How to Get Into Nursing School in Illinois (2026 BSN Admissions Guide)

Illinois offers a deep mix of BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs, from the public flagship UIC College of Nursing to strong regional universities like Illinois State and SIU Edwardsville and a cluster of Chicago-area private schools. Requirements vary a lot from one campus to the next, so knowing each school's specifics is a real advantage. Here's how to get in, and you can check your odds free against actual Illinois cutoffs in a couple of minutes.

1. Hit the GPA targets

Most Illinois BSN programs that admit at the prerequisite stage publish a minimum cumulative GPA in the 2.5 to 3.0 range, with admitted students usually landing well above the floor.

• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.50 natural-science GPA, with C or better in every prerequisite.
• Illinois State University sets a 2.50 minimum, but its middle-50 percent admitted range runs roughly 3.07 to 3.65, so the practical bar is much higher.
• SIU Edwardsville and Western Illinois University both expect about a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 prerequisite (or support-course) GPA.
• Northern Illinois University looks for a 2.75 cumulative and 2.75 prerequisite GPA.
• Saint Xavier and North Park each require a 2.75 cumulative GPA, with science GPAs of 2.50 and 2.75 respectively.

These minimums can change, so as of 2026, confirm the current number on each school's official page.

2. Know which schools require an entrance exam

This is where Illinois schools split sharply. Several public programs use no entrance exam at all: UIC, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, and Western Illinois are GPA- and prerequisite-driven. SIU Edwardsville has dropped the TEAS for its traditional option.

Among the Chicago-area private schools, the exam matters:

• Saint Xavier University requires the ATI TEAS at the Proficient level (58.7 percent or higher, first three attempts only).
• North Park University requires the TEAS at the Proficient level within one year of applying (no fixed percentage published).
• Lewis University requires a TEAS composite of 67 percent (Kaplan, SAT, or ACT accepted as alternatives).

If you're testing, our TEAS vs HESI A2 guide explains what to expect. Always confirm the current cutoff per school, since these shift.

3. Complete the prerequisite sequence

Common Illinois prerequisites include Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, Nutrition, Lifespan/Human Development, and English Composition. A grade of C or better in each is standard, and several schools tighten that (Western Illinois requires C+ or better in support courses).

A couple of Illinois-specific notes:

• UIC requires 57 prerequisite credit hours and asks that the four natural-science courses be completed within seven years of enrollment.
• SIU Edwardsville treats anatomy/physiology and microbiology as later degree courses rather than admission-stage prerequisites, so its admission prereq list is shorter.

Map your exact list against our nursing prerequisites checklist before you register for classes.

4. Understand direct-admit (freshman-entry) options

Not every Illinois program admits at the prerequisite stage. DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago run direct-entry, four-year BSN tracks that admit students out of high school, with no nursing-specific college GPA or entrance-exam cutoff:

• DePaul admits high schoolers directly with an unweighted HS GPA of 3.5 or above and grades of B or higher in HS biology and chemistry; testing is optional.
• Loyola Chicago's four-year BSN page lists no prerequisite courses and no entrance exam for freshman direct entry (its published 2.5 GPA governs transfer entry, not freshmen).

If you're still in high school, these direct-admit paths can be the cleanest route in, so apply early through the university's main admission process.

5. Plan your application timeline

Illinois deadlines are scattered across the calendar, so map them early:

• UIC: priority application deadline January 15 (two of four science prerequisites done by then).
• Illinois State: freshmen priority Aug 1 to Nov 1; transfers priority Jan 15 (closes Jan 31).
• Northern Illinois: fall cycle Nov 1 to Jan 15.
• SIU Edwardsville: Feb 1 fall, June 1 spring.
• Western Illinois: NursingCAS by March 1 for fall.
• Saint Xavier: priority April 1 (summer/fall), October 1 (spring).
• North Park: Fall 2026 deadline February 15, 2026.

Missing a single annual cycle can cost a full year, so confirm dates on each official page as of 2026.

6. Round out a competitive file

• A focused personal statement helps in holistic review.
• Healthcare experience (CNA, volunteering) strengthens borderline applications.
• Keep immunizations, background check, and transcripts ready, since many programs require them at or shortly after admission.

Compare your odds across every Illinois school

Requirements vary widely from UIC to Saint Xavier to the regional public campuses. Not sure where you stand? Start with what GPA you need for nursing school, then use the Nursing School Planner to check your GPA and prerequisites against real Illinois BSN requirements and check your odds free for each program. You can also browse all Illinois nursing programs in one place.

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