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

Louisiana has a deep bench of BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs, from the academic health science center at LSU Health New Orleans to large regional publics like Southeastern Louisiana University and McNeese, plus a strong set of private and faith-based schools. Requirements vary more than you might expect from one campus to the next, so knowing each school's specific bar gives you a real edge. Here's how to get in. Want a quick read on your fit? Check your odds free.

1. Hit the GPA targets

Most Louisiana BSN programs gate admission on a cumulative or prerequisite GPA, and the floors cluster between 2.5 and 3.0. Admitted students typically land well above the minimum because seats are competitive.

• LSU Health New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University both require a 3.0 prerequisite or cumulative GPA, and Northwestern State University also sets a 3.0 minimum.
• Nicholls State University and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) require 2.75.
• Southern University and A&M College, Grambling State University, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Kitty DeGree School of Nursing) require 2.8, with Grambling also asking for a 2.8 science GPA.
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette sets the bar at 2.6, Louisiana Christian University at 2.6, and Southern University at New Orleans at 2.7.
• Loyola University New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, and Herzing University require 2.5.

A grade of C or better in each prerequisite is the norm, and some schools want higher: LSU Health New Orleans expects a B- or better in each science course. These figures hold as of 2026; confirm the current number on each school's official page.

2. Know which entrance exam your schools use

Louisiana is split between the ATI TEAS and the HESI A2, and some programs use neither.

• HESI A2 schools include LSU Health New Orleans, which requires a minimum 80% cumulative score plus an essay and online interview, and Chamberlain University, which accepts the HESI A2 (or ACT/SAT/TEAS) with no published cutoff.
• TEAS schools include McNeese State University (minimum 68%), Grambling State (minimum 64%), Louisiana Christian University (minimum 65%), and Herzing University (composite 58).
• Several TEAS programs ask for a "Proficient" level rather than a fixed number, including University of Holy Cross, Nicholls State, Southern University and A&M, and Southeastern University at New Orleans (SUNO). FranU accepts a TEAS "Proficient" or a HESI A2 "Satisfactory" level.
• Some strong programs require no entrance exam at all, including Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Loyola University New Orleans.

Because the same exam can carry very different cutoffs across campuses, confirm the exact requirement per school. If you're deciding which test to prep for, see TEAS vs HESI A2.

3. Complete the prerequisite sequence

Common Louisiana prerequisites include Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, Nutrition, Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology, and English Composition. Watch for school-specific twists:

• Northwestern State uses College Algebra or Finite Math rather than Statistics.
• LSU Health New Orleans wants a B- or better in each science (Biology with lab, Chemistry, Microbiology).
• A few programs build prerequisites into the curriculum: Chamberlain University advertises a 122-credit track with no separate prerequisite courses.

Science courses older than a set number of years may need to be retaken; Southern University and A&M, for example, requires science and nursing courses to be under 5 years old. Our nursing prerequisites checklist walks through the full sequence.

4. Plan your application timeline

Louisiana programs run on varied cycles, and several admit more than once a year.

• Southeastern Louisiana uses September 1 for Spring entry and February 1 for Fall (Traditional track).
• University of Louisiana at Monroe sets the first Monday of February for Fall and the second Monday of September for Spring.
• Southern University and A&M uses February 15 (Fall) and September 15 (Spring), applying through NursingCAS.
• Grambling State listed an April 13, 2026 deadline for its Fall 2026 cohort, and FranU uses January 30 (August class) and August 30 (January class).
• LSU Health New Orleans uses an August 31 deadline for Spring entry via NursingCAS and admits Fall and Spring.
• A few schools, including Herzing and Chamberlain, use rolling admissions.

Map out each school's deadline early; missing a single annual cycle can cost you a full year. Note that some Louisiana schools, including McNeese and Dillard University, do not publish all their dates and cutoffs openly, so always verify on the official page.

5. Round out a competitive file

Meeting the minimums rarely guarantees a seat at the more selective Louisiana programs, so strengthen the rest of your file.

• A focused personal statement or essay matters where schools use holistic review; LSU Health New Orleans and several others require an essay or interview.
• Healthcare experience (CNA, volunteering, scribing) helps borderline applications stand out.
• Keep immunizations, a background check, and transcripts ready, since many programs require clearance through the Louisiana State Board of Nursing before clinicals begin.
• Understand direct-admit vs. upper-division structures: schools like LSU Health New Orleans admit students to the upper division after prerequisites, while others such as Loyola New Orleans and Herzing offer direct-admit paths. Knowing which model a school uses tells you when your application really counts.

Compare your odds across every Louisiana school

Requirements swing widely from LSU Health New Orleans to the regional publics to the private and faith-based 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 Louisiana BSN requirements and see your fit for each program. You can also check your odds free or browse all Louisiana nursing programs together.

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