The first step in the admission process is to be accepted into the College of Mount St. Joseph. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Pre-Nursing Program.   Once a student has been accepted by the College their scholastic records will be reviewed by the Health Sciences Department. It is important to note that limited spaces are available in Pre-Nursing so we encourage students to apply early.

High School Criteria
Students who have been successful in the Nursing Program at the Mount have met the following minimum high school criteria: 

• High school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
• 20 or higher composite on the ACT or
• 950 or higher on the SAT
• Pass high school Algebra I and Algebra II with a “C” or higher
• Pass high school Chemistry with a “C” or higher

If you are accepted to the College of Mount St Joseph and do not meet the minimum requirements listed above, you may enter the College as an undeclared major with the option of changing your major to pre-nursing after demonstrating success in your first semester of completed courses. If you have questions contact the Freshman Nursing Advisor at 513-244-4709.

College Pre-requisite Criteria
Once students have been accepted into the Pre-Nursing Program they are required to complete the following required pre-requisite courses with a  “C” or higher and meet the stated criteria within 45 semester hours. Students who meet the requirements and criteria will be assured admission into the clinical nursing program.

• Required pre-requisite courses and criteria to be accepted into clinical nursing program*:
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Inorganic/Organic Chemistry/lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology/lab
• Maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Completed minimum of 28 semester credit hours

* If less than a “C” is earned in a required prerequisite course, the course must be repeated.  Required courses can only be repeated one time.

* If less than a “C” is earned in two required prerequisite courses, the student will be dismissed from the pre-nursing prrogram.  A college advisor will assist the student in finding a more suitable major.

Adult Students (out of high school more than four years) and Transfer Students   
The Mount works with adult students interested in the Nursing Program by asking them to complete a Compass Assessment in lieu of ACT/SAT scores. All college coursework from previous institutions will be transferred and evaluated to meet pre-requisite nursing criteria.

If an adult student has not completed high school chemistry with a “C” or higher, a CHE 2202 and 2203 from Cincinnati State will be accepted as an equivalent. Students completing pre-requisite coursework (listed above) at the Mount will be considered as leading candidates for admission to the Nursing Program. All college coursework from previous institutions will be transferred and evaluated to meet pre-requisite nursing criteria. Transfer students will be admitted to the program as space becomes available.