Students entering the program can experience traditional college opportunities, including: living on campus, NCAA athletics, and participation in student organizations while also taking advantage of the high quality, nationally accredited expertise of UWSP and our partner ADN programs.

Students may begin their coursework at UWSP or partner institutions by taking general education courses in addition to the partnership program’s ADN admission requirements. It is possible to be dually enrolled at UWSP and the local partner institution to complete these requirements.

This program provides an efficient and affordable path to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in Central Wisconsin. For students beginning at UWSP, the program provides a competitive application process for UWSP students to gain entrance into a partner’s ADN program at Mid-State, NTC or Nicolet. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection via the competitive application process. Priority for selection is given to students that have: (1) successfully completed pre-nursing and general education requirements, (2) greater credit hours with UWSP, and (3) a higher cumulative GPA. Students may be selected for placement in the ADN program at any of our three partner institutions: Mid-State, NTC or Nicolet.

Upon completion of the ADN, students then complete the RN to BSN Completion program with UWSP. The RN to BSN Completion program requires students to have an Associate Degree in Nursing.

When do I apply to the Nursing Program?

• There is not a set requirement on when you must apply, but if you want to follow our sample graduation plan as an incoming freshman starting in the fall, and want to graduate with both your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within the four-year timeframe, it is recommended to apply at the end of your second semester of freshman year, while enrolled in General Anatomy and Physiology with the technical college. Transfer students or students bringing in a lot of dual enrollment credits from high school may want to develop a customized grad plan with the UWSP nursing adviser to determine application timeline. Students who were required to take MATH 90 based on the math placement test will likely apply during their fourth semester and graduate with the BSN in 4.5 years total.
• UWSP Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Application Checklist

The 1+2+1 partnership program is a unique opportunity for UWSP students. In this program, students spend 1 year at UWSP + 2 years at a partner program school completing associate degree in nursing and then +1 year back at UWSP for completion of the BSN degree. This unique opportunity gets students into the workforce sooner, gaining salary and benefit options with licensure, while completing a bachelor’s degree.

Students get the best of both worlds with our 1+2+1 program, they get to experience traditional college opportunities, including: living on campus, NCAA athletics and participation in student organizations–all of this while taking advantage of the high-quality, nationally accredited expertise of UW-Stevens Point and our partnering programs. The nursing partner program is with Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin.

For more information about the UW-Stevens Point international nursing program, contact Krista Nelsen, international recruitment specialist, at 715-346-2702 or krista.nelsen@uwsp.edu. You may also learn more about the Office of International Education.

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

This program meets the certification/licensure requirements in the following states/territories*: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

This program does not meet the certification/licensure requirements in the following states/territories**: Alaska, American Samoa, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

* The UW-Stevens Point Pre-Nursing (1+2+1) curriculum fulfills the State of Wisconsin requirements for licensure. Additionally, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) permits licensed nurses to practice in participating states. More information on states that participate in the NLC may be found here: https://www.nursecompact.com/. 

** Several states and territories in the “do not meet” list above have legislation and implementation pending to join the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Prospective students in any of these states should examine the status of the NLC agreements at: https://www.nursecompact.com/.

The numbers 1+2+1 represent the general structure of a student’s academic journey through the program:

“1” = Your first year is primarily spent taking courses through UWSP, building your foundation in science and general education. Some students may take anatomy and physiology courses through a partner institution, depending on availability.

“+2” = During years two and three, you are dually enrolled with a technical college, completing your associate degree in nursing (ADN). You’ll still take at least one UWSP course each semester and remain fully connected to UWSP. 38 nursing credits are completed at the technical college partner for the ADN.

“+1” = Your final year is spent completing your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through UWSP, with flexible online or Zoom-based courses.

Technically, the timeline is closer to “1.5 + 2 + 0.5,” but “1+2+1” is a simpler way to describe the flow—and it sticks! Refer to the Sample Graduation Plan for Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Program for a better understanding of the course flow and structure.

Not exactly. Students are UWSP students from start to finish. Typically, on a traditional path, during semesters 4-7, they are dually enrolled with a technical college while continuing UWSP coursework. They take at least one UWSP course online each semester during this time. Clinicals are coordinated through the technical college as part of the ADN portion of the program. Students remain eligible for UWSP housing, athletics, financial aid, and student life throughout the entire program. Transfer students or students who changed their major to nursing may have a different path.

