Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into in North Carolina

When students search for the "easiest" nursing schools to get into in North Carolina, what they usually mean is: which accredited BSN programs have the most accessible published requirements? That's a fair question, and a useful one for planning. But let's be clear about what "easiest" does and does not mean.

What "easiest" really means here

A lower published GPA floor or a program with no entrance exam is more accessible, not "guaranteed" and not "lower quality." Every accredited BSN program in North Carolina is rigorous, and admission is competitive almost everywhere.

A few things to keep in mind before you read the list:

• Minimums are not guarantees. Meeting the floor makes you eligible to apply, not admitted.
• Competitive admits usually exceed the minimum. Several NC schools with a 2.6 to 2.8 published floor report admitted averages well above 3.4.
• Cutoffs change. Always confirm the current numbers on each school's official admissions page before you apply.

Want a quick reality check on where you stand? You can check your odds free against real program requirements in a couple of minutes.

How we ranked these schools

We pulled the published requirements for North Carolina BSN programs and ranked them by lowest verified GPA floor first, then noted the entrance exam requirement for each. Only schools with real published cutoffs are listed. Programs that don't publish a numeric GPA minimum are not ranked here; you'll need to confirm those on their live pages.

The most accessible NC BSN programs by published GPA floor

1. Winston-Salem State University (Winston-Salem)

• GPA floor: 2.6 cumulative and 2.6 science
• Exam: ATI TEAS (Proficient level preferred; all levels considered)

WSSU's Division of Nursing uses a holistic admission process for its Traditional BSN, with the lowest published GPA floor in our North Carolina data.

2. UNC Wilmington (Wilmington)

• GPA floor: 2.7 overall (C or better in prerequisites)
• Exam: ATI TEAS (no published minimum score)

UNCW runs a competitive four-semester pre-licensure BSN with roughly 60 seats. The floor is low, but seats are limited, so strong applicants stand out.

3. Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte)

• GPA floor: 2.7 prerequisite/progression GPA
• Exam: TEAS 65+, or SAT 1100+, or ACT 22+

A private option in Charlotte that gives you flexibility on the test side: you can satisfy the requirement with the TEAS or a qualifying SAT/ACT score.

4. East Carolina University (Greenville)

• GPA floor: 2.75 cumulative
• Exam: HESI A2 (no published minimum score)

ECU's floor is accessible, but admission is highly competitive; the admitted average runs around 3.4 or higher, and applicants are ranked by a scoring formula.

5. UNC Greensboro (Greensboro)

• GPA floor: 2.8 overall (C or better in each prerequisite)
• Exam: ATI TEAS (no current published minimum score)

UNCG also offers a Direct Admission pathway for strong first-year applicants.

6. North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro)

• GPA floor: 2.8 for upper-division admission
• Exam: TEAS (must meet or exceed the national mean)

The floor is 2.8, but the admitted average is reported around 3.77, a good reminder that the minimum is only a starting point.

7. Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville)

• GPA floor: 2.8 prerequisite and 2.8 math/science GPA
• Exam: Kaplan Entrance Exam (plus a proctored interview and essay)

FSU uses the Kaplan exam rather than the TEAS or HESI, so confirm which test you need before scheduling.

8. Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs)

• GPA floor: 2.85
• Exam: TEAS 65 (bachelor's-degree holders exempt)

A private pre-licensure BSN at the Hunt School of Nursing with a clearly published TEAS cutoff.

NC programs with no entrance exam (a different kind of accessible)

If standardized tests are a sticking point for you, two strong public options publish a 3.0 GPA floor with no entrance exam required:

• [Appalachian State University](/programs/appalachian-state-university) (Boone): 3.0 cumulative GPA, no TEAS required (CNA I certification needed before applying). Admitted students typically land around 3.5.
• [UNC Charlotte](/programs/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) (Charlotte): 3.0 prerequisite GPA with a B or higher in science prerequisites, no entrance exam published (admission by prerequisite GPA plus essays; CNA I required).

These aren't the lowest GPA floors, but skipping a standardized test removes a real barrier for some applicants.

Higher floor, but still worth a look

For completeness, two more NC programs publish higher cutoffs:

• [Western Carolina University](/programs/western-carolina-university) (Cullowhee): 3.0 cumulative GPA, TEAS and ACT (minimum 17) required.
• [North Carolina Central University](/programs/north-carolina-central-university) (Durham): 3.2 overall and 3.2 math/science GPA, with a published TEAS minimum of 70.

How to use this list

"Easiest" is a starting point, not a strategy. The smartest move is to compare your actual GPA and prerequisites against several programs at once, then target the ones where you're genuinely competitive.

1. Learn the targets first with what GPA you need for nursing school.
2. Read the full state playbook in how to get into nursing school in North Carolina.
3. Browse all North Carolina nursing programs to see requirements side by side.
4. Run your numbers with the Nursing School Planner, then check your odds free for each school on your list.

Remember: published floors change, and the live program page is always the source of truth. Use this guide to build your shortlist, then verify every requirement before you apply.

*This guide is for planning purposes only. Always confirm current requirements on each school's official admissions page before applying.*