Shaping the future of healthcare, together
Apply to Davenport University's nursing program today.
Davenport University offers a variety of competitive nursing programs each with specific admission criteria and application steps. So, to best help you on your journey to becoming a Panther, we've outlined below each of our programs and the respective steps you need to take to be considered for admission. As you complete your steps, please be mindful that only complete applications are reviewed by the nursing admissions committee and all decisions made are final.
Have questions? We're here to help. Email us at info@davenport.edu
Select your program of interest below to find more information on the necessary application steps
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
Official high school transcript - minimum 3.50 GPA
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a high school or GED facility. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Official transcripts can be emailed to: electronictranscripts@davenport.edu.
- SAT 1160 or above (based on a composite score of 1600) or ACT 24 or above (based on a composite score of 36)
Step 2 | Complete your NursingCAS Application
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
- Military medic training experience: 68W level 10 or 20, Navy Copsman or equivalent
Step 2 | Request transcripts from all previous civilian education and military courses
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a high school, GED facility, college or university. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Official transcripts can be emailed to: electronictranscripts@davenport.edu.
Air Force transcript request
Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard transcript request
Step 2 | Complete your NursingCAS Application
- Search for Davenport University
- Select Veteran BSN (VBSN) Direct Admit Program - Grand Rapids, Great Lakes Bay, Lansing, Warren
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
Send official transcripts to electronictranscripts@davenport.edu
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a high school or GED facility. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Step 2 | Enroll in Pre-Nursing courses
- Achieve a 3.0+ GPA in each of the following courses: ENGL 109, MATH 120/125, BIOL 110, BIOL 110L, BIOL 221, BIOL 221L, CHEM 150, CHEM 150L and PSYC 101
*These courses can be completed at Davenport University, or equivalent courses can be transferred in, pending an official transcript evaluation by the registrar's office. This application pathway waives the TEAS test.
Take at Davenport or transfer in the equivalent
Step 3 | Complete the NursingCAS application — once grades are posted for more than 50% of the required courses
- Search for Davenport University
- Select Adult and Transfer Direct Admit Application
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
- Must hold a 3.0 high school GPA
Send official transcripts to electronictranscripts@davenport.edu
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a high school or GED facility. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
- Send ACT / SAT scores
Step 2 | Complete the NursingCAS application
To do so, you will need the following:
- Short answer critical thinking question, maximum 300 words
- Davenport student ID number (provided once general application is complete)
Step 3 | Register for and complete the TEAS Examination
- Test of Essential Academic Skills by ATI
- Complete a short answer critical thinking question
Please note: High-performing high school students may qualify for our High School Direct Admit program to fast-track the enrollment process. Qualified students will have a minimum of a 3.50 GPA, SAT score of 1160 or above.
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
- Must hold a 3.0 Bachelor of Science in Nursing GPA
Request official transcripts to be sent from your school(s) to electronictranscripts@davenport.edu
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a college or university. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Step 2 | Complete the NursingCAS application
To do so, you will need the following:
- Contact information for one professional reference
- Professional statement
- Davenport student ID number (provided once general application is complete)
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
- Must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 from previous program
Send official transcripts from previous nursing program to electronictranscripts@davenport.edu
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a college or university. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Step 2 | Complete the BSN Completion Supplement
To do so, you'll need:
- Contact information for one professional reference
- Davenport student ID number (provided once general application is complete)
- Unrestricted RN license number and state in which you practice
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 | Apply for admission to Davenport University
- Must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 from current community college nursing program
Send official transcripts to electronictranscripts@davenport.edu
An official transcript is one that is provided directly by a college or university. Official transcripts are confirmed as authentic. You may contact the institution directly and request an official transcript or utilize a resource such as Parchment.
Step 2 | Complete the BSN Concurrent Supplement
- Contact information for one professional reference
- Davenport student ID number (provided once general application is complete)
- Community college nursing program acceptance letter
| Program | Deadline |
|---|---|
BSN Completion BSN Concurrent | Rolling admissions (accepted throughout the year) Rolling admissions (accepted throughout the year) |
| BSN Pre-Licensure 2 Start Dates | Fall 2025 Winter 2026 (Grand Rapids location only) Friday, August 1, 2025 (Regular Admit) Decisions will be communicated approximately two weeks after the deadline via email. |
| High School Direct Admit | Fall 2025 Application closed. |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | Fall 2025 Applicants are reviewed monthly on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning in November 2024. |
TEAS-related Questions
What is the TEAS?
TEAS stands for Test of Essential Academic Skills. The TEAS is the exam Davenport uses to help determine admission to the nursing program. It is a standard test that is facilitated by ATI. You will register and take the exam through ATI, either online or at one of their locations (if one is convenient). Most students complete the assessment from the comfort of their own home. Your score results are immediate, and you will be able to download and send them at no cost to the Davenport egistrar at electronictranscripts@davenport.edu.
