The inaugural class of the BSN, First-Year, Direct Admit Arrived in the fall of 2025. UNCG is currently the only UNC System School to offer this program
The academic year kicked off with a bang as the School of Nursing welcomed its inaugural class of BSN First-Year, Direct Admit students. As the first UNC system institution to offer this innovative early admission pathway, UNCG has accepted 246 Direct Admit students for the 2025-2026 academic year.
This pathway admits students directly into the nursing major from day one, offering key advantages. First, it guarantees a place in the nursing program, eliminating the uncertainty of competitive applications later. Second, it provides a clear, structured curriculum beginning in the first year, helping students stay on track and graduate on time. Additionally, students avoid the extra costs of taking unneeded prerequisite courses while awaiting acceptance and have guaranteed access to advisors in the School of Nursing.
Taking the Lead
The BSN First-Year, Direct Admit program helps address a looming crisis: by 2035, North Carolina will rank among the top 10 nationwide for nursing shortages. Recognizing this urgent threat, the North Carolina General Assembly took decisive action, mandating that every UNC System school expand nursing programs by at least 50% and backing this requirement with critical funding.
Keith Njuguna, a BSN First-Year, Direct Admit student, didn’t hesitate when he discovered the program on his application. “I already have friends who go to UNCG, so it was always on my radar,” he explains. “They really encouraged me to come because they said everyone here seems to have your best interest in mind.”
The Durham native found out he loved making people smile back when he was his high school’s mascot at Voyager Academy. “I want to work in healthcare to help people,” he says. “My aunt is a nurse, and that’s what inspired me to pursue the degree.” Njuguna aspires to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). “I had an operation in high school and was fascinated by the machinery and the whole process,” he recalls.
Successful nursing students typically have innate skills such as empathy, adaptability, and effective communication. Academically, they do well in science and math, as well as in classes that require critical thinking and astute clinical judgment.
Answering the call
UNCG’s School of Nursing responded to the call to address the nursing shortage and secured over $2.4 million in 2024 from the N.C. General Assembly to expand its enrollment capacity. The results have been remarkable. By the fall of the 2025-26 academic year, UNCG has more than doubled its prelicensure enrollment to 109% with the funding, establishing itself as a leader in the state’s effort to train the next generation of nurses.
