Nursing Schools in Philadelphia: 2026 BSN Admissions Guide

Philadelphia punches far above its weight in nursing education. Our database tracks six BSN programs inside the city limits, anchored by an Ivy League school of nursing and a cluster of private universities tied to major hospital systems. It is also one of the friendliest big-city markets for applicants who dread standardized tests: not a single Philadelphia program in our data requires the TEAS or HESI A2.

The requirements below are what each school publishes as of July 2026. Treat every number as a floor rather than a target, and check the school's page for current figures before you apply. You can compare all six on our Philadelphia hub and the Pennsylvania hub, or check your odds free right away.

The selective direct-admit tier

University of Pennsylvania

Penn Nursing is the marquee name: freshmen apply through Penn's central admissions with no separate nursing prerequisites, no entrance exam, and fully holistic review. There is no useful published GPA cutoff; the program's acceptance rate runs in the single digits (roughly 6 to 8 percent per our notes), so this is a reach for nearly everyone. Deadlines: Early Decision November 1 (binding), Regular Decision January 5.

Drexel University

Drexel offers direct admission to first-year students through central admissions, with the sciences completed inside the BSN plan of study rather than as entry prerequisites. No entrance exam and no published GPA cutoff, though the 2025-26 entering class averaged around a 3.79 high school GPA, so competition is real. Its signature feature is the co-op: paid work experience built into the four-year program. Deadlines: Early Decision and Early Action November 15, Regular Decision January 15.

The 2+2 and progression tier

Penn and Drexel admit you to nursing on day one. The next tier works differently: you enter a pre-nursing phase and earn your seat in the upper-division major.

Temple University

Temple, the city's public option, has no direct admit to the major. Students enter a one-year Pre-Nursing program (the bulletin lists a 3.25 high school GPA for that phase) and then need a 3.0 science and math GPA to advance into the upper-division BSN. No entrance exam and no CASPer. The pre-nursing application deadline is February 1.

Thomas Jefferson University

Jefferson structures its traditional BSN as a 2+2: a high-school-entry pre-nursing track (SAT/ACT plus a 3.0 high school GPA), followed by the upper-division Traditional Track requiring roughly 55 to 60 prerequisite credits with a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science GPA. No TEAS or HESI; an interview may be required. The published deadline is June 15.

Private universities with published GPA floors

La Salle University

La Salle publishes a clean, concrete bar: 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 science GPA across Chemistry, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology I and II, plus a C or higher in Developmental Psychology, Statistics, and Nutrition. No entrance exam.

Holy Family University

Holy Family lists a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 math/science GPA (covering core science and math, A&P I and II, and Microbiology) with no individual science or math grade below a C. Parts of that language come from transfer-into-nursing materials, so freshman applicants should confirm details with admissions directly.

How admissions work in Philadelphia

1. No entrance exams, anywhere. Every program in our Philadelphia data admits without the TEAS or HESI A2. If testing is your weak spot, this city belongs on your list; see our full roundup of nursing schools that don't require the TEAS.
2. The real gate is either high school strength or the 3.0 line. Penn and Drexel decide mostly on your high school record. Temple, Jefferson, La Salle, and Holy Family all converge on a 3.0 cumulative GPA, with science GPAs between 2.75 and 3.0.
3. Know whether you are direct-admit or progression. At Temple and Jefferson, getting to campus is step one; you still must hit the science GPA bar to advance into the major. Plan your first-year course load accordingly.
4. Deadlines skew early. Penn and Drexel close in November and January; Temple's pre-nursing deadline is February 1. Jefferson's June 15 date is the notable late option.

For broader strategy, read how to get into nursing school in Pennsylvania and what GPA you need for nursing school.

See which Philadelphia schools fit your numbers

Every published requirement above is loaded into our free chance calculator. Enter your GPA and science grades and see in seconds where you clear the bar, where you are close, and which Philadelphia program should be your safety versus your reach.

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