Nursing School Admissions Difficulty — Reach, Match, Likely

We classify accredited nursing programs into Reach, Match, Likely, or Rolling tiers using verified acceptance rates and GPA thresholds. No program appears here without a cited primary source — we don't estimate admissions data.

Key takeaways

  • Reach programs: acceptance rates below 25% or typical GPA ≥ 3.5 — highly selective, apply with a strong application only.
  • Match programs: acceptance rates 25–60%, GPA 3.0–3.5 — reasonable chance with competitive prerequisites.
  • Likely programs: acceptance rates above 60% — accessible entry points; ensure accreditation and NCLEX pass rates are strong.
  • Rolling programs: continuous admission with no single application deadline — apply as soon as prerequisites are complete.
  • Data is only published for programs with a cited primary source; unknown fields are left blank rather than estimated.

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How the tiers work

  • ReachAcceptance below 25% or minimum GPA ≥ 3.5. Apply, but build a balanced list with Match and Likely options.
  • MatchAcceptance 25–60% or minimum GPA 3.0–3.5. Realistic with a strong application.
  • LikelyAcceptance above 60% or minimum GPA below 3.0. High probability of admission for qualified applicants.
  • Rolling admissionContinuous rolling admission — qualified applicants are typically admitted within one start cycle.

States with verified data

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