Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into in Ohio (2026)

If you are searching for the "easiest" nursing schools to get into in Ohio, here is the honest framing: "easiest" does not mean guaranteed, and it does not mean low quality. Every accredited Ohio BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program is rigorous, and all of them prepare you for the same NCLEX-RN licensure exam. What we can do is rank Ohio schools by how accessible their published minimum requirements are: the lowest GPA floors and the programs that require no entrance exam.

A few important truths before the list:

• Minimums are not guarantees. A 2.5 GPA floor means you cannot apply below that line, not that 2.5 gets you in. Competitive admits usually score well above the minimum, especially at upper-division programs that rank applicants by science GPA.
• Many Ohio programs admit on prerequisite or science GPA, not just cumulative GPA, so a low cumulative floor can sit next to a higher science requirement.
• Cutoffs change every cycle. Always confirm the current numbers on the official program page before you apply.

Want to skip the guesswork? Check your odds free against real Ohio requirements, or browse all Ohio nursing programs side by side.

How we ranked "most accessible"

We pulled the published cumulative GPA floor and entrance-exam requirement for each Ohio BSN program in our database, then sorted lowest GPA first. Only schools with real, published cutoffs appear below. Where a school lists a separate science or prerequisite GPA, we note it, because that number is often the one that actually decides admission.

The most accessible Ohio BSN programs by published GPA floor

1. University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.5
• Science/prerequisite GPA: 3.0
• Exam: ATI TEAS or HESI required (no minimum score published)

UC's College of Nursing admits to its upper-division (sophomore) BSN with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA. The low cumulative floor is offset by that 3.0 science expectation, so strong prerequisite grades matter most here.

2. Cleveland State University (Cleveland)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.5
• Science/prerequisite GPA: 3.0
• Exam: None published

Cleveland State's Traditional BSN pairs a 2.5 cumulative minimum with a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, and asks for a B or better in Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology. No entrance exam is stated, which makes the prerequisite grades the centerpiece of your file.

3. Youngstown State University (Youngstown)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.5
• Science/prerequisite GPA: 3.0
• Exam: ATI TEAS, 66% overall minimum

The Centofanti School of Nursing Entry-Level BSN uses a 2.5 cumulative floor and a 3.0 pre-nursing GPA, plus a TEAS overall score of 66% or higher. That 66% is one of the clearest published exam targets among Ohio publics.

4. Xavier University (Cincinnati)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.7
• Science/prerequisite GPA: 2.75
• Exam: None published

Xavier is a direct-admit BSN, so you apply through the Office of Admission rather than a separate nursing application. To progress to sophomore nursing courses you need a 2.70 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 prerequisite GPA, with no entrance exam required.

5. The University of Akron (Akron)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.75 prerequisite GPA
• Science GPA: 2.75
• Exam: HESI A2, 75% (reading and math), or ACT 22 / SAT 1030

Akron requires a 2.75 prerequisite GPA and a 2.75 science GPA with no grade below C, then ranks applicants by science GPA. A passing HESI A2 or qualifying ACT/SAT clears the exam requirement.

6. Wright State University (Dayton)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.75
• Science/prerequisite GPA: 2.75
• Exam: HESI A2, 75% composite (with waivers)

Wright State's pre-licensure BSN asks for a 2.75 cumulative and 2.75 prerequisite GPA, with coursework completed within the last 10 years. The 75% HESI A2 can be waived for direct-admit students, those with a prior clinical course, or applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree.

7. Kent State University (Kent)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.75 (transfer/college applicants)
• Science GPA: 2.75
• Exam: None stated

Kent State's Traditional Entry BSN takes transfer applicants at a 2.75 overall GPA with 12 college credits, and requires a 2.75 GPA across the required sciences to enter the Professional Nursing Sequence. No entrance exam is stated. (This entry is partially verified, so confirm details on the live page.)

8. Ohio University (Athens)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 2.75
• Exam: None published

Ohio University admits students as Pre-BSN, then reviews for the major with a 2.75 college GPA. Required support courses (Chemistry, A&P I & II, English Composition, Human Growth and Development, and Statistics) each need a C or better, and no entrance exam is required. (Partially verified; confirm on the official page.)

9. The University of Toledo (Toledo)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.0
• Exam: None (a math competency exam is given after admission)

Toledo's upper-division professional major requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA with each prerequisite at C or higher. No nursing entrance exam is specified, which is a plus if standardized tests are not your strength.

10. University of Dayton (Dayton)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.0
• Exam: HESI A2, 75% composite

Dayton is a direct-admit, test-optional BSN with a 3.0 GPA minimum. Note that, effective August 1, 2025, students must pass the HESI A2 at 75% (up to three attempts) to progress to the partnered Sinclair clinical phase.

11. Otterbein University (Westerville)

• Cumulative GPA floor: 3.0
• Exam: None

Otterbein reviews Pre-Nursing students for the major in spring of freshman year, requiring a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a C or higher in Chemistry, A&P I & II, Developmental Psychology, and Freshman English. No entrance exam is required, and guaranteed direct admission exists for HS seniors with a 3.5 GPA.

What about the rest of Ohio?

This list covers the Ohio schools in our database with clear, published GPA floors. Other programs, including Capital University and The Ohio State University, publish higher or more selective requirements, and a handful list requirements that are best confirmed directly. The takeaway: a lower published floor widens the door, but you still build a competitive file the same way everywhere.

To strengthen any application:

1. Aim well above the minimum, especially on science prerequisites.
2. Earn a C or better (often a B in A&P and Microbiology) in every prerequisite.
3. Map each school's deadline and admission cycle early.

For more on the numbers, read what GPA you need for nursing school, and for the full Ohio playbook see how to get into nursing school in Ohio.

Find your best-fit Ohio program

Published minimums are a starting point, not the finish line. Check your odds free to see where you stand against real Ohio cutoffs, browse all Ohio nursing programs, or use the Nursing School Planner to match your GPA and prerequisites against every program at once.

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