Admission & Application Requirements

• Transcripts from ALL colleges/universities you’ve attended
  • You may upload official OR unofficial transcripts to the application, or send them to gradadmission@plu.edu.
    • If you are a PLU student or alum, you do not need to submit your PLU transcripts.
  • Note: While we will accept unofficial transcripts at the application stage for domestic students, you must submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities before you enroll in a PLU graduate program.
  • If you are an international applicant, you must submit official transcripts with the credential evaluation. See the International Applicants section for more information.
• Personal Statement
  • In an essay of 500-750 words (double spaced, 12 point font) please discuss your professional and educational goals and how it relates to the MSN program. How the MSN will help achieve your goals?
• Professional Resume
• Two Recommendations:
  • Your recommendations may be either academic or professional.
  • The application system will send an email to your recommenders, after which they must submit the PLU Graduate Recommendation Form. They will have the option to also include a letter of recommendation.
• Application Fee
  • Pay the non-refundable $65 application fee.
  • Note: The application fee is waived for all PLU students and alumni.
• Optional: GRE Scores
  • While the School of Nursing does not require the GRE, you can submit your test scores (directly from the testing agency to PLU Graduate Admission or gradadmission@plu.edu) if you feel it will strengthen your application.

If you need to submit additional documents after submitting the online application, you can email them to gradadmission@plu.edu.

If you are an international student, you must submit official transcripts (with a credential evaluation), proof of your bachelor’s degree completion, and provide proof of university-level English language proficiency.

• Official Transcripts & Credential Evaluation
  • You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. International transcripts must be translated to English, and must be submitted for international credential evaluation by any organization on the AICE list or NACES list before being sent to PLU.
  • SpanTran is listed as a NACES-approved international credential evaluator and has created a custom application for PLU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application – Pacific Lutheran University.
• Degree Diploma
  • You must provide official proof of your bachelor’s degree completion. You can email a copy to gradadmission@plu.edu.
• Proof of University-Level English Proficiency
  • Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at PLU. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.
  • This requirement is waived for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses who hold current United States LPN or RN licensure.
  • For the MSN, proficiency can be demonstrated by the official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
    • Minimum TOEFL-iBT combined score: 86
      • Minimum speaking score: 26
      • Minimum writing score: 20
      • Minimum reading score: 20
      • Minimum listening score: 20
    • Minimum IELTS band score: 6.5
      • Minimum individual speaking score: 8
      • Minimum individual writing score: 5.5
      • Minimum individual reading score: 6.5
      • Minimum individual listening score: 6.5
  • The English proficiency requirement can also be met if applicants have completed one of the following:
    • A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution in the United States.
    • A baccalaureate degree or higher from a recognized college or university in an English-speaking country or region, including Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, or New Zealand.
    • Both primary and secondary education in an English-speaking country or region, including Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States. Students are considered to be a native English speaker.
    • A recognized Intensive English Program (IEP) in the United States and received an English proficiency level equivalent to the required minimum TOEFL/Duolingo/IELTS scores of the applied program.
    • Other waiver conditions may be allowed subject to the determination of the MSN program.
• I-20 Processing
  • An I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) will be issued only after the student has been admitted and paid the non-refundable $300.00 enrollment deposit and has returned all required acceptance forms. The I-20 form should be taken to the U.S. Consulate when requesting a visa to come to the United States for a graduate program.
  • The following items are not required for the application to be considered for admission, but are required prior to issuance of an I-20. To expedite admission processing, applicants should consider submitting the following with application documents:
    • Declaration of Finances form, including proof of financial support. Certification of finances from banks or embassies is permissible.
    • Copy of passport picture page
    • Address and associated phone number to which to send the I-20 via courier service

You will be invited to complete the background check via CastleBranch if admission is offered. The School of Nursing will provide you the instructions at that time. If you have a criminal conviction on your record that will prohibit your attendance at any assigned clinical sites, you may be removed from this program. In order to obtain a RN license, you are subject to all licensure requirements set forth by the state government, including any criminal background restrictions.

In order to begin clinical rotations, students must meet all agency compliance requirements including COVID vaccinations.