10 Nursing Schools That Accept the GED 2026

Earning a GED instead of a traditional high school diploma doesn't shut the door on a nursing career. A number of respected programs, including several with explicit, nursing-specific language welcoming GED holders, will consider your application on the same footing as anyone else's.

There are several online colleges that accept the GED, and nursing schools that accept the GED are more common than many prospective students realize. Below, you'll find 10 verified programs, along with what else you'll need to get admitted beyond just having your GED in hand.

Do Nursing Schools Accept the GED?

A GED is a recognized high school equivalency credential, and the vast majority of accredited nursing programs, from community college Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) tracks to university Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, treat it the same way they treat a traditional diploma for admissions purposes. Once you're admitted, there's no separate track or lower academic bar for GED holders; you'll take the same coursework, meet the same GPA requirements, and sit for the same NCLEX-RN exam as every other nursing graduate.

That said, having a GED only clears the first hurdle. Many nursing programs still require additional entrance requirements regardless of how you completed your secondary education, including prerequisite coursework, a minimum GPA, and in some cases a standardized entrance exam like the TEAS or HESI. It's worth confirming a specific program's full list of requirements rather than assuming GED acceptance is the only box you need to check.

10 Nursing Schools That Accept the GED

Here's a closer look at 10 nursing programs with verified GED-acceptance policies, spanning community college ADN tracks, a practical nursing pathway, and two four-year prelicensure BSN programs.  

1. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

A-B Tech is a public community college in Asheville, North Carolina, with an ADN program that also offers an LPN-to-ADN advanced placement track. The college holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and its nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA); it’s one of the best community colleges with nursing programs.

Unlike many schools that only address GED acceptance at the general admissions level, A-B Tech's nursing program admissions page explicitly lists High School Equivalency (HSE, formerly GED) as an acceptable credential alongside a traditional diploma. That program-specific language makes it one of the clearer, more direct confirmations on this list.

2. Delaware Technical Community College

Delaware Tech is one of the top online community colleges in Delaware and offers an ADN program across multiple campuses. The college is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and its nursing program carries accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), with full approval from the Delaware Board of Nursing.

Delaware Tech accepts GED holders on the same terms as diploma holders as part of its standard admissions process, and its competitive admissions structure means all applicants, GED or diploma, are evaluated through the same points-based system once they've declared interest in the nursing program. Prospective students go through a Competitive Admissions Process that weighs prerequisite coursework and GPA alongside the initial equivalency requirement.

3. GateWay Community College

GateWay Community College, located in Phoenix, Arizona, offers a nursing pathway leading to LPN or RN roles, along with bridge programs for paramedics and veterans. GateWay is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its nursing program is accredited by ACEN and approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

GateWay's general admissions policy accepts a GED as equivalent to a high school diploma, and that acceptance carries through to its nursing program applications. The school's additional bridge pathways for paramedics and veterans also make it a flexible option for career-changers who may be balancing a GED with other nontraditional educational or professional backgrounds.

4. Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana's statewide community college system, offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) across dozens of campuses throughout the state. Ivy Tech is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its nursing program carries specialized accreditation as well.

A GED is accepted as equivalent to a high school diploma throughout Ivy Tech's general admissions process, though it's worth knowing that the nursing program itself layers on additional selective admission requirements once you're enrolled, including a competitive application and standardized testing. In other words, a GED gets you in the door at Ivy Tech, but the nursing program's own entry requirements are a separate step.

5. Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University, a public university in Thibodaux, Louisiana, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through its College of Nursing, delivered in partnership with the Thibodaux Regional School of Nursing. The university is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC, and its BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Nicholls State accepts a GED as meeting its high school equivalency requirement for admission, making it one of the few four-year universities on this list offering a genuine on-campus, prelicensure BSN pathway rather than an associate degree or completion program. That distinction matters for GED holders specifically interested in starting directly toward a bachelor's-level nursing degree rather than an ADN.

6. North Central Texas College

North Central Texas College, based in Gainesville, Texas, offers both a Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) certificate and an ADN program, along with an LVN-to-RN transition pathway. The college is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC, and its nursing program is accredited by ACEN and approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.

NCTC's general admissions process recognizes a GED as equivalent to a high school diploma, which extends to eligibility for its nursing programs. The presence of both a vocational and associate-degree track gives GED holders more than one entry point, depending on whether they want to become an LVN first or pursue RN licensure directly.

7. Oakland Community College

Oakland Community College offers an ADN program across its Waterford and Southfield, Michigan campuses. The college is institutionally accredited by the HLC, and its nursing program is accredited by ACEN, with full approval from the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Oakland CC's nursing admission guide is explicit about equivalency, listing a high school transcript, diploma, or GED as acceptable documentation for applicants. It provides a great way for a student without a typical high school diploma to become a nurse in Michigan.

8. St. Cloud Technical & Community College

St. Cloud Technical & Community College, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, offers a Practical Nursing (PN) program as its direct-entry point, along with an LPN-to-ADN mobility track for students who already hold an LPN license. The college is institutionally accredited by the HLC, and its PN program is accredited by ACEN.

It's worth understanding the structure here before applying: a GED is accepted for admission to the PN program itself, but the ADN track is designed as a mobility option for existing LPNs rather than a separate direct-entry path. For GED holders starting from scratch, the PN program is the relevant on-ramp, with the ADN mobility track available as a later step once licensed.

9. Southeastern Illinois College

Southeastern Illinois College, located between Harrisburg and Equality, Illinois, offers an ADN program through its Nursing department. The college is institutionally accredited by the HLC, and its nursing program carries specialized nursing accreditation as well.

