ABSTRACT Title: Characterization of applicants and students of nursing program at the University of Santander UDES in the periods 2013-a 2017-a. authors: Damian Perez casanova Jeyson Keywords: Profile, Join, Nursing, Characterization. Description The (HEI) are addressed to meet and exceed the plans of the Ministry of Education and the government in the development process and educational reforms, working interest quantitative growth of educational programs and faculties. The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of applicants and students of nursing program at the University of Santander UDES in the periods 2013-A and 2017-A. This is a quantitative study, descriptive cross-sectional study population were Aspirants and students of nursing program with a sample size: Total of 275 applicants and 142 students. The study results conclude that the female gender of applicants corresponds to 82% and 18% male, 94% are single, 4% are married and 2% cohabiting, 69% of applicants are over 18 and 31% do not have the majority, the overall average age is 20.1 years In students the female gender is 79% and male 21%, 43% are aged between 20 to 25 years, 79% are socioeconomic strata 1 to 3, and 21% of 4 to 6; 88% are single, 8% cohabiting and 4% married, 27% work. This study agrees with the results of GJ Maya where the socio-demographic relationship is of great importance as well as the study of M. Gonzales, A. J. Pineda Lara and income profile of nursing in Mexico City, also Cruz D. y Valiente M., in his study characteristics of nursing students strongly related to the results of the nursing program UDES.