ABSN Programs with Lower GPA Requirements -

A GPA below 3.0 does not automatically rule you out of an accelerated nursing program. Some ABSN programs publish minimum GPA requirements below 3.0, although admission may still be competitive.

The table below compares ABSN programs in our database with published minimum GPA requirements below 3.0. You can compare GPA requirements with program length, estimated tuition, location, and application deadlines.

Keep in mind that the minimum GPA is usually the threshold for consideration, not a guarantee of admission. Schools may also evaluate prerequisite grades, science GPA, entrance exam scores, previous college coursework, healthcare experience, or other application factors.

Last reviewed: August 2026. Admission requirements can change. Confirm current GPA and prerequisite requirements directly with each nursing school before applying.

School	State	City	Length	Est. Tuition	GPA	Application Deadlines
Allen College	IA	Waterloo	12 Months	$39,366	2.8	Rolling
Anderson University	IN	Anderson	5 Semesters	$40,800–$42,160	2.75	Rolling
Arkansas State University	AR	Jonesboro	15 Months	$20,234	2.5	Feb 1, 2027
Ashland University	OH	Ashland	15 Months	$44,000	2.7	May 15
Averett University	VA	Norfolk	16 Months	$66,475	2.8	Rolling
Avila University	MO	Kansas City	16 Months	$42,700	2.8	not provided
Baker College	MI	Owosso	18 Months	$31,000	2.7	not available
Bethel University	MN	St Paul	15 Months	$44,000	2.85	Jan 15, May 15
Brookline College	NM	Albuquerque	16 Months	$57,000	2.75	not provided
Bushnell University	OR	Eugene	12 Months	$57,510	2.75	Apr 1, Sept 1
Cabarrus College	NC	Concord	18 Months	$44,520	2.5	Jan 1, Oct 1
Capital University	OH	Columbus	20 Months	$53,341	2.75	Jun 1
Carlow University	PA	Pittsburgh	15 Months	$43,785	2.85	Rolling
CSUSM	CA	San Marcos	5 Semesters	$47,570	2.5	Nov 4, 2026; Feb 3, 2027
Curry College	MA	Milton, Plymouth	16 Months	$60,000	2.7	May 1
D’Youville University	NY	Buffalo	15 Months	$70,000	2.5	not provided
Denver College of Nursing Accelerated BSN Program	CO	Denver	21 Months	$52,863	2.0	Confirm quarterly dates
DeSales University	PA	Center Valley	15 Months	$48,800	2.75	Jan 1
Dominican University	NY	Blauvelt	12 or 24 Months	$57,000	2.7	Nov 1
East Tennessee State	TN	Johnson City	20 months	$27,485	2.75	Oct 1, Feb 1, Jun 1
Eastern Michigan University	MI	Ypsilanti	20 Months	$37,000	2.8	May 15th
ECPI University	FL	Orlando (Lake Mary)	12 Months	$43,650	2.5	Rolling
Edgewood College	WI	Madison	12 Months	$45,000	2.75	Feb 1, Jun 1
Gardner-Webb University	NC	Boiling Springs	16 Months	$31,200	2.85	Rolling
George Mason University	VA	Fairfax	12 Months	$24,000	2.85	Jan 15
Georgia Southwestern State University	GA	Americus	Varies	$10,560	2.8	Feb 15, Oct 15
Harding University	AR	Rogers	16 Months	$60,480	2.5	Varies by cohort
Herzing University	MN	Minneapolis	20-24 Months	$63,750	2.5	Rolling
Huntington University	IN	Fort Wayne	13 Months	$44,016	2.75
Illinois State University	IL	Normal	15 Months	$30,110.30	2.5	Until full
Indiana State University	IN	Terre Haute	15 Months	$19,956	2.75	March 15
Jacksonville University	FL	Jacksonville	12 Months	$70,000	2.5	Rolling
Joyce University	UT	Draper	20 Months	$60,520	2.75	Rolling
Kent State University	OH	Kent	15 Months	$37,000	2.75	Jun 1, Sept 1, Feb 1
Lincoln Memorial University	TN	Cedar Bluff, Knoxville TN	12 Months	$56,490	2.75	Rolling
Louisiana Christian University	LA	Pineville	17 Months	$45,166–$50,808	2.6	Apr 15, 2027
Marian University	IN	Indianapolis	16 Months	$50,880	2.8	Cohort-specific
Marymount University	VA	Arlington	16 Months	$85,760	2.8	Nov 15
Mercy University	New York	Bronx	18 Months	$74,765	2.8	Oct 31, Feb 15, May 30
Michigan State University	MI	East Lansing, Detroit	15 months	$34,748	2.75	Feb 1
Monroe University	NY	Bronx & New Rochelle	15 Months	$39,000	2.75	not provided
