Nursing Schools in Austin, TX: 2026 BSN Admissions Guide

Austin's nursing school scene mirrors the city itself: one nationally known public flagship, two private universities with very different personalities, and a fast-track option for career changers. Our database tracks four BSN programs inside the city, plus two more in Round Rock at the metro's northern edge that most Austin applicants should also have on their list.

The numbers below are published minimums on file as of July 2026. Treat them as floors, not targets: competitive applicants usually land well above them, and schools update cutoffs every cycle, so always check the school's page for current numbers. You can browse every program on our Austin hub and the wider Texas hub, or check your odds free against the real requirements.

The public flagship

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin runs a direct-entry BSN: freshmen are admitted straight into the School of Nursing through the regular UT application, due December 1. There is no TEAS or HESI requirement and no published minimum GPA; admissions are holistic. That does not make it easy. Admitted students are highly competitive, and the internal transfer page notes that a 3.0 cumulative and science GPA receive preference for students trying to switch in later. External transfers apply by March 1 for fall.

Private options in Austin

Concordia University Texas

Concordia publishes the clearest numeric bar in the city: a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 science GPA, and a TEAS score of 67 percent or higher, with all prerequisites at a C or better. You get a maximum of two TEAS attempts within 365 days. Concordia also runs an ABSN track with the same GPA and TEAS requirements, useful if you already hold a degree.

St. Edward's University

St. Edward's is the low-barrier entry point among Austin privates: a 2.5 minimum overall and prerequisite GPA and no entrance exam at all, with a maximum of two attempts per prerequisite course. Both Traditional and Accelerated BSN tracks are available, and applications go through NursingCAS by May 15 for fall.

Fairfield University (Austin campus)

Fairfield, a Connecticut university that opened its Austin campus in 2023, offers an Accelerated Second Degree BSN only, so you need a prior non-nursing bachelor's degree to apply. Published requirements: a 3.0 overall and science GPA, with every science prerequisite at a B or higher and completed within the last 10 years. No TEAS or HESI is required. Cohorts start in January (apply by November 1) and September (apply by June 1).

Worth a look in Round Rock

Two more programs sit at the metro's north end, an easy drive from most of Austin:

• Texas State University's St. David's School of Nursing in Round Rock is a public program with a 3.0 minimum in both nursing prerequisite and science GPA and a TEAS at the Proficient level (65 percent or higher); scoring Advanced (80 percent or higher) earns priority consideration. A video interview and essay are required, and the fall deadline is January 15 (priority December 15).
• South University's Round Rock campus publishes a 2.75 GPA in science prerequisites (A&P I and II, microbiology, chemistry, pathophysiology) and a TEAS at the Proficient level. Science courses older than seven years are not accepted.

How admissions work in Austin

A few patterns stand out across the metro:

1. Holistic versus numeric is the real divide. UT Austin publishes no hard cutoffs and admits on a holistic review, while Concordia and Texas State post exact GPA and TEAS lines. Strong-on-paper applicants may find the numeric schools more predictable.
2. There are two exam-free lanes. UT Austin and St. Edward's require no entrance exam, and Fairfield's ABSN skips it too. Only Concordia, Texas State, and South University put a TEAS score between you and admission.
3. The 3.0 line separates the tiers. Concordia, Fairfield, and Texas State all want a 3.0 in sciences; St. Edward's 2.5 floor and South University's 2.75 science GPA give applicants with a rougher transcript a real path in the metro.
4. Deadlines reward early planners. UT Austin's December 1 freshman deadline and Texas State's December 15 priority date mean fall applicants should be application-ready by Thanksgiving.

For statewide strategy, see how to get into nursing school in Texas, our list of the easiest nursing schools to get into in Texas, and what GPA you need for nursing school.

See where you stand in Austin

Every requirement above is already loaded into our free tool. Enter your GPA, science grades, and any exam scores, and the chance calculator will show your fit for every Austin area BSN program in seconds, no account required.

*This guide is for planning only, not official admissions advice; always confirm requirements with each school.*