Easiest Nursing Schools to Get Into in Texas (2026)

Texas has one of the largest pools of BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs in the country, and they do not all set the same bar. Some publish lower minimum GPAs or skip the entrance exam entirely, which makes them more accessible on paper. That is what this guide means by "easiest": programs with lower published floors, not programs that are guaranteed or lower in quality.

A quick but important reality check before the list: a published minimum is not a promise of admission. Texas BSN seats are competitive, and admitted students usually land well above the floor. Every accredited Texas BSN program is rigorous. A lower minimum simply gives you a wider on-ramp, not a free pass.

Want to skip the guesswork? You can check your odds free against real Texas requirements, then read on for the most accessible schools by published cutoff.

How we ranked "easiest"

We pulled every Texas program in the Nursing School Planner that has a verified or published requirement on file, then sorted by:

1. Lowest published minimum cumulative GPA
2. Whether an entrance exam (TEAS or HESI A2) is required (no exam ranks as more accessible)

Only schools with real, published cutoffs appear below. Cutoffs change every cycle, so treat these as a starting point and always confirm on the school's live program page before you apply.

Most accessible Texas BSN programs by published GPA

1. Denver College of Nursing (Houston): 2.0 GPA, no entrance exam

The lowest published floor on our Texas list. Denver College of Nursing lists a 2.0 minimum GPA and no TEAS or HESI requirement for admission. That combination makes it the most accessible program by published criteria.

2. St. Edward's University (Austin): 2.5 GPA, no entrance exam

St. Edward's University is a private option in Austin with a 2.5 minimum GPA and no entrance exam on file. The no-exam policy removes a major hurdle for applicants who test poorly under pressure.

3. St. Mary's University (San Antonio): 2.0 GPA, TEAS

St. Mary's University publishes a 2.0 minimum GPA with a TEAS entrance exam at roughly a 59% (Proficient-level) threshold. Low GPA floor, modest exam bar.

4. Lamar University (Beaumont): 2.0 GPA, HESI A2

Lamar University lists a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and a 2.5 science GPA, paired with a HESI A2 exam requirement around 79%. The GPA floor is low, but plan to study hard for the HESI.

5. Chamberlain University (Houston, Irving, Pearland, San Antonio): 2.4 GPA, HESI A2

Chamberlain's Texas campuses publish a 2.4 minimum GPA with a HESI A2 entrance exam (the San Antonio campus lists a roughly 75% target). Four locations (Houston, Irving, Pearland, and San Antonio) means more seats and more start dates.

6. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: 2.4 GPA, HESI A2

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a public option with a 2.4 minimum cumulative GPA, a 2.25 science GPA, and a HESI A2 around 61%. One of the more accessible public-university floors in the state.

7. The 2.5 GPA cluster

Several well-regarded programs sit at a 2.5 minimum GPA, most requiring an exam:

• [Angelo State University](/programs/angelo-state-university) (San Angelo): 2.5 GPA, TEAS ~70%
• [Hallmark University](/programs/hallmark-university) (San Antonio): 2.5 GPA, TEAS ~60%
• [Texas Christian University](/programs/texas-christian-university) (Fort Worth): 2.5 GPA, TEAS required
• [University of North Texas Health Science Center](/programs/university-of-north-texas-health-science-center-college-of-nursing) (Fort Worth): 2.5 GPA, TEAS ~60%
• [University of the Incarnate Word](/programs/university-of-the-incarnate-word) (San Antonio): 2.5 GPA, TEAS required
• [Hardin-Simmons University](/programs/hardin-simmons-university) (Abilene): 2.5 GPA, TEAS required

A note on no-exam programs

If the entrance exam is your biggest worry, two programs above stand out: Denver College of Nursing and St. Edward's University both publish no TEAS or HESI requirement. A handful of other Texas programs are GPA-driven without an exam at higher GPA floors (around 3.0), so if you have a strong GPA but dread standardized tests, those are worth a look too. Browse all Texas nursing programs to compare exam policies side by side.

What the rest of Texas looks like

Most Texas BSN programs cluster at a 3.0 minimum GPA, and many of the largest public schools (UT Arlington, UT Austin, Texas State, UTRGV, Stephen F. Austin, and others) rank applicants by prerequisite or science GPA plus a TEAS or HESI score rather than publishing a single cumulative floor. Across the programs on file, published cumulative minimums range from 2.0 to about 3.25.

That means "easiest" depends on your own profile. A 2.6 GPA with a strong TEAS score may make you competitive at a school that ranks by exam, even if its published floor is higher. The only way to know is to compare your numbers against each program. Start with all Texas nursing programs and then check your odds free to see where you actually stand.

How to use this list well

• Treat minimums as the floor, not the target. If a school lists 2.5, competitive admits are often well above that.
• Match the exam to your strengths. Lower GPA plus a strong TEAS or HESI can beat a higher GPA with a weak exam.
• Apply to a range. Pair one or two accessible schools with reach options to spread your odds across cycles.
• Confirm everything on the live page. Requirements shift each admissions cycle, so a published cutoff here is a starting point, not the final word.

For the full strategy, read how to get into nursing school in Texas and what GPA you need for nursing school. Then build your shortlist with the Nursing School Planner.

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