includes several essay questions and an opportunity to provide information about activities, experiences, and leadership (including work and/or volunteering) as well as a review of all transcripts (submitted on your application for admission). The written portion of the Direct Admission application has a deadline of Dec. 7, 2026.
The College of Nursing faculty admissions committee conducts a holistic review of each applicant. The essay responses play a significant role in the review and selection process of the applicants. It is vitally important applicants respond thoughtfully and thoroughly to each question and provide comprehensive information about their activities, experiences, and leadership opportunities.
Approximately one week after the application deadline, all eligible applicants will receive an email invitation to sign up for January interviews. Registration must be completed by the deadline indicated in the email. After this date, no additional interviews will be scheduled, and applicants who have not registered will no longer be considered in the admissions process. These interviews will be conducted virtually during the month of January 2027. Applicants will be interviewed in small groups and asked to respond to open-ended questions from the committee members. Feedback from the applicants’ responses will be used, along with the feedback from the written application, to make decisions about admission to the College of Nursing.
Of the 168 students admitted for fall 2027, 84 will enter the nursing curriculum in the fall semester of their third year (fall 2029), while the remaining 84 will begin in the spring semester of their third year (spring 2030). Assignments will be determined by the College of Nursing. This helps balance class sizes and maintain a consistent learning experience for all students. Please plan accordingly, as start dates cannot be selected or changed.
Application Deadlines
November 2
Deadline for applying to the University of Iowa to be eligible for Direct Admission (documents deadline Nov. 9)
December 7
Deadline to submit the Nursing Supplemental Application for those applying for Direct Admission
May 3
Acceptance Deadline