This is up to every individual student. Traditional students with no prior college credits can follow our standard four-year plan. Students are generally able to complete everything in 4 years if they are successful at their first attempts at every class. Some students choose to go part-time due to being a non-traditional student, transferring from other schools, already having a bachelor’s degree in a different field, or changing their major to nursing. Transfer students or students who changed their major to nursing may have a different path. New students with many dual enrollment or AP courses may possibly graduate early. Contact the UWSP nursing advisor in the School of Health Sciences and Wellness Student Success Center for a customized graduation plan if necessary.

Yes! Students remain eligible for athletics, student organizations and campus housing throughout the program. Even during dual enrollment, credits taken at the technical college count toward full-time enrollment for athletic eligibility and student engagement.

Yes. All financial aid and military benefits are handled through UWSP, even during dual enrollment. The credits taken at the technical college are included in the total credit load used to determine financial aid eligibility. The process is called a consortium agreement.

Students may choose from:

• Mid-State Technical College (MSTC)
  • Campuses in Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Adams
• Northcentral Technical College (NTC)
  • Wausau Campus only
• Nicolet College
  • Rhinelander Campus only
  • Includes a rural Northwoods experience with housing at UWSP Treehaven, located between Tomahawk and Rhinelander, during the 4-semester ADN portion of the program.

UWSP has not had a waitlist in the past 6 years, and students have consistently been placed in their first or second choice ADN program if eligible. However, waitlists cannot be guaranteed in the future. The UWSP nursing program works closely with partners to maintain seat availability for our students and negotiate for more openings when needed.

Generally, students get their first choice and have always at least received their second choice, although not guaranteed. This depends on factors such as UWSP GPA, number of UWSP credits, and number of students wanting to attend a specific technical college partner.

Students save significantly because a typical student in semesters 4–7—the four semesters of the ADN portion—is primarily billed by the technical college partner, where tuition is nearly half the cost of traditional UWSP tuition. During this time, students typically take one UWSP course per semester billed by UWSP at their tuition rate.

In total, at least 38 of the 120 credits required for graduation are billed by the technical college partner. 38 is the number of ADN credits you will earn at the technical college partner.

Applications are fully hosted by UWSP. To apply, students generally need the following courses:

• General Chemistry
• General Anatomy and Physiology
• Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
• Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology
• Nursing Assistant (CNA) course
• Statistics course
• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

Generally, these courses must be completed with a “C” or better; or be in progress for the current semester in which they are applying; or registered for the following semester. Requirements may vary slightly between partner colleges—please refer to the 1+2+1 Application Checklist (PDF) for full details.

There is no strict deadline, but timing matters if you want to stay on track for a four-year graduation.

• If you’re an incoming freshman starting in the fall and plan to follow the sample graduation plan, it’s recommended to apply at the end of your second semester, while enrolled in General Anatomy and Physiology at the technical college.
• Transfer students or those bringing in dual enrollment/AP credits should meet with the UWSP nursing advisor in the School of Health Sciences and Wellness Student Success Center to create a customized graduation plan and determine the best time to apply.
• Students who are required to take MATH 90 based on placement testing will likely apply in their fourth semester and graduate in approximately 4.5 years, with an added semester.

Application cycles:

• To start the ADN program in a fall semester, apply in December of the previous year (about 9 months in advance).
• To start in a spring semester, apply in May of the previous year (about 9 months in advance).

While a 2.5 GPA is the minimum for admission, nursing courses at the technical college are rigorous and follow a higher grading scale—any grade below 80% is considered failing and must be repeated. A 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher is more closely aligned with the academic expectations of the program.

No. There are no entrance exams (like the HESI), no essays and no letters of recommendation required. The application is based on academic information only.

No. Once a student begins the ADN portion of the program with a technical college partner, they must complete the program with that same institution.

If they wish to change partners (e.g., from MSTC to NTC), they would need to withdraw from the 1+2+1 program and apply to the new technical college as a transfer student.

Transferring nursing courses between institutions can be complex and is not guaranteed. Curriculum differences and clinical placement requirements often make switching mid-program difficult.

