Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into in New York (2026)

Searching for the "easiest" nursing schools to get into in New York? Set expectations first: New York has no easy BSN programs, and every accredited one funnels into the same NCLEX-RN exam. What we can rank is accessibility, meaning the lowest published GPA floors, the programs that skip entrance exams, and the direct-admit schools where you apply once through general admissions.

Keep three things in mind:

• Floors are not offers. A 2.8 minimum means you may apply, not that you will get in. SUNY nursing seats are competitive, and real admits usually clear the floor comfortably.
• New York splits into two models: upper-division programs with published college GPA floors (mostly SUNY and CUNY), and private direct-admit programs judged on your high school record.
• Requirements shift every cycle. These numbers are accurate as of July 2026; check the school's page for current numbers before applying.

Want the fast answer? Check your odds free against real New York requirements, or compare all New York nursing programs side by side.

How we ranked "most accessible"

We sorted the New York BSN programs in our database by published cumulative GPA floor, lowest first, and noted exam requirements. Only schools with real, published cutoffs appear in the numbered list. Direct-admit programs, a big slice of New York's market, get their own section.

The most accessible New York BSN programs by published GPA floor

1. Stony Brook University (Stony Brook)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.8
• Exam: None (no TEAS, HESI, or PAX)

Stony Brook's Basic Baccalaureate is the lowest published cumulative floor in the state at 2.8, with no entrance exam. It is an upper-division program: you complete 57 prerequisite credits with a C or higher in each, then apply. The floor is forgiving, but SUNY flagship-level competition means strong applicants aim well above it.

2. Lehman College (CUNY) (Bronx)

• Science prerequisite GPA: 2.75, grade of C (73) or better in each science
• Exam: HESI A2 with Critical Thinking, no minimum score published

Lehman publishes no cumulative floor; the gate is a 2.75 science GPA, the most accessible science threshold on this list. The HESI A2 is required but has no published cutoff, and there is a separate dosage calculation exam. Fall start only, apply via NursingCAS by March 15.

3. Binghamton University (Binghamton)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.0
• Prerequisite average: 3.0
• Exam: None

Binghamton's Decker College asks for matching 3.0 floors with no TEAS, HESI, PAX, or CASPer, and SAT/ACT are not required. First-year Early Action closes November 1; the junior/transfer route closes March 1.

4. Hunter College (CUNY) (New York)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.2
• Exam: NLN Nursing Entrance Exam, no numeric cutoff published

Hunter-Bellevue's generic upper-division BSN requires a 3.2 cumulative GPA and a minimum B in all science and math prerequisites, plus the NLN entrance exam by February 28. Fall entry only through NursingCAS. (Partially verified; reconfirm the prerequisite list on the official page.)

5. University at Buffalo (Buffalo)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.3
• Prerequisite GPA: 3.0, at least a C+ in each prerequisite
• Exam: None

UB has the highest published floor on this list, but it earns a spot for clarity: exact GPA numbers, no entrance exam, and a clean January 15 deadline. If your cumulative GPA is 3.3 or better, UB is one of the most transparent applications in the state.

Direct admission: New York City's dominant model

Most of the private BSN programs downstate admit high school students directly through general university admissions. There is no separate nursing application and usually no published college GPA floor, which sounds easy but is not automatically so: you are measured against the school's whole applicant pool, and staying in the major has progression rules. You apply through the university's regular admissions process.

• [New York University](/programs/new-york-university) (New York): direct first-year admission to the Rory Meyers BSN with no college prerequisites and no entrance exam, judged by holistic review. NYU's pool is highly selective, so direct-admit here is not an accessibility play.
• [Pace University](/programs/pace-university) (Pleasantville): direct-entry four-year BSN with clinicals from sophomore year; no numeric GPA or exam cutoffs are published. (Partially verified.)
• [Adelphi University](/programs/adelphi-university) (Garden City): direct-entry BSN with a recommended high school GPA of about 3.2 and one lab science. The 3.5 GPA and TEAS minimums you may see apply to applicants with prior college credit, not freshmen. (Partially verified.)
• [Molloy University](/programs/molloy-university) (Rockville Centre): traditional BSN open to high school graduates with HS biology and chemistry; the TEAS is used after admission for placement, not as an admission cutoff. (Partially verified.)
• [St. John's University](/programs/st-john-s-university) (Queens): freshman-entry BSN requiring a high school average above 90 on the 100-point scale plus HS biology and chemistry; transfers are not currently considered. (Partially verified.)

Reading the New York market honestly

New York publishes fewer numeric cutoffs than most states, which means fewer guaranteed-eligibility lines to aim at. The practical playbook:

1. If you already have college credits, target the published-floor schools: Stony Brook at 2.8 and Binghamton at 3.0 are the accessible anchors.
2. Guard your science grades; Lehman and Hunter both convert science performance directly into eligibility.
3. Applying from high school? Cast a wide net across the direct-admit privates, because each one reviews holistically and none publishes a hard line.

Go deeper with how to get into nursing school in New York, then read what GPA you need for nursing school and nursing schools you can get into with a 3.0 GPA.

Find your best-fit New York program

A published floor is a starting point; your whole file is the argument. See your odds free against real New York cutoffs, or compare every New York nursing program in one view.

*This guide is for planning purposes only, not official admissions advice. Confirm current requirements on each school's official admissions page before applying.*