As an open-admission community college, Southeastern Illinois College accepts a GED as meeting its high school equivalency requirement, consistent with standard practice across Illinois community colleges. Its small campus size and rural service area also make it a notable option for students outside major metro areas who want a more direct, community-based path into nursing.

10. University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana (USI), based in Evansville, Indiana, offers a BSN through its College of Nursing and Health Professions, delivered through hybrid, on-campus, and online formats depending on the program level. USI is institutionally accredited by the HLC, and its baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nursing programs are all accredited by CCNE.

USI accepts a GED as equivalent to a high school diploma for admission, giving GED holders access to a genuine four-year, prelicensure BSN pathway rather than only an associate-level option. Along with Nicholls State, it rounds out this list's two university-level BSN choices for students who want to start directly toward a bachelor's degree.

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 GED acceptance, we weighted a few additional factors on top of the standard institutional data:

• Documented GED acceptance: Every school on this list has a publicly available admissions policy confirming that a GED is accepted as equivalent to a high school diploma, with several confirming this at the nursing-program level specifically.
• Accreditation: All schools are institutionally accredited, and every nursing program included is accredited by ACEN, CCNE, or NLN CNEA.
• Program variety: We prioritized a mix of ADN, PN, and BSN pathways, so the list serves GED holders at different starting points in their nursing education.
• Transparency: We noted where a program has additional entrance requirements, like the TEAS or HESI, beyond GED acceptance, so you know what else to expect before applying.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.  

How to Strengthen Your Nursing School Application With a GED

A GED gets you in the door, but a few extra steps can help make your application genuinely competitive:

• Prioritize your prerequisite grades: Science courses like Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, and Chemistry carry real weight, so strong performance here and in other nursing prerequisites can help offset any concerns admissions might have about a nontraditional educational path.
• Prepare seriously for the TEAS or HESI if required: Several programs on this list, and many not on it, still require an entrance exam regardless of diploma type, so treat prep time for that exam as part of your overall application strategy.
• Gain relevant healthcare experience: Work or volunteer experience as a CNA, medical assistant, EMT, or similar role can demonstrate readiness and commitment in a way your GED score alone can't.
• Gather strong letters of recommendation: An instructor, employer, or supervisor who can speak to your work ethic and reliability adds context that a transcript doesn't capture.
• Write a specific, honest personal statement where required: Use this space to explain your path and motivation for nursing directly, rather than generic language that could apply to any applicant. 

GED vs. High School Diploma for Nursing School

Short answer: once you're admitted, it doesn't matter whether you have a GED or high school diploma. Nursing programs, state boards of nursing, and the NCLEX-RN itself don't distinguish between GED holders and traditional high school graduates in any way. You'll take the same coursework, meet the same academic standards, and sit for the same licensure exam as every other student in your program.

Where the two credentials can differ is earlier in the process, specifically, during admissions. Some schools ask GED holders to submit additional documentation, like official GED scores, alongside their application, and a small number of programs may weigh GED completion differently when reviewing an applicant's overall academic history. These differences tend to be minor and vary by school, though, so it's worth confirming a specific program's policy rather than assuming a GED will be treated as a disadvantage. Once you're licensed and working as a nurse, employers, patients, and colleagues have no way of knowing which credential you started with, and it has no bearing on your career from that point forward.

FAQs About Nursing Schools That Accept the GED

Pursuing nursing school with a GED raises a lot of practical questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

Can You Become a Nurse With Just a GED?

A GED is a recognized high school equivalency credential, and the vast majority of accredited nursing programs accept it on the same terms as a traditional diploma. Once admitted, GED holders complete the same coursework and are held to the same academic standards as every other student, with no separate track or lower bar.

Do Nursing Schools Require a Minimum GED Score?

Some do, though it varies by school and isn't universal. Where a minimum score is required, it's usually specified alongside other admissions requirements like GPA and prerequisite coursework, so it's worth checking a specific program's published requirements rather than assuming a particular score is needed everywhere.

Will Having a GED Instead of a Diploma Affect Getting an RN License Later?

State boards of nursing license you based on completing an approved nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN, not on how you completed your secondary education. Your GED has no bearing on your eligibility for licensure once you've graduated from an accredited nursing program.

Do GED Holders Still Need to Take the TEAS or HESI?

Often, you will still need to take an entrance exam as part of your nursing school requirements. Many nursing programs require a standardized entrance exam like the TEAS or HESI regardless of whether an applicant has a GED or a traditional diploma. GED acceptance and entrance exam requirements are separate policies, so it's worth confirming both before applying to a specific program.

Are There Nursing Programs Specifically Designed for GED Holders?

Most nursing schools that accept the GED simply treat it as equivalent to a high school diploma within their standard admissions process, rather than offering a separate track built specifically for GED holders. The programs on this list are notable for confirming GED acceptance clearly, not for offering a different curriculum or pathway.

Does a GED Limit Which Nursing Degree Level You Can Pursue?

GED holders can pursue an LPN certificate, an ADN, or a BSN, as this list shows, including genuine four-year, prelicensure BSN programs at schools like Nicholls State University and the University of Southern Indiana. Once you have your RN license, you’re free to continue to pursue graduate degrees. Degree level is determined by the program you apply to and its specific requirements, not by whether you hold a GED or a traditional diploma. 

Find the Perfect Nursing School

A GED is a legitimate, widely accepted path into nursing school, and the programs above prove that starting point doesn't limit which degree level you can pursue. To find more nursing schools and their requirements, explore the resources and programs featured on Learn.org. Always confirm a specific school's full admissions requirements directly before you apply.