Easiest to Get Into
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into
The 25 most accessible U.S. nursing programs by admission rate — with earnings and ROI, so you can find one that's realistic to get into and worth attending.
How hard is it to get into a nursing program?
Here is the open secret about nursing school: getting into the university is the easy part. Getting a seat in the actual nursing cohort is a completely different, much bloodier battle. Nursing programs are notorious bottlenecks. Why? Because you can't just cram fifty extra students into a lecture hall. Nursing requires hands-on clinical rotations and highly specialized instructors, both of which are in massive shortage. In fact, tens of thousands of qualified applicants are turned away from nursing schools every single year simply because programs lack the faculty and clinical sites to accommodate them (American Association of Colleges of Nursing). That means applying to schools with high acceptance rates isn't you settling—it is a highly recommended survival strategy.
| # | School | State | Admission rate | Median earnings | Net price / yr | 10-yr net ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta State University | MS | 100% | $68,221 | $13,540† | +$628K |
| 2 | Union Adventist University | NE | 100% | $75,244 | $23,716 | +$658K |
| 3 | Eastern Mennonite University | VA | 100% | $73,478 | $24,588 | +$636K |
| 4 | Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | PR | 100% | $19,725 | $9,919 | +$158K |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-Central Texas | TX | 100% | $88,036 | $1,300† | +$875K |
| 6 | Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online | TX | 100% | $72,481 | $23,698 | +$630K |
| 7 | The University of Texas at El Paso | TX | 100% | $72,429 | $9,403† | +$687K |
| 8 | King University | TN | 100% | $68,012 | $22,347 | +$591K |
| 9 | Mercy College of Health Sciences | IA | 100% | $66,309 | $26,924 | +$555K |
| 10 | Middle Georgia State University | GA | 100% | $70,650 | $12,361† | +$657K |
| 11 | Northeastern State University | OK | 100% | $80,792 | $12,710† | +$757K |
| 12 | American International College | MA | 100% | $79,889 | $23,274 | +$706K |
| 13 | Trinity Washington University | DC | 100% | $79,349 | $9,302 | +$756K |
| 14 | Southern New Hampshire University | NH | 100% | $85,600 | $36,708 | +$709K |
| 15 | Spalding University | KY | 99% | $65,552 | $25,491 | +$554K |
| 16 | Southeastern Louisiana University | LA | 99% | $73,910 | $13,154† | +$686K |
| 17 | Columbus State University | GA | 99% | $74,454 | $13,115† | +$692K |
| 18 | University of Southern Mississippi | MS | 99% | $70,068 | $21,708† | +$614K |
| 19 | Grand View University | IA | 99% | $64,042 | $21,774 | +$553K |
| 20 | Liberty University | VA | 99% | $71,918 | $29,357 | +$602K |
| 21 | University of the Virgin Islands | VI | 99% | $78,365 | $7,469† | +$754K |
| 22 | Oral Roberts University | OK | 99% | $71,417 | $25,365 | +$613K |
| 23 | University of the Cumberlands | KY | 99% | $81,012 | $14,107 | +$754K |
| 24 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | CO | 99% | $77,333 | $15,327† | +$712K |
| 25 | University of South Dakota | SD | 99% | $71,758 | $19,858† | +$638K |
Compare: Best Nursing Schools (by ROI) · Most Affordable
How to actually get in
You want a fighting chance? Stop treating nursing admissions like a creative writing portfolio and start treating it like a math equation. Programs want to know you won't drop out when anatomy gets weird. Here is your game plan:
- Protect your science GPA with your life: Your overall GPA is cute, but your grades in Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology are what actually keep the admissions committee awake at night. Get top marks in the hard sciences.
- Dominate the entrance exams: Most programs require the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) or the HESI. Buy the study guides. Take the practice tests. Treat this like the SAT's much more aggressive older sibling.
- Cast a wide net: Because of the aforementioned bottleneck, do not apply to just two schools and hope for the best. Apply to several programs, including the high-acceptance safety nets on this page.
- Consider the backdoor route: If a four-year BSN program shuts you out, look into getting your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a community college first. You can get your RN license, start working, and have your hospital pay for your RN-to-BSN bridge program. It is the ultimate life hack.
Easy to get in doesn't mean not worth it
There is a toxic myth in college admissions that if a school lets you in, it must not be very good. Throw that logic in the trash, especially for nursing. In this field, your prestige comes from two letters at the end of your name (RN), not the bumper sticker on your car. The programs on our list might have wide-open doors, but they still deliver serious results. We are talking about graduates who pass their licensing exams, land rock-solid jobs right out of the gate, and see a massive return on their educational investment over the next decade. An accessible program that leads to a lucrative, stable career isn't a backup plan—it is just good math.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do I actually need for nursing school?
While the absolute floor for applying might look forgiving on paper, the reality is a bit harsher. To be a competitive applicant—even at schools with higher overall acceptance rates—you generally want a strong B-average or better, with your science grades pulling the absolute most weight. If your grades are hovering near the minimum requirement, you will need stellar entrance exam scores to compensate.
Why is nursing so competitive if there is a nursing shortage?
It sounds like a cruel joke, right? The country desperately needs nurses, yet schools reject applicants left and right. The shortage isn't just in hospitals; it is in the classrooms. There is a severe lack of master's- and doctorally-prepared nursing faculty to teach students, plus a limited number of clinical sites at local hospitals where students can actually practice. They literally do not have the physical space or the teachers for you.
Does it matter if I go to an elite, highly selective nursing school?
Honestly? No. Patients will never ask where you went to college before you start their IV. Hospital recruiters care about two things: did you graduate from an accredited program, and did you pass the NCLEX-RN exam? While elite schools might offer shiny simulation labs or specific alumni networks, a degree from an accessible, high-acceptance state school or regional college gets you the exact same license and often the exact same starting salary.