How Nigerians Can Get Admission to Study Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Science (BNS) in the United States: Key Facts -By Olusoji AJAO

There is no better time to pursue a career in nursing than now. With the  COVID-19 pandemic that has over stretched the global health system; all over the world, the demand for nurses has been on steady increase. Besides, generous scholarships opportunities are made available  to those seeking  to study nursing science at degree level. 

As of September 2021, the ranking of six fastest-growing jobs of the decade that pay over $100,000, by CNBC, placed nursing practitioners in the first position with $111,680 median pay. Followed by information security analysts.

Now that you have decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science (BNS), in this article you will get all the  necessary information you need to realise your dream. 

You will understand the  general and specific requirements or prerequisites for admission, duration of the course, the  average cost of study and also the list of top  universities in the US for BSN. 

General and Specific Requirements and Prerequisites for  Admission into  BSN

As a Nigerian, seeking admission to study Nursing Science, in the US universities, bear in mind that not  all US universities accept NECO results, but  all of them accept WAEC results. 

WAEC is a transnational certificate obtainable in five West African countries namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia. On the other  hand NECO which was founded in 1998 is a Nigerian national examination meant for Nigerian students only. This could be the reason why WAEC is preferred.

In your WAEC results, you need to have credit passes in five subjects namely: Mathematics, English language, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, preferably at one sitting. 

It is also important to note that most universities in the US request that BNS applicants submit  tests of English results as part of  the application process. The most widely accepted tests of English are TOEFL and IELTS. Each university stipulates the acceptable scores in these examinations.

Apart from academic requirements for admission, some universities demand that applicants submit a motivation letter as one of the required documents for admission. 

The motivation letter should indicate your passion for the nursing profession, for instance you could state that you decided to pursue a career in nursing because you were a health prefect at secondary school. Also, in your motivation letter you might consider including your envisaged career life in the next five years. 

Another important document required for application is a reference letter from  your mentor or former teacher. Some universities only request for one recommendation letter while others demand two letters. 

Another  important aspect of the application process is the payment of processing fees. This is usually less  than $100. However in rare cases some universities waive application fees.

Program Duration

The duration for a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science is four (4) years, in the US. In the  final year you will be required to submit a long essay on any topic of your choice in Nursing Science as part of  the requirements for the award of bachelor’s degree.

Program Tuition

The tuition varies depending on the classification of the university in question. Top universities are usually expensive. However, there are funding opportunities for international students in the form of scholarships or loans.

Basically on average it costs about $10,000 per academic year for a BSN program. Some affordable universities charge as low as $4,000 per academic year. 

                      Acceptance Rate

Just as tuition varies according to ratings of universities, so also the acceptance rate, for instance at  South Dakota State University, the acceptance Rate is as high as 92.4%,  for Illinois State University, acceptance rate is 89.2%, however for Saint Louis University, the acceptance rate is as low  as 57.5%, while acceptance rate at Loyola University is 67.9%.

                        NCLEX Pass Rate

In the US, before trained nurses could be eligible to apply for licensure, they must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). 

The NCLEX competence assessment test is being  organised by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The exam ascertains candidates’ competence to work in healthcare care or hospital facilities.

Generally the pass rate is higher among US-trained nursing candidates than their foreign-trained counterparts. Also within the US the pass rate is distributed by states and  by individual universities. 

The 2021 NCLEX aggregated pass rate for all candidates Is put  at 68.85%. The assessment is  based on pass or fail, rather than on percentage ranking. 

Top Programs in the US: No Ranking!

As of 2021, based on data from the  the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN), there are close to 1,000 bachelor degrees in Nursing Science (BSN) available in the United States. It is expected that more BSN programs would be set up in response  to shortage in nursing staff since  the outbreak of COVID-19. Below are top nursing degree programs for 2022/2023 admission:

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 

School of Nursing and Health Science

The School offers BSN and has one of the highest NCLEX RN pass rates and about 100% employment rate for its nursing graduates..

To be considered for admission into  BSN, you need to have passed the SAT and pay $20 as application fees.  For more information visit the School’s website 

Ball State University 

College and Department of Nursing 

The College of Nursing has an impressive passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). With an average of 95% NCLEX-RN licensure exam first-time pass rate. Application information is available here 

Colorado Christian University

School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Colorado Christian University’s Nursing programs are topnotch the student nurses are trained to see nursing as both a scientific discipline and as a sacred calling. Application details are available here. 

The University of South Alabama

 College of Nursing

This College of Nursing has generous scholarships opportunities for international students. However,  acceptance rate is low, detailed information about the application process is available here.

The Troy University 

School of Nursing

The Troy University School of Nursing is one  of US’ best schools to acquire nursing training. Though the SAT test is required for international students, it has a reputation for high NCLEX Pass Rate. More information about the application is available here. 

Olusoji AJAO is a Lagos-based, Global Affairs Analyst, for comments or questions kindly follow him on Twitter: @OlusojiAjao