Application and Admission Criteria

All transfer students must apply to Dominican University and be accepted into the university in order to be considered for the BSN Program. Please note, acceptance to the university does not guarantee admission into the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing. Students must complete all requirements listed below.

Dominican University is accepting online applications beginning October 15, 2021 for admission in the BSN program at the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing in fall 2022. The online application process allows prospective students to apply by submitting a single application which is reviewed by the Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee.

The application deadline is March 15, 2022.  If all seats are not filled by this date, the application deadline will be extended and students will be accepted until all available seats are filled.

By the application deadline of March 15, 2022, a student must have successfully completed:

  • Eight (8) prerequisite courses*
  • ATI Pre-admission Examination and send the score report to Dominican University. 
  • Cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or higher by the application deadline.

*If a student is transferring to Dominican University, and intends to apply to the BSN Program, at  the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing, he or she will be required to take CHS 260 prerequisite course during the summer prior to fall admission. A grade of B- or higher must be earned in CHS 260 for the student to progress in the BSN program.

All applications will be reviewed for selection by the Nursing Admission and Progression Committee. Please note that submitting the application and possessing the requirements for the BSN program does not guarantee admission. Admission is highly competitive with limited seats. For the 2022 admission cycle, if a student is finishing their pre-requisite courses in spring 2022, he or she may be eligible for conditional admission. All pre-requisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring 2022 semester.

Direct Entry Nursing Program (BSN)

Dominican University offers a Direct Entry admission opportunity for traditional, four-year undergraduate students leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. This competitive program enables a limited number of incoming freshmen to secure a place in the nursing program beginning the fall semester of their junior year without additional applications.

To qualify for the Direct Entry Nursing Program, freshman candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum high school GPA of 3.3
    or
  • Minimum ACT score of 24/SAT score of 1160
Nursing Sequence
  • Apply for admission and be accepted to the university by completing either the Dominican University application or the Common Application. Express interest in the Direct Entry Nursing Program on the application.
  • Maintain full-time enrollment at Dominican University.
  • Matriculate at the university as a first-time freshman student for fall 2022. 
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative and prerequisite course grade-point average of 2.75
  • Affirm interest in entering the professional nursing sequence
  • Achieve required grades in all nursing pre-requisite courses

If a student does not meet the above criteria for direct admission during their first year, but still meets the requirements for the professional nursing sequence, they will need to apply through the normal process with an application for the BSN program.

Learn More

To learn more about this admission opportunity or to see if you qualify, please request information or contact Reuben Burnley, Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission. You may also reach out to Laurie Zack from the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing with specific questions.

Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Testing
  • Applicants must create an account on the ATI website and then register to sit for the proctored test. Test dates at Dominican University are available and listed on the ATI website. Applicants are responsible for test fees.
  • Applicants may repeat test once. The higher score of the two tests will be used in the admission process. Tests repeated more than twice will not be considered.
  • ATI TEAS scores must be within one year current from the application deadline.
  • ATI TEAS score must meet or exceed a minimum of 68% to be considered for acceptance.
Cumulative Grade-Point Average (CGPA)
  • A minimum CGPA of 2.75 or higher in college coursework is required.
  • Chemistry and biology science courses must be completed within five years of the application deadline to the nursing program. Students must retake science courses after five years of this date.
  • If an outdated science course has a CLEP exam available, a student may sit for the exam, but must earn a numerical value equivalent to the required prerequisite grade of B- or higher.
  • Applicants may not transfer or CLEP nursing courses.
  • CLEP results must be submitted to the executive director of BSN program by the application deadline of March 15, 2022.
  • Audited courses are not accepted.
Official Transcripts
  • Applicants must submit their high school transcripts or proof of GED and any additional college transcripts to the Dominican University Registrar’s Office. Please allow yourself extra time, as International transcripts take longer to receive.
  • All nursing courses must be taken at Dominican University.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all submitted transcripts have been evaluated and posted by a Dominican University registrar (or their designee) on the student’s academic history. The Nursing Admission Committee will consider an application incomplete and not eligible for consideration if any of the prerequisites are not depicted on the student’s Dominican University academic history.
Health and CPR Requirements / Drug Screening
  • Only accepted and admitted students will need to complete Health and CPR requirements and submit to a drug screening. Instructions will be sent to the student.
  • Students must submit all health and CPR requirements as indicated by the Dominican University BSN program clinical requirement guidelines.
  • Students will register for drug screening services through Viewpoint Screening.
  • Students must complete an initial 10-panel urine drug screen prior to beginning in the program, and again prior to the start of your last year in the program and will be paid for by the student. Students with a positive drug screen will not be enrolled in any nursing courses.
  • Students are responsible for requirement costs.
  • The drug screen results must depict all negative readings.
  • If all required health requirements are not completed and uploaded to Viewpoint Screening by the deadline of July 1, students will forfeit their admission seat and must wait until the next admission cycle and reapply to the program.
Criminal Background Checks
  • All program admits are required to submit to a criminal background check (Live Scan fingerprinting) using Accurate Biometrics. Please note background checks may take up to two weeks.
  • If you have a felony or misdemeanor of any kind you will be unable to start the nursing program.
  • Illinois statue prohibits health care employers from knowingly hiring, employing, or retaining any individual in a position with duties involving, or that may involve, direct patient care or the care of residents, who has been convicted of certain criminal offenses (225 ILCS 46.25).
  • The Dominican University BSN program has affiliate agreements with clinical agencies and other healthcare institutions to provide clinical experiences for nursing students as part of the nursing program curriculum and to meet IDFPR clinical hour requirements.
  • Submit to a criminal background check both prior to entering the program and beginning the second year clinical rotational schedule to progress within the program.
  • Results of the background check and drug screening may determine your acceptance and/or continued eligibility to remain in the program and/or to enter clinical sites.
  • Background checks are required at the student’s expense.
  • Information gathered from a criminal background check may be the basis to discontinue an applicant’s candidacy for admission into the program and/or may be the basis for dismissal from the program at any time.
  • Submit to a 10-panel drug screening after admission into the program and prior to beginning the second year clinical rotational schedule.
  • May be asked to submit to a criminal background check and/or 10-panel drug screen by any clinical site and will need to comply with the request to continue your rotation with the site.
  • Sign a Student Statement of Release Form and approve that Dominican share drug screen and background results with clinical sites upon their request.
  • Some clinical sites may do an expanded background check, which may conflict with the results of the student’s original results. (See Illinois State Law 225 ILCS 46/25 and IL Adm. Code 955.160 for disqualifying conditions). This will be at the student’s expense.
  • Dominican does not provide copies to applicants and/or students of their criminal background check results.
Notes
  • Although a nursing student may not possess a social security number during their studies as a nursing student, the State Board of Nursing (IDFPR) may require the graduate to possess one in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and be granted licensure to practice nursing.
  • Only one (1) online application will be accepted per nursing applicant.
  • Applicants are encouraged to attend one BSN program information session.