What is pre-nursing?

Seeing “pre-nursing” on every college page can leave you unsure whether it is a real program, a major or a waiting room. The honest answer is that it depends on the school. Here is what the word covers and what to check on your own school’s page.

What is pre-nursing?

Pre-nursing is the stage before nursing school, when you finish prerequisite courses so you can apply to a nursing program. It is not a nursing license, and it does not put you in the nursing program.

Ohio State describes it this way: students complete prerequisite coursework before applying to the BSN program, and admission to the nursing major is highly competitive. The University of Hawaii at Manoa calls it a temporary designation. Both say, in different words, that you still have to apply and be selected.

For context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for registered nurses (RNs). It also says an associate degree or a diploma from an approved program can lead to the license. Every route ends with graduating from an approved nursing program and passing a licensing exam (BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook).

How does pre-nursing differ by school?

The name, the length and the rules change from school to school, so treat the table below as examples, not a standard. Each row comes from the school’s own page, read in October 2026. Rules change, so check the current page before you plan.

School	What it calls it	Time or credits	What comes next
Ohio State	Pre-Nursing	Not stated; schedule depends on credit already earned	Apply to the BSN; stay in pre-nursing with a 3.2 Ohio State GPA
University of Hawaii at Manoa	Pre-Nursing designation	1–2 years full time	Apply to the Traditional BS in Nursing; the designation is not required
Baylor	Pre-Nursing 1 and 2 (majors)	Up to 3 semesters in each; 59 hours of required courses	Apply to the School of Nursing; 3.0 prerequisite GPA, HESI A2
UTHealth Houston	Pre-Nursing Pathway	About 2 semesters; 24 hours, after 24–30 hours of general courses elsewhere	Apply to the Pacesetter Accelerated BSN
UIC	Pre-nursing pathways (General, BSN Transfer)	About 57–59 hours of coursework	Apply to transfer to the BSN (2.75 GPA), or to a BSN or MSN program after a bachelor’s
South College	A.S. in Health Science (Pre-Nursing)	21 months (7 quarters) full time	Apply to South’s BSN

Notice that “pre-nursing” can be a status, a major, a pathway or a set of courses. That is why two students who both say they are “pre-nursing” may be in very different situations.

Is pre-nursing a degree?

Sometimes, but not always. Baylor calls Pre-Nursing 1 a non-degree-granting major. UTHealth Houston calls its pathway nondegree seeking, and Hawaii calls it a temporary designation.

South College is different. Its pre-nursing track is an Associate of Science degree in Health Science, and the page says it can also lead to entry-level health jobs. UIC treats pre-nursing as coursework: students can pursue any major in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while they prepare.

If you are paying for a program, ask whether it leads to a degree you could use if nursing does not work out.

What do pre-nursing students take?

Mostly science, writing, math and social science courses. The lists overlap at the schools above that publish one, though Ohio State’s page does not list courses.

• Science: anatomy and physiology, microbiology and a chemistry course, often with labs.
• Writing and math: a writing course and a math course, often statistics.
• Social science and health: psychology or human development, and often nutrition.

Baylor also lists courses such as religion and a fine arts or language requirement, and Hawaii lists a public speaking course. Those extras are why you should use your target school’s list, not a general one. Our guide to nursing school prerequisites explains the common courses and why grades matter.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says the first two years of a BSN include humanities, social science and basic science classes. Some programs start nursing classes earlier and some start in the junior year.

How long does pre-nursing take, and can you do it online?

About two semesters to two years at the schools that state a length, depending on how many courses you start with. UTHealth Houston says the average is two semesters, but you first need 24–30 hours of general courses at another school. Hawaii says full-time students typically finish in 1 to 2 years. South College’s track is designed for 21 months.

Baylor sets a limit instead of a target: up to three semesters in each of its two pre-nursing majors. South College says approved transfer credit can shorten its timeline, and Hawaii’s estimate assumes full-time study. Ask an advisor for a plan based on the credit you already have.

Some schools also offer online options. South College lists its pre-nursing associate degree as “Online or Hybrid,” and notes that not all online programs are open to residents of every state. UTHealth Houston says its pathway courses are mainly on campus, with some online and hybrid options.

The other pages in the table did not describe an online pre-nursing option. Before you enroll, ask the nursing program that you want to join whether it accepts online prerequisites, including labs.

How does admission to the nursing program work?

You apply separately, and these schools set minimums such as GPA, grades and sometimes an entrance exam. Hawaii and UIC say pre-nursing or its coursework alone does not promise a seat.

• GPA: Baylor asks for a 3.0 in prerequisite courses and a 2.75 cumulative GPA. UIC asks for 2.75 cumulative and 2.50 in natural science courses. Ohio State asks students to keep a 3.2 cumulative Ohio State GPA to stay in pre-nursing.
• Grades: UIC and Baylor require a C or higher in prerequisite courses. UTHealth Houston’s direct admission to its accelerated BSN takes a B or better in its pathway courses. It also takes a 3.0 GPA in all prerequisites. One part of its page says “each required science course” and another says “all pre-nursing courses,” so ask which applies.
• Entrance exam: Baylor requires the HESI A2, with 80 or higher on the English Composite and the Math section. UTHealth Houston says students who meet its pathway rules can apply for direct admission without entrance exams. They must still apply and meet its BSN requirements. Other pages in the table did not name an exam.
• Competition: Ohio State, Hawaii and UIC call nursing admission competitive. UIC adds that review goes beyond prerequisite courses.

AACN’s page adds that programs may weigh activities, work, references, essays or interviews. If your school asks for an entrance exam, see our TEAS overview and HESI A2 overview. The post on TEAS vs. HESI compares them.

What if you aren’t admitted to nursing?

Some schools tell you to change majors or plan another route, so ask about this before you start. Hawaii says students who are not admitted after finishing all available pre-nursing courses must change their major to stay enrolled. Ohio State has a related rule: students below the 3.2 GPA at the end of spring semester must change majors.

UIC explains the trade-off. Its general pre-nursing pathway is longer but leaves more majors open, while its BSN Transfer pathway is shorter and leaves fewer options. Switching from the shorter pathway to another science major can add up to about a year. South College notes that its degree opens other health careers.

Baylor says acceptance is term-specific and students do not get automatic deferment. It does not say what happens next if you are not admitted.

A closed door at one school is not the end of the plan. You can ask about reapplying, apply to other programs, or look at other nursing routes. BLS lists associate and diploma programs as ways to earn RN licensure, and our guide to LPN vs. RN compares the shorter route.

Quick answers

Is pre-nursing the same as nursing school? No. It is the stage before, when you finish prerequisites. You still apply to the nursing program.

Does finishing pre-nursing guarantee admission? No. Hawaii and UIC say it does not, and Ohio State calls nursing admission highly competitive.

Do you need to be pre-nursing to apply to nursing? Not always. Hawaii says students can apply under any major. Ohio State says students outside pre-nursing can apply, but pre-nursing students get priority.

How long is pre-nursing? Between about two semesters and two years at the schools that state a length. Check your own school’s plan.

Is a pre-nursing student a nursing student? Not yet. At these schools you become a nursing student after you are admitted to the nursing program.