Nursing Degree

• Early Action (EA) for High School Seniors:
  • Ideal for high-achieving seniors with a GPA of 3.25+ in specified courses and satisfactory SAT or ACT scores.
  • Competitive selection with notifications by April 1st.
  • Conditional acceptance pending fulfillment of admission criteria and submission of final transcripts by July 1st.
• First-Year/Traditional Entry RU Students:
  • For students already admitted to Rockford University aspiring to join the nursing program.
  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and science prerequisite GPA of 2.5 required for admission.
  • TEAS exam proficiency within 6 months of the start date.
  • Deadline for priority application consideration: October 1 (for spring program start: will change to September 1 for Spring 2026 cohort) or February 1 (for fall program start)
  • Notification of status by November 1 (for spring program start) or March 1 (for fall program start).
• Transfer Students:
  • Tailored for students transferring from other institutions.
  • Admission and minimum GPA: 2.75, science prerequisite GPA: 2.5.
  • TEAS exam proficiency within 6 months of the start date.
  • Deadline for priority application consideration: October 1 (for spring program start: will change to September 1 for Spring 2026 cohort) or February 1 (for fall program start)
  • Notification of status by November 1 (for spring program start) or March 1 (for fall program start).

To view the complete prerequisite course list and details on admission requirements such as the TEAS exam, please see the Admission and Prerequisite Requirements page.

Additional Information:

• Regardless of the entry path, all nursing program applicants must meet specific grade and conduct stipulations, including background checks and drug testing.
• Maintaining requisite GPAs and ethical standards throughout the program is essential.

At Rockford University, we believe in providing students a community in which they can learn, grow, and develop.

First and foremost, we encourage all nursing students to join the Nursing Student Organization or NSO during their time at RU. This organization brings together nursing students and others interested in a healthcare-based career to offer support and fellowship. They organize activities, community events, and educational opportunities that bring together a diverse student population.

Beyond the NSO, Rockford University also offers student organizations that encourage campus involvement. These groups turn the campus into a community while allowing for the exchange of ideas and cultures across demographics.

Expanding Career Horizons in Nursing

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, nursing careers offer many exciting opportunities. The aging U.S. population coupled with a shortage of nurses has created a surging demand for skilled professionals in the field. Nursing has evolved beyond traditional roles, propelling nurses to the forefront of healthcare delivery thus opening up expansive career prospects.

With a 4-year nursing degree, you embark on a rewarding career and position yourself for one of the highest starting salaries in any field. Furthermore, as you continue your education, your earning potential can soar, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually.

Diverse Career Paths

A nursing career is both challenging and diverse. Nurses have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and extended-care facilities. Alternatively, you might collaborate with private practice healthcare providers, contribute to community health agencies, work in federal nursing agencies, enter the corporate world, join educational institutions, or even serve in the military. Over the course of your career, you can explore various client populations and settings as your interests evolve.

Nursing specialties include medical-surgical nursing, cardiac nursing, pediatrics, neonatal nursing, critical care nursing, nursing education, community health nursing, psychiatric nursing, and many others. Nurses may also go on for graduate degrees to become nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists. Employment opportunities abound in the Rockford area’s local hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and community settings!

Entrepreneurial Nursing

Innovative nurses are exploring entrepreneurial avenues by combining their nursing expertise with other specialty skills to establish new businesses. Possibilities range from nursing informatics (melding nursing with technology) and legal nurse consulting (merging nursing with law) to various home healthcare ventures. With creativity and determination, the possibilities in nursing are virtually limitless.

Explore the diverse world of nursing, where opportunities abound and your journey to making a significant impact begins!

The nursing faculty at Rockford University are experienced nurses who possess the skills and dedication to educate future members of the nursing community. These faculty members, though, are not just nurses. They are also authors, researchers, and leaders in their areas of specialty. Their depth of knowledge includes over a century of real-world nursing experiences, and their willingness to impart their learned lessons allows students to begin their career with a head start.