Accelerated Nursing

You are eligible for consideration into USF's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree program, if you meet the following criteria by the start of the program:

• You have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study.
• You earned a minimum of 2.75 cumulative GPA from all previous college courses.
• You earned a minimum of 2.75 GPA in the required Accelerated Nursing Program prerequisite courses, noted above.
• You’ve completed the Accelerated Degree in Nursing application for admission.
• You’ve submitted three professional references.
• You’ve passed a comprehensive background check.
• You’ve provided proof of English proficiency (if applicable).
• In some cases, you may be asked to complete an on-campus interview prior to admission to USF’s Accelerated Nursing Program.

Students can apply to the accelerated nursing program before graduating. If you do not meet all of the above criteria, you are encouraged to contact nursing@usiouxfalls.edu to discuss eligibility options. 

Your application to the USF School of Nursing serves as your application for admission to the University of Sioux Falls.

Applications for the Accelerated Nursing Program are collected through NursingCAS. This application serves as your application for the University of Sioux Falls and USF School of Nursing. Accelerated applications will be accepted beginning March 1st. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once all application materials have been received by the School of Nursing. Applications will continue being accepted as space allows in the program.

Priority Deadline: July 1, 2025 | Final Deadline: January 2, 2026

Students with finalized applications by the priority deadline will be considered for admission before all spots are filled. While the final deadline is January 2, it is strongly encouraged to have your application submitted no later than December 15 to provide adequate time for application review and final document collection. 

Within the application, you will be required to supply three professional references. Each of your professional references will submit their reference form directly to USF on your behalf. 

Apply Now

Request official transcript(s) from every college or university you have attended to be sent directly to the USF School of Nursing. Official transcript(s) must be received either by email or in a sealed envelope and contain the embossed seal of the college or university and the signature of the Registrar. Faxed copies are not considered official.

If you have been previously admitted to the University of Sioux Falls, you need only request official transcripts for transfer courses not already recorded on your USF transcript.

Submission by mail:

School of Nursing
University of Sioux Falls
1101 W 22nd St
Sioux Falls, SD 57105

Submission by email:

nursing@usiouxfalls.edu

Students Actively Enrolled in Courses:

Students actively enrolled in courses should request official transcripts once final grades have been posted. This will eliminate the need to order another set of transcripts.

Recommended Process:

• Submit unofficial transcripts for evaluation before final grades have been posted.
• Submit official transcripts once final grades have been posted.

All applicants of the accelerated nursing program whose language of nurture is not English must demonstrate English competency with acceptable test scores or educational background.

TOEFL or IELTS Score

• Minimum TOEFL score: Composite Score: 84 | Speaking Score: 26
• Minimum IELTS score:  Band Score: 6.5 | Minimum Score in Any One Module: 6.0

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States college or university

1. Apply for admission and receive a letter of acceptance into the accelerated nursing program at the University of Sioux Falls.
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov and have the results sent to USF (school code 003469). The FAFSA form must be renewed on an annual basis.
   1. Accelerated nursing students will need to file two (2) FAFSAs over the course of the program.
3. Respond quickly to any information requests by the USF Financial Aid Office.
   1. The University of Sioux Falls may request additional information in order to verify the information on your FAFSA. You may be requested to submit official documents such as a tax transcript, provided by the IRS or other certified information.
4. The accelerated nursing program is a cohort program where students follow a pre-established schedule of coursework. You are awarded financial aid based on your enrollment status.
5. Students needing financial assistance to complete one of these programs have other financing options for semesters when federal loans are not available. Students can apply for a private alternative bank loan or an interest free payment plan. See the Alternative Funding Sources page for further details on these options.