Top 15 No Entrance Exam Nursing Schools in 2025

Some nursing schools require an entrance exam, such as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) or the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) exam, for enrollment. The purpose is to evaluate prospective students on various health science and pre-nursing topics.

However, there are plenty of schools that omit this requirement. Here's a solution if you're searching for ''no entrance exam nursing schools near me.''

What Entrance Exams and Other Prerequisites Are Required for Nursing School?

Many American colleges offer degree programs, which prepare graduates to become registered nurses (RNs) upon taking a licensing exam known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). There are also schools that require you to take a pre-nursing test (the TEAS) just to enter nursing school.

However, this requirement is not universal. There are many no entrance exam nursing schools, including schools that allow you to take most of your coursework online to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Do All Nursing Schools Require Entrance Exams?

No, not all nursing schools require entrance exams. If you're looking for ''no entrance exam nursing schools near me,'' identify schools in your state that waive this requirement. We'll show you a few accredited programs that operate this way.

Types of No Entrance Exam Nursing Programs

There are several types of no entrance exam nursing schools, which fit into the following categories.

• Direct admission for freshman BSN programs: These programs allow incoming college freshmen to enter BSN programs right after high school, without taking entrance exams, or completing a specific pre-nursing curriculum.
• Bridge programs: Some nursing students enter a ''bridge program,'' such as an RN-to-BSN program, without needing to take the TEAS or HESI because they already possess a license for nursing practice in their state.
• Accelerated nursing programs: These are fast-paced programs where students can complete their nursing courses faster, and they do not have to retake entrance exams, provided they've finished all the prerequisite courses for admission.
• Direct-entry nursing programs: You can even enter a BSN or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program without taking an entrance exam or possessing a nursing degree.
• Other nursing schools: Some universities simply waive the TEAS exam requirement altogether because they prefer to focus on other academic components in the admissions process.

Flexible Nursing Programs That Don't Require Entrance Exams

Below is a list of 15 nursing programs that don't require TEAS scores for enrollment. Each college of nursing offers financial aid and holds nursing accreditation.

1. California State University - Fullerton

California State University - Fullerton has several prerequisites for program eligibility, but it does not require the TEAS or other standardized tests. The university focuses more on academic achievements and expects a minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.25.

• Estimated tuition cost: $396.00 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Nursing students receive consideration for scholarships, grants, and loans after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2. Oregon Health Science University

Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) offers hands-on training in its BSN program, which you can enter without completing standardized entrance exams. The admission requirements are different depending on whether you enroll in its traditional BSN program, RN-to-BSN bridge program, or accelerated pathway.

The accelerated option requires a few more general education and health education prerequisites to qualify for admission.

• Estimated tuition cost: $418 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Full-time nursing students may qualify for merit-based scholarships at OHSU or through external sources.
• Accreditation: CCNE

3. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) has a CCNE-accredited BSN degree program with plenty of online coursework options to go along with clinical rotations. The clinical experiences must take place at one of WGU's lab locations: Utah, Texas, Missouri, Florida, or Indiana.

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,755 per semester
• Financial aid: You should complete the FAFSA to qualify for federal loans and other resources.
• Accreditation: CCNE

4. West Chester University

The West Chester University School of Nursing has a traditional BSN degree and an RN-to-BSN bridge program. If you enroll in the bridge program, you don't have to pass any tests — but check with the nursing school to make sure your transfer credits go through from other universities and community colleges. The application deadline for enrollment is Nov. 1 each year.

• Estimated tuition cost: $322 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Complete the FAFSA to qualify for subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans.
• Accreditation: CCNE

5. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University has no entrance exam requirement, but students must earn at least a 2.75 GPA for admission. The BSN program has a substantial catalog of online and in-person nursing courses, which train new nurses in several patient-care competencies. Course topics include mental health nursing, pharmacology, professional nursing, and adult health care across the lifespan.

• Estimated tuition cost: $5,075.06 per semester
• Financial aid: This university offers student-employment positions, private loans, and tuition waivers for senior citizens.
• Accreditation: CCNE

6. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida does not require standardized tests, but incoming students must submit to background checks and fingerprinting, which is also common for beginning any nursing career. The nursing school offers a traditional BSN along with a second-degree BSN option for non-nursing majors.

