Nursing School Acceptance Rates (2026)

Find nursing programs that match your profile. Compare acceptance rates, admission difficulty, and GPA requirements across accredited schools.

12
Schools With Rate Data
100
Total Accredited Schools

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Nursing School Difficulty Tiers

Open Enrollment
Open or rolling admission. Meet minimum GPA (2.0–2.5). No entrance exam required. Great starting point.
Moderate
GPA 2.5–3.2 in prerequisites. May require TEAS or HESI. Healthcare experience helpful but not required.
Competitive
GPA 3.0–3.5+. Entrance exam scores required. Healthcare experience strongly preferred. Waitlists common.
Very Competitive
GPA 3.5+. Top TEAS/HESI scores. Significant healthcare experience expected. Apply to 3–5 programs.

School Acceptance Rates

12 schools with acceptance rate data, sorted most-selective first.

SchoolAcceptance RateDifficultyNCLEX Pass Rate
Daytona State College23%CompetitiveN/AView
Chamberlain University25%Competitive80%View
Case Western Reserve University33%Moderate95%View
Carroll Community College62%ModerateN/AView
Adelphi University – College of Nursing and Public Health66%CompetitiveN/AView
Burlington County College67%Open EnrollmentN/AView
County College of Morris95%CompetitiveN/AView
Bucks County Community College96%Open EnrollmentN/AView
Allegany College of Maryland99%CompetitiveN/AView
Ambria College of Nursing (Judson University)100%Open EnrollmentN/AView
Baton Rouge Community College100%CompetitiveN/AView
Brookline College100%Open Enrollment79%View

Additional Schools by Admission Difficulty

Alvin Community CollegeCompetitiveAmerican Career CollegeOpen EnrollmentAmerican International College – Division of NursingModerateAmerican Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post UniversityOpen EnrollmentArapahoe Community CollegeCompetitiveArizona College of NursingModerateArkansas Northeastern CollegeModerateArkansas State University – School of NursingOpen EnrollmentAtlantic Cape Community CollegeCompetitiveAuburn University College of NursingCompetitiveBellevue CollegeCompetitiveBellingham Technical CollegeModerateBismarck State College – Dakota Nursing ProgramModerateBlue Ridge Community CollegeCompetitiveBrightpoint Community CollegeCompetitiveBroward CollegeCompetitiveCAAN Academy of NursingOpen EnrollmentCarl Albert State CollegeCompetitiveCasper CollegeModerateCentral Virginia Community CollegeCompetitiveCentral Wyoming CollegeCompetitiveChattahoochee Technical CollegeCompetitiveChattanooga State Community CollegeCompetitiveChemeketa Community CollegeCompetitiveCleveland State University – School of NursingModerateCollege of Southern IdahoModerateCollege of Southern MarylandCompetitiveCollege of the Florida KeysCompetitiveCollin CollegeModerateColorado Mountain CollegeModerateColumbus State Community CollegeCompetitiveCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaCompetitiveCommunity College of PhiladelphiaCompetitiveCommunity College of Rhode IslandVery CompetitiveConcordia University Texas – NursingCompetitiveCuyahoga Community CollegeModerateDel Mar CollegeCompetitiveDelaware Technical Community CollegeCompetitiveDelgado Community College – Charity School of NursingCompetitiveDenver College of NursingOpen EnrollmentDePaul UniversityCompetitive

How to Maximize Your Nursing School Application

Nursing programs are among the most competitive healthcare programs to enter. High application volumes relative to seat availability mean that strong candidates are regularly turned away from their first-choice programs. Strategic application is essential.

Apply to a portfolio of programs: 1–2 reach schools (competitive), 2–3 target schools (moderate), and 1–2 safety schools (open enrollment or higher acceptance rate). Entering as an LPN or CNA and later bridging to RN is a valid alternative if traditional programs prove difficult to enter.

Prerequisite GPA is the single most controllable factor. If your science GPA is below 3.0, retaking courses at a community college before applying can dramatically improve your odds. Many programs calculate a separate prerequisite GPA and weigh it heavily.

What is a typical nursing school acceptance rate?
Nursing program acceptance rates vary widely. Community college ADN programs range from 40–80% acceptance. BSN programs at universities typically accept 30–60% of applicants. Highly competitive programs like accelerated BSN programs at private universities may accept only 10–20% of applicants.
What are the most competitive nursing programs?
Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs are typically the most selective, as they attract career changers who already hold bachelor's degrees. Programs with strong NCLEX pass rates and clinical partnerships in major metropolitan areas tend to have the most competitive admissions.
How can I improve my nursing school application?
Focus on prerequisite GPA (most programs want 3.0+, competitive programs 3.5+), get healthcare volunteer or CNA experience, score well on entrance exams (TEAS or HESI), and write a compelling personal statement. Apply to multiple programs across difficulty tiers to improve your odds.
Do I need healthcare experience to get into nursing school?
Not always — many programs accept students with no clinical background. However, programs with competitive admissions often give preference to applicants with CNA, medical assistant, EMT, or volunteer healthcare experience. Even a semester of hospital volunteering can strengthen your application.
What GPA do I need to get into nursing school?
Most programs require a minimum 2.5–3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, statistics). Competitive programs target 3.3–3.7+. Your science GPA matters most — many programs weigh biology and chemistry grades heavily.
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