Whether your career goals include working in a hospital after graduation, pursuing graduate studies to become a family nurse practitioner, or moving on to doctoral work, Ball State’s nursing major will put you on the road to success working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, providers' offices, or home health care facilities.
Ball State nursing graduates have an annual pass rate of 94 to 100 percent (94% in 2024) on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Employers routinely tell us that our graduates are very well prepared for their profession.
Our nursing major students' successes are thanks to a blend of intense lecture material with practical clinical experience. You will work with high-fidelity simulators that create a real-life experience in our million-dollar campus labs. In addition, you'll get to apply your nursing skills in various clinical sites throughout east-central Indiana.
What It’s Like to Major in Nursing at Ball State
State-of-the-Art Nursing Labs
Our nursing lab has top-notch simulation, resources, and support for nursing students. Faculty members provide student learning experiences that enhance critical thinking skills and preparation for real-world application of simulated scenarios.
Student-Focused, Expert Faculty
Members of our faculty are experienced in the nursing field, and many are currently active in their specific areas of nursing. They are student-focused and have high expectations for student success across each of Ball State’s baccalaureate nursing programs.
Well-Rounded Curriculum
Rigorous general medical-surgical nursing courses will prepare you for practice in multiple areas. You may also take specialty classes, such as psychiatric, pediatric, or community health, which expose you to various fields and prepare your for care of clients throughout their lifespans.
Real-World, Hands-on Experience
Our strong relationships with clinical agencies across east-central Indiana provide our students with hands-on learning in a variety of clinical environments. You’ll gain experience in environments from hospitals to private practice and long-term care facilities.
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Program Requirements
You may complete your nursing degree through one of four concentrations, depending on your existing education and how quickly you plan to progress through our program.
You will take the skills you learn in the laboratory and apply them to real clinical settings under the supervision of nursing faculty. As you progress through the nursing curriculum, you will be exposed to clients across their lifespan in acute, chronic, and rehabilitation states. Throughout the program, you will also master a variety of computer skills.
During your last semester, you’ll take our unique critical care course. You’ll work directly with a nurse in various areas of practice, bringing together all the concepts you’ve learned from the foundational medical-surgical courses.
The regular concentration is a traditional four-year, on-campus concentration that prepares graduates for entry into professional nursing practice as a generalist to provide, design, manage coordinate, and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan in both structured and unstructured healthcare settings.
Students completing the baccalaureate nursing program and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.
You will begin the five-semester clinical study in your second year with an introduction to basic nursing concepts and health care appraisal courses. In the third year, your clinical courses include medical-surgical adult health courses, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, and research. In the fourth year, your clinical courses include nursing of the childbearing family, community health, medical-surgical nursing, critical care, leadership and management, and transition to practice seminar.
If your future plans include a master’s degree or doctoral work, the baccalaureate nursing program is an excellent precursor.
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This accelerated concentration allows you to complete your degree in three years rather than four. As a student, you will receive the same high-quality instruction and real-world learning opportunities as our four-year concentration. Students admitted to the university as incoming matriculating students will sign a Degree in 3 contract during undergraduate orientation. The Degree in 3 is an on-campus concentration that prepares graduates for entry into professional nursing practice as a generalist to provide, design, manage coordinate, and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan in both structured and unstructured healthcare settings.
Students completing the baccalaureate nursing program and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.
You will begin the five-semester clinical study in your second year with an introduction to basic nursing concepts and health care appraisal courses, medical-surgical adult health courses, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, and research. In the third year, your clinical courses include nursing of the childbearing family, community health, medical-surgical nursing, critical care, leadership and management, and transition to practice seminar.
If your future plans include a master’s degree or doctoral work, this accelerated program is an excellent precursor.
Download Plan of Study
Do you already have a bachelor’s degree and want a condensed, accelerated pathway to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing? Consider our 19-month track
Students completing the accelerated (second) baccalaureate nursing concentration and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination. .
This accelerated program will prepare you to succeed whether you are looking at moving into a nursing career or onto graduate-level work.
Students entering this program may start in the Fall or Spring.
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If you’re already a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and want to take the next step to become a Registered Nurse (RN), then Ball State has the perfect pathway for you.
Our LPN to BS concentration allows you to apply your existing experience toward completing your bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Students completing the LPN to BS baccalaureate nursing concentration and meeting graduation requirements will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure examination.
Whether your plans include expanding your nursing role in a hospital or other medical setting, or moving on to pursue graduate-level work, this program is an excellent precursor.
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Progress through the Program
The assigned Academic Advisor will work with you on an individual basis to develop a plan of study, including outlining the prerequisites you need and assisting you in determining the best way to progress through the nursing sequence and complete university Core Curriculum requirements.
The LPN transition concentration allows you to use previously earned science and general studies credits for the baccalaureate program. Other required courses and some elective credits can be transferred from other institutions.
Ball State Core Curriculum courses (general studies courses) may be taken on campus or as independent learning courses (by correspondence) through the School of Extended Education.
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Apply to Ball State
Admission to Ball State is selective, and we carefully evaluate all applications on an individual basis. Applying is easy. Use our convenient, comprehensive, and secure online application.
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Want to Learn More?
The best way to get a true feel for Ball State is to spend some time here, so we encourage you and your family to schedule a campus visit. Take a tour, attend an information session, meet with a professor in our area, and ask plenty of questions. Or if you’d rather speak to someone directly by phone or email, please feel free to contact us.