25 of the Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
What’s Covered:
- Nursing Schools with High Acceptance Rates
- A Closer Look at the Schools
- How to Increase Your Chances of Acceptance
If you want to make a difference in the world by helping people, nursing could be the perfect career for you. There is always a demand for more nurses, but programs can be competitive. In this post, we’ll share 25 of the easiest nursing schools to get into and some strategies for you to increase your odds of acceptance.
Nursing Schools with High Acceptance Rates
|
School |
Location |
Acceptance Rate |
|
Atlanta, GA |
100% |
|
|
El Paso, TX |
100% |
|
|
Lynchburg, VA |
99% |
|
|
Lincoln, NE |
98% |
|
|
Houston, TX |
98% |
|
|
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | MCPHS |
Boston, MA |
98% |
|
Fresno, CA |
97% |
|
|
Albuquerque, NM |
97% |
|
|
Cheney, WA |
97% |
|
|
Laramie, WY |
97% |
|
|
Huntsville, TX |
97% |
|
|
Toledo, OH |
97% |
|
|
Orono, ME |
96% |
|
|
Evansville, IN |
96% |
|
|
Norfolk, VA |
96% |
|
|
Bellingham, WA |
96% |
|
|
Dayton, OH |
96% |
|
|
Caldwell, NJ |
96% |
|
|
Hattiesburg, MS |
96% |
|
|
Denton, TX |
96% |
|
|
Madison, WI |
96% |
|
|
Fargo, ND |
95% |
|
|
Troy, AL |
95% |
|
|
Memphis, TN |
95% |
|
|
Salt Lake City, UT |
95% |
The acceptance rate of a university doesn’t tell the whole story. Most of the schools listed above have separate admissions for their nursing programs once you’ve spent your first year completing pre-nursing requirements. This second round of admission requires good grades in pre-nursing courses and a minimum GPA.
Other colleges may offer direct admission to their nursing programs as a senior in high school, using minimum SAT/ACT and high school GPA. These programs are often more competitive, but both routes will get you the same degree. Always aim above minimum requirements wherever you apply and check out our complete guide on how to become a nurse.
A Closer Look at the Schools
1. Georgia State University | GSU
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance rate: 100%
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,900
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1060-1250 SAT / 21-28 ACT
GSU, one of the largest universities in Georgia, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The school’s BSN program is designed to be completed in eight semesters; the first four semesters are focused on the university’s core curriculum and prerequisites for nursing majors while the final four semesters are centered on the nursing curriculum and relevant electives.
Students must first be accepted to GSU as exploratory nursing students before applying for admission to its nursing program.
2. University of Texas at El Paso
Location: El Paso, TX
Acceptance rate: 100%
Undergraduate enrollment: 21,100
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 860-1080 SAT / 17-22 ACT
The University of Texas at El Paso is known for its distinctive Bhutanese dzong architecture and for being one of the country’s largest Hispanic-serving institutions, with an 84% Hispanic student body. UTEP’s nursing program has an impressive 97.5% NCLEX-RN pass rate, considerably higher than the 86.6% national average.
Students become eligible for the nursing school after four to five semesters of pre-nursing courses with at least a 3.0 collegiate GPA; however, the average student admitted into the nursing program has a 3.77 GPA.
3. Liberty University
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Acceptance rate: 99%
Undergraduate enrollment: 52,800
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1020-1220 SAT / 21-29 ACT
Liberty University’s BSN program offers a Christian-based education with a strong focus on patient care, health assessment, and nursing leadership. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention and strong faculty support. With regard to performance following the program, 98% of Liberty’s BSN graduates pass the NCLEX-RN Exam on their first attempt and 99% enter into the workforce upon graduation.
4. Union Adventist University
Location: Lincoln, NE
Acceptance rate: 98%
Undergraduate enrollment: 600
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 940-1180 SAT / 18-26 ACT
Union Adventist University is a Seventh-day Adventist college with a low 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 11, ensuring individualized attention. To be admitted to the nursing program, you must complete prerequisite courses with a C or better and have an overall 2.75 collegiate GPA or above.