Tips for success:
- We recommend that you study or do some type of preparation before taking the assessment. You will be working through four sections: Reading, Math, Science and English Language Usage.
- ATI’s online store has a TEAS study guide available for purchase in print or as an ebook. Davenport Nursing strongly recommends that you purchase and review the TEAS study guide to be well-prepared.
- ATI also offers three other study packages: the Comprehensive study package, the Basic study package, and a Practice assessment package for review and feedback about your study progress. The materials are optional and not required to take the TEAS.
- Davenport's nursing department also provides some free resources, materials and practice quizzes for review purposes on the TEAS–Nursing Student Success Library guide.
What are the benefits of taking the TEAS?
- For admissions to the Davenport University nursing program.
- It has provided students who had a lower GPA the opportunity to get into nursing programs by showing their aptitude and qualification through the TEAS scores instead.
- TEAS provides the nursing team with baseline information on each student to start successful NCLEX preparation. The NCLEX prep is important because it is the exam that each student will need to pass at the end of the program to get their nursing license.
Once I am accepted to Davenport University, when can I start the nursing application through
NursCAS?
The application will be available for students at NursCAS starting Aug. 20.
How quickly do I need to submit my application?
Davenport has deadlines, and all students will be reviewed after the deadline period. Application
submission dates are not used for consideration.
When are the application review and admission decisions made for the applicant?
Application review and admission decisions are typically held within a few weeks after the application
deadlines.
When and how will I be notified about a decision after the review date?
Students will be notified via email within a few days after the application review and admission
decision date.
If I am not offered a seat after the first review, what happens to my application?
If a student is not offered a seat after the first review, they will be advised on opportunities to retake the TEAS, submit additional transcripts, certificates and essays, or apply in future application years.
Does Davenport have prerequisites?
Required courses are outlined in the nursing program sequence sheet. Transcripts to determine which
year the student will be admitted to will be evaluated per the academic advisor and associate
department chair on the campus the student has applied to. Recommended prerequisites for NURS 125
are BIOL 221, BIOL 221L, CHEM 150 and CHEM 150L for BSN-PL students. NURS 135 prerequisites include
BIOL 115 or BIOL 221 and BIOL 221L.
Does Davenport have a waiting list?
Davenport does not have a waiting list. All admissions are on a competitive basis only.
How is my nursing application evaluated?
All application materials including the TEAS, letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores,
personal essays and experience are evaluated against the pool of candidates received.
What types of references should I use for my letters of recommendation?
Professional recommendations are best for students applying to the nursing program. A professional
recommendation is someone who has supervised you in a work setting. If you have healthcare
experience it is preferred the recommender is a supervisor in the healthcare setting you have worked in.
In the nursing application process do things like certified nursing assistant programs, emergency
medical technician programs, other medical career and technical education experiences, job
shadowing or volunteer experiences help my chances of being admitted to the DU nursing program?
For the BSN-PL and PN programs, any certifications should be uploaded into CAS as these may
enhance the overall admission rubric score. The MSN program does require job shadowing and
volunteer experiences to be uploaded into the CAS system.
If I qualify for a direct admit am I automatically guaranteed a nursing seat?
No. Students must complete the application process to be reviewed for a seat, but some requirements
are waived. These candidates are given priority consideration at the first deadline.
If I qualify for direct admit are there other ways to make myself stand out against other direct
admit qualifiers?
Davenport University has a highly competitive nursing program, so students are encouraged to apply
early to the program to increase their likelihood of acceptance.
If I don’t qualify for direct admit when starting the nursing application and I retake the ACT and/or
SAT and then qualify with my new test scores, can I qualify to be evaluated for direct admit?
Yes, please submit your updated scores and transcripts immediately to qualify.
So then, do I need to submit a new Direct Admit NursCAS application?
No. Notify your admissions rep and we can manually adjust your application accordingly with
the registrar’s office.
Are there any other suggestions to standing out in the nursing application process?
The best advice for standing out in the nursing application process is to clearly follow the directions in
the application, upload all pertinent information as requested by deadline dates and study to do well on
the TEAS test in the areas of reading, math and science.
What if I don’t get into the nursing program?
You can pursue our pre-nursing to direct admit route.
What is the difference between BSN and BSN completion?
The BSN-PL is a degree designed for students who have chosen to pursue a career as a professional
nurse. This is a four-year BSN degree in which the student upon successful completion can take the NCLEX
examination to become a practicing registered nurse. The BSN completion degree is a program for
currently licensed registered nurses who are seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This program
prepares registered nurses for nursing practice of patients and support systems across the continuum of
care and in communities.