A Boil Water Advisory has been issued affecting the USI Campus and Housing areas. The advisory is in effect until further notice. More information and where to find drinking water is availabile on the USI Emergency Information page.
The BSN application is now live. Please click the "How to Apply" tab on this page.
USI's BSN program provides you with a foundational understanding of evidence-based healthcare delivery and the importance of interprofessional collaboration. Emphasizing a hands-on experience, you'll actively engage in over 1,150 clinical hours in a variety of clinical settings. A culminating clinical synthesis course will immerse you in a clinical setting working one-on-one with an experienced registered nurse. On top of these experiences, you'll also augment your clinical training in a state-of-the-art simulation center. Throughout your education, you'll have personalized attention from faculty with diverse clinical backgrounds. You'll have the opportunity to gain clinical experience in healthcare settings throughout the Tri-state area, including acute care hospitals, mental health facilities, and community-based sites. By the time you graduate, you'll have the confidence to thrive as a registered nurse.
USI’s first-time National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX®) pass rate is consistently above the national average first-time pass rate. USI Nursing leaders report that the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who graduated in December 2025 passed the NCLEX on their first attempt. USI’s 100% first time NCLEX pass rate exceeds the 2025 National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) average rate of 87.6%.
The Nursing Program prepares individuals for employment in the state of Indiana upon successful completion of the registered nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-RN).
USI nursing students will complete clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare and community settings. In order to optimize clinical learning experiences, students may be required to travel up to 70 miles and provide their own transportation to assigned agencies or institutions.
All students selected for admission to the nursing program must also meet clinical agency requirements, be able to perform essential functions, be eligible for RN licensure and capable of fulfilling clinical practice requirements. Please refer to the BSN Undergraduate Student Handbook for a list of mandatory requirements.
Students may declare a major in pre-Nursing upon entering the university or complete a change of major form at any point in time.
There are two entry points for you to start earning your undergraduate nursing degree at USI:
To be eligible for admission to the Nursing program, all students must have a 2.8 cumulative GPA of required admission prerequisite courses. Students must receive a grade of "C" or better in these courses:
Additional Prerequisite Courses:
Science Eligibility Rule
Students with three or more failures (a "D" or "F") in any of the required science courses are ineligible for the Nursing program at USI. Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry course credit must be earned or equivalent competence demonstrated, within five (5) years of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.
Required Progression Courses (Before First Semester of Nursing, with grade of "C" or better):
Required Second Semester Nursing Progression Courses:
To apply to the University of Southern Indiana (USI) for undergraduate enrollment:
Once USI has processed your application, transcript(s) and scores (if needed), a decision will be made by Undergraduate Admissions and you will receive a notification.
Upon acceptance to USI, you'll receive detailed information about next steps, including orientation, registration and housing.
Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements as established by the USI Center for International Programs.
There is a Secondary Application Process
to be Accepted into the Undergraduate Nursing Program
Students may declare a major in pre-Nursing upon entering the university or complete a change of major form at any point in time.
There are two entry points for you to start earning your undergraduate nursing degree at USI:
Out-of-State Students
Are you an out-of-state student interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at USI or determining if the Nursing Program meets individual state requirements for employment? Check your eligibility. The Nursing Program is limited to working with certain states in the U.S. only. Moving into a state not recognized by the Nursing Program will lead to inability to continue in your coursework. The exception to this is active military status.
Transfer Students
Students requesting a transfer to USI’s undergraduate nursing program from another nursing program must:
For more information on Transfer Students, visit this page.
The career outlook for someone with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is very positive. Nurses are in high demand across the country, and this demand is expected to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% growth in employment for registered nurses (RNs) from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
*Income data provided by CareerOneStop.
Opportunities and salaries vary by region and experience.
The University of Southern Indiana is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
USI's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
The University of Southern Indiana Nursing Programs uses the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education and other specific national guidelines to offer high quality programs that meet national standards:
AACN's The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