5. University of St. Thomas (Texas)
Location: Houston, TX
Acceptance rate: 98%
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,600
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1030-1202.5 SAT / 19-25 ACT
The University of St. Thomas is grounded in Catholic intellectual traditions and committed to the love of Christ (38% of students are Catholic). The university’s nursing program focuses on holistic nursing—that is, caring for a patient’s body, mind, and spirit.
The University of St. Thomas’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a four-year commitment that incorporates the school’s core curriculum, specific pre-nursing coursework, and classes in the nursing major.
6. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | MCPHS
Location: Boston, MA
Acceptance rate: 98%
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,600
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1080-1340 SAT / 21-27 ACT
MCPHS is a private college focused on healthcare education. The school’s nursing major is an accelerated 32-month program that provides students with both classroom instruction and real-world experience—beginning by building a base in the liberal arts and sciences and progressing to nursing-specific curriculum and educational activities. Graduates of the MCPHS nursing program consistently pass the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt at a higher rate than the national average.
7. California State University, Fresno | CSU Fresno
Location: Fresno, CA
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 21,300
CSU is currently test-blind
CSU Fresno is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University System. Students interested in nursing at CSU Fresno begin in the three-semester Pre-Health Program. After that, they can apply to the nursing program, provided they’ve completed their prerequisites with a GPA of 3.0 and passed the TEAS test with a 75% or higher.
8. University of New Mexico | UNM
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 16,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 900-1160 SAT / 19-26 ACT
The University of New Mexico is one of just a few select schools that are both designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and classified as a Carnegie Research University with Very High Activity.
UNM offers a variety of pathways for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, including a freshman direct-entry option for high school seniors as well as an option to apply to the program in their sophomore year. UNM’s BSN program is notable for its diversity—60% of BSN students identify as part of an underrepresented group.
9. Eastern Washington University | EWU
Location: Cheney, WA
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,600
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 950-1080 SAT / 23-27 ACT
EWU’s BSN program entails four years of full-time study. The first two years allow students to explore a wide variety of courses, including core courses and nursing prerequisites. The final two years consist of specific nursing courses involving the classroom, lab, and clinical learning experiences.
EWU enjoys high NCLEX-RN pass rates, averaging over 95% in recent years. These scores exemplify EWU’s reputation for top-quality academics.
10. University of Wyoming
Location: Laramie, WY
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 8,500
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1030-1260 SAT / 21-27 ACT
With the largest study-abroad scholarship endowment in the nation for land-grant universities, the University of Wyoming is committed to giving its students a global education. Freshmen admitted to the nursing major—the school accepts up to 48 students to the program annually—must have a minimum 2.75 high school GPA and complete prerequisite courses in their first year with a 3.0 GPA. Overall, the university reported a 100% NCLEX-RN examination pass rate in 2024.
11. Sam Houston State University | SHSU
Location: Huntsville, TX
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 18,200
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 940-1120 SAT / 17-24 ACT
Sam Houston State University is the third-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. SHSU students must take a number of prerequisites—such as human anatomy, nutrition, and intro to psychology—through the pre-nursing program to gain acceptance to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. It’s common for the school to only accept between 80 and 90 applicants to its BSN program from a pool of more than 350 applications.
12. University of Toledo
Location: Toledo, OH
Acceptance rate: 97%
Undergraduate enrollment: 13,100
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1040-1260 SAT / 20-27 ACT
The University of Toledo provides two pathways for students to enter its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program: direct-admission and pre-nursing. Direct-admission applicants are required to possess a 3.6 high school GPA and an 1130 SAT or 23 ACT score (test-optional applicants must have a 3.8 GPA). Pre-nursing candidates must have a 2.75 high school GPA and a 990 SAT or 19 ACT score (test-optional applicants need a 3.0 high school GPA).
13. University of Maine
Location: Orono, ME
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 9,700
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1000-1280 SAT / 21-30 ACT
The University of Maine (UMaine) is home to the state’s first baccalaureate program for nurses—it established its nursing program in 1939. UMaine students can apply to transfer into the nursing program after completing a minimum of 24 credits and earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a science course GPA of 3.0 or above.