Moravian University	PA	Bethlehem	16 Months	$49,458	2.75	Feb 1, Nov 1
MSU Denver	CO	Denver	4 Terms	$29,308	2.75	February 15, 2027
National University	CA	Fresno	22 Months	$63,000	2.75	Varies by cohort
Nebraska Methodist College	NE	Omaha	12 Months	$41,000	2.75	Jul 10
Niagra University	NY	Niagra Falls	12 Months	$52,725	2.5	Rolling
North Dakota State University	ND	Bismarck, Fargo	14 Months	$28,000	2.75	Rolling
Penn State University	PA	Altoona, Harrisburg, Erie	16 Months	$27,600	2.75	Dec 1
Rasmussen University	FL	Central Pasco, Fort Myers, North Orlando, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa/Brandon	18 Months	$41,552	2.25	Rolling
Regis University	CO	Denver	12 Months	$38,336	2.75	Jun 15, Dec 1
Rockhurst University	MO	Kansas City	16 Months	$47,100 incl. fees	2.7	Contact program (3 starts/year)
Roseman University	UT, NV	Henderson NV, South Jordan UT	18 Months	$73,200	2.75	Rolling (4 starts)
Samford University Second Degree BSN Program	AL	Birmingham	28 Months	$106,475	2.75	June 1
South College	TN	Knoxville, Nashville	18 months	$50,520	2.5	not provided
South Dakota State	SD	Rapid City, Sioux Falls	12 Months	$27,962	2.7	Rapid City: Oct 25; Sioux Falls: May 25
Spalding University	KY	Louisville	13 Months	$29,400	2.75	Contact school
St. Edward’s University	TX	Austin	13 Months	$55,000	2.5	May 15
St. Luke's College	IA	Sioux City	12 Months	$34,720	2.8	Rolling (spring start)
Stony Brook	NY	Stony Brook	12 months	$7,070	2.8	Oct 8
Texas Tech University	TX	Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas, Lubbock, Odessa, San Antonio.	12 Months	$23,045	2.5	July 15
UAMS College of Nursing	AR	Little Rock / Fayetteville	12 Months	$370/credit (NWA resident)	2.5	Jan 15 priority; Mar 1
UL Lafayette	LA	Lafayette	15 Months	Nursing tuition covered	2.6	Contact school
UNC Charlotte	NC	Charlotte	16 Months	$15,000	2.0	Jun 1
University at Buffalo	NY	Buffalo	12 Months	$24,000	2.0	Oct 1, Nov 1
University of Akron	OH	Akron	15 Months	$35,028	2.75	Dec 1
University of Arkansas Fort Smith	AR	Fort Smith	15 Months	$12,540	2.5	Mar 1, Oct 1
University of Central Oklahoma	OK	Edmond	16 Months	$15,000	2.5	Mid Feb
University of Kentucky	KY	Lexington	16 Months	$25,428	2.5	Mar 1, Aug 15
University of Memphis	TN	Memphis	16 Months	$5,364	2.75	Mar 15, Oct 1
University of Michigan s	MI	Flint	16 Months	$32,000	2.5	Jan 15
University of Missouri–Kansas City	MO	Kansas City	20 months	$42,248.70 incl. bundled fees	2.75	Jan 31
University of Mount Union	OH	Alliance	15 Months	$36,000	2.75	Apr 13
University of New Mexico	NM	Albuquerque	16 Months	$36,000	2.75	Apr 1
University of Oklahoma	OK	Oklahoma City	14 Months	$24,500	2.5	Jul 21, Oct 21
University of Providence	MT	Great Falls	12 Months	$60,804	2.75	Rolling
University of Rochester	NY	Rochester	12 Months	$89,349	2.8	July 1, Sept 15, Nov 1
University of Sioux Falls	SD	Sioux Falls	16 Months	$27,000	2.75	Jan 2
University of Southern Mississippi	MS	Hattiesburg	12 Months	$15,591	2.5	Feb 1, Sep 1
University of Tennessee Chattanooga	TN	Chattanooga	12 months	$16,143	2.75	Mar 15, Sep 15, Jan 15
University of Texas at Arlington	TX	Arlington	15 Months	$22,000	2.75	Jan 15, Jun 1
University of Washington	WA	Seattle	12 Months	$53,720	2.8	Oct 15
University of Wisconsin–Madison	WI	Madison	12 Months	$45,000	2.75	Sept 15
University of Wyoming	WY	Laramie	15 Months	$19,000	2.5	Nov 1
Utica University	NY	Liverpool	16 months	$63,753	2.8	not provided
Walsh University	OH	North Canton	24 Months	$65,000	2.0	not provided
Western Colorado University	CO	Gunnison	12 Months	$25,074	2.0	Confirm cohort dates
Western Connecticut State	CT	Danbury	15 Months	$16,055	2.7	Jan 2
William Jewell	MO	Liberty	12 Months	$40,500	2.8	Mar 1, Nov 1
Winston-Salem University	NC	Winston-Salem	15 Months	$6,802	2.6	July 1 - Sept 1
Xavier University	OH	Columbus, Cincinnati, Independence	16 Months	$56,700	2.7	Rolling (3 start dates)

