Navigating the UCF Nursing Program: Acceptance, Opportunities, and Pathways

A nursing career provides opportunities to provide comprehensive care across diverse healthcare settings. The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers various pathways to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, emphasizing clinical practice, health promotion, and leadership development. UCF nursing programs are considered limited access, requiring a focused understanding of the application process.

BSN Program Tracks at UCF

The traditional BSN program at UCF serves as a foundation for professional nursing practice. It includes four distinct tracks:

Traditional BSN: A standard four-year program for students entering nursing directly. Admission occurs once a year on the Orlando, Cocoa, and Daytona Beach campuses.
Accelerated Second Degree BSN: Designed for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor's degree seeking a career change. This full-time program takes four consecutive semesters, including summers.
Concurrent ASN to BSN: This track allows qualified students to take Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) courses at approved state colleges while concurrently taking BSN courses at UCF. Seminole State College and Valencia College have specific concurrent programs with UCF.
RN to BSN: Tailored for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing to earn a BSN. The program is primarily online, with some face-to-face classes, and is designed to avoid repetition of previous coursework.

Admission to UCF's BSN Program: Requirements and Deadlines

UCF's BSN programs have specific admission requirements, and deadlines vary by track.

General Requirements:

UCF Application: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least three months before the BSN application deadline. Former UCF students who have been out for more than two semesters must complete the Readmission Application.
Transcripts: Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions.
TEAS Exam: Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to UCF. The TEAS 6 exam was retired in June 2022, and ATI now administers the TEAS Version 7 exam.
Background Check and Fingerprints: All students admitted to a UCF BSN program will need to complete a background check and fingerprints within seven days of the RSVP deadline.
Location Requirement: Applicants must be physically located in the State of Florida for the duration of their education.

Concurrent ASN to BSN Specifics:

Seminole State College (SSC): Complete and submit a Seminole State Application for Admission at least 3 months before the Concurrent ASN to BSN application deadline, selecting “Associate of Science in Nursing (RN-AS)” as your major. Submit a SSC online application to SSC through the nursing application portal. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to SSC.
Valencia College: New UCF students must apply to Undergraduate Admissions at least three months before the BSN application deadline. When applying, ensure application terms matches program start term. Send all official transcripts and CLEP/AP/IB score reports to UCF Undergraduate Admissions. Select “NURS-PEND Nursing Pending” as your major. After you are accepted to UCF, you will receive a UCF student ID number. Send official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to UCF. official TEAS score report from ATI Testing to Valencia.

RN to BSN Specifics:

Licensed RNs simply submit one application directly to UCF. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Admission decisions are typically made a few months prior to the semester start date.

Application Deadlines:

Specific deadlines vary by track and semester. It is essential to consult the UCF College of Nursing website for the most up-to-date information.

Transfer Credits

After admission to the university, the Transfer Credit Evaluation, located in your myUCF portal, will list all courses received at the time of admission along with associated UCF equivalencies. For General Education Program (GEP), State Core, State Writing and Math, Civic Literacy, or Foreign Language courses, students must complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation Request through the Registrar’s Office.

Read also: Applying to UCF Nursing School

Graduate Nursing Programs at UCF

UCF also offers a range of online graduate nursing programs. These programs cater to working professionals, with 99% of students already employed upon enrollment.

Key Features of UCF's Online Graduate Nursing Programs:

Flexible Learning: Online classes are recorded and archived for convenient access.
Expert Faculty: Courses are primarily taught by full-time, tenured faculty, including Fellows in National Academies.
Advanced Simulation: The Simulation, Technology, Innovation & Modeling Center is fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Reduced Tuition: Online students benefit from a reduced tuition rate with campus-based fees excluded.
Academic Integrity: The university employs various strategies to maintain academic integrity, including originality verification services, plagiarism modules, and proctoring software.

Online Master's in Nursing (MSN) Program:

UCF offers two online MSN degree programs with concentrations in:

Nursing Administration/Leadership
Nursing Education

Admission Requirements for Graduate Programs:

Application Deadline: April 1
Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.5
GRE: GRE not used in admissions
Letters of Recommendation: 3 letters from professional contacts
Nursing-related Work Experience: Not required
Nursing-related Undergraduate Degree: Yes, always
Nursing-related Undergraduate Coursework: Yes, always
TOEFL: Minimum TOEFL iBT Test score required 80.
IELTS: Minimum IELTS score required 6.5.

Financial Information

Tuition per Credit (In-State): \$288 (full-time and part-time)
Tuition per Credit (Out-of-State): \$1,152 (full-time and part-time)
Total Program Cost (Full-Time, In-State): \$10,656
Total Program Cost (Part-Time, In-State): \$10,656
Total Program Cost (Full-Time, Out-of-State): \$42,624
Total Program Cost (Part-Time, Out-of-State): \$42,624

Career Opportunities for UCF Nursing Graduates

A significant percentage of UCF BSN graduates remain in Florida after graduation. Florida has a high employment level for registered nurses, with an annual mean wage of \$69,510. UCF's nursing programs are designed to prepare graduates for diverse roles in the healthcare industry.

Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships

Read also: Getting Into Nursing School

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