Program Overview

Admission to LCC's Career Ladder Nursing Program is through Selective Admissions.  There is no wait-list; instead, acceptance is based on a point system.  All admission procedures for the Program are coordinated through the Selective Admissions Office - selective_admissions@lcc.edu

Detailed information on the point system, prerequisites, and program cost can be found in the Nursing advising guide.

Getting Started

Follow these steps to begin the admission process:

For detailed information on the steps needing to be completed to apply to the Nursing program, check out the Nursing Advising Guide.

Prerequisite Courses

To be eligible to apply, prerequisite courses must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.5; all NURS courses require a 3.0 or higher. A maximum of 2 attempts within a 5-year period is allowed for each course requirement category; this includes withdraws and attempts at other colleges. For a complete list of prerequisite courses, see the Nursing Advising Guide.

1. What makes Lansing Community College's Nursing Program distinctive?

• High regard in the community
• A ladder program concept
• Three program (track) options
• Nationally accredited since 1971!
• Offers one of the only accredited simulation labs in the State
• Rich in clinical experience

2. Are there informational seminars available?

Yes, all applicants must complete a virtual pre-Nursing seminar before applying to the program. Students are encouraged to complete this early in their Nursing journey to ensure they understand the requirements and program characteristics. For information on how to access the online seminar, check out the Nursing Advising Guide.

3. Who do I speak to about getting into the Nursing program?

For general questions, contact the Selective Admissions office at selective_admissions@lcc.edu.

For course planning, meet with an Academic Advisor at LCC's Academic & Career Pathways department. Call 517-483-1957 (option 4) to schedule an appointment with a Nursing advisor. Eric Bennett, Angela Kuhlman, and Matt Boeve are the lead Nursing advisors. 

4. When does the program start?

See table below.

5. How long is the program?

See table below.

6. How many students are admitted each year?

See table below.

7. When is the application deadline?

8. Is there a waiting list to get into the Nursing program?

There is no wait-list to enter the program; instead, acceptance is based on a point system. Students receive points based on GPA, course prerequisites, and other criteria. Admission is competitive. Detailed information on the point system and application process can be found in the Nursing advising guide.

9. How is admission into the Nursing program determined?

Acceptance into each Nursing track is based on a point system. Students receive points based on GPA, course prerequisites, and other criteria. Admission is competitive. Detailed information on the point system and application process can be found in the Nursing advising guide.

10. How competitive is it to get into the Nursing Program?

The 2-Year Nursing track admits 128 students annually. The average GPA of prerequisite courses for students admitted during the 2019 and 2020 application cycles was 3.74. The range was 4.0-3.25. This track has typically receives 1.5 times the amount of applications as seats available.
The 2nd Degree Nursing track admits 32 students each year.  The average GPA of prerequisite courses for students admitted during the 2019 and 2020 application cycles was 3.69. The range was 4.0-3.06. The 2018-2020 selection periods saw on average 1.1 times the amount of applicants as seats available.

11. How much does the program cost?

Current program cost estimations can be found on the Nursing advising guide site.

12. Can I have a job while I am a nursing student?

LCC’s Nursing program is challenging and it’s workload is equivalent to that of a full-time job. Because of this, it is not recommended that students work more than 20 hours a week, if at all. If you must work, you will need a strong support system.

13. If I have a unique situation, can I get a waiver/EXCEPTION on admission requirements?

Students must meet with a Nursing advisor before submitting a request for an exception of a specific Selective Admission requirement. Please be aware that waivers are granted infrequently and only after careful consideration of fairness to all applicants. If an advisor agrees that your situation represents a compelling circumstance, then you can complete the Nursing Exception Form. This form will then be reviewed by the Nursing Director. Call 517-483-1957 (option 4) to schedule an appointment with a Nursing advisor. Eric Bennett, Angela Kuhlman, and Matt Boeve are the lead Nursing advisors. 

Admission Requirements (FAQs)

1. What prerequisites must be completed before I can apply?

A complete list of prerequisite courses can be found in the Nursing Advising Guide. 

2. When do prerequisite courses need to be completed?

For guidelines on when prerequisite classes must be completed and when transfer transcripts are due, review the current Nursing Advising Guide.

