Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Honours) – Sault College

SpaceCat Fit Notes

CASPer: Not required. No supplementary application components. details
GPA window & upgrading strategy: TWO PATHWAYS – (a) High school: 75% overall across six Grade 12 4U/M courses; (b) Post-secondary: 2.8 GPA or 70% in the most recent year of postsecondary studies, PLUS four 4U courses (English, Bio, Chem, Math). SpaceCat’s weak university GPA in the most recent year is the risk factor. However, “most recent year” may allow her to take a few courses to reset. details
Experiential / written advantage: None – entirely grades-based. details
Out-of-province: Open to all Canadian applicants via OCAS; no restrictions; no tuition differential. Ontario Learn and Stay Grant available. details
Overall assessment: Moderate fit – Sault is UNIQUELY INTERESTING among Ontario college BScN programs because it explicitly has a post-secondary applicant pathway: “a minimum 2.8 GPA or 70% in the most recent year of postsecondary studies.” THE KEY QUESTION: The “most recent year” language means SpaceCat could potentially take one year of courses to establish a new “most recent year” at 70%+. However, she still needs the four Grade 12 4U prerequisites AND the post-secondary GPA must meet the 2.8/70% threshold. If her Dalhousie GPA in the final year was below 70%, this is a barrier without upgrading. The 2.8 GPA (70%) minimum is relatively low compared to what is likely competitive. Northern location means Ontario Learn and Stay Grant could cover full tuition.

“A minimum 2.8 GPA or 70% in the most recent year of postsecondary studies, AND successful completion of 4U English, 4U Biology, 4U Chemistry and 4U Mathematics”

Quick Facts

Institution: Sault College
Program name: Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Honours)
Degree granted: BScN (Honours)
City, Province: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Program type: Standard (4-year first-entry)
Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
Delivery format: In-person
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
Language of instruction: English
Start date(s): Fall (September)
Intake frequency: Annual
Application deadline(s): February 1 (equal consideration via OCAS)
Application system: ontariocolleges.ca (OCAS)
Program URL: https://www.saultcollege.ca/programs/health-programs/bachelor-science-nursing-honours
Accredited: Not specified on program page

Admission Requirements

GPA

Minimum GPA: 75% overall (high school pathway); 2.8 GPA or 70% in most recent year (post-secondary pathway)
Competitive GPA (if known): Not published. “This is a high demand program; meeting the minimum prerequisite average does not guarantee an offer of admission.”
GPA calculated on: High school: six 4U/M courses. Post-secondary: “most recent year of postsecondary studies.”

“A minimum 2.8 GPA or 70% in the most recent year of postsecondary studies, AND successful completion of 4U English, 4U Biology, 4U Chemistry and 4U Mathematics”

Number of credits in GPA window: “Most recent year” – likely ~10 courses (2 semesters). This is the most favourable GPA window among the Ontario college BScN programs.
GPA scale used: GPA (4.0) or percentage (70%)
Do post-degree upgrading courses count? The “most recent year” language strongly suggests yes – post-degree courses taken at any institution would become the “most recent year.”
Are online/summer/part-time courses included in GPA? Not stated
“Entire record” caveat? Yes – “Applicants and students in the Honours Bachelor of Science - Nursing program are required to disclose all education, which requires submission of all prior educational transcripts from high school and post-secondary studies.”
Can applicants explain/contextualize a low GPA? No – no supplementary components

Prerequisites

All pathways require four Grade 12 4U courses:

Course	Subject Area	Required / Recommended	Min Grade
4U English	English	Required	75% overall (not per course)
4U Biology	Biology	Required	75% overall
4U Chemistry	Chemistry	Required	75% overall
4U Mathematics	Mathematics	Required	75% overall
2 additional 4U/M	Any	Required (HS pathway)	Highest grades used

Note: The 75% minimum is an overall average, not required in each individual course.

Prereq source URL: https://www.saultcollege.ca/programs/health-programs/bachelor-science-nursing-honours

Prior Degree Requirement

Minimum credits / degree required: None required, but post-secondary pathway available
Completed degree required? No
Degree field restrictions: N/A

CASPer

Not required. CASPer is not mentioned on Sault College’s BScN admission page.

Supplementary Requirements

Interview: Not required
Personal statement / written component: Not required
Resume / CV: Not required
References: Not required
Other: Full disclosure of all prior education required; standard clinical pre-placement requirements

How Applications Are Evaluated

Admission model: Grades-based ranking
Published formula: None
GPA cutoff before other components? N/A – no other components

Mature Student Pathway

Not detailed on the program page beyond the post-secondary applicant pathway. Standard OCAS mature student policies may apply.

The Key Question: BA Holder with Strong HS Marks

Sault is the only Ontario college BScN program that explicitly provides a post-secondary applicant pathway with a stated GPA threshold. SpaceCat would be evaluated as a post-secondary applicant: 2.8 GPA or 70% in her most recent year, PLUS Grade 12 4U prerequisites. The critical questions are:

Is “most recent year” based on the final year of her Dalhousie BA, or could she take new courses to create a new “most recent year”?
Are applicants ranked on the post-secondary GPA, or does the high school average also factor in for ranking?
Is the applicant pool split (HS applicants ranked against HS applicants, post-secondary against post-secondary), or combined?

These questions should be confirmed directly with Sault College admissions.

Out-of-Province Considerations

Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. OCAS open to all Canadian residents.
Out-of-province tuition differential: Ontario colleges do not charge differential domestic tuition by province.

Source

Cost

Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$30,000 domestic (estimated: ~$7,600/year x 4 years)
Per-year domestic (2025-2026): ~$7,614 ($6,354 tuition + $1,260 ancillary)
Ontario Learn and Stay Grant: Available. “Students starting the BScN program at Sault College in September 2025 will be eligible to apply for a grant which provides full, upfront funding for tuition, books, and other direct educational costs.” Requires committing to work in northern region after graduation.

Competitiveness

Cohort size: Not published
Acceptance rate: Not published
Number of applicants: Not published

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

Placements guaranteed? Yes (built into curriculum)
Total required hours: Not published
Placement settings / locations: Sault Ste. Marie region

Licensing & Career Path

Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes, upon passing NCLEX-RN

Reputation & Notes

Northern Ontario location with Learn and Stay Grant makes this financially attractive
New standalone BScN program (relatively recent PEQAB approval)
Small city setting with community-focused clinical placements

Information Not Found

Exact cohort size
Whether “most recent year” of post-secondary means calendar year or academic year
Whether post-degree upgrading courses count toward “most recent year”
Whether applicants are ranked within streams (HS vs post-secondary) or combined
Competitive average/GPA for admission
CASN accreditation status

Contact: Sault College Registrar’s Office – registrar@saultcollege.ca

Sources

Official program page: Sault College BScN (Honours)
Academic Calendar: Sault College BScN Calendar (PDF)