There are two cycles each year for admission into the RN-BSN co-enrollment program.
For Fall Admission:
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- Submit application by May 20
- Notify of admission decision by June 1
For Spring Admission:
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- Submit application by October 15
- Notify of admission decision November 1
Applicants must be accepted into a RN associate degree nursing program through a VCCS school and have met the pre-requisites outlined in the RN-BSN Co-Enrollment Requirements; however, we also welcome applications from students who are in the process of receiving acceptance into a VCCS nursing program. Acceptance for all applicants is contingent upon acceptance into a VCCS nursing program.
A phone interview with the program coordinator may be required prior to receiving an admission decision.
Yes. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for co-enrollment program applicants only. Once co-enrollment students transition into the degree-seeking RN-BSN program, official copies of transcripts will be required.
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from another institution or from JMU are exempt from completing the pre-requisite, co-requisite, and general education requirements with the exception of the Nursing pre-requisite requirements. Nursing pre-requisite requirements must be met in order to be considered for the program. All other admission requirements remain in effect.
The process to apply also remains the same. JMU graduates will need to complete a new application to begin a new career at JMU.
Yes! We welcome all former Dukes. Once previous non-graduating JMU students transition into the degree-seeking RN-BSN program, they will be guided to apply for re-entry to the university through the Office of Academic Student Services. No additional application is necessary. Learn more about the re-entry process.
In order to apply to the RN-BSN Co-Enrollment Program you must meet the following requirements:
- have been accepted into a VCCS school RN program
- have transcripts reflecting a cumulative GPA on all college work attempted of a 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for any nursing courses completed, excluding repeated courses
- have met the following pre-requisites following acceptance into a VCCS school RN associate degree program:
These Course Numbers Are Based on VCCS Equivalents
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- BIO 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- ENG 111 College Composition I
- PSY 230 Developmental Psychology
- SDV Student Development
- be committed to 11 or fewer credits in their ADN program each semester to ensure success in nursing courses at both VCCS and JMU.
- be able to meet the JMU School of Nursing Technical Standards for nursing practice and follow guidelines set forth in the RN-BSN Handbook.
Students who have met these requirements can submit an application. Visit the How To Apply page to access the application.
The JMU RN-BSN program accepts CLEP test credit for co-requisite and general education courses only. CLEP test credit for nursing and pre-requisite courses is not accepted. View more information on CLEP test credit.
The RN-BSN Co-Enrollment Program requires transcripts reflecting a cumulative GPA on all college work attempted of a 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for any nursing courses completed, excluding repeated courses. It is paramount that students do well in their VCCS courses, therefore students with a GPA lower than 2.5 or who have repeated a nursing course will not be considered.
Each entry cohort is limited to 20 students. All applicants are strongly encouraged to follow application guidelines carefully and submit all application materials by deadlines.
No. The co-enrollment program is flexible and entry is open to any qualified VCCS student enrolled in an ADN nursing program, regardless of their semester in the program. Students may start in their first, second, third, or even fourth semester and their plan of study will be tailored accordingly.
No. To matriculate as a degree-seeking student into the RN-BSN program you need to 1) have an active nursing license and 2) be working as a RN. The semester after you graduate you should be working on studying and passing your NCLEX, and orienting to your new position as an RN.
No. Students who graduate in December from their ADN program may transition into the degree-seeking program during the summer following their graduation. Students are advised to use the spring semester to sit for NCLEX and may transition into the degree-seeking program in the summer. Students will work with their adviser to tailor their plan of study accordingly.
Please go to the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for your program of study.
Students will spend between 1 and 4 semesters in the co-enrollment program, based on which semester they are completing in their associate degree program. Totals include number of credit hours plus $20 non-degree seeking application fee (paid once per academic year in the co-enrollment program).
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Program Costs |
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|---|---|---|
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First Semester |
4 credit hours + $20 application fee |
$1,872 |
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Second Semester |
3 credit hours |
$1,389 |
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Third Semester |
3 credit hours + $20 application fee |
$1,409 |
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Fourth Semester |
3 credit hours |
$1,389 |
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Total: $6,059 *Based on in-state tuition rate |
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Undergraduate Tuition Rates 2024-2025 - Fall and Spring
- In-State: $463 per credit hour
- Out-of-State: $473 per credit hour
The university reserves the right to adjust tuition and fee charges because of rising costs or other conditions upon approval of the JMU Board of Visitors.
The James Madison University School of Nursing is committed to assisting students with identifying and obtaining resources to finance higher education. The VCCS school students attend for their associate degree in nursing is designated as the home institution. It is in the best interest of students co-enrolled in the VCCS to continue receiving aid solely through their community college for their associate degree completion. JMU will not count the classes students are taking at a VCCS school while completing their ADN when determining financial aid eligibility. Once students graduate with their associate degree from their VCCS school, they may apply for financial aid through the FAFSA and explore additional resources through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships upon entering the program as a traditional degree-seeking student in the RN-BSN Program at JMU.
Please go to the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for your program of study.
Unfortunately not. We are vested in your success at your VCCS program. Taking too many courses simultaneously can overload your schedule and cause poor performance in courses that are essential to your academic success. The only exception is during your first semester at JMU while taking the 1 credit Strategies for Success course in addition to your scheduled 3 credit course.
No. Non-degree seeking applications are valid for one academic year (fall, spring and summer.) Students only need to complete the non-degree seeking application each fall they are in the co-enrollment program.
Yes. Qualified co-enrollment students may participate in the Costa Rica study abroad program either as co-enrolled students or as degree-seeking students during summer transition into the degree-seeking program. Please note: This program is not offered every year. Please check the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) website for offerings.More information can be found on the Costa Rica Community Health Clinical Summer Study Abroad page.
Successful completion of all VCCS nursing courses is a requirement. Students must submit unofficial transcripts at the end of each semester while enrolled as a co-enrollment student. Students must achieve a C or higher for all nursing courses while a co-enrollment student. Students with grades less than a C will be required to take a leave of absence from JMU until they have completed their ADN.
As you get close to graduation, you need to stay in touch with your RN-BSN adviser. You will have the opportunity to design your plan of study moving forward. Remember you need to pass your NCLEX to matriculate into the program as a degree-seeking student. Once you have let your adviser know of your plans, the operations coordinator will send you information on how to apply to the degree-seeking RN-BSN program after your last semester as a co-enrollment student.
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