RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway

Admission Requirements

We make it easy to progress through the admission process. Our admissions representatives will work with you each step of the way, coordinating the application and registration processes with you.

The RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway admission requirements must be met before an application is considered complete. In all cases, save copies of the documents you submit.

International students have a separate application procedure that precedes the standard admission process. View international requirements.

Note: This program is not recommended for students who lack proficiency in basic academic skills, especially collegiate-level English communication skills.

Applicants must have:

• Admission into an ADN program at a select partnering institution, indicating the RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway option.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the nursing preadmission courses.
• Completion of the partnering institution’s prerequisites and lower-division General Education requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Application for admission
• $45 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts
• Copy of admission letter to Associate’s Degree in Nursing program at a partnering institution
• Student information sharing agreement
• Personal Statement (1 page essay): "Why would you be a good candidate for the Integrated Enrollment Pathway program"?

What to Expect

Once APU receives your application, application fee, and official transcripts, your paperwork will be reviewed to determine transfer credit. Once your application and transcripts are reviewed, you will be notified of your admission status. You will need to turn in all required documents in order to be considered for admission.

If you are applying for Financial Aid, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online for the corresponding academic year. Request financial aid transcripts from those institutions attended within the current calendar year. This is required by the U.S. Department of Education.

Qualified online program students will receive instructions for an invitation-only online registration process. Students will pay any outstanding fees and complete enrollment paperwork online with an admissions representative.

Some programs, including this one, begin as soon as enough students enroll to form a cohort. The students form a cohort and complete the program as a group. Students in cohorts need only register once for the duration of the program.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

See the table below for the tuition charges and fees that comprise your estimated total RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway program cost.

Paying for Your Degree

APU offers a variety of ways to help you pay for your degree. From scholarships and grants to loans and company reimbursement, we’re committed to being sure that cost doesn’t keep you from reaching your education goals.

Learn more about the financial aid opportunities available to you.

• Scholarship, Grant, and Loan Options
• Nursing Tuition Discounts
• Nursing Scholarships
• Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
• Making Payments
• Apply for Aid

Additional Financial Aid Information for PCC Students

While Pasadena City College students are simultaneously enrolled at both institutions, APU will be responsible for providing, disbursing, and crediting federal financial aid into student accounts. APU will receive any relevant information from the partnering institution as it pertains to providing federal funds, including grades, class enrollment information, and any outside aid that may have been received and disbursed at the partnering institution on behalf of the student.

APU will also be responsible for monitoring continued eligibility for federal financial aid within the program, which includes policies related to program withdrawal and satisfactory academic progress for an APU undergraduate professional student.

Please review the student service policies.

For any additional questions, please contact the Student Services Center at [email protected] or (626) 815-2020 to work with an APU Student Account Specialist.

To view specific requirements and coursework information, visit the current academic catalog:

Program Requirements

APU’s rigorous academic experience is designed to facilitate development through solid intellectual inquiry, informed decision-making, and the application of ethical principles. A focus on Christian values and ethics is infused into all curriculum and into the development of learners by providing direction, purpose, and evaluation of personal and professional life actions.

Cohesive Format

The two-year RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway program covers 70 units at Pasadena City College (PCC) in courses such as pharmacology, psychology, medical-surgical, obstetrics, and pediatrics, and 40 units at Azusa Pacific, including pathophysiology, research and statistics, ethics and spirituality, and evidence-based practice.

To accommodate both programs, you will take one fully online BSN course per semester at Azusa Pacific alongside the traditional, campus-based ADN courses at the partnering institution. During the summer, you will complete two BSN courses in eight weeks.

After your fourth semester at PCC, you will earn an associate’s degree in nursing and take the state licensure exam to become a registered nurse. Following a final course in public health at Azusa Pacific, which includes an in-person clinical experience, you will earn a bachelor’s degree.

Cohort Model

Courses are taught sequentially, and the rich diversity of experiences students bring to the class results in lively discussions involving shared experiences. You will remain with the same group throughout the program, allowing you to develop a strong rapport with other group members, who act as a support system and career network.

How does the Integrative Enrollment Pathway work?

If you enroll in the Integrative Enrollment Pathway, you will follow the traditional course of study for ADN students at your college while also being simultaneously enrolled at APU in BSN courses. The curricular pathway is designed to be complementary between both institutions.

BSN courses are offered online only, so classroom time is not taken away from your ADN coursework. There is one clinical requirement for the BSN during the public/community health course, and it can be completed in the summer or during a semester after you graduate from your ADN program.

Who can enroll in the RN-BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway?

The RN-BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway is open to ADN students at select partnering institutions. Currently, APU has a partnership with:

Pasadena City College

The PCC-APU Integrative Enrollment Pathway is a two-and-a-half-year, full-time program for qualified applicants who are accepted to PCC’s ADN program and who meet all the program requirements and apply for admission to APU.

What are the program eligibility requirements?

To be considered for the Integrative Enrollment Pathway, you should:

• Complete the nursing program application at the partnering institution. Select the Integrative Enrollment ADN/BSN option on your application.
• Complete all prerequisites and lower-division GE requirements at the partnering institution.
• Meet the overall minimum GPA of 2.75 in all nursing courses and an overall GPA of 2.75 prior to starting BSN coursework at APU.
• Maintain a 2.0 GPA in all coursework while enrolled in the Integrative Enrollment program.

