The admission process reflects Franklin University’s efforts to clearly identify the performance standards that can help predict student success in graduate level study. The selection criterion for Franklin’s graduate programs, as determined by faculty, emphasizes academic ability, contributory work experience, and personal qualities and characteristics. Click here to view the Admissions Checklist: Graduate Nursing Programs.

For applicants to the MSN-Generalist and MSN-Nurse Administrator tracks:

Requirements for admission include having earned an associate degree/diploma from an institution accredited by a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized accrediting organization with a GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.*

Students entering through the above pathway must then achieve a final grade of B (3.0 GPA) or better in the first course (NURS 500 Essentials of Professional Nursing) at Franklin in order to remain in the program. The student may repeat the course only one time.

Conditional enrollment will be automatically be granted to applicants with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.5 GPA can petition to the program chair for conditional enrollment by submitting an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate nursing program.

Conditional enrollment requires students to achieve a final grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) or better in the first graduate-level course of their program. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University. 

For applicants to the MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN-Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and MSN-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks: 

Requirements for admission include having earned an associate degree/diploma from a regionally accredited institution. The associate degree/diploma final cumulative GPA must be at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Students entering through the above pathway must then achieve a final grade of B (3.0 GPA) or better in the first course (NURS 500 Essentials of Professional Nursing) at Franklin in order to remain in the program. The student may repeat the course only one time.

Applicants who earned lower than a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned associate or bachelor’s degree can petition for admission to the program chair by submitting an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate program of study. This petition could include details on the applicant’s work experience, work ethic, level of professionalism, personality characteristics, level of difficulty of program of study previously completed, etc. 

If a student is admitted as a result of the petition, the student will need to obtain a “B” average (3.0 GPA) during the first graduate-level course of their program. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University. 

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Prospective students must demonstrate English Language Proficiency. The requirement is met through any of the following:

• The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the official language.*
• The applicant has received an associate degree/diploma from an institution located in an English-speaking country in which the courses were taught in English.*
• The applicant has earned appropriate scores on language proficiency exams taken within the last two years, as listed in the Academic Catalog.  
• *For more information about English proficiency, including a list of English-speaking nations, please visit our International Students section.

Program Prerequisites

Applicants must hold an associate degree/diploma from a regionally accredited institution. 

Evidence of Active Nursing License

Applicants must have a valid, active and clear/unencumbered RN license in the U.S. or in a jurisdiction that is an associate member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN).

• Applicants holding the equivalent of an RN licensure or certification outside the U.S. must submit a Credential Evaluation Services (CES) Academic Report from the Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
• All students must maintain licensure throughout the program of study.
• License information should be submitted here.