Last updated 2011. People are welcome to post updated info, to add to, subtract, or clarify this list. Note - Some colleges have very limited direct entry admission (such as for their honors college), but most students are admitted in a competitive program in their second year.
You will note that the NE quadrant of the US has the highest concentration of direct entry nursing programs.
Samford University (AL)
Dominican University (CA)
University of California-LA (CA)
University of California-Irvine (CA)
University of San Francisco (CA)
Fairfield University (CT)
Quinnipiac University (CT)
Sacred Heart University (CT)
University of Connecticut (CT)
University of Delaware (DE)
Widener University (DE)
Catholic University (DC)
Georgetown University (DC)
Howard University (DC)
University of Miami (FL)
Coe College (IA)
Mount Mercy College (IA)
Bradley University (IL)
Illinois Wesleyan University (IL)
Loyola University Chicago (IL)
Millikin University (IL)
Purdue University (IN)
Husson University (ME)
University of Maine (ME)
Boston College (MA)
Curry College (MA)
Endicott College (MA)
Northeastern University (MA)
Simmons College (MA)
University of Massachusetts (MA)
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (MA)
College of Notre Dame of Maryland (MD)
Stevenson University (MD)
University of Detroit Mercy (MI)
University of Michigan (MI)
St. Louis University (MO)
Truman State University (MO)
St. Anselm College (NH)
University of New Hampshire (NH)
The College of New Jersey (NJ)
Rutgers University (NJ)
Seton Hall University (NJ)
D’Youville College (NY)
Elmira College (NY)
Hartwick College (NY)
Le Moyne College (NY)
New York University (NY)
Pace University (NY)
SUNY Binghamton (NY)
Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Capital University (OH)
Ohio State University (if honors student) (OH)
Otterbein College (OH)
Xavier University (OH)
University of Portland (OR)
Alvernia University (PA)
Bloomsburg University (PA)
Carlow University (PA)
DeSales University (PA)
Drexel University (PA)
Dusquesne University (PA)
East Stroudsburg University (PA)
Gannon University (PA)
Holy Name University (PA)
Indiana University of PA (PA)
LaSalle University (PA)
Moravian College (PA)
Neumann University (PA)
Penn State University (PA)
Temple University (PA)
University of Pennsylvania (PA)
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
University of Scranton (PA)
Villanova University (PA)
Waynesburg University (PA)
Wilkes University (PA)
York College (PA)
University of Rhode Island (RI)
Clemson University (SC)
Belmont University (TN)
Marymount University (VA)
University of Virginia (VA)
Norwich University (VT)
University of Vermont (VT)
Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Seattle University (WA)
West Virginia University (WV)
Marquette University (WI)
My mistake, there was a list updated 3./2017 on this website.
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
California State University Fullerton CA
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Hood College MD
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Misericordia University, PA
Molloy College NY
Monmouth University, NJ
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Old Dominion University (VA) - Guaranteed Admission, ck min requirements
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Quinnipiac University CT
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Rockford University, IL
Rutgers University (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
San Diego State University CA
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Shenandoah University (VA)
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of Rhode Island RI
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
West Chester University, PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
We are doing college tours now and have found that Wichita State and Emporia State, both public universities in KS have direct entry or guaranteed admissions programs.
Added Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutgers Camden, Ramapo, and Montclair State University, all in NJ
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
California State University Fullerton CA
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Fairleigh Dickinson University NJ (both Teaneck and Florham campuses)
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Hood College MD
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Misericordia University, PA
Molloy College NY
Monmouth University, NJ
Montclair State University NJ
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Old Dominion University (VA) - Guaranteed Admission, ck min requirements
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Quinnipiac University CT
Ramapo College NJ
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Rockford University, IL
Rutgers University Camden NJ
Rutgers University New Brunswick (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
San Diego State University CA
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Shenandoah University (VA)
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of Rhode Island RI
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
West Chester University, PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
I caution everyone to doublecheck these schools as they look into them. A couple in Ohio listed as direct admit are NOT direct admit (we just went through this process) or say they are but you don’t find out at admission.
Ohio State is NOT direct admit.
Youngstown State says it is direct admit, but you do not find out until orientation. They must have changed this recently because I know several people already at the school who said this was not their experience, but over the summer I spoke with both admissions and a nursing school advisor and they both said the students “apply” for direct admission upon orientation. That might be a formality, but it is still, to me, a strange definition of direct admit.
The information on Grand Valley is not correct (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen). It should say “ck min requirements” because as long as you hit those marks you are in. Also Michigan State University is the same. Direct Admit if you meet certain academic requirements “ck min requirements”
@Banker1 I believe that if you are admitted to the honors college at the Ohio State, you get direct entry to nursing. All others apply after freshman year.
