Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Michael Tijani
In a bid to test an applicant’s intellectual prowess or to curtail the number of applications they want to receive, most nursing schools put up some complex admission requirements—such as strict prerequisite courses, entrance examinations, etc. In most cases, depending on the program you are applying to and the level of your degree, you may need to take a test that is exclusively designed for nurses, a general exam like the GRE or SAT, or maybe even both. This oftentimes deters some of the prospective nursing students from pursuing their dreams of becoming registered nurses, but this shouldn’t be so, as there are some nursing schools without entrance exams.
Many prospective nursing students often equate “no entrance exam nursing schools” with a low-quality program, which is not always true.
In most institutions, there are several other admission requirements that substitute for the entrance examination, such as the applicant’s experience in the field, a record of community service, a personal statement, a high school or college GPA, and an overall assessment of the candidate.
However, in this article, we have painstakingly compiled some of the best nursing schools without entrance examinations to aid you in making the best decisions in your newfound career.
Nursing Schools Without Entrance Exams
Below are some of the best nursing schools with no entrance exams. Also, you will get to know all the admission requirements, their acceptance rates, and the minimum GPA requirements.
1. Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Texas A&M University-Central Texas is a 4-year public university in the Texas A&M University System.
The school is an upper-division college, which means that all it’s intending or current students must have completed all their necessary freshman and sophomore-level coursework at a two-year college or other accredited institutions of higher learning.
The RN to BSN program at Texas A&M University-Central Texas is designed to prepare graduates to be safe nurse practitioners, leaders, and mentors in various nursing capacities, be it nursing administration, advanced practice, or nursing education. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, classes are offered online by faculty dedicated to every student’s success.
Moreso, the nursing program at Texas A&M Central is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Undergraduate Degree Programs available: Nursing, RN to BSN
Entry Requirements:
Applicants are required to submit their unofficial transcripts to the nursing department for review and advice.
A&M University Central is one of the easiest nursing schools in Texas that does not require an entrance examination or essay. However, a valid Texas license as a registered nurse is required for complete admission to the program. Admission to A&M University is open for the fall and spring semesters. Apply HERE
2. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a metropolitan research university that offers its students flexible academic programs, a high-quality education, and unmatched internship opportunities.
Currently, there is no entrance exam for traditional students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. However, paramedics who have not worked or engaged in more than at least 1000 hours as paramedics in the last 2 years must take the Elsevier HESI EMS-ADN Entrance Exam.
Furthermore, LPNs who are not recent graduates of an approved and accredited LPN program and have not worked at least 1000 hours as an LPN in the last 2 years are mandated to take the Elsevier HESI LPN-ADN Entrance Exam.
The institution typically accepts students into its nursing program once per year, from December 15th to January 31st. Accepted students typically begin academic activities in the summer of the year they are accepted.
Entry Requirements:
Applicants must have acquired a minimum GPA of at least 2.0 to be eligible for either of the available programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
At the time of application to the AAS program, students must have successfully completed or be enrolled in 4 credits of anatomy and physiology. The three-hour Anatomy and Physiology course does not meet the Anatomy and Physiology requirement. However, UA Little Rock has a substitute course called Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 1433) that will meet the entire Anatomy and Physiology requirements.
All AAS students who have been fully admitted will undergo criminal background checks and drug screenings by the UA Little Rock School of Nursing.
The programs offered include:
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) RN program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- RN to BSN online program
- LPN/Paramedic to RN
All the nursing programs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
3. Northern Illinois University School of Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Northern Illinois University School of Nursing does not require any entrance examinations (i.e., TEAS or HESI), nor do they require applicants to submit a reading comprehension score as part of the school’s admissions criteria.
The program prepares students for a career as nursing generalists, who are often involved in direct and indirect patient care. It equips students with the necessary clinical knowledge, theory, and research principles to become successful nurses. Graduates of the B.S. nursing degree program are prepared and eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Applications to the Northern Illinois University School of Nursing are accepted once a year between September 1 and January 15.
Entry Requirements:
- Admission to the program is based on factors such as prerequisite GPA, completed prerequisites, and overall GPA.
- Applicants must provide an official high school transcript or GED score report.
- Interested applicants must have acquired a prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 to qualify for the program.
- Priority will be given to students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with at least a C grade or better by the mid-January deadline: BIOS 103 and BIOS 105, BIOS 357, ENGL 203 and STAT 100, CHEM 110 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 210 and CHEM 212.
- Applicants with less than 24 semester hours of college credit are required to apply as freshmen.
Transfer Applicants:
- Applicants must provide official transcripts from all colleges attended. Also, applicants who must have taken courses at another institution during the fall term prior to the January 15th deadline are expected to send their final transcripts with grades posted.
- Priority will be given to students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with at least a C grade or better by the mid-January deadline: BIOS 103 and BIOS 105, BIOS 357, ENGL 203 and STAT 100, CHEM 110 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 210 and CHEM 212.
