10 Nursing Schools With No TEAS or HESI Exam Requirement 2026

For a lot of nursing applicants, the biggest obstacle isn't a prerequisite course or a personal statement, it's a single timed exam. The TEAS and HESI have become the default entrance test at many programs, but they're not universal requirements, and a number of respected schools have moved away from them entirely.

Below, you'll find nursing schools that don't require the TEAS or HESI, along with what these programs actually look at instead. If you test poorly, have been out of school for a while, or would rather your transcript speak for itself, this list is a good place to start.

What Are the TEAS and HESI Exams?

The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) and HESI A2 (Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Assessment) are standardized entrance exams used by many nursing programs to screen applicants before admission. Both cover similar ground, reading comprehension, math, science, and English language usage, and schools generally choose one or the other based on internal preference rather than using both.

It's worth understanding upfront that neither exam measures clinical skill or predicts how well someone will actually perform in nursing school or on the job. They're a screening tool schools use to compare applicants with different academic backgrounds on a single, standardized scale, nothing more. That's part of why a growing number of programs have chosen to rely on other measures instead.

Do All Nursing Schools Require the TEAS or HESI?

A meaningful number of programs, including several highly respected ones, don't require entrance exams at all. Instead, these schools typically lean more heavily on prerequisite and science course grades, overall GPA, a secondary nursing application, or a holistic review of the full applicant. A few, like Western Governors University, use an entirely different internal assessment in place of the TEAS or HESI.

It's important to keep one thing in mind, though: skipping the entrance exam doesn't mean skipping scrutiny. Schools that don't require the TEAS or HESI often set the bar higher elsewhere, particularly on prerequisite GPA, since that's carrying more weight in the absence of a standardized test. It's also worth noting that exam policies can vary by pathway at the same school, a freshman-entry track and an accelerated second-degree track might have different requirements, so it's worth confirming the policy for your specific pathway rather than assuming it applies school-wide.

10 Nursing Schools With No TEAS or HESI Exam Requirements

Here's a closer look at 10 nursing programs with documented policies waiving the TEAS or HESI, along with what each school actually looks at instead. 

1. California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a public university in Fullerton, California, whose School of Nursing offers Traditional, Upper-Division Transfer, Accelerated, and Entry-Level Freshman Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pathways. CSUF is institutionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and its BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

CSUF is about as clear-cut as it gets on this list: across every one of its BSN pathways, the School of Nursing states outright that it does not require and will not accept TEAS or HESI scores for admission. Instead, applicants are evaluated on high school coursework, college GPA, and prerequisite performance, with the traditional and accelerated pathways both classified as "impacted," meaning admission is competitive even without a standardized test in the mix.

2. Drexel University

Drexel University, a private institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers a traditional four-year BSN, an RN-to-BSN, and its notable Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Drexel is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and its nursing programs, including the BSN, MSN, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), are accredited by CCNE.

The ACE BSN doesn't list the TEAS or HESI as part of its admissions requirements, leaning instead on the strength of an applicant's prior bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework. Drexel's well-known co-op model also sets it apart structurally, giving nursing students the option to complete paid, hands-on placements alongside their coursework rather than relying on a single entrance exam to gauge readiness.

3. George Washington University

George Washington University (GWU), a private university in Washington, D.C., offers a BSN through its School of Nursing. GWU is institutionally accredited by MSCHE, and its baccalaureate, master's, and DNP programs are accredited by CCNE.

GWU's nursing admissions FAQ states plainly that it does not require TEAS or HESI scores for admission. In their place, the university calculates both an overall GPA and a separate prerequisite GPA, which signals clearly where the weight falls in a GWU application once the standardized test is out of the picture.

4. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University (NIU), a public university in DeKalb, Illinois, offers a BSN and RN-to-BSN through its School of Nursing. NIU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.