What Does the Minimum GPA Really Mean?

The minimum GPA tells you the lowest published GPA a program may consider. It does not tell you the average GPA of admitted students or how competitive admission will be.

For example, an ABSN program with a 2.75 minimum GPA can still receive applications from students with GPAs above 3.0. Meeting the 2.75 requirement may make you eligible to apply without making you a competitive applicant.

Schools also calculate GPA differently. Depending on the program, admissions staff may consider your:

Overall undergraduate GPA
GPA from your most recent college credits
Prerequisite GPA
Science prerequisite GPA
GPA from a previous bachelor’s degree

Check how each school calculates its GPA requirement before deciding whether you qualify.

Can You Get Into an ABSN Program With a GPA Below 3.0?

Yes, some ABSN programs accept applicants with GPAs below 3.0. Your options become more limited as your GPA decreases, however, and meeting a school’s published minimum does not guarantee admission.

If your GPA is close to the minimum, other parts of your academic record may become especially important. Strong grades in recent prerequisite and science courses can show that you are prepared for an intensive nursing curriculum.

Before applying, look beyond the overall GPA requirement and check:

Required grades in prerequisite courses
Minimum science or prerequisite GPA
Whether the school considers your last 30 or 60 credits
TEAS, HESI, or other entrance exam requirements
Whether prerequisites can be repeated
Application essays or personal statements
Additional admission requirements

Should You Apply If Your GPA Is Near the Minimum?

A school with a lower minimum GPA can be worth considering, but avoid choosing programs based on GPA requirements alone.

Compare tuition, accreditation, state approval, program length, clinical requirements, NCLEX preparation, location, and admission requirements. You may find that a program with a slightly higher GPA requirement is still an option if it calculates GPA differently or gives greater weight to recent coursework.

If cost is also important, compare our Cheapest ABSN Programs. If speed is your priority, see our 12-Month ABSN Programs comparison.