Admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree is a selective process.

In the selection process for applicants, program faculty will consider years of registered nurse experience, professional experience relevant to the specific MSN concentration and evidence of scholarship and involvement in the nursing profession as indicated on the applicant's résumé, along with GPA and intent for full-time study.

• Bachelor's and/or graduate degree from an accredited registered nursing program.
  • Applicants with an RN license and a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field will be considered based on faculty review of a portfolio submitted with the application.
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate/graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale.
  • Applicants with a lower GPA may be considered for conditional admission according to the University's Graduate Student Admission Policy.
• Completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a minimum C grade.
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which clinical coursework will be completed.
• Résumé or curriculum vitae.
• Essay (2-3 pages) describing reasons for seeking the master's degree in the identified specialty and professional goals.
• Three letters of reference from a health care professional or academic faculty who can speak to the applicant's professional and academic abilities.
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 560 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 83 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 78 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 55 PTE score

International applicants must also meet other minimum requirements, such as visa eligibility and documentation of financial resources. Please refer to the International Graduate Application Guide.

The MSN/MBA program requires applicants to complete the GMAT or GRE.

Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy.

Apply Now

Conditional admission

Applicants who do not meet the minimum University and/or program requirements may be considered for conditional admission. Admission in such cases will depend heavily on other indices of the student’s ability to handle graduate-level work. These might include strong performance on standardized tests, GPA in the major and/or other experiences that are clearly indicative of strong academic ability.

Deferred admission

Admitted students are expected to enroll in and attend courses during the term for which they were admitted.  As a courtesy, the Division of Graduate Studies allows admitted students to defer the term of enrollment to another term within one calendar year from the term of admission. Initial enrollment beyond one year is not permitted. To defer enrollment to a later term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education. 

Students who have not enrolled in or attended courses within one calendar year of admission will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee if they wish to attend courses.

Change of Application Term section

Applications and application materials are valid for one year only. Applicants may change the term of their application to a later term within one calendar year from the date the completed online application form was submitted. To be considered for admission during a different term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education to request an application term change and receive instructions on next steps.

It is important to note that some programs admit only one term per year. Refer to individual the programs website or University Catalog for the term(s) during which the program will consider admission.

Applicants interested in admission after one year will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee.

Guide to Graduate Education

For more information about Kent State University’s admission policies please review the Guide to Graduate Education.

Guide to Graduate Education

Post-Master's Certificate applicants must show:

• Official transcript(s)
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which practicum hours will be completed
• Master's degree in nursing or a doctorate in nursing practice from an accredited nursing program
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000 scale
• Résumé or vita
• Transcript(s) of all previous graduate coursework
  • Transcript(s) must indicate completion of graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment, with a minimum B grade earned in each course. Applicants who do not meet the grade requirement for advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment may be considered for a conditional admission.
  • For applicants who have not practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse within the two-year period preceding application to the certificate, completion of graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment must not be greater than five years old at the time of the student's first semester of course registration in the certificate.
• Syllabi of all courses to considered for transfer in the gap analysis
• Three letters of reference from health care professionals or faculty members
• English language proficiency requirements for international students (effective spring 2018):
  • Minimum 83 TOEFL IBT score
  • Minimum 560 TOEFL PBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 78 MELAB score
  • Minimum 55 PTE score

International applicants must also meet other minimum requirements, such as visa eligibility and documentation of financial resources. Please refer to the International Graduate Application Guide.

Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy.

Apply Now

Conditional admission

Applicants who do not meet the minimum University and/or program requirements may be considered for conditional admission. Admission in such cases will depend heavily on other indices of the student’s ability to handle graduate-level work. These might include strong performance on standardized tests, GPA in the major and/or other experiences that are clearly indicative of strong academic ability.

Deferred admission

Admitted students are expected to enroll in and attend courses during the term for which they were admitted.  As a courtesy, the Division of Graduate Studies allows admitted students to defer the term of enrollment to another term within one calendar year from the term of admission. Initial enrollment beyond one year is not permitted. To defer enrollment to a later term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education. 

Students who have not enrolled in or attended courses within one calendar year of admission will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee if they wish to attend courses.

Change of Application Term section

Applications and application materials are valid for one year only. Applicants may change the term of their application to a later term within one calendar year from the date the completed online application form was submitted. To be considered for admission during a different term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education  to request an application term change and receive instructions on next steps.

It is important to note that some programs admit only one term per year. Refer to individual the programs website or University Catalog for the term(s) during which the program will consider admission.

Applicants interested in admission after one year will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee.

Guide to Graduate Education

For more information about Kent State University’s admission policies please review the Guide to Graduate Education.