Multiple independent sources confirm that NIU does not require an entrance exam, standing out in a state where several other nursing programs set TEAS score minimums in the 70s or 80s. Admission is still competitive and limited, though: NIU requires a minimum prerequisite and cumulative GPA of 2.75, and seats are filled based on applicant standing rather than a first-come, first-served process.

5. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), a public academic health center based in Portland, Oregon, offers traditional and accelerated BSN pathways across multiple campus locations. OHSU is institutionally accredited, and its baccalaureate, master's, and DNP nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.

OHSU's undergraduate admissions process doesn't center on the TEAS or HESI at all, instead weighing academic performance, prerequisite coursework, and a holistic review of the full application. That approach, combined with OHSU's standing as one of the more research-intensive nursing schools on this list, makes it a strong option for applicants who want rigor without a standardized testing requirement.

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) is a public university whose School of Nursing offers BSN, ABSN, and RN-to-BSN pathways. UNC-Chapel Hill is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and its baccalaureate, master's, and DNP programs are accredited by CCNE.

UNC's published BSN eligibility requirements center on science prerequisite completion, timing, and academic history, with no mention of TEAS or HESI scores as part of the process. For a program this competitive, that puts real weight on getting prerequisites done on schedule and performing well in them, since there's no separate test score to offset a weaker transcript. 

7. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF), a public university with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee, offers BSN, RN-to-BSN, and Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathways. USF is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC, and its baccalaureate, master's, and DNP programs are accredited by CCNE.

USF takes an unusually firm stance here: its admissions FAQ states outright that TEAS or HESI scores aren't accepted or reviewed even if a student submits them alongside their application. Its Freshman Nursing Pathway instead relies on high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores, while its Upper Division and Accelerated Second Degree pathways lean on prerequisite GPA and a competitive review through NursingCAS.

8. University of Tennessee Health Science Center 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), based in Memphis, offers an accelerated second-degree BSN and a two-year transfer BSN through its College of Nursing. UTHSC is institutionally accredited, and its baccalaureate and DNP programs are accredited by CCNE.

Neither UTHSC pathway lists a TEAS or HESI requirement, relying instead on a minimum GPA, letters of recommendation, a written essay, and an interview as part of the admissions process. That interview component is a bit more hands-on than most schools on this list, giving applicants a chance to make their case directly rather than through transcripts alone.

9. West Chester University

West Chester University (WCU), a public university in West Chester, Pennsylvania, offers a traditional undergraduate BSN in addition to its online RN-to-BSN completion program. WCU is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and its nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.

WCU's undergraduate BSN program admits incoming freshmen based on a standard high school curriculum and academic record, without listing a pre-admission entrance exam as part of the process. That makes it one of the more straightforward options on this list for students entering nursing school directly out of high school, without an extra testing hurdle layered on top of standard college admissions.

10. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit, fully online institution offering a prelicensure BSN in about two dozen states, alongside an RN-to-BSN completion program. WGU holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and its nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.

WGU doesn't use the TEAS or HESI, but it's worth understanding what it uses instead: a separate internal entrance assessment combined with academic eligibility review. So while WGU won't help you avoid admissions testing altogether, it does mean skipping the two most common standardized nursing entrance exams in favor of an assessment built specifically around its own competency-based model.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university.

Because this list is specifically about schools that don't require the TEAS or HESI, we weighted a few additional factors on top of the standard institutional data:

• Documented exam-free admissions policy: Every school on this list has a publicly available admissions page or FAQ confirming that TEAS or HESI scores aren't required for at least one nursing pathway.
• Accreditation: All schools are institutionally accredited, and every nursing program included is accredited by CCNE.
• Program variety: We prioritized a mix of traditional, accelerated, freshman-entry, and online pathways, so the list serves students at different stages of their nursing education.
• Transparency: We noted where a policy applies school-wide versus where it's specific to certain pathways, so you know what to confirm before applying.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.  