Clinical placements are typically within 5-45 minutes of the UWSP campus. The first term of the ADN will have a long-term care facility component. Locations include:

Mid-State Technical College

• Wisconsin Rapids
  • Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital
  • MSTC Healthcare Simulation Center
  • long-term care facilities
• Stevens Point
  • Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital
  • long-term care facilities
• Marshfield
  • Marshfield Medical Center
  • long-term care facilities
• Adams (occasionally 1st semester clinical only of ADN)
  • long-term care facilities

Northcentral Technical College

• Wausau area
  • Aspirus Hospitals
  • NTC Healthcare Simulation Center
  • long-term care facilities

Nicolet College – rural health experience option

• Rhinelander area

Students do not always get to choose their clinical site. Placement depends on availability at the time of registration, especially for MSTC, which serves multiple city locations. Technical colleges can change clinical partners as needed. When students attend MSTC, they do not get assigned a “home campus” so classes and clinical sites will vary in location.

Who coordinates clinicals?

Clinicals typically begin in semester 4 (spring of sophomore year) and are coordinated through the technical college as part of the ADN portion of the program. Students will have clinical rotations for all four ADN terms!

A final clinical through UWSP is done typically after the summer of semester 8, through NURS 455 – Concepts in Nursing Practice, which is a capstone project that you will be required to complete with your employer as a working nurse. Students can still walk for graduation in May, prior to completion of this final clinical course the following summer.

Refer to the Sample Graduation Plan for Pre-Nursing 1+2+1 Program for a better understanding of the clinical flow and structure.

• Typically, after semester 7—or after term 4 of the ADN—students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become Registered Nurses (RNs).
• Optional Certification: After semester 5—or after term 2 of the ADN—students may take the NCLEX-PN to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). This can be a great way to gain experience and earn higher part-time pay while finishing their degree.

Becoming an LPN mid-program is a unique benefit of the 1+2+1 model—something not typically available in traditional four-year BSN programs!

What are the NCLEX pass rates?

Since students take the NCLEX exams as part of their ADN program, UWSP does not report NCLEX pass rates. A simple Google search for “NCLEX pass rates WI” will lead you to the most recent data, including the 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF) from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Note: While NCLEX pass rates can be a helpful indicator of program quality, they should be interpreted with care. Rates can vary year to year based on cohort size, student preparation, and other factors. A single year’s data may not reflect the overall strength or supportiveness of a program.

Yes. BSN-level courses are offered:

• 100% online (asynchronous)
• Live via Zoom (synchronous) with a choice to attend either Wednesday mornings or Thursday evenings. Your choice! Missed classes are recorded.

Admission Requirements

• Hold an associate degree or diploma degree from an accredited program of nursing
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Wisconsin residency
• RN licensure in the state of Wisconsin

Tuition

• UW-Stevens Point tuition rates decrease with increasing credit load.
• BSN@Home online course tuition is a flat fee of $452/credit.

Application Steps 1-4

1. Apply to UW-Stevens Point
2. Activate your username and password
3. Complete the demographic form with BSN@Home
4. Contact ian.rode@uwsp.edu for application approval

NURS 310 – Professional Essentials (1 cr.)
NURS 430 or 407* – Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
NURS 431 or 441* – Chronic Care Management (3 cr.)
NURS 432 or 452* – Aging and Health (3 cr.)
NURS 433 or 453* – Information Management and Health Care Technology (3 cr.)
NURS 434 or 454* – Community Health Nursing (3 cr.)
NURS 436 or 446* – Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
NURS 437 or 447* – Leadership and Management (3 cr.)
NURS 455 – Concepts in Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
Nursing Elective 1 (3 cr.)
Nursing Elective 2 (3 cr.)
CHEM 101 – Basic Chemistry (5 cr.)
HSW 301 – Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 cr.) OR
MATH 255 – Elementary Statistical Methods (4 cr.)

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in a 2011 report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health identified the need for nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree to meet the changing healthcare environment. The IOM set a goal of 80 percent of nurses be baccalaureate prepared by 2020. The Wisconsin 2016 RN Workforce Survey reported that 46.1 percent of all licensed nurses in the State were baccalaureate prepared at the time of the licensing in 2016. Many institutions, to meet the demands of the workforce, are emphasizing baccalaureate preparation and requiring it for leadership and some clinical roles.

After earning your BSN, further your health education with the online Health and Wellness Coaching Graduate Certificate from UW-Stevens Point and the National Wellness Institute. As a health and wellness coach, you will guide individuals during their transformative journey of achieving lasting changes and enhanced well-being by helping them overcome hurdles, surpass limitations and tap into their own unrealized personal and professional potential.