Are there any nursing schools in the USA that have relatively low admission requirements? The nursing profession is highly regarded, but the curriculum itself is challenging to complete. When you discover how difficult it is to get into nursing schools, you may want to quit your desire to be a nurse.
While there aren’t many excellent nursing schools, there are a couple that are superb and have low criteria. We’ll also show you some of the most straightforward nursing colleges.
While the majority of this post will focus on the easiest nursing schools to get into, it will also list some key reasons to pursue this profession. Especially in the USA.
Why study nursing?
As a nurse, you play an important part in ensuring that everyone gets the care they need. People entrust you with their lives in the hopes that you will do the right thing.
According to Goodwin, a recent survey found that Americans believe nursing to be the most honest, trustworthy, and ethically sound profession in the country today.
Nurses are dedicated, hardworking, and caring individuals who are always willing to help. They put forth great effort to improve the health of others. Both their patients and their medical teams hold them in high regard.
Nursing as a career path teaches you many things. You learn a range of communication and interpersonal skills that are necessary for surviving in our everyday world.
As a nurse, you must understand that people depend on you to live their lives. So, if you want to help save lives and build communities, you should very much consider nursing.
What do nursing schools look for in applicants?
Due to the number of nurses that will retire in the next few years, a lot of nursing positions will become open. Due to this opening, nursing schools will be much more willing to accept and train future nurses.
However, before you enter nursing school, you must ensure you possess the necessary skills that will help you scale. While a good number of the skills lie in communication and writing, a good knowledge of technology is also important.
A desire to improve the quality of nursing means an increase in research capacity and facilities. Hence, you must develop the capacity and patience to pursue research until you innovate.
Who accredits nursing schools?
Before a nursing school can effectively function, that is, accept and graduate students, it must have an operating license. An operating license is also known as accreditation.
A good number of nursing schools gained accreditation from different bodies; however, there is one body that accredits nursing schools.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is responsible for accrediting nursing schools in different parts of the country.
Are there nursing programs near me?
Simple answer Yes, there are so many nursing programs you can pursue near you. Note that some of these programs or courses are among the easiest nursing programs to get into if you are passionate about pursuing a nursing career. Below are the lists:
1. LPN or LVN Program
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) training programs last approximately one year.
LPN/LVN works under the guidance of a registered nurse. Many universities in the United States offer LPN and LVN courses. These programs generally do not require prerequisite classes.
However, some schools require minimum scores on the TOEFL, SAT, or ACTs. LVN and LPN nurses provide basic patient care, such as vital sign measurement and patient monitoring.
The state requires the LPN to pass the state-certified, state-licensed exam after the training is completed. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for nurse practitioners is $39,030.
2. ADN Course
The Associate in Nursing (ADN) course is one of the easiest nursing programs to get into as a nursing student. The program can take anywhere from 15 months to two years to complete. And is available at many community colleges in the United States.
DNA courses usually require students to complete prerequisite courses before admission. This associate degree program focuses on technical training.
A DNA RN can treat and educate patients and provide emotional support to their families. The DNA program is only available in the United States and can enroll international students.
Associate degree nurses must pass the National Licensing Examination, the National Commission Licensing Examination, or NCLEX-RN, to obtain a nurse license. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for DNA-registered nurses is $67,490.
3. BSN Program
The Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) is a four-year program offered by many colleges and universities in the United States.
One example is Felician College in upstate New York, which encourages nurses to use their research knowledge in real healthcare settings. Some projects end with clinical internships to support the transition from interns to nurses.
The BSN course is very popular with international students because it provides strong job prospects and high salaries. As contemporary people retire, the demand for BSN is high, which means there are many job opportunities in the United States.
4. RN-to-BSN Courses
These courses are designed for ADNs who wish to convert their studies into a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree. Courses can be taken on campus and online. The RN-to-BSN online course is a popular option for students who want to learn while working.
5. MSN Program
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) course integrates various advanced nursing disciplines into one course.
Graduates have a variety of job opportunities, including adult nurse practitioners (ANP), family nurse practitioners (FNP), neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP), educational nurses (NE), pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP), and women’s health nurses (WHNP).
The median salary for people with an MSN degree in the United States is approximately $60,000 to $150,000, depending on the major.
