Are you considering enrolling in a nursing program? Perhaps you are wondering about nursing school acceptance rates? Students who wish to pursue a career in nursing typically need to consider many factors when choosing where to study. You may be thinking about things like the length of the program or what the curriculum may offer.
Some students may wish to consider graduate nursing schools with high acceptance rates. Various factors may play a role in determining the acceptance rate of a particular college or university. For example, a smaller applicant pool may create differences in the acceptance rate when comparing one school to the next. Some schools may have more applicants than others. That may play a role in the acceptance rather.
Some students may wish to consider graduate nursing schools with high acceptance rates. Various factors may play a role in determining the acceptance rate of a particular college or university. For example, a smaller applicant pool may create differences in the acceptance rate when comparing one school to the next. Some schools may have more applicants than others. That may play a role in the acceptance rather.
Students may wish to complete their own research into any school they are considering to find out what the acceptance rate is and what factors go into that rate. Look at factors such as the number of applicants the school generally has.
Other factors may play a role in the decision to attend one college over the other. Students may wish to consider what is important to them, such as the curriculum, student internship opportunities, and program support. Know what is valuable to you, personally, when comparing schools.
What is a college acceptance rate?
It is the number of students accepted into the college or university divided by the number of total applications the school received for it. Here’s an example of how this may work.
A school admits 5000 students for the year. It received 8000 applications. It has a 62.5% admissions rate.
Remember, this does not tell the whole picture of what going to school there may be like, nor if you may be accepted into the program. Other factors like average test scores and class profiles may be additional factors to consider.
How do you find information about acceptance rates from colleges and universities? This may differ from one school to the next. You may be able to obtain that information by visiting the school’s website. Look at any available admission details. You may also be able to gather information by speaking to the admission counselor.
It may be a good idea to gather this information if you see fit in using it as a comparison tool for schools. Or, it may help you make a list of programs you wish to consider later.
The following are some college and university acceptance rates from MSN programs. Take a closer look at this information on MSN programs with high acceptance rates or DNP programs with high acceptance rates as a start to your own research.
9 Graduate Nursing Schools with High Acceptance Rates
The following universities and colleges offer nursing graduate programs. This data comes from the available information from College Scorecard for 2021. It’s important to remember that college acceptance rates are subject to change. The acceptance rates listed here are for all school undergraduate programs and graduate programs offered by the university or college.
Ferris State University is a mid-sized, four-year public university. It offers the College of Health Professions which houses its nursing program. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and founded in 1884 by Woodbridge and Helen Ferris as a private college, it transitioned to a state university in 1987. The school aims to help support students with various educational opportunities and states it has a low student-faculty ratio and small class sizes to support student engagement.
Drexel University boasts 23,000 students worldwide, including over 9,000 students in its graduate and professional programs. It offers 200 degree programs across 15 colleges and schools. This includes the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
This particular college offers post-bachelor’s and post-master’s certificate programs as well as master’s and doctoral programs. A component of the education there may include real-world clinical settings and simulated opportunities. Research is another part of the master’s degree program education here.
Florida International University began providing education in 1972. It offers a range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs for students, including in the area of nursing. This includes several nursing paths in areas such as gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric nurse practitioner. The school calls itself a public research university and has a student body of nearly 54,000 students, including both in-person and online students.
Located in Claiborne County, Mississippi, Alcorn State University has an enrollment of about 3,100 students, including both full and part-time. It is home to the School of Nursing at its Natchez campus. The School of Nursing was founded in 1977.
The University of Detroit Mercy has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. It has over 100 academic programs and a total of just under 5,000 students. Its nursing graduate degree programs are a part of the College of Health Professions. The school also offers certificate programs.
The Northwestern State University of Louisiana was established in 1884 specifically to teach teachers. The College of Nursing was the first public institution in Louisiana to establish a baccalaureate program in the nursing field. That happened in 1949. The College of Nursing continues to offer BSN programs, as well as Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs as well.
Founded in 1869, Purdue University Global was originally called Purdue West Lafayette. The school offers a 100% online format and encourages students from around the world. Its educational paths include a Master of Science in Nursing with several concentration options for students to select from to pursue.
