Application Preparation - GPA
BSN Application: GPA
The Prerequisite GPA makes up 25% of the overall admission decision for both the Traditional and Second-Degree BSN programs and reflects a student's academic readiness for the rigor of the nursing curriculum. It is reviewed separately from the other components of the application to ensure a fair and balanced process.
The Prerequisite GPA is the academic component of the application, calculated from required prerequisite courses. While it reflects performance and consistency over time, it is evaluated on its own and does not influence the assessment of the interview, Student Profile, or Personal Statement. This ensures every applicant is considered holistically, with the GPA serving as a clear measure of academic preparation.
Prerequisite GPA
- Calculated from only the designated pre-nursing courses.
- Applicants must have a minimum 2.7 prerequisite GPA with a C or better in all prerequisites.
- This GPA is worth 25% of the total admission decision.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to submitting the application.
Overall GPA
- Includes all college courses you've completed.
- A minimum 2.7 overall GPA is required to be eligible to submit an application.
- While it determines eligibility, the overall GPA is NOT one of the four admission components.
Applicant Progression Policy
Once a student is offered admission to the BSN program, to maintain their admitted status within the Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON), they must:
- Meet all KCON admission requirements at the time of application and be admitted for the next nursing cohort
- Have a complete graded attempt of all required coursework before their initial cohort start date
In the event that a student is not academically eligible at the end of their application semester and/or their initial cohort start date, students may have a seat held for the next available cohort under the following circumstances:
- Student is not eligible to start with their initial cohort due to an academic progression reason only
- Student has not withdrawn from any required coursework between application submission and their intended cohort start date
- Requirements needing a second graded attempt must be completed successfully in next available semester
- In cases where students can complete a necessary retake before their intended cohort start, they must do so to have a seat held
Any exceptions to this policy will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis by the KCON Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee.
Resources
Schedule an individual tutoring session for personalized support in your classes.
Stop by the success centers for help with subjects like chemistry, anatomy, and more!
Schedule an appointment with an advisor for academic planning and guidance.
Learn time management, study strategies, and tools to help you thrive in your courses.
Look up how courses from other institutions transfer into your program.
Explore pre-identified academic plans designed for students starting at a community college.
Review required scores and how AP, IB, or CLEP credits may apply.
Website coming soon...Review commonly approved substitutions for KCON's core requirements.
GPA FAQs
GPA is only one of four factors used in the admission decision and is worth 25% of the overall score. The minimum required prerequisite GPA is 2.7. Successful applicants have been admitted with GPAs ranging from 2.7 to 4.0. While doing well in your coursework strengthens your application, having a perfect GPA is not necessary for admission.
Traditional BSN admission prerequisite courses:
- BIO 120 General Biology
- CHM 109 Introductory Chemistry
- PSY 101 Introductory Psychology
- WRT 150 Strategies in Writing or WRT 130 Writing Stretch II or an Honors Sequence Course
- CHM 234 Introductory Biochemistry
- BMS 250 Anatomy & Physiology I
- One General Education course or Honors Sequence Course (not already required for the nursing curriculum)
Second-Degree BSN admission prerequisite courses:
- CHM 234 Introductory Biochemistry
- BMS 250 Anatomy & Physiology I
- BMS 251 Anatomy & Physiology II
- BMS 212 Microbiology
- BIO 355 Genetics
- PSY 364 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Some substitutions may be allowed. If you believe you have taken an appropriate course that does not exactly match the listed requirement, you should work with an academic advisor to verify whether it can be accepted.
Yes. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a C or better before submitting your application. These courses determine your prerequisite GPA, which makes up 25% of the admission decision.
However, co-requisite courses can be in progress when you apply. If you are admitted, they must be finished with a C or better before starting the program.
Traditional BSN Corequisites:
- BMS 251 Anatomy & Physiology II
- BMS 212 Microbiology Lecture
- BMS 213 Microbiology Lab
- STA 215 Statistics
- PSY 364 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Second-Degree BSN Corequisites:
- BMS 305 Clinical Nutrition
- BMS 310 Pathophysiology
- STA 215 Statistics
Your prerequisite GPA is calculated using only the required prerequisite courses. If a course is repeated (within the allowed repeat policy), the most recent grade is used. The admissions committee only reviews the final prerequisite GPA—they do not analyze how many courses were repeated or the step-by-step breakdown, as long as you are within the policy.
Yes. Transfer courses that are equivalent to required prerequisites are included in your prerequisite GPA calculation. Courses taken at Grand Valley or another accredited institution are treated equally—the location of the course does not affect the admissions decision.
In addition, all college coursework, including transfer courses, is factored into your overall GPA.
Website: Course Equivalencies
Approved AP, IB, or CLEP credits are accepted if you earned the minimum required score. These credits can waive a prerequisite or co-requisite requirement. However:
- They will appear on your transcript as transfer credit, not as a letter grade.
- Because no GPA is assigned, they do not factor into your prerequisite GPA.
- Your prerequisite GPA is calculated only from graded college coursework.
This means that AP, IB, or CLEP can satisfy the requirement for a course, but they will not raise or lower your GPA.
Website: Credit by Exam
Generally, no. High school courses and high school GPA are not reviewed for the nursing application. The only exceptions are:
- Dual enrollment courses taken for college credit during high school.
- Approved AP, IB, or CLEP credits (if minimum scores are earned)
Website: Credit by Exam or Transfer Equivalencies
Yes, but there are limits:
- Each course may only be repeated once.
- Students are allowed no more than three total repeats.
- Within those, a maximum of two repeats may be in BIO, BMS, or CHM courses.
As long as you stay within the repeat policy, the number of times you repeat a course does not affect the admissions decision beyond how the final grade impacts your GPA.
As part of the nursing application, you will be required to:
- Identify how you completed each prerequisite course (e.g., institution, transfer, AP/IB/CLEP credit).
- Report the letter grade you received for each prerequisite course (if applicable).
Additionally, all official transcripts from any institutions you attended must be on file with Grand Valley's Admissions Office, along with any official AP, IB, or CLEP score reports. Transcripts and AP/IB/CLEP score reports are not submitted with the nursing application itself. They must be sent directly to Grand Valley and on file with the university before your application is considered complete.