Admissions

Nursing Program Options

Cayuga Community College offers two pathways to complete the Nursing A.A.S. degree, each with a different schedule and start term.

Traditional Nursing Program (Auburn & Fulton)

• Start Term: Fall (once per year)
• Campuses: Auburn and Fulton
• Schedule:
  • Auburn: Weekday format
  • Fulton: Evening / every other weekend

Fast Track Nursing Program (Auburn Only)

• Start Term: Spring (once per year)
• Campus: Auburn only
• Schedule: Evening / every other weekend

Dual Admissions with SUNY Upstate Medical University

Accelerated BS in Nursing (ABSN) Degree

Ready to become a Registered Nurse without starting over? If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, Upstate College of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offers a fast, affordable path to your future in healthcare.

Upstate College of Nursing has partnered with Cayuga Community College to expand access to high-quality, affordable nursing education across New York State. This innovative collaboration brings together two respected SUNY institutions to create a seamless, accelerated pathway to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 

Learn more about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Dual Admissions with SUNY Upstate for RN to Bachelor’s in Nursing

Students who complete their two-year Nursing degree at Cayuga Community College have the opportunity to transfer to SUNY Upstate Medical University to complete their bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Learn more about the RN to Bachelor’s in Nursing dual admission program at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Nursing Admissions Process

Admission to the Nursing Program is a two-step process.

New Students

New students must apply to Cayuga via our free admission application and mark Nursing AAS as their intended program of study. All applicants who meet the general admission policy requirements will be accepted to the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences Degree (LAS) with a concentration in Health Careers. The Admissions Office will then review the application for Nursing and determine if the applicant meets the nursing prerequisites at the time of application.

The Nursing Program uses a nursing supplemental application that is open only from October 1 to January 15 or September 1–November 15 for Spring Fast Track. New applicants who apply during this window and meet the nursing prerequisites will receive access to the nursing supplemental application from the Office of Admissions. The nursing supplemental application includes an essay and two professional reference letters.

New applicants who don’t meet the nursing prerequisites can take prerequisite and corequisite courses while enrolled in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences Degree with Health Careers concentration. Cayuga offers personalized academic coaching for health professions.

Students may complete the following co-requisite courses while preparing for admission to the Nursing Program. These courses are also required for completion of the Nursing A.A.S. degree.

Current or Returning Students

Current or returning students who are confident they have met or will meet the nursing prerequisites by the application deadline are required to meet with an academic advisor in the Centers for Student Engagement and Academic Advisement to discuss their program readiness and potentially receive access to the nursing supplemental application.

Students are encouraged to schedule their meeting during the nursing supplemental application window.

Transfer from Another Nursing Program to Cayuga’s Nursing Program

Students requesting a transfer from another Nursing program must:

• Satisfy the admission criteria stated under the Admission Requirements section.
• Apply for admission following the New Student Application Steps no later than October 31.
• Submit a Nursing Transfer Request form to the Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu before October 31.
• The only nursing course that may be accepted for transfer is NURS 101, pending a review of the course syllabus. A minimum grade of C+ (77) is required for NURS 101 credit transfer. The nursing course must be completed within one year of the transfer request.
• Complete the Nursing Department Skill Competency Evaluation with a grade of satisfactory.
• Complete the nursing clinical review course with a passing grade.

Nursing Supplemental Application Dates Window

Spring 2027 Fast Track Cohort Application Completion Timeframe

• Application period: September 1, 2026–November 15, 2026
• Admission decisions: December 2026

Fall 2027 Cohort Application Completion Timeframe

• Application period: October 1, 2026–January 15, 2027
• Admission decisions: March 2027

Applicants must meet the Nursing prerequisites to receive access to the Nursing supplemental application. Completion of the application does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program.

New Student Application Steps

Completion of these two applications is free of charge and does not guarantee admission to the program.

1. Apply to Cayuga as a new, degree-seeking student (free application)
2. Submit Official High School/TASC/GED and AP/IB/College Transcripts
3. The Nursing program has its own specific nursing supplemental application form and process. The online application link will be available to students who have completed the required prerequisites during the nursing supplemental application window.

Admission Requirements

The following must be completed before applying to the Nursing program:

Required Documents

• High school or general equivalency diploma (GED/TASC)
• Official College transcripts, if applicable, from all the colleges attended prior to your application to Cayuga.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses must be completed before applying to the Nursing program:

• Algebra Math proficiency:
  • Testing or placing into Cayuga’s MATH 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher or
  • Completion of Cayuga’s MATH 099 (Elementary Algebra) or higher with a minimum grade of C (or 70%) or
  • Completion of pre-calculus or higher in high school with a minimum grade of C (or 70%)
  • NOTE: High school Math placement more than 5 years old or out of state, placement will be determined by the Math Coordinator.
• Biology Proficiency:
  • Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school or college Biology
• Chemistry Proficiency:
  • Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school Chemistry (Regents or General) or college Chemistry 101 (CHEM 103 or equivalent). See Nursing High School Chemistry Courses.
• GPA Requirement:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA or overall high school average of 75% or 2.5
• English Proficiency:
  • Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate an acceptable level of English language proficiency.

Selection Process and Requirements

Admission to the nursing program is competitive and selective. Decisions are made by a committee comprised of nursing faculty members and admissions team members. They are based on high school or college grade averages, grades in required science, chemistry, and math courses, a personal essay, and letters of reference.

Selection into the Nursing program is based on the calculation of quality points. Students are then ranked from highest to lowest number of quality points, and admission is granted to the students with the most points.

Nursing Supplemental Application Requirements

Applicants who meet the nursing prerequisites will receive access to the nursing supplemental application. This application requires submission of the following:

• Nursing Essay
• Two professional references
• An interview may be required

Important Information for Nursing Applicants

• Nursing applicants may be required to consent to drug testing upon request by the College or affiliating clinical agency.
• The nursing program has clinical experiences starting in the first semester. A background check is required for clinical.
• A prior felony conviction may hinder a student’s ability to enroll in a course, complete the requirements of certain academic programs, and/or meet the licensure criteria required by certain professions.
• Technical standards are abilities and behaviors that a nursing student must be able to perform to function in a safe manner. It is essential that students of nursing possess and maintain the following functional requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Admission decisions are delivered via email: December for Spring and March for Fall admission into the Nursing, AAS program.
• Applicants who didn’t get accepted into the Nursing, AAS program, must reapply to be considered for admission the following year.