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

New York offers two very different paths into a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). The SUNY and CUNY public schools, along with private programs like NYU and Pace, split roughly into upper-division programs you enter after finishing prerequisites and direct-admit programs you enter straight out of high school. Knowing which path each school uses changes everything about how you apply. Here's how to get in, and you can check your odds free against real New York requirements as you read.

1. Hit the GPA targets

New York's public BSN programs publish clear GPA floors, and admitted students usually land above them.

• University at Buffalo (SUNY) requires a 3.3 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, with at least a C+ (2.33) in each prerequisite.
• Binghamton University (SUNY) sets a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 prerequisite average.
• Hunter College (CUNY) requires a 3.2 cumulative GPA plus a minimum B in every science and math prerequisite.
• Stony Brook University (SUNY) has the most accessible floor at a 2.8 cumulative GPA, though its upper-division program is still competitive.
• Lehman College (CUNY) focuses on a 2.75 science prerequisite GPA, with a grade of C (73) or better in each science.

A grade of C or better in each prerequisite is standard across the public schools, and a few set that bar higher. Because cutoffs can change, as of 2026 confirm each figure on the school's official page. For a deeper look at how GPA is weighed, see what GPA you need for nursing school.

2. Know whether you need an entrance exam

New York is unusual in how little entrance exams matter at many programs, so don't assume you need one.

• University at Buffalo, Stony Brook, and Binghamton require no nursing entrance exam at all (no TEAS, HESI, NLN PAX, or CASPer). Admission is GPA and prerequisite driven.
• Hunter College requires the NLN Nursing Entrance Exam (cataloged here as NLN PAX), though no fixed numeric cutoff is published.
• Lehman College requires the HESI A2 with Critical Thinking, plus a separate Dosage Calculation Exam.

If you do face a choice between exams or want to understand the formats, read TEAS vs HESI A2. None of these New York programs publish a numeric exam cutoff as of 2026, so confirm the current requirement on each school's official page.

3. Complete the prerequisite sequence (if your school uses one)

The upper-division public programs expect a full prerequisite sequence before you apply. Common New York prerequisites across University at Buffalo, Stony Brook, Binghamton, Hunter, and Lehman include Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry, Statistics, Nutrition, Human Growth & Development (lifespan), and English Composition, though the exact list varies by school. Stony Brook, for example, expects 57 prerequisite credits, and Lehman requires its science prerequisites finished by the end of the preceding spring.

Direct-admit private programs work differently and generally require no college prerequisites. Walk through the full list with our nursing prerequisites checklist and confirm specifics on the live program page.

4. Understand direct-admit private programs

Several New York privates admit students as first-year freshmen with no nursing-specific GPA or exam cutoff, which means the decision is made through holistic high school review rather than a prerequisite GPA.

• NYU (Rory Meyers College of Nursing) admits high school students directly into its traditional 4-year BSN with no required college prerequisites and no entrance exam.
• Pace University (Lienhard School of Nursing) runs a direct-entry full-time 4-year BSN at its Pleasantville campus with no published admission GPA or exam cutoffs.
• Adelphi University and St. John's University offer direct-entry first-year BSNs. St. John's looks for a high school GPA above 90 on a 100-point scale plus high school biology and chemistry.
• Molloy University admits high school graduates directly and uses the TEAS only after admission for remediation screening, not as an admission cutoff.

For these schools, your high school record and application essays carry the weight. Always confirm current expectations on each school's official admissions page.

5. Plan your application timeline

New York deadlines vary widely between the two paths, so map them early.

• University at Buffalo: applications open early December with a January 15 deadline and March decisions for a fall start.
• Binghamton: Early Action by November 1, Regular Decision by January 15 for first-year applicants; junior/transfer by March 1.
• Hunter College: applies through NursingCAS with a window from November 30 to a February 1 deadline, and the NLN exam by February 28.
• Lehman College: March 15 for a fall start, via NursingCAS.
• NYU: Early Decision I November 1, Early Decision II January 1, Regular Decision January 5.
• Pace: Early Decision November 1, Regular Decision February 15.

Stony Brook, Adelphi, St. John's, and Molloy did not have a single firm closing deadline in the data (Molloy uses rolling admission with early action by December 1), so check their live pages. Missing one annual cycle can cost a full year.

6. Round out a competitive file

• A focused personal statement helps in holistic review, especially at the direct-admit privates.
• 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 New York school

Requirements range from Stony Brook's 2.8 floor to University at Buffalo's 3.3, and from no-exam SUNY schools to NLN and HESI requirements at CUNY. Not sure where you stand? Use the Nursing School Planner to check your GPA and prerequisites against real New York BSN requirements, check your odds free for each program, or browse all New York nursing programs together.

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