ABSN Programs allowing below 3.0 GPA's

Nursing Students School Programs

Published

Hi guys!

I have been reading allnurses forums since I decided to make the change into becoming a nurse but never commented. Like most of you interested in accelerated bachelor of science in nursing programs, after working for a few years... I realized I needed to switch into a career I would be passionate about.

A little background, I didn't do so well in my undergrad. I had a lot of fun and didn't prioritize school and ended up with a GPA WELL below 3.0. I was frightened and thought maybe school just wasn't something that i was good at. But i knew after working a few years that i had a very strong work ethic. And if I could direct my strong work ethic into being a full-time student then I could make this work.

A lot of schools prejudge students based on their previous bachelors. I got to tell you, reading all of these forums gave me anxiety and sometimes it made me believe i couldn't do this. I noticed so many students with previous bachelor's with similar concerns. But I did a LOT of research. I needed to find a school that would look at my potential as opposed to my past mistakes. I never write on public sites but I really think that this might be helpful for some of your out there. If you are determined to become a nurse you can do it. I got a 4.0 pre-req GPA because I approached school with a completely different perspective. I HAD to do well. I had no other option.

I couldn't find an updated list of ABSN programs across the country that allowed 3.0 GPA's or lower so I compiled this full excel sheet. I then divided it into ones i was interested in and further down by pre-reqs required and start date.

It's also best to have backup plans in case. I applied to 1 Associate program and 3 ABSN programs. This is because applications are due in batches (mostly around beginning of the year and then in the start of fall) and according to the time i finished my pre-reqs , time applications are due, and start date... i applied to 3 of the ones i was most interested in. If i didn't get into any of them i would have applied to my next batch of schools.

Anyways I'm happy to say i got into 2 out of the 3 ABSN programs. With good letters of recs, good previous work experience, good pre-req GPA, and a good essay, it's definitely possible.

Feel free to add to the list if i missed any! I did the best that i could by finding every ABSN program possible and going into the program's website. Some of this may be incorrect or outdated.

NOTE : a lot are also CUMULATIVE 3.0 GPA's ( i didn't include these. I have a whole list of GPA requirements for all ABSN programs but figured this thread would be more for the people who have a hard time because their previous bachelor's was below 3.0 or well below 3.0)

[TABLE=width: 554]

[TR]

[TD]ABSN Programs

[/TD]

[TD]State

[/TD]

[TD]Min. GPA[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bellarmine University[/TD]

[TD]KY[/TD]

[TD]2.75, or Pre-req GPA 3.0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bradley University[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.75 for last 60 attempted credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]California State University - San Marcos[/TD]

[TD]CA[/TD]

[TD]2.5 for last 60 units[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Catholic University of America[/TD]

[TD]DC[/TD]

[TD]science GPA 3.0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Cleveland State University[/TD]

[TD]OH[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Coppin State College[/TD]

[TD]MD[/TD]

[TD]2.8 cumulative ?[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Curry College[/TD]

[TD]MA[/TD]

[TD]no min. 3.0 preferred[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]DeSales University[/TD]

[TD]PA[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Dominican College[/TD]

[TD]NY[/TD]

[TD]2.7[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Drexel University[/TD]

[TD]PA[/TD]

[TD]3.0, or 3.0 for last 60 attempted credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]East Tennessee State University[/TD]

[TD]TN[/TD]

[TD]2.6 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Eastern Kentucky University[/TD]

[TD]KY[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Eastern Mennonite University[/TD]

[TD]VA[/TD]

[TD]2.8 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Eastern Michigan University[/TD]

[TD]MI[/TD]

[TD]3.0 in pre-req courses[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Georgia Southwestern State University[/TD]

[TD]GA[/TD]

[TD]2.80[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Graceland University[/TD]

[TD]IA[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Hartwick College[/TD]

[TD]NY[/TD]

[TD]3.0 cumulative (18 month program) 2.75 cumulative (Summer program )[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Hawaii Pacific University[/TD]

[TD]HI[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Lakeview College[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Idaho State University[/TD]

[TD]ID[/TD]

[TD]3.0 pre-req GPA[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Illinois State University[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.50[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Indiana State University[/TD]

[TD]IN[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Indiana University - South Bend[/TD]

[TD]IN[/TD]

[TD]2.5 , 3.0 in sciences & general core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jacksonville University[/TD]

[TD]FL[/TD]

[TD]2.5 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jefferson College of Health Sciences[/TD]

[TD]VA[/TD]

[TD]2.7 from a regionally accredited instution?[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Kennesaw State University[/TD]

[TD]GA[/TD]

