Nursing Associate Degree (ADN)
Become a registered nurse through a hands-on, on-campus program with clinicals at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health — and a 30-year record of placing graduates in regional healthcare.
The program is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Program Overview
Shawnee State’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is the launchpad for your future in healthcare. For over 30 years, our ADN graduates have gone on to serve in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities across the region and beyond. With a reputation for excellence and a strong network of local partnerships, our program connects you to real-world clinical experiences and a direct path to RN licensure.
As a student in the ADN program, you’ll benefit from expert faculty, dedicated advising, and hands-on learning in our high-tech labs and clinical settings. You’ll build your confidence through simulation and direct patient care—all while learning from professionals who know what it takes to succeed in the field. Whether you’re just starting out, or returning to education, we’ll meet you where you are and help you move forward.
We’re fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Our program is also part of Shawnee State’s designation as an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation, placing us among a select group of institutions recognized for both access and outcomes. And with one of the most affordable tuition rates in the region—plus financial aid and scholarships for qualifying students—you can earn your degree without overwhelming debt.
Here, you’re more than just a number. You’ll have access to supportive faculty, dedicated selective admissions advisors, and a campus community that wants to see you succeed. Our ADN students graduate prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, enter the workforce, or continue on to a BSN or advanced practice program. At Shawnee State, we prepare nurses who are ready to care, ready to lead, and ready to make a difference.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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Send Admissions your ACT/SAT scores
If you have a copy of your report, email it to admissions@shawnee.edu. Your high school counselor may also be able to include your ACT/SAT score on your transcript. You may also contact ACT or College Board to have your scores officially sent to Shawnee State. If you listed Shawnee State at the time that you took your test, we will receive your scores automatically.
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Submit the Selective Admission Application
Submit before the deadline to be considered.
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
Admission & Requirements
Now offering rolling admission.
Apply early for accelerated consideration.
Deadline of April 1st
Admission is determined on a competitive basis. The total number of students admitted to the program is based upon available facilities and faculty.
Qualified applicants are admitted to the ADN program in Spring and Fall.
Students may be required to complete designated courses in the summer or autumn semester prior to official admission into the nursing program.
The Associate Degree in Nursing curriculum will meet the requirements for licensure in most states, but will not meet the requirements for licensure in Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Mississippi.
Admission Requirements for Selective Degrees
Improve Your Chances of Admission
If you apply and are not accepted to the ADN program on your initial attempt, please contact the School of Nursing for further guidance.
If you are currently a high school student:
- Choose science courses such as biology, anatomy & physiology, and chemistry. GRADES MATTER.
- Choose at least one algebra course.
- Take the TEAS early, and plan to re-take if you would like to improve your score.
- Talk to a nurse about their work and educational path.
- Talk to your guidance counselor about the profession of nursing and educational requirements.
- Investigate opportunities to take college level classes while you are still in high school.
If you are currently a college student:
- Take the following courses first: BIOL 1130, BIOL 1131, BIOL 3750, & BIOL 3650.
- Take as many of the non-nursing courses listed in the program of study as possible.
- Remember; GRADES MATTER!
New Requirements Beginning for Fall 2026 applicants
- Official high school transcript denoting high school graduation or official GED test score transcript.
- A GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school, or for those with a minimum of 12 college credit hours, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- For students with college credit, any science courses considered for application toward their degree must have been completed within the last seven years with a minimum grade of C. The SSU School of Nursing requires the following science courses for degree completion: BIOL 1130, BIOL 1131, BIOL 3650, and BIOL 3750. The sciences of applicants who have earned a degree and currently work in the healthcare field may be considered at the discretion of the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee or the Director of the School of Nursing.
- An acceptable TEAS score is required by March 1st for Autumn admissions and by October
1st for Spring admissions to be considered for admission to Shawnee State University
School of Nursing.
- The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) entrance exam from the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) measures the applicant’s level of performance in Math, Science, Reading, and English/Language to ensure applicants are prepared to begin nursing courses. All Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program applicants must achieve a composite score of 58.7% (Proficient) or higher on the TEAS exam and a minimum of 58.7% (Proficient) in each of the four subjects. Applicants are responsible for the cost of the exam. Applicants who do not pass the exam must complete the remediation and may retake the exam up to two additional times within one year. A minimum of 14 days is required between each attempt.
- Learn more about TEAS (PDF)
- To be considered for admission, non-native English-speaking students must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 84 with an English-speaking score of 26 or higher or a minimum Duolingo score of 120.
- Applicants who have been dismissed from an external nursing program will be considered for admission two years from the date of dismissal.
Questions
Selective Admissions Team
Phone: (740) 351-3187
Email: chhs@shawnee.edu
Dr. Kimberley Dinsey-Read
Title: Director, School of Nursing
Email: kdinseyread@shawnee.edu
Phone: (740) 351-3446
At A Glance
Nursing Associate Degree (ADN)
Degree
A.D.N.
Format
On campus, full-time, cohort
Length
4 semesters
Class Size
12:1
Location
Main Campus, Health Sciences Building
Why Study Nursing Associate Degree (ADN) at Shawnee University
More than 30 years of graduates working in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities — many of them in southern Ohio.
Clinical rotations through Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health, so you practice with real patients in real settings from early in the program.
Approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which means your degree meets the standards required to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Small cohorts and dedicated selective-admissions advisors who walk you through every step — from prerequisites through licensure.
Shawnee State is one of two public universities in Ohio named an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation, paired with some of the most affordable tuition in the region.
The ADN curriculum builds clinical judgment one semester at a time. You'll move from nursing fundamentals into adult, maternal-child, and mental health nursing, with lab and clinical hours woven throughout.
- Nursing fundamentals and patient care basics
- Adult health nursing
- Maternal and child health nursing
- Mental health nursing
- Current issues in nursing and NCLEX-RN preparation
Clinical rotations are a core part of the ADN. Through SSU's partnerships with Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health, you'll work directly with patients in a range of specialties and care settings — supervised by faculty and practicing nurses who will help you build skills you can use on day one of your first RN job.
By graduation, you'll be ready to:
- Deliver safe, patient-centered care
- Apply clinical judgment across a variety of healthcare settings
- Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary care teams
- Practice within the ethical and professional standards of nursing
- Sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam
On campus in the Health Sciences Building, with clinical placements at Southern Ohio Medical Center and Adena Health.
Most graduates step directly into RN roles. Many continue on to a BSN through Shawnee State's online RN-BSN pathway. Common settings include:
- Acute-care hospitals (med-surg, ICU, ED)
- Long-term and skilled nursing facilities
- Outpatient clinics and physician offices
- Home health and community care
- Behavioral health and rehab settings
Demand for RNs remains strong across southern Ohio and the broader region, particularly in acute and long-term care.
Free Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State's tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
See if you Qualify for Free Tuition
Ohio students can apply to receive a $1,500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted.
Learn More about Choose Ohio FirstNursing Associate Degree (ADN) Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The ADN is a full-time, four-semester, cohort-based program because of how clinicals and labs are scheduled.
Admission is selective. You'll need to meet GPA, prerequisite coursework, and standardized testing standards. Check the program's admissions page for the most current criteria.
Yes. The curriculum is built around licensure requirements and graduates leave prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Yes. Many ADN graduates move directly into Shawnee State's online RN-BSN pathway, which is designed for working nurses.
Program handbook
Refer to the most current Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook on the School of Nursing site for policies, clinical procedures, and academic requirements.
For more information, view the Nursing Associate Degree FAQs Page
Accreditation
The ADN is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Shawnee State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