• Estimated tuition cost: $211.19 per credit hour
• Financial aid: This university offers competitive scholarships and assists students with loan deferment plans.
• Accreditation: CCNE

7. Florida State University

Florida State University (FSU) requires multiple prerequisite courses for its BSN program, including statistics, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and human nutrition. This program offers advanced training in patient care and educational programs for passing the NCLEX-RN exam on the first try.

• Estimated tuition cost: $215.55 per credit hour
• Financial aid: FSU offers scholarships and training in financial literacy for undergraduate students.
• Accreditation: CCNE

8. Herzing University

Herzing University has an online program for its BSN degree, with high pass rates for first-time takers of the NCLEX-RN exam. Although there is no admission entrance exam, this degree program takes non-nursing majors through a rigorous second-degree curriculum, preparing them for new careers in nursing care.

• Estimated tuition cost: $750 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Herzing offers financial aid through scholarships, military discounts, grants, and more.
• Accreditation: CCNE

9. Chamberlain University

Chamberlain University does not require the TEAS or HESI exams for program admission. The start date for its fall program is Sept. 1 and requires about three years to finish the program. You may be able to complete the program faster if you enroll after gaining previous nursing experience as an RN or a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

• Estimated tuition cost: $635 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Nursing students should complete the FAFSA to become eligible for federal/state grants, work-study options, and scholarships.
• Accreditation: CCNE

10. University of Texas - Arlington

The University of Texas - Arlington's online BSN program requires only 51 credit hours (assuming you complete the prerequisites for admission). Many students finish within just 15 months and pass the NCLEX-RN exam about 90% of the time on the first attempt.

• Estimated tuition cost: $425 per credit hour
• Financial aid: BSN students can apply for scholarships worth $2,500 to $5,000 per year.
• Accreditation: CCNE

11. Rasmussen University

Rasmussen University grants BSN degree programs for distance learners as well as on-campus students at 14 locations. This is also one of the more affordable options on our list, with a tuition rate lower than $400 per credit hour.

• Estimated tuition cost: $377 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Rasmussen offers financial aid through corporate alliances and grants military discounts.
• Accreditation: CCNE

12. Liberty University

Liberty University focuses on a simplified admissions process rather than a long list of specific requirements. It also has a convenient online delivery method for all didactic courses and opportunities to transfer credits from previous nursing programs.

• Estimated tuition cost: $330 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Liberty University grants military discounts and participates in all FAFSA-related financial aid packages.
• Accreditation: CCNE

13. National University

National University also specializes in online delivery for almost all undergraduate courses, including its BSN curriculum. You won't have to take additional entrance tests, and the admissions board will review incoming applications all year.

• Estimated tuition cost: $370 per credit hour
• Financial aid: National University has a step-by-step guide for how to complete the FAFSA and qualify for repayable and non-repayable funding.
• Accreditation: CCNE

14. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has a BSN degree and an RN-to-BSN bridge program with plenty of convenient online coursework. Nursing graduates can look forward to terrific salary opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual salary of over $93,000 for nurses who hold a bachelor's degree.

• Estimated tuition cost: $342 per credit hour
• Financial aid: The financial aid website mentions ways to secure scholarships and tuition assistance after completing the FAFSA.
• Accreditation: CCNE

15. Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University (CCU) has multiple BSN tracks, especially geared toward non-traditional students who have earned other degrees. CCU uses the motto ''nursing is a ministry — an opportunity to others.''

• Estimated tuition cost: $628 per credit hour
• Financial aid: CCU offers institutional scholarships and helps students obtain outside scholarships, grants, and loans.
• Accreditation: CCNE

How We Rank Schools

Here's how we ranked the 15 schools for this list. Each college must fulfill these three criteria: accreditation, flexible admissions policies, and good program reputation.

• Accreditation: We selected credible universities with accreditation through organizations like CCNE.
• Admissions requirements: These programs have flexible admissions policies, which do not require specific entrance exams for acceptance.
• Program reputation: Each program has experienced faculty members with clinical expertise, and its graduates find employment in several healthcare settings.

Discover Online Nursing Degrees

You can use Learn.org to discover much more about online nursing education. This includes associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctorates, state licensure preparation, individual prerequisite courses, and more.