Associate Degree Nursing Program Tracks
Nursing Curriculum
Program Costs
Accreditation and Approval
Background Check and Criminal History Policy
Conditional Admittance
Criminal History Policy
Licensing
Basic Eligibility Requirements
HESI Test
Important Dates
OCC Student Services & Contact Information
FERPA
ADA Notification
Equal Opportunity/Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure
Thank you for your interest in the nursing program of Oakland Community College (OCC). The nursing program at OCC is rigorous and incorporates a variety of experiences. A typical week for a student might include 3-4 hours of theory lecture, two 8-hour clinical shifts or one 12-hour clinical shift in an agency setting (day or evening; some weekend rotations may be required), and 3 hours of lab on another day of the week. More information about the nursing program, including required immunizations, is available in the nursing student handbook.
Students interested in nursing should meet with a counselor at the Highland Lakes or Royal Oak Campus and attend an information session as early as possible.
In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet minimum admission requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants are considered for admission based on the selection process outlined in this guide. The nursing department does not maintain a waiting list. Therefore, students who are not accepted must reapply.
The Oakland Community College (OCC) Department of Nursing offers the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum. The program leads to an Associate Degree in Applied Science and prepares graduates to provide direct nursing care at a beginning-staff-level in a variety of health care settings. Successful completion of the program requirements qualifies students to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Satisfactory achievement on this exam qualifies graduates for state licensure as Registered Nurses (RN).
The ADN Traditional track and Evening/Weekend track leads to the Associate in Applied Science, Nursing degree and is intended for students who have no background in nursing.
For the nursing curriculum and course descriptions, refer to the college catalog and nursing student handbook.
Once admitted to the program, the average OCC in-district nursing student will pay approximately $8,100 for tuition and fees (out-of-district tuition and fees for nursing courses are approximately $14,800). Pre-program costs (books, background check, immunizations, uniform, etc.) are estimated at $1,500 - $2,000. These estimates do not include the costs of any prerequisite, general education, or required supportive courses taken at OCC or transferred from other institutions. Your actual costs for tuition, fees, and other expenses may be higher or lower depending on your individual circumstances.
The program tuition cost is calculated based on the current tuition rate of $115 per billable contact hour for in-district students, and $217 for out-of district students, plus a $110 student support fee per semester, for 65.5 billable contact hours of NUR courses over five semesters. If all seven general education and required supportive courses are taken at OCC, you will incur an estimated 27-30 additional billable contact hours for these courses (hours vary depending on chosen electives). Upon graduation from the program, you will incur additional costs for licensure and graduation of approximately $400 - $500.
In addition, the nursing program requires use of a lap top computer for all exams. Nursing students are also required to purchase Nursing Program software.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice by action of the Oakland Community College Board of Trustees.
| The Associate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta GA, 30326 (404) 388-9826 fax (404) 975-5020 |
The nursing program has full approval from: Michigan Board of Nursing PO Box 30670, Lansing MI, 48909-8170 (517) 241-0199 |
After selection is completed, those students who have been invited to the nursing
program will be granted conditional admittance upon a satisfactory criminal background check, including FBI fingerprint
results and drug screen, at the student’s expense. American Databank is the current
company used by the nursing department for background checks.
In addition to the above requirements, all admitted nursing students are required
to provide proof of immunizations and other requirements for clinical as outlined
in the Nursing Student Handbook. Students not in compliance with the clinical requirements
will forfeit their seat in the nursing program.
Conviction of a felony, or any attempt to commit a felony, within fifteen years OR conviction of a misdemeanor within ten years immediately preceding the date of the criminal history check will preclude eligibility for admission. No exceptions will be made to the criminal history policy.
Upon successful completion of the nursing program, the Michigan Board of Nursing will obtain a new criminal background check and drug screen.
This HESI-A2 exam is a computer-based timed test that consists of a math section and
a reading comprehension section. You must pass both sections within the same testing
session. One retake of the exam is permitted. If your second attempt is unsuccessful, you will NOT be eligible to apply to the
nursing program at Oakland Community College. No exceptions. Additionally, HESI scores from other colleges will NOT be accepted.
The cost of the test, registration information, and other information about testing
is available on the HESI EXAM webpage.
To prepare for the exam, you should attend one of the free HESI prep seminars that
are offered through the Academic Support Center. Information about these seminars is available on the ASC webpage. HESI review books may be available at campus libraries.
Students who apply to the nursing program by the December 15th deadline will be included in the ADN selection process. The nursing department will email notification letters by March 15th of the following year. The letters will be either a conditional admission or a letter of declination including the reason.
If admitted, you will begin the program in either Fall or Winter based on random selection. You will receive more information about your start date in the admission letter.
No exceptions to deadlines; all items must be completed on time.
Each year, there are a limited number of seats available for new students. The number of seats available is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and limited by school resources and clinical availability. Qualified applications will be rank-ordered according to the total number of points received out of 100 points and selected according to the following steps. Applicants must achieve a minimum of 50 points on the nursing admission criteria.
| HESI Math Score | Points |
| 93-100 | 15 |
| 89-92 | 10 |
| 75-88 | 5 |
| HESI Reading Comprehension Score | Points |
| 93-100 | 15 |
| 85-92 | 10 |
| 75-84 | 5 |
Your application will be considered if you have completed all of the seven required supportive and general education courses with a grade of "B-" or better:
| Grade Received | Points |
| A | 7 |
| A- | 6 |
| B+ | 5 |
| B | 4 |
| B- | 3 |
Student will be assigned the point value which is the HIGHEST that pertains to them from the list below:
Need to provide proof (i.e.: transcripts, work ID, employment verification letter or documentation)
| Experience | Points |
| Healthcare Experience | 20 |
| Leadership Role | 15 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 15 |
| Community Service | 10 |
| Study Abroad or OCC Athlete | 5 |
| Healthcare Job Shadowing | 1 |
| No Experience | 0 |
Student will receive 5 points if they have ONE of the items below:
*The essay is a requirement and must be completed at one of the OCC Testing Centers at the Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, or Royal Oak campuses. No electronic devices or notes will be allowed.
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), no personally identifiable information from a student's educational record will be disclosed to any third party (including parent, spouse, or other students) by an official or employee of the College without prior written consent of the student. Please refer to the College Policies for details.
Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should contact the ACCESS office, which will inform the appropriate parties of any special conditions pertaining to their learning.
Oakland Community College, pursuant to the requirements of applicable law and these policies, does not discriminate against applicants, employees or students on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or handicap, nor will sexual harassment or harassment based on other classifications mentioned herein, be tolerated, in its employment practices and/or educational programs or activities.
Concerns about the above should be communicated to:Highland Lakes Nursing Office
Email: Nursing@oaklandcc.edu
Phone: (248) 942-3333
Fax: (248) 942-3338