3. What is the minimum grade required for prerequisite and Nursing courses?

To be eligible to apply, pre-requisite courses must be passed with a minimum grade of 2.5; all NURS courses require a 3.0 grade or higher. Only two attempts per a course are allowed to achieve the minimum required grade; this includes course withdraws (W) and attempts at other institutions.

4. Do any of the prerequisite courses expire?

NURS 201 must be completed within 2 years of the application deadline. All required biology courses including Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology, must be completed within 8 years of the application deadline. If taken over 8 years ago, it must be retaken; this will not be considered a repeat.

5. How do I apply to the Nursing program?

View the complete application process in the Nursing Advising Guide.

Transferring to LCC (FAQs)

1. How do I know if my transfer courses will satisfy a prerequisite course?

LCC has established equivalencies for the most commonly transferred courses from a number of colleges and universities in Michigan and the surrounding area. To see if transfer equivalencies are available for your school, visit the Transfer Equivalencies page.

Students should have their previous institution send official transcripts directly to LCC at the address listed below to learn what courses will transfer in. It is recommended that this is done early on in the process so there are no surprises on what does and does not transfer in. It can take up to 6 weeks for transcripts to be processed by LCC's Registrar's Office.

Following transcript evaluation, courses that have transferred in will appear on a student’s LCC unofficial transcript located in their Banner account.

2. I have partially completed a nursing program at another institution.  Can I enter the program where I left off and will those courses transfer into LCC?

To ensure consistency within the program and to meet accreditation standards, LCC does not accept Nursing classes from other institutions. Students who have enrolled in a Nursing program at another institution previously, will need to complete our program in its entirety.

Clinical Sites

1. Will all of my clinical sites be in Lansing?

No, clinical rotations are offered within a 250 mile radius of LCC’s Downtown Lansing campus. The program makes every attempt to give students a variety of clinical experience at both Lansing and surrounding area facilities. Facilities range from Sparrow in Lansing to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan located in Detroit to Memorial Hospital in Owosso, just to name a few. Because of this, reliable transportation is necessary.

2. Where are clinical rotations held?

Clinical experiences include hospitals, home health care agencies, rehabilitation units, and community health organizations. Students provide nursing care to geriatric, medical, surgical, maternity, and pediatric patients at a variety of facilities. Sites can include Sparrow, McLaren, Owosso Memorial, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, The Willows, Ingham & Eaton County Medical Care Facility, Medilodge, Burcham Hills, Holt Senior Center. LCC healthcare programs do not take requests for clinical assignments so students should be prepared to attend clinicals at any facility. 

3. How much clinical experience will I receive?

Students can have up to 141 hours of clinical experience per a semester and will experience approximately 460 hours (depending on track) throughout the entirety of the program. In addition, students can also expect to have at least 3 hours of lab and lecture time during a given week.

4. How large are the clinical groups?

For increased learning potential, LCC offers small clinical groups including a maximum of 8 students to every faculty member.

5. is the covid vaccine required?

A complete list of required immunizations can be found in the Nursing Advising Guide.

LCC healthcare programs do not take requests for clinical or externship assignments. Clinical requirements are in accordance with professional standards and third-party clinical site requirements. Students are responsible for the cost associated with obtaining immunizations, physicals, BLS certification, and any other items relating to clinical eligibility.

BSN Completion

1. Why should I earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) before a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree?

• Cost - community colleges are less expensive.
• Learning Style - The associate nurse program is more hands-on along with theory, so you can apply what you are learning as you go.

2. How feasible is it to go on for a BSN after completing my RN degree at LCC?

Lansing Community College's Nursing Program articulates with eight or more universities in Michigan. You can complete your BSN by completing approximately two more years at one of these institutions. Below is information on some of the transfer programs offering Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN completion programs.

Eastern Michigan University (EMU)

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site

Ferris State University (FSU)

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site

Michigan State University (MSU)

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site

Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU)

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site

Sienna Heights

• RN to BSN completion program

Spring Arbor University

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site

University of Michigan-Flint

• RN to BSN completion program
• Transfer equivalency site