Progression is competitive, based on progression GPA and interview score. Progression to upper division is limited to a set number of qualified students based on available clinical faculty and clinical placement sites.
The average competitive applicant for the 2023-2024 admission cycle for an admitted upper division student included a progression GPA of 3.780. Interested applicants must retain consistently competitive grades in progression courses to increase chances of admission into upper division.
Progression Courses (Effective Fall 2024)
- BIOL 243* & BIOL 243L*
- BIOL 244* * BIOL 244L*
- BIOL 250* & BIOL 250L*
- CHEM 102*
- NURS 112*
- NURS 216*
Course descriptions are listed in the undergraduate academic bulletin.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Meeting the minimum admission criteria (Institutional GPA of 3.000) does not guarantee admission to upper division.
- Students accepted into the upper division will begin upper division courses in the summer or fall following their second spring semester in lower division (pre-nursing). Students may indicate a preference for summer or fall start during the application process. However, there is no guarantee students will be placed in their preferred term due to factors such as cohort size and clinical site availability.
- Students are encouraged to investigate their financial aid/scholarship/funding sources in preparation for their upper division start, specifically investigating available funding sources for starting upper division in the summer term. Review the BSN Start-Up Costs page for more information on what to expect for upper division costs.
- Approximately 290 competitive admission seats may be available each progression cycle based on clinical site availability. Over the past three years, the program has accepted between 250 to 290 students per admission cycle. This number may vary slightly each cycle based on clinical availability.
- Smart Start Nursing Honors Program students who meet eligibility requirements are automatically accepted into the upper
division but are still required to complete the upper division application process
and therefore are not automatically accepted into the upper division. These students
are required to apply for admission into upper division through the competitive upper
division admissions process.
- Students in the South Carolina Honors College who change their major to Nursing after already being admitted to the University are not admitted to the Smart Start Nursing Program.
- Navy and Army ROTC students who meet eligibility requirements and are identified as ROTC nursing scholarship recipients, by the respective branch, are automatically accepted into upper division but are still required to complete the application process. There are (3) direct admit seats for Army ROTC nursing majors and (3) direct admit seats for Navy ROTC nursing majors.
- All accepted upper division applicants are notified no later than mid-January.
- A complete application for upper division includes a completed interview and applicant form submitted by the published deadline.
Students who are not accepted into the upper division should speak with USC Exploratory Advising if interested in another major. If a student chooses to reapply to upper division, it is recommended the student speak with their assigned nursing advisor regarding the feasibility of reapplication. Students who plan to reapply to upper division must submit a new application during the next admission cycle and will enter the new admission cycle applicant pool.