How to Strengthen Your Application Without an Entrance Exam 

Without a standardized test score to lean on, the rest of your application carries more weight. A few things can meaningfully strengthen your case and help you get into nursing school:

• Prioritize your prerequisite GPA: Science courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, and Chemistry tend to matter most, so aim for strong grades in these specifically, not just a solid overall GPA.
• Complete prerequisites on schedule: Several schools on this list, including UNC Chapel Hill, emphasize nursing prerequisite completion timelines, so falling behind can hurt your eligibility even with strong grades.
• Gather strong letters of recommendation: An instructor or supervisor who can speak specifically to your academic ability or work ethic carries more weight when there's no test score to back it up.
• Write a specific, honest personal statement: Where required, use this space to explain your motivation for nursing and any relevant experience, rather than generic language that could apply to any applicant.
• Gain relevant healthcare experience: Work or volunteer experience as a CNA, medical assistant, EMT, or similar role can help demonstrate readiness in a way a test score never could.

Should You Still Prepare for the TEAS or HESI?

It depends on how many schools you're applying to and how confident you are in this list holding up by the time you apply. If every program on your list confirms it doesn't require the TEAS or HESI, you likely don't need to prepare for either exam at all.

That said, a little hedging is often worth it. Admissions policies can change between application cycles, and pathway-specific requirements at the same school can differ from what you initially confirmed. If you're applying to a mix of schools, some with the exam requirement and some without, it usually makes sense to prepare for whichever exam is required at your other target schools, since that preparation isn't wasted even at schools where it's optional. A few programs on this list, including Lee University from our broader research, don't require the TEAS but note that submitting a strong score can still strengthen an application, so it's not always an either-or decision.

FAQs About Nursing Schools With No TEAS or HESI Exam Requirement

Applying without a standardized entrance exam raises a lot of practical questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

Why Do Some Nursing Schools Not Require the TEAS or HESI?

Many schools have found that prerequisite grades and overall GPA predict nursing school success just as well, if not better, than a single timed exam. Removing the entrance exam also cuts down on application barriers for students who test poorly, have been out of school for a while, or simply don't perform well under timed testing conditions.

What Do Schools Look at Instead of the TEAS or HESI?

Most schools place more weight on prerequisite and science course grades, overall GPA, and in some cases a secondary nursing application, letters of recommendation, or an interview. A few schools, like Western Governors University, substitute their own internal entrance assessment in place of the TEAS or HESI.

Does Skipping the Entrance Exam Make a Program Easier to Get Into?

Programs that don't require the TEAS or HESI often set the bar higher elsewhere, particularly on prerequisite GPA, since that's carrying more weight in the absence of a standardized test. Several schools on this list, including CSU Fullerton and Northern Illinois University, describe their nursing admissions as competitive and limited despite not using an entrance exam.

Can I Still Submit TEAS or HESI Scores if a School Doesn't Require Them?

Sometimes, though policies vary. Lee University, for example, doesn't require the TEAS but notes that submitting a strong score may still strengthen an application. Other schools, like the University of South Florida, explicitly state they won't review TEAS or HESI scores even if submitted, so it's worth checking a school's specific policy before assuming a score will help.

Do All Pathways at a School Have the Same Exam Policy?

A freshman-entry pathway and an accelerated second-degree pathway at the same school can have different admissions requirements, including whether an entrance exam is required. It's worth confirming the policy for your specific pathway rather than assuming a school-wide answer applies to every track.

Are Entrance Exam Requirements Different for ADN Programs vs. BSN Programs?

Community college ADN programs are more likely to require the TEAS or HESI than the four-year and accelerated BSN programs on this list, since many of the schools moving away from entrance exams are doing so specifically at the bachelor's level. If you're weighing an ADN against a BSN pathway, it's worth checking each program's policy separately rather than assuming they'll match.

Find Your Perfect Nursing School

Skipping the TEAS or HESI can remove a real barrier from your nursing school application, but it shifts the weight onto your prerequisite grades and overall academic record instead. Find your ideal nursing school by exploring the resources and programs featured on Learn.org, and confirm a school's exam policy directly with its nursing admissions office before you apply.