Bachelor of Science in Nursing

As a UD nursing major, you'll prepare to be a knowledgeable, adaptable and reflective healthcare practitioner. This accredited program is a unique partnership with Sinclair Community College's Associate Degree in Nursing program, where students engage in classroom, laboratory, simulation and clinical experiences.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University of Dayton is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://ccneaccreditation.org).

Using a holistic approach, the mission of the nursing program is to prepare students for a dynamic healthcare environment, develop a spirit of inquiry and adaptation, to deliver compassionate care that is fair and equitable.


Program Overview

Degree Information and Sample Plan

The curriculum incorporates both liberal arts and science courses designed to develop clinical reasoning and clinical judgment. You will apply evidence-based practice to impact change in healthcare delivery, locally and globally. The curriculum is guided by the AACN BSN Essentials (2021) and the UD Marianist charisms.

Program Structure

The UD Nursing program collaborates with Sinclair Community College to prepare graduates to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to practice as a registered nurse (RN):

  • Year 1: Nursing students attend classes at UD.
  • Year 2: Nursing students attend classes at UD and begin classes at Sinclair during the spring semester.
  • Year 3: Classes continue, concurrently, at UD and Sinclair.
  • Year 4: Classes continue, concurrently, at UD and Sinclair. Upon successful completion of Year 4, students receive an associates degree in Nursing from Sinclair and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UD. Students will be eligible to take the NCLEX exam after graduation from Sinclair and UD.

Visit the Catalog to view additional details about nursing, including degree requirements, course descriptions and a sample plan of study.

Admission Requirements

Requirements

The University of Dayton Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a direct admit program. Students admitted to nursing begin the nursing program their first year. The minimum requirements for consideration for admission to this highly competitive program are:

  • High School GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Essay (250 words or less) describing what motivated you to want to become a nurse. Include aspects of inspiration, volunteering, and/or work experience.
  • All applicants and matriculating students must meet essential abilities outlined in the Sinclair Community College (SCC) nursing student handbook:
    • Ability to manage the stress and rigor of the nursing profession.
    • Respond and react immediately to verbal instructions/requests.
    • Demonstrate effective oral communication.
    • Perform close and distance visual activities involving objects, persons, and paperwork, as well as discriminate depth and color perception.
    • Respond and react immediately to auditory signals from monitoring equipment.
    • Perform auditory auscultation without impediment.
    • Discriminate between sharp/dull and hot/cold when using hands.
    • Work in a standing position.
    • Frequent walking.
    • Lift and transfer patients up to six inches (6") from a stooped position, then push or pull the weight up to three feet (3').
    • Lift and transfer patients from a stooped to an upright position to accomplish bed-to-chair and chair-to-bed transfers.
    • Physically apply up to ten pounds (10#) of pressure.

At this time we are not accepting transfer or change of major students into the Nursing (BSN) program.

International applicants

International applicants to the University of Dayton BSN program must meet BSN admission requirements in addition to passing scores from TOEFL. All TOEFL (IBT) scores must meet or exceed the following criteria:

  • Reading - 22
  • Writing - 23
  • Listening - 21
  • Speaking - 24
  • Composite - 90

Official TOEFL (IBT) score must be submitted directly to UD from ETS:

University of Dayton
Office of International Admission
300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469-1671

Application Instructions

To be considered for admission in Fall 2026, submit the following items by November 1, 2025:

For official materials not submitted electronically, your high school counselor should mail materials to:

Office of Recruitment and Admission
University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469-1602

Effective August 1, 2025, BSN students are required to successfully complete the HESI A2 exam with a 75% composite score to progress to Sinclair's nursing program. Students have three attempts to achieve the 75% composite score to maintain eligibility for Sinclair’s nursing program.

Why Study Nursing at UD?

UD's innovative nursing program collaborates with the Sinclair Community College nursing program, which allows students to complete both an associate of applied science in nursing (ASN) degree and a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Pre-licensure nursing students will be dually enrolled in the UD BSN and Sinclair ASN degree programs.

  • While at the University of Dayton, you'll receive a faith-based education in UD's Catholic, Marianist tradition of teaching the whole person to learn, lead and serve the common good.
  • Because UD's nursing program is housed in an undergraduate program with other health science degree programs, like exercise science, pre-physical therapy and dietetics, you'll gain an interprofessional perspective that sets you apart as a knowledgeable, well-rounded healthcare practitioner.
  • UD's and Sinclair's faculty and staff, tutors and mentors will provide you with academic support.
  • You'll have a UD academic adviser and Sinclair adviser who will support you and keep you on the path to graduation.
  • While completing your BSN, you'll also receive personal support and guidance for transitioning to practice.

Ready to take the next step? Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about nursing at UD.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.

To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time student work are available. Note that for the nursing program, billing, financial aid and scholarships are handled through UD.

The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a minor or participate in a transformational experience like summer study abroad and away opportunities.


Success After Graduation

Our concurrent enrollment program readies you for a successful transition to the nursing profession. With the combined opportunities through UD and Sinclair, you'll experience engaging learning opportunities in the classroom, skill laboratory, simulation and clinical in a way that allows you to further develop clinical judgment, communication and collaboration. It's a key reason why employers love hiring our students — they're practice-ready upon graduation!


Design Your Academic Path

UD Student Nurse Association

The UD Student Nurse Association is a professional organization to unite and mentor students preparing to become nurses or interested in becoming a nurse.

Clinical Experience

You'll gain hands-on learning at a variety of facilities, including Dayton-area hospitals and hospital systems, long-term care facilities and community agencies.

Pre-Health Resource Center

We are here to support students in discerning their passionate purpose and navigating the path into health professions.

Stander Symposium

An annual campus-wide forum to showcase academic excellence and recognize student learning through faculty-mentored undergraduate research, scholarship and artistic accomplishment.