The University of Iowa is a public research university. It was founded in 1847, which makes it the state’s oldest institution of higher education. The university had a total enrollment of 31,206 students for the Fall of 2021. Its College of Nursing offers several graduate degree program paths for students aiming to pursue a career in the field. As a research university, it also offers a wide range of research opportunities for some graduate students.
Curry College was established in 1870. It sits on the 131-acre Milton campus, which is about 7 miles from Downtown Boston. The College of Nursing began as a part of the Boston Children’s Hospital School of Nursing. In 1977, that program began a phase out and merged resources with Curry College. When it did so, it formed the first State of Massachusetts nursing program to be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Today, the college offers a range of graduate-level degree programs for students in the field.
Graduate Programs Offered:
MSN in Nursing Education
MSN in Nursing Administration
Masters Certificates
2021 Acceptance Rate: 87% for entire school, 100% for program
Colleges and universities use a wide range of data points to determine if they admit a student. Many schools use various data points to determine admittance. In other words, there is no way to know what your chance of being accepted into a graduate nursing school is. There’s no way to know what specific data the school values higher than other types.
One thing to consider is admission requirements. Some colleges and universities list their admission requirements on their website. They may communicate this information in other ways, too. These guidelines are the basic first steps to being accepted. Typically, if you do not meet these basic requirements, you may not be eligible for the college’s program of study.
The admission requirements range widely from school to school. That means each college or university sets its own rules for who they admit. However, some of the data they may use to determine admissions includes:
Completion of a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program (it may need to come from an accredited nursing school or other recognized degree program)
A cumulative undergraduate GPA (the school sets the limit for this)
A current, valid nursing license
Nursing practice experience
Prerequisite courses (the specific courses may be set by the school or degree program and may vary significantly from one school to the next)
Professional recommendations (the type and number may differ from one college to the other)
Specific area work experience for specific graduate degree programs (for example, nurse midwifery, anesthesia, or ACNP)
Test scores (some schools may require GRE/MAT test scores in some programs)
Resume or curriculum vitae
Essays (often personal essays written by the student)
Other factors may also be used in admission qualifications. Be sure that when you apply, you provide all of the data requested. This may influence your ability to be considered for entry into the degree program.
Earn your degree from a university with a “Whole Human Education” approach that focuses on assisting you in all aspects of your education: academic, emotional, career, financial, and family.
Choose from 75+ programs: Whether you’re starting fresh or seeking advancement, our career-focused programs are designed to help you make an impact in your chosen field.
National University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
In some situations, students may need to obtain additional skills or knowledge before the college or university accepts them into the program. Some students may wish to complete specific certificate programs to help them meet the requirements for entrance into a master’s degree program. This may include completing undergraduate courses they may not have completed to reach their bachelor’s degree program requirements.
Even if you meet all of the requirements, that does not mean you get into the degree program. Some nursing programs receive many applications, but they only have a certain number of spots to fill within the school. Some schools may be able to only accept a small percentage of the applications they receive.
You may wish to do anything possible to help your application stand out. This may include having a diverse background, having a more versatile history, and polishing those essays. Even here, there is no promise of enrollment. That is why it may be beneficial to apply to more than one program that interests you. There is no limit to the number of graduate degree programs you may apply to, but there may be a cost involved with some applications. There’s also the time investment you need to make to apply.
The table below provides a few ideas from partner universities to help you get started in your college considerations.
*Partner listings
Top Salary Metro Areas in the United States: Nurse Practitioners
Do some additional research. Find out which nursing schools may be one to add to your list. To help you, you may wish to search our sponsored listings for potential nursing schools with high acceptance rates. You may also wish to fill out the form on this page to be matched with nursing programs that may be the perfect fit for you.
Are you unsure if you wish to pursue a nursing graduate degree program? If not, you may wish to use our partner listings to find other grad schools with high acceptance rates.
Earn your degree from a university with a “Whole Human Education” approach that focuses on assisting you in all aspects of your education: academic, emotional, career, financial, and family.
Choose from 75+ programs: Whether you’re starting fresh or seeking advancement, our career-focused programs are designed to help you make an impact in your chosen field.
National University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