6. CRNA Program
The Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) program usually lasts 1 to 2 years. CRNA students learn anesthesia techniques, test theory, and how to apply knowledge to clinical problems.
Nurses with a CRNA specialty can find some of the highest-paying nursing jobs in the United States Depending on the state, the annual income from many jobs is about $160,000–$250,000.
7. DNP Program
Many MSN programs are being phased out and replaced by the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
These DNP programs are primarily focused on the development of student research methods, including statistics and data analysis, the history and philosophy of nursing science, and leadership skills.-
Most DNP courses require 25 credits more than MSN and generally last 18 to 30 months. Many DNP graduates earn more than $135,830 per year.
What are the requirements to get into a nursing school?
Before you can become a nurse, you don’t need to have only an ambition; you must have certain qualifications that back it up. While other schools might have language requirements that differ, we will focus on requirements that affect nurses on a wide scale.
So, the requirements to become a nurse include:
- Minimum CGPA of 2.5 or 3.0
- A credit score in Anatomy, Physiology, and Nutrition
- Personal Statement of Intent
- A bachelor’s degree
- Transcripts
- High School Diploma
Easiest Nursing Schools to Get into in The USA
Nursing schools grant you the opportunity to fully become a nurse, and these schools are easy to gain admission into. We have properly ranked these schools based on our ranking factors.
The easiest nursing schools to get into are:
- South Dakota State University
- Illinois State University
- Drexel University
- Loyola University
- University of Rhode Island
- University of San Francisco
- Saint Louis University
- University of Connecticut
- San Diego State University
- Northeastern University
1. South Dakota State University
Acceptance Rate: 92.4%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One of the easy nursing schools to get into in 2024 is South Dakota State University. SDS U’s nursing faculty started with six students in its undergraduate program.
Today, the college currently boasts an enrollment of more than 1,800 students in pre-nursing, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Additionally, they have online programs and four face-to-face program delivery sites.
South Dakota State remains committed to the interlocking missions of education, scholarship, and service.
In the same vein, the nursing field at SDSU has consistently devoted its resources to these three important areas. The College of Nursing was the state’s first program to develop a capacity for nursing research.
As a practical program, nursing students converse with members of the community to learn critical thinking, problem-solving, childcare skills, and a lot of other skills to prepare them to enter the workforce upon graduation. Nursing education at SDSU has been beneficial to residents of the community.
The college’s undergraduate and graduate programs keep growing and integrate advances in health, health care, and nursing science. Hence, they are one of the easiest nursing schools to get into.
2. Illinois State University
Acceptance Rate: 89.2%
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Next on the list of easy nursing schools to get into is the Mennonite College of Nursing. Mennonite College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for prelicensure B.S.N. nursing students. Furthermore, the traditional nursing curriculum runs over four semesters of full-time study.
Every semester of the academic year allows students to practice certain skills and apply the knowledge through a range of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences.
All students in this program groom their interpersonal and communication skills. Additionally, every student learns to work under pressure, as this is what they will likely encounter every time.
The rapid development of students in this program over the past few years has proven a lot of things. Indeed, this school is an exceptional nursing school that offers amazing programs for prospective students.
3. Drexel University
Acceptance Rate: 76.9%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The College of Nursing and Health Professions has more than a century-long history of educating nurses and health professionals. Essentially, these professionals have eventually become pioneers of positive change in society.
Students interested in this college can study in any of the four undergraduate “co-op” programs. More so, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing integrates either three six-month periods of full employment in the five-year program or one six-month period in the four-year program.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology and other simulations, they integrate quality teaching techniques into their educational style. Their online programs offer full undergraduate and graduate programs.
Their research facility has garnered close to $2.9 million in external funding. This finance helps them build quality research centers for their students to execute research.
4. University of Rhode Island
Acceptance Rate: 69.5%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
A few years ago, the University of Rhode Island launched a state-of-the-art facility that contains a standard laboratory, office space, and classrooms. Since then, this facility has attracted a lot of worldwide researchers.
A very amazing sight at URI is the use of technology to drive home an understanding of a concept. In nursing, they’ve employed it to drive progress in their program.