What prerequisites and lower-division general education courses are required?

Pasadena City College

View the prerequisites and lower-division GE course requirements at PCC.

Are there other options for ADN students to earn a BSN?

Yes! In addition to the RN to BSN Integrative Enrollment Pathway, you may also want to consider the:

• RN to BSN program: If you’ve already completed or plan to complete your ADN program, this is a popular pathway for earning your BSN in an accelerated format.
• Bridge to BSN program: If you want to get an early start on coursework for your BSN, but attend an institution that isn’t yet eligible for the Integrative Enrollment Pathway, this is a common sequential enrollment option.

Can I apply for admission to both the Integrative Enrollment Pathway and the traditional ADN nursing cohorts?

You must be formally admitted to the traditional ADN program at PCC before you apply to the Integrative Enrollment Pathway.

Where will I take classes?

You will take your traditional ADN courses at your partnering institution:

Pasadena City College — Health Sciences Division, PCC Foothill Campus

You will take your BSN courses at Azusa Pacific in an online format, completing one course per semester. During summers, you will complete two courses in eight weeks.

If you prefer, you may petition to take your BSN courses in-person at APU’s Monrovia campus. In-person courses are held on Wednesday evenings from 5-10 p.m. and are subject to availability. Summer courses are offered in-person on Tuesday/Thursday evenings from 5-10 p.m. at our main campus in Azusa, also subject to availability.

Once I am enrolled, what policies should I follow?

During any of your courses, refer to and follow the student policies of the institution that offers the course, which includes conduct, behavior, academic integrity, and any other requirements. You can consult your respective student handbooks for more information.

Is financial aid available?

Yes, financial aid is available! Contact the Student Services Center at [email protected] or (626) 815-2020 for details about financial aid at Azusa Pacific, or contact your financial aid counselor at the partnering institution.

Can I drop out of the program or defer classes?

You can drop the program, but you will not be able to rejoin at a later date. If you must drop out of the Integrative Enrollment Pathway program, you may choose to take summer classes with APU’s Bridge to BSN cohorts until you graduate from your ADN program. Alternatively, you may also consider joining APU’s RN to BSN program after you graduate with your ADN. Withdrawal policies do apply and could impact your financial aid, so talk with your Student Account Specialist beforehand to discuss any questions or concerns. Contact the Student Services Center at [email protected] or (626) 815-2020 to work with a Student Account Specialist.

How long will it take me to complete the BSN portion of this program?

After graduating with your ADN, you can complete the BSN degree in just six months by attending full-time.

When will I be able to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam?

You will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination upon graduation from the ADN portion of your program.

Why should I earn my BSN?

BSN-prepared graduates are considered entry-level practice in the state of California and are highly valuable to healthcare organizations. Nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree have been shown to improve patient outcomes and are sought after by hospitals and other healthcare employers.

Academic Agreements

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students and graduates can advance their nursing education with the help of a partial tuition scholarship for Azusa Pacific’s accelerated RN to BSN program.

APU’s School of Nursing offers this preferential pricing to ADN graduates from community colleges that have entered into an academic agreement with APU for that purpose.

Through these academic agreements, ADN graduates of qualifying schools who enroll in the RN to BSN program receive a 10% partial tuition scholarship. View the list of eligible colleges below, and include the name of your school when you apply to the RN to BSN program.

Current Eligible Community Colleges

• Antelope Valley College
• Chaffey College
• Citrus College
• Cypress College
• Glendale Community College
• Imperial Valley College
• Kern Community College District
• Los Angeles City College
• MiraCosta College
• Moorpark College
• Mt. San Jacinto College
• Palomar College
• Pasadena City College
• Rio Hondo College
• Riverside City College
• San Bernardino Community College District
• Southwestern College
• Ventura College
• Victor Valley College

Don’t see your school on the list? Have your school officials contact Ethel MacGregor, academic partnership specialist, at [email protected] for details on setting up an academic agreement. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid.

Academic Practice Partner Discount

For employees of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Rady Children's Hospital, Redlands Community Hospital, and Riverside University Health System, Azusa Pacific pays 10 percent of tuition for the RN to BSN program or 15 percent for the MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, MSN in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs (limited to three doctoral DNP or PhD students) for the duration of the agreement with the employer.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, be continuously enrolled in fall and spring terms at least half-time, and must submit an MOU Discount Form along with verification of employment. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Services Center for complete eligibility details.

Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Discount

For members of the Association of California Nurse Leaders, Azusa Pacific pays 10 percent of tuition for the RN to BSN program, MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, MSN in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) programs for the duration of the agreement with the association.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, be continuously enrolled in fall and spring terms at least half-time, and must submit an MOU Discount Form along with verification of membership. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Services Center for complete eligibility details.

If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.

Contact Your Admissions Representative

Student Services Center

Contact (626) 812-3016 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/ssc for details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration.

International Services

International students should contact +1-626-812-3055 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/international/.

• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 

• California Board of Registered Nursing.