Direct Admit Nursing Programs

While the majority of college and universities require that undergraduates enroll in two years of lower division coursework before applying to a nursing major, there are several programs offering direct admission to highly qualified prospective freshman (during their senior year of high school). If awarded entry, these students are guaranteed a spot in the institution’s nursing major; and provided they meet course requirements, can be assured that they will graduate with a nursing degree.
Below is a comprehensive list of selective colleges and universities offering direct admit nursing programs. Please click the links below to explore each program’s offerings and admission criteria.

Table updated November 2023

To view additional data columns, click the + icon to the left of the institution’s name

InstitutionNCLEX Pass Rate (First-Time)Nursing Degrees (BSNs) Produced (2019-2021)Notes
104151ASUArizona State University86%19591230/25 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.5 HS GPA required; 3.8 HS GPA required for test-optional applicants
219709Belmont University83%5413.5 HS GPA required
196079Binghamton University (SUNY)81%547SAT/ACT not required
211158Bloomsburg University93%306
164924BCBoston College90%315
143358Bradley University92%286
211431Carlow University93%2471060/21 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.0 HS GPA required; 3.4 HS GPA required for test-optional applicants
201645CWRUCase Western Reserve University89%207
217882Clemson University91%601SAT/ACT not required
181002Creighton University90%794
212054Drexel University87%1648
212106Duquesne University96%Not ReportedSAT/ACT not required; 3.0 HS GPA required
212115ESUEast Stroudsburg University76%1473.0 HS GPA required
212160PennWestEdinboro University95%1861030/20 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.0 HS GPA required; 3.25 HS GPA required for test-optional applicants
165699Endicott College91%3153.0 HS GPA required
129242Fairfield University94%516
133669FAUFlorida Atlantic University88%7001200/25 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.6 HS GPA required
134079FSCFlorida Southern College97%1811240/26 (SAT/ACT Average) and 3.76 HS GPA average
131496Georgetown University94%76
191533Hartwick College88%1293.4 HS GPA required
145813Illinois State University90%5803.93 HS GPA average
145646Illinois Wesleyan University63%130
146719Loyola University Chicago87%1278
239105Marquette University95%397
237525Marshall University92%293
232706Marymount University89%366
239318MSOEMilwaukee School of Engineering92%207
193900NYUNew York University86%1275
193973Niagara University55%276
167358Northeastern University93%346
214777Penn StatePennsylvania State University - University Park87%2591340 (SAT Average) and 3.76 HS GPA average
489779Purdue University - West Lafayette96%492
130226QUQuinnipiac University85%696
186399Rutgers University94%1069
179159SLUSaint Louis University90%5831160/24 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.2 HS GPA required
102049Samford University95% (2021)3391060/21 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.0 HS GPA required
122409SDSUSan Diego State University88%6383.0 HS GPA required
236595Seattle University75%520
186584Seton Hall University92%329
167783Simmons University90%429
216339Temple University72%2893.25 HS GPA required
228875TCUTexas Christian University94%565
187134TCNJThe College of New Jersey97%254
178615Truman State University84%153
110653University of California, Irvine86%Not Reported
110662University of California, Los Angeles89%Not Reported
201885UCUniversity of Cincinnati88%12791070/22 (SAT/ACT Minimum) and 3.0 HS GPA required
129020UConnUniversity of Connecticut91%7893.5 HS GPA required
130943UDUniversity of Delaware80%570
141574UH ManoaUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa98%3603.0 HS GPA required
153658University of Iowa91%6533.8 HS GPA required
161253University of Maine77%216
166629University of Massachusetts Amherst81%5281360/28 (SAT/ACT Average) and 4.1 HS GPA Average
135726University of Miami99%6851100/24 (SAT/ACT Minimum)
170976University of Michigan Ann Arbor98%435
183044UNHUniversity of New Hampshire95%213
215062University of Pennsylvania89%538
215293University of Pittsburgh - PIttsburgh Campus87%747
209825University of Portland72%473
217484University of Rhode Island81%1087
122612University of San Francisco87%726
221759University of Tennessee - Knoxville99%721
231174University of Vermont90%295
234076UVAUniversity of Virginia94%333
216597Villanova University89%724
234030VCUVirginia Commonwealth University94%657
238032WVUWest Virginia University98%6231200/25 (SAT/ACT Minimum) 540/22 (Math Minimum) and 3.8 HS GPA required; 1260/27 (SAT/ACT Minimum) 540/22 (Math Minimum) and 3.6 HS GPA required
216852Widener University79%603
206622Xavier University83%897

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