Guide to Graduate Education

Applicants to the DNP program must have

• Bachelor's degree in nursing¹ or master's degree in advanced practice nursing² that is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Minimum overall 3.000 GPA on a 4.000 point scale
• Completion of an undergraduate- or graduate-level statistics course with a minimum C grade
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which the student's practica will be completed
• GRE scores, no more than five years old (Effective spring 2019, GRE scores will only be required for post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae that demonstrates professional experience in nursing
• Essay (300 words) describing professional goals and reasons for seeking the professional practice doctorate
• Three letters of reference from health care professionals or academic faculty who can speak to the applicant's professional and academic abilities
• Pre-admission interview

English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 560 TOEFL score (83 on the Internet-based version), minimum 78 MELAB score, minimum 6.5 IELTS score or minimum 55 PTE score.

International applicants must also meet other minimum requirements, such as visa eligibility and documentation of financial resources. Please refer to the International Graduate Application Guide.

Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy.

Apply Now

Conditional admission

Applicants who do not meet the minimum University and/or program requirements may be considered for conditional admission. Admission in such cases will depend heavily on other indices of the student’s ability to handle graduate-level work. These might include strong performance on standardized tests, GPA in the major and/or other experiences that are clearly indicative of strong academic ability.

Deferred admission

Admitted students are expected to enroll in and attend courses during the term for which they were admitted.  As a courtesy, the Division of Graduate Studies allows admitted students to defer the term of enrollment to another term within one calendar year from the term of admission. Initial enrollment beyond one year is not permitted. To defer enrollment to a later term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education. 

Students who have not enrolled in or attended courses within one calendar year of admission will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee if they wish to attend courses.

Change of Application Term section

Applications and application materials are valid for one year only. Applicants may change the term of their application to a later term within one calendar year from the date the completed online application form was submitted. To be considered for admission during a different term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education  to request an application term change and receive instructions on next steps.

It is important to note that some programs admit only one term per year. Refer to individual the programs website or University Catalog for the term(s) during which the program will consider admission.

Applicants interested in admission after one year will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee.

Guide to Graduate Education

For more information about Kent State University’s admission policies please review the Guide to Graduate Education.

Guide to Graduate Education

Applications to the Ph.D. in Nursing Program must have

• Active, unrestricted Ohio registered nurse license (international students need to show proof of legal ability to practice as a registered nurse in country of origin)
• Bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing or related fields, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, from an accredited program¹ for unconditional admission
• Minimum overall 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale for unconditional admission
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Essay (two pages, single-spaced) addressing the following questions:
  • Why do you want to pursue a Ph.D. in nursing?
  • What are your professional goals?
  • How have you been involved in research, publications or professional presentations?
  • How have you been involved in professional organizations?
  • What are your research interests?
  • Why are you interested in these research areas?
  • How could research—and specifically your research—in these areas advance science?
• Three letters of reference from health care professionals or academic faculty members who can speak to the applicant's professional and academic abilities (two of the three references from Ph.D.-prepared individuals are preferred)
• Interview

English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students: all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:

• Minimum 560 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
• Minimum 83 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
• Minimum78 MELAB score
• Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
• Minimum 55 PTE score
• Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

For more information about graduate student support, please visit this website: www.kent.edu/graduatestudies. For more information on international student support, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website here: www.kent.edu/kent/global-education.

¹A bachelor's degree in a closely related health field may be considered if the applicant has a master's degree in nursing or a D.N.P. degree from an accredited program. A master's degree in a closely related field may be considered if the applicant has a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program.

Students selected for admission to the nursing program must meet the College of Nursing's Clinical Compliance Policy.

Apply Now

Deferred admission

Admitted students are expected to enroll in and attend courses during the term for which they were admitted.  As a courtesy, the Division of Graduate Studies allows admitted students to defer the term of enrollment to another term within one calendar year from the term of admission. Initial enrollment beyond one year is not permitted. To defer enrollment to a later term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education. 

Students who have not enrolled in or attended courses within one calendar year of admission will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee if they wish to attend courses.

Change of Application Term section

Applications and application materials are valid for one year only. Applicants may change the term of their application to a later term within one calendar year from the date the completed online application form was submitted. To be considered for admission during a different term, domestic applicants should contact the Division of Graduate Studies and international applicants should contact the Office of Global Education  to request an application term change and receive instructions on next steps.

It is important to note that some programs admit only one term per year. Refer to individual the programs website or University Catalog for the term(s) during which the program will consider admission.

Applicants interested in admission after one year will need to submit a new application and pay a new application fee.

Guide to Graduate Education

For more information about Kent State University’s admission policies please review the Guide to Graduate Education.

Guide to Graduate Education