Program Admission

Admission Policy

Admission to Coe College does not assure entry into the nursing program. This webpage defines the requirements for acceptance into the program and the two paths for entry into the nursing program.

Admission to the Coe College Nursing Department Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is competitive because only a limited number of students can be supported in our preceptor model. The Nursing Department Admissions, Promotion and Retention Committee is responsible for determining the entry process for each student and reviews each student's academic record to ensure eligibility requirements are met both at the time of entry and throughout the program.

Eligibility requirements for the nursing program:

Admittance eligibility prerequisites

For a student to be eligible to take nursing courses at Coe (other than NUR 100 and 200), the following eligibility requirements must be met:

1. Complete Coe College General Education requirements and 16 course credits.
2. Complete NUR 100 Nursing Issues (freshmen) and NUR 200 Nursing Issues II (sophomores) each semester that the student is in attendance at Coe College prior to entering the Nursing major.
3. Satisfactorily complete, the following required supporting courses:
4. BIO-100 Human Biology
5. BIO-195 Introduction to Microbiology (lab included)
6. BIO-215L Human Anatomy Lab
7. BIO-215 Human Anatomy
8. BIO-225 Human Physiology
9. CHM-111 Introduction to Organic & Biological Chemistry (lab included)
10. PSY-100 Introductory Psychology
11. STA 100/110 Statistical Reasoning I /Statistical Reasoning IIA
12. SOC-107 Introductory Sociology
13. Complete all required supporting courses (with a C or better) with no one specific course repeated more than once and with no more than two different courses repeated due to earning less than a C. This rule applies to courses taken at Coe and other institutions.
14. Earn a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.70.
15. Possess valid licensure.
    1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – only applies to current LPNs.
    2. Certified Nursing Assistant (Direct Care Worker or Prepare to Care), which must be current/active on first day of fall class junior year.
    3. License regulations in accordance with the State of Iowa Board of Nursing state that a clinical component may not be taken by a person:
       1. Who had been denied licensure by the board.
       2. Whose licensure is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in any United States jurisdiction.
       3. Whose licensure/ registration is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in another country due to disciplinary action.
16. A background check will be conducted for applicants, it is expected that students will have no criminal record and no dependent adult/child abuse offenses. However, if there is an offense, students will be asked to complete an Explanation of Offense form. That form along with copies of the student's background check will be sent to the Iowa Department of Human Services. DHS will review the information and determine if the student will be granted to work in health care facilities.
17. Students must submit to a functional assessment by a licensed physician or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) and be found safe to work with or without accommodations in health care facilities.

Requirements to remain in the program once admitted:

1. Complete all nursing courses with a C or better.
2. Maintain at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA.
3. Continue with no criminal record and no dependent adult/child abuse offenses.

PROGRAM ENTRY

Coe College offers two paths to enter the nursing program. Standard entry is for sophomore level (or higher) college students and direct entry is for selected high school seniors. Transfer students will be considered and advised on an individual basis by the nursing department.

Standard Entry Plan:

Sophomore level (or higher) college students who (1) are projected to meet the eligibility requirements above and (2) are registered for remaining prerequisite spring term courses are invited to complete an application for admission to the Coe College Nursing Program annually toward the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year.

In reviewing applications, the Nursing Department APR Committee considers the following criteria to determine the most qualified eligible candidates: overall GPA, academic performance in the required supporting courses, especially the natural sciences, the number of courses taken at Coe College, the number of repeated courses, nursing application responses and the courses left to complete at time of application to the nursing program. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program.

Direct Entry Plan: 

Direct entry into the Coe College Nursing Program is available for selected high school students (meeting ACT or SAT and GPA requirements). No more than one-third of total possible enrollment will be chosen for direct entry. Students selected for direct entry will remain a direct entry student as long as they meet all standard entry eligibility requirements. If standard entry eligibility requirements are not met, the student is no longer considered a direct entry student and must follow the Standard Entry Plan for the nursing program. 

Direct Entry Criteria: To be considered for direct entry, students must meet minimum ACT or SAT, GPA, and course requirements (listed below). Admission is competitive, and there are a limited number of available spots. Thus, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. All direct entry applicant files are reviewed and approved by the nursing faculty.

1. Minimum 3.5 or higher GPA (weighted or unweighted);
2. High School Coursework;
   • 4 years of English
   • 3 years of Natural Sciences (1 year Biology, 1 year Chemistry, 1 year Physics)
   • 3 years of Math (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)
   • 3 years of Social Studies
3. Minimum 24 ACT Composite score or equivalent of SAT score (ranging between 1160-1190) or higher