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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 10/06/23
If you’ve completed high school with grades lower than anticipated, you may wonder how to get into nursing school with a low GPA. Read on to learn more!
If you’re wondering if you can get into nursing school with a low GPA, know that multiple factors contribute to the strength of your nursing school application. While your GPA is one of the most important factors, you shouldn’t lose all hope of fulfilling your career goals if you have a low GPA!
Here are the top five steps you can take to pursue your dreams of getting into nursing school with a low GPA.
If you’re still completing your final year of high school and don’t think you have a competitive GPA for nursing school, you should consider asking your teachers for extra credit!
While it may seem daunting, your teachers support and help you reach your goals. They understand the importance of your grades and how they will influence your career trajectory.
Accordingly, if you explain your circumstances, the grades you need, and your willingness to complete extra assignments, they’ll likely offer you some advice or options. The worst that can happen is they’ll say no, and then you can proceed to the next steps.
Higher-ranking nursing schools have higher expectations of candidates. While most nursing schools require a GPA of at least 3.0, more competitive ones may expect GPAs of at least 3.8.
If your GPA is well below these requirements, consider looking for schools with less competitive requirements. Here are some schools with lower GPA requirements:
Consider the type of degree you pursue. While BSNs can open more doors for you and lead to higher pay, Associate’s Degrees in Nursing typically have lower GPA requirements, ranging from a minimum of 2.0 to 2.8.
Suppose you’re concerned that attending a lower-ranking nursing school will impact the quality of your education. In that case, these programs still offer the skills and experience needed to prepare for a career as a nurse!
Your transcripts aren’t the only application materials you’ll submit for admissions committees to review. You’ll also likely submit a personal statement, other essays, a document detailing your volunteer or work experience, letters of recommendation, SAT and ACT scores (GRE scores are for MSN programs), and a statement of career goals.
In short, your GPA isn’t the only aspect of the application that matters. Write a personal statement that tells a unique story about you, what nursing means to you, and the type of nurse you hope to be. You should also focus on
Proving you’ve already begun interacting with patients can prove your GPA doesn’t reflect your ability to thrive in the medical field! You should also request recommendations from mentors that can attest to your excellent patient care and teachers that can vouch for your academic potential.
When reflecting on which nursing school to apply to, consider pursuing other certifications or degrees before applying. These certifications can get your foot in the door, give you clinical experience, and make you a better candidate for nursing school.
Admissions committees focus more on your grades during these programs, value your dedication to the field, and appreciate your eagerness to begin honing the skills necessary to succeed in nursing. Some certifications you may pursue before going to nursing school are:
Pursuing these alternate paths may not have been your original plan to become a nurse. They still allow you to accomplish your ultimate goal of becoming an outstanding nurse–it just might take longer!
You can take a gap year if you’re set on obtaining a nursing degree and don’t want to pursue other pathways first. You can pursue meaningful work or volunteer experience to strengthen your application and make the admissions committees more inclined to overlook your low GPA.
You may also enroll in general education classes at your local community college to help boost your GPA and make you a more competitive applicant. This is an excellent option if you need to finish incomplete or failed prerequisites.
Even if you don’t have a 4.0 high school GPA, getting into nursing school is still attainable. If you’re concerned about your options, here are ten nursing schools that accept a low GPA:
While your options are more limited with a GPA below 3.0, there are still many schools where you have a shot at acceptance.
Numbers play an essential role in the selection process. Out of other application requirements, your GPA and test scores are the only tangible factors admissions committees can use to compare you to other students.
Accordingly, your GPA is important for nursing school; high GPAs can fortify any nursing school application. On the other hand, if you have a GPA lower than the set requirement, you have a very slim or potentially no chance of acceptance.
For any remaining questions about how to get into nursing school with a low GPA, read on to find your answers.
The lowest GPA accepted by some nursing schools in the U.S. is around 2.0, typically for Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs or less competitive institutions. Most Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs require a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3.0, though a few accept applicants with GPAs as low as 2.5.
Yes, you can attend nursing school with a 2.0 GPA, though your options may be limited.
Yes, getting into nursing school with a 2.9 GPA is possible. As many schools have a minimum requirement of 3.0, you may still be granted admission if you can prove your academic potential through the other application components, including your test scores and letters of recommendation from your teachers.
Rasmussen Nursing School, Aspen University, and Middle Georgia State University are among the easiest nursing programs to get into, with 100% acceptance rates.
Your GPA plays a crucial role in the admissions committee’s selection process. Nursing school is known to be rigorous and competitive, and your GPA gives schools direct insight into your academic potential.
As such, focusing on your grades and maintaining a high GPA is important.
If you have a low GPA and want to enter nursing school, focus on improving other parts of your application. Start by retaking prerequisite courses to boost your science GPA, gaining hands-on healthcare experience (like working as a CNA or HHA), and scoring well on entrance exams.
A competitive GPA for nursing school is typically 3.0 or higher, especially for BSN programs. Top-tier nursing schools may expect GPAs closer to 3.5 or above, particularly in prerequisite science and math courses.
Your GPA holds enough weight to influence the schools you will likely be admitted to. It is an important part of your college application and should be taken seriously.
Yet, as much as you might hope to receive a certain GPA, plans don’t always pull through, so you must know how to adapt. Luckily, the steps shared in this guide can allow you to follow your dreams and become an outstanding nurse!
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