Program Overview
Are you an ambitious high school student who is looking to get a head start on your nursing journey?
If you’ve already earned college transfer credit or participated in College Credit Plus, our Advanced Entry Nursing program gives you the opportunity to complete freshman-, sophomore- and first semester junior-level nursing coursework in a fast-paced format.
Apply early! The program starts in the fall, is very competitive and fills up quickly. Only applicants who complete the necessary application requirements on or before the application deadline will be considered for admission.

Learning Experience
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge from nursing and a liberal arts education as the basis for clinical judgment, reflective practice and decision making
- Incorporate professional standards in the practice of nursing
- Value integrity, caring, accountability, respect and excellence in nursing practice
- Collaborate with patients and health professionals to develop and implement culturally appropriate health promotion, disease prevention and illness care methods
- Select current theory and evidenced-based knowledge to guide and teach individuals, families and populations about health promotion and illness prevention
- Employ patient care technologies, information systems and communication devices that support safe nursing practice and development of nursing knowledge
- Demonstrate knowledge of healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments that impact patient care
- Incorporate effective communication and collaboration skills, forming partnerships to provide care and promote positive outcomes to a diverse society in a global context
- Apply leadership concepts, principles of advocacy and decision making in the provision of quality patient care, healthcare team coordination and accountability for care delivery in a variety of settings
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to enhance quality improvement and safety initiatives at individual and system levels of care
- Investigate health-related social justice concerns within legal, ethical and political contexts
- Value lifelong learning for personal and professional growth to support excellence in nursing practice
Program Benefits
- Interactive simulations at Ashland University’s state-of-the-art Simulation Center
- Direct entry program with no further application required for the clinical coursework
- 1:8 clinical instructor-to-student ratio
- Complete the BSN program in four semesters (15 months)

Curriculum
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have:
- Attended an accredited college or university
- At least a 2.9 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average in college coursework
- A science prerequisite coursework cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale prior to the start of the Advanced Entry program
- Completed the following prerequisite courses from an accredited college or university with a minimum letter grade of "C" (science prerequisite coursework must have been completed within 10 years prior to the program start date)
- Developmental Psychology
- Nutrition
- Microbiology-must include a laboratory
- Organic/Inorganic/Biochemistry - must include a lab
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II - must include a lab
- Ethics
- Statistics (does not have to be equivalent to Ashland University’s Statistics course)
- English Composition I and II
- Successfully completed all required core courses prior to the start of the Advanced Entry program
- Submitted an application for admission to Ashland University.
- Met all other requirements of the traditional 4-year program
- Pass a criminal background check and drug screen prior to entering clinical coursework
- Meet the health status criteria for mental and physical health
- Provide documentation of ability to perform the essential functions for clinical course work
- Complete a record of required immunizations
Graduate Outcome
Graduates are well-prepared for the workforce:
- Ashland’s Traditional BSN program has had a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN® exam) pass rate of 89% or higher in the last five years, scoring higher than the state and national averages in 2021.
- Ashland University BSN: 89.17%
- Ohio: 79.07%
- National: 86.06%

Recent Employers of Graduates
- Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Akron Children's Hospital
- Cleveland Clinic
- OhioHealth
- AVITA
- University Hospitals
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Fisher Titus Medical Center
- Wooster Community Hospital
- Knox Community Hospital
- The Christ Hospital
Contact Information
For questions about the Advanced Entry Nursing program:
Juanita Reese Kline, Ph.D., RN
Chair, Nursing Department
Director, Traditional Nursing Program
Director, Accelerated and Advanced Entry Programs
Associate Professor of Nursing
110 College of Nursing & Health Sciences
419-521-6811
jkline6@ashland.edu
Please contact Admissions with questions about the application, transcript review and prerequisites: enrollme@ashland.edu, 419-289-5383