YOUR PATH TO THE BEDSIDE STARTS HERE
Ripon gives you a direct route into nursing, starting with your bachelor’s degree. You’ll major in the field that interests you most, and our pre-professional advising and graduate-entry partnerships turn that degree into the first step toward advanced clinical practice, leadership, education or research. No nursing major required.
WHY A GRADUATE NURSING DEGREE
A graduate degree in nursing is often the key that unlocks advancement—into leadership, advanced clinical practice, education, research or specialized roles. Two degree paths get you there:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — the foundational graduate credential for advanced practice
- Doctoral degrees — including the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD, for research and the highest levels of clinical leadership
WHAT NURSING PROGRAMS ARE LOOKING FOR
Admission requirements vary by program, but most graduate nursing programs evaluate a similar set of qualifications. Here’s what they’re looking for:
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (though this varies by program)
- Competitive GRE scores
- A successful interview
- Completion of specific prerequisite coursework
BUILD THE RIGHT FOUNDATION*
Prerequisite coursework varies from program to program, so it’s essential to check requirements at the specific schools you’re targeting. That said, Ripon students should plan around these core courses:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology — BIO 211 and BIO 312
- Microbiology — BIO 314
- Chemistry and/or Biochemistry — CHM 111, 112, 412
- Psychology — PSC 110, 221, 234, 235 or 242
- Nutrition — NTR 286
- Statistics — MTH 120 or PSC 211
*Requirements differ by institution—always confirm current prerequisites directly with the program you plan to apply to.
FIVE DIRECT PATHS TO A NURSING DEGREE
Ripon holds direct-entry agreements with five Master of Science in Nursing programs, each with its own prerequisite coursework and GPA threshold. Here’s how each one breaks down:
Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI)
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (BIO 211, 312)
- Biochemistry (CHM 412) or Chemistry (CHM 111 or 112)
- Microbiology with lab (BIO 314)
- Developmental Psychology (PSC 234, 235 or 242)
- Abnormal Psychology (PSC 221)
- Statistics (MTH 120 or PSC 211)
- All prerequisites completed within 7 years, with a “C” or better; cumulative GPA of 3.0+
Carroll University (Waukesha, WI)
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BIO 211, 312)
- General Chemistry I (CHM 112)
- Microbiology (BIO 314)
- Lifespan Development (offered occasionally at Ripon)
- Statistics (MTH 120 or PSC 211)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0+
Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, IL)
- Anatomy & Physiology with lab (BIO 211, 312)
- Chemistry I with lab (CHM 111 or 112)
- Microbiology with lab (BIO 314)
- A social science course
- Statistics (MTH 120 or PSC 211)
- “C” or better in each course; cumulative GPA of 3.2+
Johns Hopkins University
(Baltimore, MD)
- Anatomy & Physiology with lab (BIO 211, 312)
- Lifespan Development (offered occasionally at Ripon)
- Microbiology with lab (BIO 314)
- Psychology with lab (PSC 110)
- Nutrition (NTR 286)
- Statistics (MTH 120 or PSC 211)
- “B” or better in each course; cumulative GPA of 3.3+
Rosalind Franklin University
(North Chicago, IL)
- Anatomy & Physiology with lab (BIO 211, 312)
- Chemistry with lab (CHM 111 or 112)
- Microbiology with lab (BIO 314)
- All prerequisites completed within 7 years, with a “B” or better; cumulative GPA of 3.0+
MORE PATHS, MORE POSSIBILITY
Ripon’s affiliation with Midwestern University extends into nurse anesthesia, giving qualified students a guaranteed interview.
- A minimum of one year of full-time critical care registered nursing experience is required before applying
- Your Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) will walk you through the full requirements
Ask your HPAC advisor how to make the most of it.
