A grade of “C” for each nursing course listed in the nursing curriculum (NUR courses plus general education courses) and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all college courses are necessary to progress and to graduate from the Associate Degree Nursing Program. In addition, students must demonstrate a satisfactory pattern of behavior according to the “Criteria for Responsible Behavior,” published in the Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook.

Minimum admission requirements (in addition to general admission requirements):

• Attain an 18 composite score on the national ACT (if taken prior to October 1989, a composite score of 15 is acceptable); complete the prerequisite courses of Anatomy and Physiology I &  II with labs with a "C" or higher; have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;

OR

• Attain a 17 composite score on the national ACT; complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs with a “C” or higher and 16 additional hours of general education courses as listed in the ADN curriculum; have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;

OR

• A student with a bachelor’s degree or higher may be admitted without an ACT score, but must have completed at a minimum, Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs with a “C” or higher, have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;
  

AND

• Participate in a mandatory ADN information session and take the TEAS exam. The mandatory information session will be scheduled for the prospective students only after all other requirements have been met. Students will receive notice from the Registrar’s Office about scheduling their information session and the TEAS exam.  

---

The ADN Admissions Committee will select each semester's class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum admission requirements.  Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission.  The admission process is competitive, and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.  Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows: 

1. In-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
2. Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
3. Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework elsewhere;
4. Out-of-state students.  

In addition to residency points, an applicant’s competitiveness is determined by national ACT score, GPA, TEAS score, and grades in courses completed. See the ADN website or nursing advisor for additional details. Please be aware that there is no minimal TEAS score that must be earned for admission consideration; these scores are converted to points and used in the competitive process. Students scoring less than 60 on the TEAS will be required to enroll in Nursing Enhancement courses and pass the Enhancement courses with a "C" or better each semester.

After program admission and prior to the first day of class, students must obtain American Heart Association CPR certification.  Students must provide proof of immunization for MMR and Varicella.  A Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test is required prior to the first day of class. Drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment. Students must comply with influenza vaccination requirements of clinical agencies. Electronic textbooks are used for the nursing program.  Software requirements and other information will be provided in the admissions notification.

All students admitted into the program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and background checks, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories. These fees will be attached as registration fees. There are certain convictions that will prevent an individual being eligible to participate in clinical experiences.  If a student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, he/she will be dismissed from the program. For additional information, contact the program coordinator.

Deadline for application is January 15 for Fall admission and September 1 for Spring admission.

The application information which must be submitted by the deadline includes submission of all official transcripts, national ACT score, and MCC admission application.  There is not a separate application for the nursing program.  On the MCC admission application, applicants should mark Associate Degree Nursing as the program of interest.  The admission application should also be marked for the term admission is being sought.

Admission requirements, curriculum, and other program information are subject to change.  See your program advisor/counselor for additional information.

Students in the Associate Degree Nursing Program must attend MCC full-time (12 or more semester credit hours) unless admitted into the part-time program.

• All courses must be completed in, or prior to, the semester listed.
  
  
• There is no expiration date for general education coursework, including sciences.
  
  
• Please be aware that in the management/preceptor rotation in the 4th semester, student schedules may vary.

Legal limitations for licensure as a registered nurse:

Information related to applying for licensure to practice as a registered nurse, upon completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, is contained in the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and Rules and Regulations. Graduates must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Applicants to the Associate Degree Nursing Program should be aware of the following restriction regarding who may qualify to write for the NCLEX-RN®:

“The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this chapter.”*
*Mississippi Nursing Practice Law

Mississippi Law now requires health care professionals or Workforce Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services to submit to criminal background checks and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed health care entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background check of the student discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or non contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23 (g), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study, nor will he/she be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity. In addition, clinical affiliates have identified “other exclusions” or other criminal offenses that will preclude a student from participating in the clinical practicum. The student’s eligibility to participate in the clinical training phase of his/her health care program shall be voided if the student receives a disqualifying criminal record check; therefore, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.

If a student currently enrolled in the nursing program is prohibited from participating in clinical experiences by any clinical affiliate of Meridian Community College (e.g., positive drug screen, egregious behavior, violation of patient safety, non-compliance with the College’s “Student Behavior Code,” etc.), then the student will be dismissed from the program of study. The student is not eligible for program readmission until the clinical restriction is removed.

 

MCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program is a program that meets the education requirements for a Registered Nursing license in MS, and qualifies graduates to take the NCLEX-RN®, a national examination for licensure. 

Determinations about whether the Associate Degree Nursing program at MCC meets the state education requirements for US States, Territories, and the District of Columbia can be found here.

A grade of “C” for each nursing course listed in the nursing curriculum (NUR courses plus general education courses) and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all college courses are necessary to progress and to graduate from the Associate Degree Nursing Program. In addition, students must demonstrate a satisfactory pattern of behavior according to the “Criteria for Responsible Behavior,” published in the Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook.   