[TD]2.7 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Lakeview College of Nursing[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.5 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Lewis University[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Marian University (Various locations)[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]2.8 Cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mass College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Science[/TD]

[TD]MA[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Metropolitan State University of Denver[/TD]

[TD]CO[/TD]

[TD]2.5 in pre-reqs[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]MGH Institute of Health Professions[/TD]

[TD]MA[/TD]

[TD]min of C in prereqs[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Michigan State University[/TD]

[TD]MI[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Moravian College[/TD]

[TD]PA[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]National University[/TD]

[TD]CA[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Nebraska Methodist College[/TD]

[TD]NE[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Nevada State University

New Jersey City University[/TD]

[TD]NV

NJ[/TD]

[TD]2.5 cumulative

3.0 preferred but not necessary[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]New York University[/TD]

[TD]NY[/TD]

[TD]no min[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Norfolk State University[/TD]

[TD]VA[/TD]

[TD]2.8[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]North Carolina Central University[/TD]

[TD]NC[/TD]

[TD]2.7 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Northern Arizona University[/TD]

[TD]AZ[/TD]

[TD]3.0 in pre-req courses[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Northern Kentucky University[/TD]

[TD]KY[/TD]

[TD]3.0 over last 30 credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Ohio Univeristy[/TD]

[TD]OH[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Remington College of Nursing - Orlando[/TD]

[TD]FL[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Resurrection University[/TD]

[TD]IL[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Roseman University of Health Sciences[/TD]

[TD]NV[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Samuel Merritt University[/TD]

[TD]CA[/TD]

[TD]3.0 for last 60 semester units, 90 quarter units[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]San Francisco State University[/TD]

[TD]CA[/TD]

[TD]2.5 for last 60 semester units, 90 quarter units[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Seattle University[/TD]

[TD]WA[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Stony Brook University[/TD]

[TD]NY[/TD]

[TD]2.8 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Texas A & M Health Science Center[/TD]

[TD]TX[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center[/TD]

[TD]TX[/TD]

[TD]3.0 on prereqs, 3.0 in science prereqs[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Touro University Nevada[/TD]

[TD]NV[/TD]

[TD]3.0 preferred, GPA 2.5-2.99 will be reviewed case by case[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Tusculum College[/TD]

[TD]TN[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Central Florida[/TD]

[TD]FL[/TD]

[TD]2.8 Cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Colorado at Colorado Springs[/TD]

[TD]CO[/TD]

[TD]2.5 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Kentucky[/TD]

[TD]KY[/TD]

[TD]2.75 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Louisville[/TD]

[TD]KY[/TD]

[TD]2.8 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Massachusetts - Boston[/TD]

[TD]MA[/TD]

[TD]no minimum[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Michigan - Flint[/TD]

[TD]MI[/TD]

[TD]3.0 in last 30 credit hours[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Nebraska College of Nursing Medical Center[/TD]

[TD]NE[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Oklahoma College of Nursing[/TD]

[TD]OK[/TD]

[TD]2.5 in the last 60 attempted credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Texas at El Paso[/TD]

[TD]TX[/TD]

[TD]2.5 science GPA[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh[/TD]

[TD]Wi[/TD]

[TD]2.75 prereq[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Ursuline College[/TD]

[TD]OH[/TD]

[TD]2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Utica College[/TD]

[TD]NY[/TD]

[TD]2.8[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Villanova University[/TD]

[TD]PA[/TD]

[TD]3.0 for BSNExpress, 2.75 for Alternaitve Sequence (if not 2.75 then science has to be 2.75)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Virginia Commonweath University[/TD]

[TD]VA[/TD]

[TD]2.5 cumulative[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Wayne State University[/TD]

[TD]WI[/TD]

[TD]2.5 in prereq and sicneces[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]West Chester University[/TD]

[TD]PA[/TD]

[TD]2.75[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Winston-Salem State University[/TD]

[TD]NC[/TD]

[TD]2.6[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Good luck!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi 3054!

Thanks for this list! It's extremely helpful. I'm curious, were you also considering MSN-Entry programs as well or were you set on ABSN ones only?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure if it's wise to hedge your bet on the lower requirements. While that may exist, the reality is that the majority of applicants will blow past that minimum requirement, so it's not like someone with a

Up Vote Up Vote ×

While I completely understand your sentiments on the reality of lower GPAs, there are programs out there that will take a holistic approach when choosing candidates (i.e. extracurriculars, last 60 units, pre-req GPA, etc), so not all hope is lost. 3054 is a prime example of what a hard work ethic can accomplish - again, congratulations!

I wish you all the best in your nursing endeavors, NuGuyNurse2b.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you for this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for this list! This will be helpful! Where did you end up getting in?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment