September 2, 2024
Nursing school provides theoretical and practical training to students to help prepare them for the field of nursing. During their education, students are often expected to partake in hands-on training and laboratory work in addition to their coursework as part of the nursing curriculum. In nursing school, students are trained to learn how to promote health, prevent transmission or disease, and assist patients in a variety of settings. Nurses can work in various environments, including hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing homes, and more.
For any student looking to become a nurse, they must first graduate with a nursing degree—or BSN—before they are allowed to practice. Within most colleges, students have the option to select a nursing major within the school’s College of Health Sciences. Or, there are some institutions that are solely dedicated to nursing.
The easiest nursing schools to get into generally have an acceptance rate of 70% or higher.
While some nursing programs may have strict requirements for acceptance, others may only be moderately selective. For reference, the most selective nursing schools have acceptance rates of less than 25%. These programs also generally require students to have higher average ACT or SAT scores upon application.
If you are looking for the easiest nursing schools to get into, then look no further. Below we have assembled a list of 50 moderately selective programs which offer BSN degrees. These programs were selected based on the university’s or program’s acceptance rate. As well, each program’s tuition costs are included for a comprehensive overview of the nursing program.
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
1) University of North Carolina Pembroke – Pembroke, North Carolina
- Tuition: On Campus: NC Resident: $152/credit hour; Non-Resident: $318.66/credit hour; Distance: NC Resident: $108.21/credit hour; Non-Resident: $274.87/credit hour
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
To qualify for admission into this institution, students must present evidence of earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Hospital Diploma in nursing from a credible program. They must also have a current, unrestricted North Carolina nursing license or a license multistate practice privilege.
Each student must earn a C in each of their required prerequisite courses and have an overall GPA of 2.5+, including a 2.5+ GPA in mathematics and science courses.
2) University of Texas, El Paso – El Paso, Texas
- Tuition: Nursing Major: $220/semester
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
Students must meet certain pre-requisite courses prior to their sophom*ore-level nursing courses. These courses include specific math, biology, and chemistry courses. Additionally, all nursing courses must be completed at UTEP for the degree to be considered complete. Other nursing courses from other nursing programs will not be accepted for credit.
3) Cox College – Springfield, Missouri
- Tuition: Associate of Science in Nursing: $455/credit hour; BSN: $440/credit hour
- Acceptance Rate: 33%
Cox College is the most selective school on this list. However, it is still considered one of the easiest nursing schools to get into based on its admittance requirements.
First-time students must meet certain eligibility requirements to apply. The student must have their high school diploma or GED, have a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher, and a minimum ACT of 18 or an SAT combined score of 860 or higher. Students will also complete 68 hours of nursing courses toward the degree and 52 credit hours in general courses.
4) Georgia State University – Atlanta, Georgia
- Tuition: In-state: $306/credit hour; Out of State: $674/credit hour
- Acceptance Rate: 61%
All students who apply for a BSN must submit two letters of recommendation along with their online application and application fee. Prospective students must also take the Test Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test as part of the application.
5) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston, Massachusetts
- Tuition: Boston, Worcester, and Manchester Campuses: BSN: $56,820/year; Online: Undergraduate program: $520/credit hour
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
This program offers two versions of the BSN degree: The accelerated track and the postbaccalaureate track. The postbaccalaureate track takes place over 16 consecutive months, where students will earn 64 credit hours over 4 semesters. The accelerated track takes places over 32 months at the Boston campus where students will experience intensive and immersive first-hand opportunities alongside nursing experts.
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into – Cont’d
6) California State University, Fresno – Fresno, California
- Tuition: Undergraduate, Full-time: $3,670.50/semester; Non-Resident and International Student Fee: $420/unit
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
On their way to earning a BSN, students will enroll in the Pre-Health program, with the option to begin in the Nursing track during their third semester of study. Students will complete 120 semester units as part of the BSN degree and must maintain a minimum prerequisite and cumulative GPA of 3.0. Additionally, students must pass the TEAS test with a score of 75% or higher.
7) University of New Mexico – Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Tuition: Freshman Direct Entry Pre-Licensure BSN: NM Resident: $526.84/credit hour; Nonresident: $1,252.88/credit hour; Sophom*ore/Traditional Entry Pre-Licensure BSN: NM Resident: $343.26/credit hour; Nonresident: $1,107.24/credit hour
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
For the Freshman direct entry program, students must present official high school transcripts, and transcripts for any additional college coursework and respond to three short essay prompts. They must also submit 2 letters of recommendation. For the pre-licensure BSN, students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher in all prerequisite courses, including English, Biology, Chemistry, Human Nutrition, Psychology and Lifespan Growth & Development.
8) Maryville University – St. Louis, Missouri
- Tuition: On Campus: $38,366/year
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
As part of the BSN program, students learn in an environment which resembles real-life settings. Maryville University provides graduates equipped to work in any setting, from the ICU or general practice settings. Plus, students have the opportunity to take clinical rotations at some of the top-notch healthcare companies in St. Louis, like SSM Healthcare, Barnes-Jewish, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Mercy Hospital.