Minimum admission requirements (in addition to general admission requirements):

• Attain an 18 composite score on the national ACT (if taken prior to October 1989, a composite score of 15 is acceptable); complete all prerequisite courses listed in the course of study; have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;

OR

• Attain a 17 composite score on the national ACT; complete 3 additional hours as listed in the ADN curriculum plus all prerequisite courses listed in the course of study; have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;
  

OR

• A student with a bachelor’s degree or higher may be admitted without an ACT score, but must have completed at a minimum, Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs with a “C” or higher, have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or higher on all ADN curriculum courses;
  
  

AND

• Participate in a mandatory ADN information session and take the TEAS exam. The mandatory information session will be scheduled for the prospective students only after all other requirements have been met. Students will receive notice from the Registrar’s Office about scheduling their information session and the TEAS exam.  
  
  

AND

• Have an unencumbered MS or Interstate Compact License as an LPN or a “Paramedic Registry” with no history of disciplinary actions;
  
  

AND

• Have one year of experience or 1040 documented hours as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Paramedic.  This requirement must be validated with a form that will be mailed to the student by the Registrar’s Office;
  
  

AND

• Have a written recommendation from a current or former immediate supervisor. This requirement must be validated with a form that will be mailed to the student by the Registrar's office;
  
  

The ADN Admissions Committee will select each year’s class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum admission requirements.  Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission.  The admission process is competitive, and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.  Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows:

1. In-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
2. Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC;
3. Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework elsewhere;
4. Out-of-state students.   

 

In addition to residency points, an applicant’s competitiveness is determined by national ACT score, GPA, TEAS score, and grades in courses completed.  See the ADN website or nursing advisor for additional details. Please be aware that there is no minimal TEAS score that must be earned for admission consideration; these scores are converted to points and used in the competitive process. Students scoring less than 60 on the TEAS will be required to enroll in Nursing Enhancement courses and pass the Enhancement courses with a "C" or better each semester.

After program admission and prior to the first day of class, students must obtain American Heart Association CPR certification.  Students must provide proof of immunization for MMR and Varicella. A Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test is required prior to the first day of class.  Drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment. Students must comply with influenza vaccination requirements of clinical agencies. Electronic textbooks are used for the nursing program.  Software requirements and other information will be provided in the admissions notification.

All students admitted into the program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and background checks, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories. These fees will be attached as registration fees. There are certain convictions that will prevent an individual being eligible to participate in clinical experiences. If a student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, he/she will be dismissed from the program. For additional information, contact the program coordinator.

Deadline for application is September 1st for Spring admission. The ADN Accelerated Program will admit students in the Spring of each year. The application information which must be submitted by the deadline includes submission of all official transcripts, national ACT score, and MCC admission application. There is not a separate application for the nursing program. On the MCC admission application, applicants should mark ADN Accelerated as the program of interest. The admission application should also be marked for the term admission is being sought.

Admission requirements, curriculum, and other program information are subject to change. See your program advisor/counselor for additional information.

Students in the Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program must attend MCC full-time (12 or more semester credit hours).

All courses must be completed in or prior to the semester listed.

There is no expiration date for general education coursework, including sciences.

Please be aware that in the management/preceptor rotation in the semester, student schedules may vary.

This program is accredited by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning with Continuing Accreditation with Conditions. The Associate Degree Nursing program at Meridian Community College located in Meridian, MS is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education on Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000
acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Nursing program is continuing accreditation (revisit in Spring 2026). View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at acenursing.org/search-programs/entry/2782/

Legal limitations for licensure as a registered nurse:

Information related to applying for licensure to practice as a registered nurse, upon completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, is contained in the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and Rules and Regulations. Graduates must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Applicants to the Associate Degree Nursing Program should be aware of the following restriction regarding who may qualify to write for the NCLEX-RN®:

“The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this chapter.”* *Mississippi Nursing Practice Law

Mississippi Law now requires health care professionals or Workforce Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services to submit to criminal background checks and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed health care entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background check of the student discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or non contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23 (g), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study, nor will he/she be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity. In addition, clinical affiliates have identified “other exclusions” or other criminal offenses that will preclude a student from participating in the clinical practicum. The student’s eligibility to participate in the clinical training phase of his/her health care program shall be voided if the student receives a disqualifying criminal record check; therefore, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.

If a student currently enrolled in the nursing program is prohibited from participating in clinical experiences by any clinical affiliate of Meridian Community College (e.g., positive drug screen, egregious behavior, violation of patient safety, non-compliance with the College’s “Student Behavior Code,” etc.), then the student will be dismissed from the program of study. The student is not eligible for program readmission until the clinical restriction is removed.