Nurses at URI understand that a good number of qualified and experienced nurses will soon retire. So, they ensure that they can build a bridge that covers the knowledge gap between the two generations.
This school remains one of the easiest nursing schools to get into, not only because of its high acceptance rate but also because of the level of personal attention and devotion every student receives.
5. Loyola University
Acceptance Rate: 67.9%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (SON) gives you an education wherein you become a leader in the health profession. With the knowledge you gain from this school, you can medically improve the health of your community and the people in your environment.
A high level of excellence guides this institute, as 85% of its full-time faculty have doctoral degrees. This exposure level helps them effectively lead to different areas of the organization.
Graduates of the School of Nursing are in high demand for positions in a range of healthcare organizations. On average, graduates of this school who seek positions as professional nurses get hired within two months of graduation.
Hence, this isn’t only one of the easiest nursing schools to get into, but also one of the best.
6. University of San Francisco
Acceptance Rate: 64.6%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The School of Nursing and Health Professions follows the University of San Francisco’s mission to provide a liberal arts education founded on the Jesuit culture of diversity, justice, and global perspectives.
In advancing this mission, students in the School of Nursing and Health Professions form part of one of the most exciting and diverse cities for progressive healthcare delivery in the nation. All their graduates serve as knowledgeable, innovative, and experienced practitioners in health care.
As a school, they uphold a strong educational culture that helps students engage in a learning environment that promotes knowledge. Hence, they are nothing short of an exceptional nursing school.
7. Saint Louis University
Acceptance Rate: 57.5%
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Saint Louis University has a national reputation for innovative and pioneering bachelor’s, master’s, post-graduate nurse practitioner certificates, and doctoral (D.N.P. and Ph.D.) programs.
SLU’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing programs have gained national recognition due to their innovative and comprehensive curricula.
For a long time, this school has played a vital role in advancing the growing field of nursing research.
Under the research arm, this school advances the active engagement of faculty and the involvement of students in different areas of their research and learning. The school encourages interprofessional collaboration in executing research to maintain or improve health.
8. University of Connecticut
Acceptance Rate: 48.8%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
UConn’s School of Nursing has a strong and timeless commitment to effectiveness and seeks to provide the quality education you need to succeed in this rapidly evolving profession.
All full-time faculty members have trained up to the doctoral level. Furthermore, adjunct faculty members from a vast range of agencies serve as clinical experts in addition to training students.
All academic facilities provide awesome services and resources for students. More so, the Clinical Learning Simulation Center remains the hub wherein students can translate theoretical knowledge into practical understanding. UConn’s School of Nursing remains one of the easiest nursing schools to get into.
9. San Diego State University
Acceptance Rate: 34.6%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
San Diego State University preserves and pushes policies that ensure progress in every area. Some of their policies on discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and national origin are strongly upheld by the institution.
Generally, the School of Nursing faculty remains keen on granting students access to excellent learning opportunities. As a student, you learn in an intellectually stimulating environment.
Their lab facilities meet international standards, as their graduate nurses can serve and fit into international health centers.
10. Northeastern University
Acceptance Rate: 19.3%
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Bouvé College of Health Sciences gives you access to a caring environment wherein you can build scientific inquiry and prepare students to become leaders, nurse scientists, educators, advocates, and clinicians.
Their programs range from undergraduate through graduate degrees and continuing education conferences, presentations, and workshops. Nurses in administrative, clinical, educational, and research positions have access to all the options that this school offers.
Students who graduate from an accredited program are eligible for licensure, which makes it possible for them to work in huge health institutes. Although they come last on our list of the easiest nursing schools to get into, they are amazing places to study.
How much can I earn by getting a nursing degree?
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Texas’s number of registered nurses is approximately 198,650. This means that the number of registered nurses in Texas is second only to California. The average hourly wage for registered nurses working in Texas is $33.60.
This equates to approximately $69,890 per year. While there are many registered nurses in Texas, this does not mean that all jobs have been taken over.
In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to increase by 16 years between 2014 and 2024.
Conclusion
Nursing is a very vast profession with key opportunities in different areas. As a nurse, you’re saving a life every time you show up and perform your duty. It’s a career path that rewards you financially, mentally, and emotionally. And with the new wave of job explosions, now is a good time to study nursing.