Applicants to the nursing program must also complete two 500- to 1,000-word essays on topics such as integrity, innovation, diversity, accountability, and belonging.
14. University of Southern Indiana | USI
Location: Evansville, IN
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 7,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1030-1240 SAT / 21-27 ACT
The University of Southern Indiana is a public university in suburban Evansville with a sleek and modern campus. It has a direct admission program from senior year, so long as you have a 3.4 high school GPA and a 25 ACT or a 1210 SAT.
Finally, standard admission is an option after you have taken 31 credit hours in the nursing curriculum. USI has had an NCLEX-RN pass rate ranging from 93% to 100% over the past five years.
15. Old Dominion University | ODU
Location: Norfolk, VA
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 18,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1120-1270 SAT / 24-29 ACT
ODU has been preparing nurses for professional practices for more than five decades and boasts an impressive 100% employment rate for students within one year of graduation. In 2024, ODU nursing students had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 95.4%.
The minimum GPA for admission into ODU’s BSN program is 3.0, however, students commonly admitted to the program possess at least a 3.6 GPA. To complete the BSN program, ODU students must complete between 120 and 126 credits: 66 credits in the nursing major and 54-60 credits in liberal arts and sciences.
16. Western Washington University | WWU
Location: Bellingham, WA
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 13,800
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1130-1320 SAT / 22-30 ACT
Western Washington University offers an RN-to-BSN degree completion program for nurses looking to complete their BSN. The program is tailored for nurses who have completed an Associate’s or Diploma nursing program and already hold their RN license, or those who plan to take the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain their Registered Nurse license by the end of their second quarter of study.4
17. Wright State University
Location: Dayton, OH
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,900
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 910-1245 SAT / 17-25 ACT
Wright State University offers two pathways to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing BSN degree program: students are either admitted directly from high school or in their sophomore year of college. In 2023, Wright State School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91.13%, which was higher than both the 87.62% national average and the 85.75% average in the state of Ohio.
18. Caldwell University
Location: Caldwell, NJ
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,600
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1010-1320 SAT / 20-26 ACT
Caldwell University’s BSN program combines a strong liberal arts foundation with hands-on nursing coursework, including labs, clinicals, and simulations. Students gain real-world experience through placements in regional healthcare and community settings, preparing them for today’s nursing practice.
Three tracks are offered—a 2nd degree track, a traditional track, and a transfer track. The school has generally enjoyed NCLEX-RN pass rates above 80% in recent years.
19. University of Southern Mississippi | Southern Miss
Location: Hattiesburg, MS
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 10,200
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 19-27 (Only ACT)
A school with huge spirit and pride in its black and gold school colors, the University of Southern Mississippi boasted a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate for its nursing students in 2024. Early admission to the nursing program requires a 3.5 high school GPA and a minimum ACT of 25. Once admitted, you must maintain good academic standing while completing prerequisite courses. For standard admission, students need a minimum 2.5 GPA in nursing prerequisites and at least a 21 ACT.
20. Texas Woman’s University | TWU
Location: Denton, TX
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 10,100
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 920-1140 SAT / 16-22 ACT
Texas Woman’s University’s BSN program builds on a strong foundation in liberal arts and sciences to prepare students for professional nursing practice. Graduates are equipped to provide compassionate, competent care to diverse populations, demonstrate accountability, use critical thinking in clinical decisions, and apply evidence-based practices to ensure patient safety and quality improvement.
The four-year program begins with two years of prerequisite coursework at the Denton campus, followed by upper-division nursing courses during the final two years at medical centers in Dallas or Houston. Students also develop leadership skills and collaborate effectively with healthcare teams to improve patient outcomes.
21. Edgewood University
Location: Madison, WI
Acceptance rate: 96%
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,200
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 950-1210 SAT / 19-25 ACT
The nursing program at Edgewood University is four semesters long (following 62 credits of general education and prerequisite courses) and features one of the lowest clinical faculty-to-students ratios in the state—7:1. This low ratio ensures that nursing students receive the support they need to succeed.
Applicants to Edgewood College’s BSN program are required to be enrolled or have completed 62 college credits, including completing specific courses in everything from writing to statistics to chemistry. They must also possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and a minimum 2.75 GPA in all required math and science courses.
22. North Dakota State University | NDSU
Location: Fargo, ND
Acceptance rate: 95%
Undergraduate enrollment: 10,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1130-1430 SAT / 19-25 ACT
North Dakota State University’s BSN program includes a one-year pre-professional phase followed by three years of professional nursing courses, offered in Fargo and at NDSU Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck. Students gain hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings, including acute and long-term care, pediatrics, public health, emergency, critical care, labor and delivery, and mental health.
NDSU also offers a 100% Online RN-to-BSN program and a Blended Online Accelerated BSN program. NDSU has recently seen NCLEX-RN pass rates of around 95%.
23. Troy University (Alabama)
Location: Troy, AL
Acceptance rate: 95%
Undergraduate enrollment: 10,700
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 970-1130 SAT / 17-24 ACT
At TROY, BSN students build essential clinical skills through hands-on learning, including in-class demos, real-world simulations, and lab work. The program also includes practicum courses in areas like child health, mental health, adult care, and public health to ensure students are well-prepared for nursing practice. Troy consistently sees NCLEX-RN exam pass rates of over 95%
24. University of Memphis
Location: Memphis, TN
Acceptance rate: 95%
Undergraduate enrollment: 16,700
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 930-1150 SAT / 18-24 ACT
The Loewenberg College of Nursing at the University of Memphis offers a traditional BSN program that prepares students for RN licensure by providing a comprehensive curriculum that meets industry and commission standards.
The program covers essential nursing and clinical content across the lifespan, including areas like maternity, pediatrics, adult, and mental health care. It includes both general education and nursing prerequisites in the first two years, followed by specialized nursing courses in the final two years. The school’s NCLEX-RN pass rates in recent years have been in the high 80% range.
25. University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Acceptance rate: 95%
Undergraduate enrollment: 26,800
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1200-1370 SAT / 22-29 ACT
The University of Utah’s College of Nursing celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. University of Utah students must complete all of their general education requirements—including nine prerequisite courses—before starting the nursing program. They must also possess both a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite courses. Nursing is a competitive program at the University of Utah and applicants are warned that simply meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee admission.
How to Increase Your Chances of Acceptance
1. Get Good Grades Overall, Especially in STEM Courses
Nursing requires a superior understanding of science, strong memory, and a good work ethic. You can prove you have these by getting good grades in your classes, especially those that will align with nursing course requirements. If your school offers classes like anatomy, physiology, or sports medicine, take them. Taking rigorous STEM classes like AP Psychology, AP Biology, and AP Statistics can also show that you are ready for a college course load and prepare you for some of your nursing classes.
2. Aim For a Strong SAT Score
Getting a good SAT/ACT score shows universities that you’re ready for the rigor of collegiate coursework and gives them confidence in your ability to succeed. Some nursing schools pay special attention to your performance on the SAT math section. Check out our SAT guides and ACT Guides for free tips and practice questions that will help you improve your score.
3. Participate in Relevant Extracurriculars
During high school, get closer to the medical field through your extracurriculars. This will demonstrate your interest, while also telling you if a career in nursing and medicine is what you want to pursue long term. Medicine-related extracurriculars can be anything from organizing blood drives or volunteering at a local nursing home to starting a club at your school.
Another idea is shadowing a nurse at work or doing an informational interview to find out more about the job. You can contact your doctor’s office to set one of these up, or ask your school counselor.
4. Write a Compelling Personal Statement
Being a good nurse requires more than just excelling in school. It also requires a passion and commitment to helping people through some of the most vulnerable times of their lives, which you can show through your personal statement. Take time with this and start early to show the most accurate version of yourself. You can see our tips for writing a strong personal statement to make sure you do your story justice.
5. Review Your Chances on CollegeVine
With a free CollegeVine account, you can find your personal chances of admission to these schools, as well as receive expert college advice throughout your application process. Learn how to improve your profile, build your college list, and get your essays reviewed by Sage, our AI tutor and advisor, who will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing.
