How to Apply

Follow the 5 easy steps to apply at Merced College in order to obtain a student ID and email.

Apply to Merced College the same semester that you apply to the program in order to maintain an active school email address.

High School Diploma or GED or AA/AS Degree or higher degree completed.

Before applying, complete the program’s prerequisites. 

All prerequisites must be completed with a “C” or higher and grades demonstrated on transcripts prior to applying.  “P’ is not acceptable.  It is recommended prerequisites be completed within five years of acceptance to the program. 

No “in progress” prerequisites will be accepted. Combined GPA on prerequisites must be a 2.5 or higher. View this example of how to calculate your GPA.

• BIOL-16 General Human Anatomy 
• BIOL-18 Principles of Physiology 
• BIOL-20 Microbiology 
• ENGL-01A College Composition and Reading OR ENGL-13/PHIL-13/H Critical Reasoning & Writing 
• MATH-10 Elementary Statistics

Fill out the Criteria II AND IB – GPA and Prerequisite Course Form.  This must be uploaded with your application.

Additional requirements – see Point Criteria Summary 

All applicants are required to upload transcript(s) with their application to verify completion of ALL prerequisites.  If any transcripts are omitted, it will disqualify your application.

If prerequisites/coursework was completed at schools other than Merced College, Official transcript(s) must be sent directly to the Merced College Admissions & Records office by the transcript submission deadline.

If you completed your prerequisites/coursework at Merced College you can login to your Merced College Self-Service account to download a PDF of your unofficial transcript.

International Students:  Students with international (outside the U.S.) coursework will need to have their transcript(s) evaluated for U.S. equivalency.  International transcripts must be officially evaluated by the following agency:

Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES), 2480 Hilborn Rd., Ste. 106, Fairfield, CA 94534

(P) 707-759-2866                Email – [email protected]                    www.eres.com

View the Grid of Comparable Prerequisites Courses.  IF your prerequisites/coursework are NOT listed on the Grid of Comparable Prerequisite Courses, you must make an appointment with an ALLIED HEALTH Counselor, (call 209-381-6478 or email [email protected]) to verify equivalency.

Merced College prerequisites/coursework do NOT require a counselor’s signature.

PLEASE READ the program information and application instructions carefully. 

• Download the Registered Nursing Application Guide for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 – coming soon
• Download the Registered Nursing Enrollment Policies for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 
• Download RN Student Handbook – coming soon
• Application Link – CLOSED
• Application Troubleshooting Tips 
• Criteria IV – Foreign Language Certification 
  • You may upload your “Foreign Language Certification Form” from last year’s application if you have it saved.  Forms from other Colleges/Universities will NOT be accepted.

Students will be accepted for the next academic year (1/2 for Fall and 1/2 for Spring – based on grant funding). 50% are selected by points and 50% are selected by lottery.

Make sure you take a photo or screenshot of the notification message for your reference and personal records.  You will be prompted to download the completed application. Save that for your personal records.  After the application window closes, a committee reviews all the applications. The review process ensures that applications are complete and accurate and meet the Program’s standard admission requirements.

After this internal review, you will receive notification to the email addresses you provided on your application regarding your status, i.e., “accepted, alternate, not accepted or disqualified.”

ACCEPTANCE

Your acceptance will be emailed to you and will outline all details.  Further information regarding class and clinical schedules will be provided at the MANDATORY orientation.  Failure to provide required documentation by deadlines may cancel admission to the program.

Some travel to clinical facilities outside Merced is required.

LVN to RN Pathway:  Your acceptance is contingent upon passing an entrance exam based on fundamentals (1^st semester) principles in nursing.  You must obtain a 75% to be fully accepted.  The date/time will be provided in your email.

Please Note – Limitations on Enrollment/Requirements:  Allied Health students must adhere to clearance requirements in order to be accepted into, and continue enrollment in, Allied Health Programs‘ clinical courses. Requirements include: background checks, drug screenings, vaccinations. Merced College follows the requirements put in place by our clinical partners.