- Transfer students must also acquire a prerequisite GPA and an overall/cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.
Furthermore, with over a thousand yearly applicants, the NIU School of Nursing typically admits around 175 students into its nursing program, bringing the acceptance rate to 5.8%. Half of the students at NIU often begin their nursing courses in the fall and the other half in the spring.
Note: Admission to the NIU School of Nursing is fiercely competitive, and as such, slots are extremely limited. There is no guarantee of admission. Interested applicants are strongly advised to work with an academic advisor to receive proper guidance regarding the competitive nature of the program.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Northern Illinois University is duly approved and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Apply HERE
4. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing does not require any entrance examination, be it the GRE, MAT, TEAS, HESI, or NLN PAX exam. Not even a letter of recommendation is required from their prospective students. So if you’re looking for nursing schools with no entrance exams, then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing should be on your list of options.
The bachelor in nursing program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, through its experienced faculty, prepares its students through innovative approaches to solving healthcare challenges. The school provides its students with rich research opportunities that would aid them in making the best decisions in their careers.
UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing receives approximately 300–400 applications across the states for the traditional BSN program each year but only admits 104 students, bringing the acceptance rate to 3.8%. The school receives the same number of applicants for its ABSN program.
Entry Requirements:
Admission to UNC-Chapel Hill is extremely competitive. Interested applicants must acquire a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Moreso, applicants seeking admission to the Accelerated BSN program at UNC-Chapel must have acquired a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
In addition, applicants must have completed Microbiology, Anatomy, and Physiology within the last five years of the application deadline. Also, statistics and general psychology must have been completed within the last 10 years of the application deadline.
Once the admissions phase is fully completed, applicants will receive admissions decisions (this is usually done through the mail) stating their status, whether they have been admitted, denied, or waitlisted. Waitlisted applicants may be kept informed up until the start of academic activities in case there is a space available in the course of the program.
The admissions committee carefully considers each prospective applicant’s academic record, personal statement, record of community service, and any unique skills and qualities that could influence patient care delivery or advance the nursing profession as a whole. The best applicant will demonstrate a strong commitment to the principles of nursing and service toward others, as well as a strong academic background.
Note: Admission to the School of Nursing as a junior is not a guarantee for first-year students admitted to UNC-Chapel Hill. Apply HERE
5. George Washington University School of Nursing
The nursing program at George Washington University molds its students into nurse leaders and healthcare providers that will impact and influence healthcare delivery wherever they find themselves.
The BSN, DNP, and MSN programs at George Washington University are fully accredited and approved by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The BSN program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing, and the MSN and DNP programs are approved by the Washington, D.C., Board of Nursing.
The nursing program at GW University is one of the few nursing schools without entrance exams, such as TEAS or HESI 2A, for admission.
Entry Requirements:
Interested applicants must have acquired a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be considered for admission.
Also, interested applicants are required to provide all official transcripts from any school they must have earned credits from. In cases where the official transcripts aren’t available at the time of application, applicants can upload unofficial copies. However, if admitted, the applicant’s admission will be placed on “conditional” status until the official transcripts are made available.
6. Florida State University College of Nursing
The Florida State College of Nursing programs provides quality preparation and on-the-job experience to clinicians, leaders, scholars, and advanced practitioners in various nursing capacities.
Students are accepted to the BSN program only in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The school typically receives between 400 and 600 applications each semester but admits only 84 students each semester.
The two-year BSN program at FSUCN prepares its graduates for the national licensing exam to become registered nurses (RNs)
The interview procedure will only be open to a limited number of candidates who meet all the necessary requirements. The location and time of the interview will be communicated to candidates through email.
The FSU College of Nursing’s traditional and fast-track BSN programs do not require an entrance examination.
Entry Requirements:
- Interested applicants are expected to must have earned an overall GPA of at least 3.4.
- Applicants must have earned an overall science GPA of at least 3.0.
- Applicants must have earned at least a grade of B- or better in all the prerequisite courses.
NOTE: The Nursing Program strongly recommends that applicants complete both psychology and sociology courses.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs (except Lifestyle Medicine which is accredited by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine) at the FSU College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Apply for admission to the FSU College of Nursing by submitting the online application on the
program webpage HERE
Note that meeting the entry requirements for the FSU College of Nursing does not guarantee access to the program.
FAQs
What does the nursing entrance exam consist of?
Generally, most nursing entrance examinations like the Nursing Entrance Test (NET) cover basic high school level knowledge in topics like; Maths, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It also seeks to evaluate your decision-making capacity, as well as your preferred learning method.
Conclusion
Many people find it difficult to pass the nursing entrance examination at some nursing schools.
Luckily, you don’t have to let the nursing entrance exam stand in the way of pursuing your dream of becoming a nurse.
You can start your career journey today by applying to any of the above-listed nursing schools with no entrance exams, as long as you meet the entry requirements.