Top 10 No Entrance Exam Nursing Schools in 2024
As demand for well-trained registered nurses (RNs) rises, nursing schools’ rigorous admission requirements become barriers for aspiring students. Entrance exams alone can make or break whether you become a nursing student. Unfortunately, no entrance exam nursing schools are difficult to find because there are so few.
So, we compiled a list of top-ranked nursing schools without entrance exams to help you get into nursing school. These nursing schools are easier to enter without this barrier, increasing your chances of acceptance. Read on to learn about no-entrance exam nursing schools, their requirements, merits, and costs to choose your ideal program.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
|
Salary |
The average annual registered nurse salary is $86,070, or $41.38 per hour (BLS) |
|---|---|
|
Program Length |
2-4 years |
|
Requirements* |
High school diploma/GED, strong GPA, prerequisite science courses, letters of recommendation. |
*Most common nursing school requirements. Actual requirements vary depending on the institution and the level of education you are pursuing.
Many prospective nursing students must prepare for nursing school entrance exams. Often, nursing schools have applicants take the TEAS exam (Test of Essential Academic Skills) or HESI exam (Health Education Systems Incorporated).
These admission assessments evaluate your knowledge and skills in reading, math, science, and English. Nursing schools consider them a useful tool for evaluating an applicant’s academic preparedness and potential for success in a nursing program.
However, the number of quality nursing programs without entrance exams is growing. These institutions are pioneering alternative admissions processes that promote inclusivity and accessibility.
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We assessed nursing programs nationwide to determine the best nursing schools without entrance exams in 2024.
As we compiled this list, we considered factors including admissions requirements, reputation, accreditation, and whether the school requires entrance exams.
The following ten programs are nursing schools without TEAS or HESI exams that maintain exceptional education standards for nursing students.
OHSU is a no-entrance exam nursing school that offers a traditional and accelerated BSN program. Some admissions requirements for these programs include:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- 30 hours of prerequisite courses
- Admissions interview
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-related field may follow the accelerated track. The traditional BSN is a 3-year nursing program for non-degree-holding students. OHSU is also home to the best CRNA school in Oregon, providing diverse and quality options for nursing education.
- Program Length:
- Traditional BSN: 3 Years
- Accelerated BSN: 15 Months
- Contact Info:
California State University, Fullerton (CSU Fullerton) does not require or accept TEAS or HESI exams for its nursing programs. However, applicants must meet other requirements, like completing high school coursework and a BSN program application. CSU Fullerton admissions will evaluate applicants based on their high school, college, and pre-req academic performance.
The university is also home to one of the top CRNA schools in California. Unfortunately, CSU Fullerton only currently accepts California applicants. The school is extremely competitive and receives many more applicants to the nursing program than it has space for.
- Program Length: 4-5 years
- Contact Info:
WGU’s nursing school follows a competency-based education (CBE) model. This model evaluates students based on their mastery of specific skills or knowledge rather than by completing specific credit hours.
The CBE model at WGU allows students to progress at their own pace. Moreover, students primarily attend the nursing program online, allowing them to complete coursework from anywhere. Still, WGU’s nursing program has a clinical component that students must complete in person.
As a no-entrance exam nursing school, WGU evaluates applicants based on academic transcripts, work experience, and other relevant criteria.
- Program Length: 4 years for prelicensure BSN
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Info:
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Drexel University offers a registered nurse program with an accelerated career entry (ACE) option. Like other accelerated BSN programs, the ACE option allows degree-holding students to earn a BSN quickly. Without an entrance exam, ACE BSN requirements include the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in another field
- 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA
- Completion of prerequisite courses
Aside from being easier to get into, this program is promising for aspiring nurses. The university reports a NCLEX exam pass rate of 97% to 100%.
- Program Length: 11 months
- Contact Info:
WCU offers two nursing programs: a traditional BSN and an RN to BSN program for ADN-trained nurses. If you want a nursing school with no entry exam, WCU is a valid option. This university’s nursing program doesn’t require the TEAS or HESI exam for admissions.
Keep in mind that the university website does report that interest in the program is very high and, therefore, competitive. The WCU admissions office has a thorough selection process, which they conduct on a rolling basis.
- Program Length: 4-5 years
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Info:
The USF College of Nursing does not use TEAS, HESI, recommendations, or resumes when evaluating applicants for their undergraduate nursing programs. Instead, admission decisions are made by taking into account several factors, such as:
- Cumulative GPA
- Prerequisite course grades
- Admissions interview
USF offers two prelicensure BSN programs. The first is an accelerated BSN for students with a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree. USF’s other BSN program is a traditional, 4-year nursing degree track.
- Program Length:
- Accelerated BSN: 4 semesters
- Traditional BSN: 4 years
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Info:
The nursing department at UA Little Rock is the largest program on campus, accommodating over 600 students. A dedicated team of twenty-six faculty and staff members supports this nursing college.
The university reports that, at this time, there are no entrance exam requirements for their traditional nursing programs. The school offers two prelicensure nursing programs, including an associate of applied science (AAS) RN program and a BSN program.
- Program Length:
- ASN: 2 years
- BSN: 4 years
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Info:
Northern Illinois Univerisity’s BSN program offers a rigorous education, equipping students with the skills necessary to excel in nursing. With a higher-than-average NCLEX pass rate, this no-entrance exam nursing school promises a high standard for prospective students.
- Tuition: $5,075.06 per term
- Program Length: 4 to 5 years
- Contact Info:
- Phone: (815) 753-1231
- Email: nursing@niu.edu
UNC at Chapel Hill offers three pre-licensure BSN programs: a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, and a military BSN pathway. All programs are completed in person at the campus and do not require TEAS or HESI exams for acceptance.
- Program Length:
- Traditional BSN: 4 years
- Accelerated BSN: 4 semesters
- Military BSN Pathway: Contact UNC for more information
- Contact Info:
George Washington University’s accelerated BSN program is for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in a field other than nursing. The program is a second-degree option, allowing students to transition into nursing.
The nursing school also has a BSN veterans option. Veterans with 60 college-level credits from military and academic experiences may be eligible for this program without a prior degree.
This school also requires no entrance exams, including the TEAS or HESI.
- Program Length: 4 semesters
- Application Deadline: Rolling admission
- Contact Info:
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN or BSN online, both designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
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