Jan 26, 2026
North Central College will welcome its first cohort of students for its Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program this fall. The Illinois Board of Nursing has granted its full approval, setting the stage for the College to begin accepting applications in preparation for the MENP program’s official launch in August 2026. The prelicensure, direct entry program is designed for anyone with a bachelor’s degree – regardless of their undergraduate major – to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
“As the demand for qualified nurses continues to grow both locally and nationally, North Central College continues to open new pathways to a rewarding career in the nursing field,” said Dr. Mary Groll, dean of North Central’s School of Education and Health Sciences. “Our Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice program provides a unique pathway for college graduates with non-nursing backgrounds to pursue a career in nursing with confidence, compassion, and purpose.”
With a fall semester start, the CCNE-accredited, two-year MENP program includes more than 700 hours of hands-on clinical and simulation experience. The program focuses on lifestyle medicine, combining prevention, nutrition, and whole-person wellness throughout the curriculum. The student cohort model emphasizes teamwork among peers and close mentorship from expert faculty.
“Our Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice program has been thoughtfully designed for career changers to gain direct entry into our master’s level prelicensure nursing program regardless of their undergraduate major,” said Dr. Christina Nordick, founding MENP program director and associate professor of nursing at North Central College. “Students will graduate with the foundational skills and knowledge they need for state licensure, while being guided by expert faculty who are grounded in North Central’s human-centered, interprofessional approach to learning.”
North Central also offers an Accelerated Dual Degree Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program for qualified undergraduate students. This pathway enables students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree and a Master of Science in Nursing degree in five academic years through a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate study.
Admission into the MENP program is competitive and not guaranteed. However, undergraduate students pursuing the dual degree 3 + 2 pathway receive priority consideration during the admissions process. Highly qualified students may also be eligible for the Health Science – Nursing Selective Scholars Guaranteed Pathway, which is a selective option within the accelerated program that offers a guaranteed admission pathway to the MENP program for North Central students who meet all program requirements.
Starting with the fall 2026 semester, nursing students will benefit from the College’s new, state-of-the-art Nursing Skills Lab located in New Hall. The six-bed simulation lab will help prepare students for complex clinical practice through immersive, hands-on training opportunities using high-fidelity patient simulators and other leading-edge equipment and technology.
Photo R: Nursing professor and student practicing in North Central College's Nursing Skills Lab.
North Central is currently accepting applications for students to join its first Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice program student cohort. The priority application deadline is April 1, 2026, and the standard application deadline is August 1. The program start date is August 26, 2026.
More information about North Centrals College’s MENP program and how to apply is available at northcentralcollege.edu/program/masters-entry-nursing.