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into – Cont’d
| 9) Rasmussen Nursing School | 16 Campuses between Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin | BSN: $335/credit hour | 100% |
| 10) Chamberlin University | Campuses in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia | Varies by state | 90% |
| 11) Aspen University | Denver, Colorado | RN to BSN Program: $357.50/credit hour BSN Pre-Licensure Program: $180-$495/ credit hour | 100% |
| 12) Oklahoma Wesleyan University | Bartlesville, Oklahoma | BSN: $447/credit hour | 52% |
| 13) The Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | Resident: $13,244/year; Nonresident: $40,022/year | 53% |
| 14) Regis University | Denver, Colorado | Nursing, Full-Time: $46,990/year Nursing, Part-Time: $1,566/credit hour | 78% |
| 15) Lewis-Clark State College | Lewiston, Idaho | RN-BSN/CC-BSN Track: $389/credit hour | 100% |
| 16) University of St. Thomas | St. Paul, Minnesota | $10,400/term for five terms | 78% |
| 17) Sam Houston State University | Woodlands, Texas | Texas Resident: $636.60/semester hour; Nonresident: $1,046.60/semester hour | 85% |
| 18) University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | In State, Full-Time: $6,080.04/year; Out of State, Full-Time: $10,760.04/year | 92% |
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
| 19) University of Wyoming | Laramie, Wyoming | Resident, On Campus: $26,078/year; Non-Resident, On-Campus: $42,888 | 96% |
| 20) Edgewood College | Madison, Wisconsin | On-campus: $49,110/year | 99% |
| 21) Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | In-State: $393/credit hour; Out of State: $1,073/credit hour | 95% |
| 22) University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Resident: $412/credit hour; Non-Resident: $412/credit hour | 99% |
| 23) Wright State University | Greene County, Ohio | Resident, On Campus: $23,112/year; Out-of-State, On Campus: $32,812 | 95% |
| 24) University of Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah | Resident, On Campus: $39,164/year; Non-Resident, On Campus: $61,640 | 89% |
| 25) University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | In-State, On Campus: $36,640; Out-of-State, On Campus: $59,104 | 95% |
| 26) Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas | Resident: $241.55/credit hour; Nonresident: $572.15/credit hour | 95% |
| 27) University of Mount Union | Alliance, Ohio | First-Time Undergraduate: $36,100/year | 76% |
| 28) Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | On Campus: $65,040/year; Off Campus: $49,940/year | 78% |
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
| 29) West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | In-state: $10,104/year; Out-of-State: $28,608 | 88% |
| 30) Saint Martin’s University | Lacey, Washington | On Campus: $66,398 | 95% |
| 31) University of Maine | Orono, Maine | Maine and Canadian Resident, On Campus: $30,006/year; Out-of-State Resident, On Campus: $53,436/year | 94% |
| 32) University of Southern Indiana | Vanderburgh, Indiana | Resident: $299.19/credit hour; Non-Resident: $727.23/credit hour | 94% |
| 33) Spalding University | Louisville, Kentucky | Full-time (12-18 credit hours): $14,400/semester | 98% |
| 34) Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, Arkansas | Instate: $249.78; Out-of-State: $499.56/credit hour | 94% |
| 35) Nebraska Methodist College | Omaha, Nebraska | Traditional BSN: $623/credit + additional fees | 91% |
| 36) South Dakota State | Brookings, South Dakota | BSN: $44,932 | 86% |
| 37) Illinois State University | Normal, Illinois | Resident, On-campus: $34,060; Non-resident, On-campus: $45,584 | 86% |
| 38) Drexel University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Full-time: $20,014/term | 80% |
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
| 39) Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Science | Geneva, New York | Full-time: $5,450/semester | 100% |
| 40) Ameritech College of Healthcare (2 year) | Draper, Utah | $22,603/year | 100% |
| 41) University of Saint Francis | Fort Wayne, Indiana | On-Campus: $48,040 | 98% |
| 42) Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, Iowa | Accelerated BSN: $774.00/credit hour | 97% |
| 43) Bethel University | Arden Hills, Minnesota | Full-time, On campus: $56,396/year | 72% |
| 44) Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | Full-time, On campus: $59,058/year | 81% |
| 45) Herzing University | Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin | Varies by state | 94% |
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
| 46) The Mississippi University for Women | Columbus, Ohio | Full-time: $4,246/year | 99% |
| 47) Northwestern State University | Natchitoches, Louisiana | NSU online-only: $375/credit hour up to 12 hours; $100/credit hour thereafter | 98% |
| 48) Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, Kentucky | Resident, Full-time: $5,010/semester; Out-of-state, Full-time: $10,465/semester | 64% |
| 49) Fairmont State University | Fairmont, West Virginia | In State, On campus: $21,178/year; Out of State, On Campus: $31,394 | 98% |
| 50) University of Montana | Missoula, Montana | On Campus: $248.50/credit hour | 95% |
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into – In Review
Nursing programs are not for the faint of heart. Nurses are often required to perform at a high and consistent level for long, sometimes unconventional, hours. In addition, nurses must also be comfortable in high pressure environments and be capable of making informed decisions quickly.
However, nursing could be the career for you if you enjoy helping people, promoting health and wellness, and are looking for a career in a growing and dynamic field.
Plus, nurses have the opportunity to select their own specialty, which means they can work in many different settings. Some nursing specialties include: Nurse practitioner; Emergency nursing; Pediatric nursing; Surgical nursing; Hospice nursing; and more. Additionally, nurses also can work as educators within their field to share their expertise with others.
Ultimately, nursing can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. Even though the profession is demanding, it is also highly satisfying to make a positive difference in the community.
Additional Resources
- 39 Best Colleges for Nursing
- Direct Admit Nursing Programs
- 25 Highest Paid Nurses
- Median Starting Salaries by Nursing College
- 42 Best College for Public Health
- Premed Requirements
- Best Osteopathic Medical Schools
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Meghan Dairaghi
With a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing, Meghan has served as a writing tutor at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Maryville University. Additionally, Meghan has held editorial roles at River Styx and Boulevard, and was a prose reader at Farside Review. Most recently, her work has been featured in Belle Ombre, Flypaper Lit, and Mag 20/20, among others, and she was nominated for the Mary Troy Prize in Fiction.
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