During our campus visit to OSU we have confirmed that Ohio State is no longer direct entry for Nursing even for Honors students. It may be removed from this list.
USF offered D $25k/year but cost of attendance is $60k/yr or higher. It will take some research to determine which offers the best value for you or your student. Many school websites show merit scholarships for a given ACT/SAT and GPA. Some folks are posting what they’ve received for merit across their acceptances. Check the Nursing Admissions Forum here too.
It is common for private colleges to offer 50% off of tuition merit aid to their top applicants. Those offers are made to the top of ALL of their applicants, not their top nursing applicants. Very few colleges offer more than a couple full tuition scholarships.
If you want merit aid, you need to apply to colleges that are at least one tier below where you might otherwise aim.
The most competitive universities typically emphasize need based aid, and give little merit aid.
Thanks for the info. We are making our college selections based on this direct entry list. My D also wants to play soccer in college so we are leaning towards schools where she can balance a nursing program plus soccer. D is aware that playing soccer all 4 years might not be feasible so she needs to choose the school based on academics and merit aid.
Azparent: My daughter played a varsity sport for her first 2 years. After that, the traveling, games and practices caused too much conflict with her clinicals and other academic workload. A couple of the clinicals were an hour away or involved odd hours. She knew in advance that she would only be able to play the sport for two years. It worked out well, because by the end of the second year, she was tired of the time commitment of the team, and had developed other interests, including a sorority. She was also at a Division III college, so there were no athletic scholarships involved.
The coach told her that if she wanted to come back on the team later, she could, but she never did.
Please read the fine print for each college, regarding whether they are really direct entry for all students. Some are only direct entry for honors college students, or have other limitations. Some have a two step process for nursing admissions.
I would also caution that University of Tennessee Knoxville road map and progression requirements make this feel like a 2+2 program instead of direct entry. The first two years the students are taking prerequisites for the program. So nursing students register for general classes along with non-nursing students. Students are NOT guaranteed registration for any of their classes and freshmen are the lowest priority. Nursing specific activities don’t begin until junior year. Provided the student has been able to register for and complete all their prerequisite courses and they’ve maintained an overall 3.2 GPA then their Nursing spot is waiting for them. “It’s the student’s spot to lose.” If not then it’s open to transfer students or students switching majors.
Most people know this, but NCAA Division 3 colleges are FORBIDDEN from offering any athletic scholarships. Most colleges are Division 3, especially smaller ones. The division 3 colleges also are supposed to review their need and merit based aid to make sure that athletes are not getting more than their fair share.
Adelphi NY
Augustana College SD
Alvernia University PA
Arizona State University AZ
Avila University MO
Belmont University TN
Bloomsburg University PA
Boston College MA
Bradley University IL
California State University Fullerton CA
Capital University OH
Carlow University PA
Carroll University WI - Ck min requirements
Case Western Reserve University OH
Clarion University PA
Clemson University SC
Creighton University NE
Curry College MA
Davenport University MI
D’Youville College NY
DeSales University PA
Drexel University PA
Dusquesne University PA
East Stroudsburg University PA
Edinboro University PA
Elmira College NY
Endicott College MA
Fairfield University CT
Fairleigh Dickinson University NJ (both Teaneck and Florham campuses)
Fitchburg State University MA
Florida Southern College FL
Gannon University PA
Georgetown University DC
Grand Valley State University (Limitied Admission - 4 freshmen) MI
Hartwick College NY
Holy Family University PA
Hood College MD
Husson University ME
Illinois State University IL
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University of PA PA
Jacksonville University FL
LaSalle University PA
Le Moyne College NY
Longwood University VA
Loyola University Chicago IL
Luther IA
Marquette University WI
Marshall University WV
Marymount University VA
Maryville University St. Louis MO
MCPHS - Massachusetts School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences MA
Millikin University IL
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Misericordia University, PA
Molloy College NY
Monmouth University, NJ
Montclair State University NJ
Moravian College PA
Mount Mercy College IA
Neumann University PA
Niagra University NY
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Norwich University VT
Oakland University MI
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio State University (if honors student) OH
Old Dominion University (VA) - Guaranteed Admission, ck min requirements
Otterbein University OH
Pace University NY ( Westchester Campus only)
Pacific Lutheran University WA
Penn State University PA
Pennsylvania College of Technology PA
Purdue University IN
Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Quinnipiac University CT
Ramapo College NJ
Regis College MA
Robert Morris University (Moon Township) PA
Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Rockford University, IL
Rutgers University Camden NJ
Rutgers University New Brunswick (only 40/130 direct) NJ
Sacred Heart University CT
Salve Regina University RI
Samford University AL
San Diego State University CA
Seattle University WA
Seton Hall University NJ
Shenandoah University (VA)
Simmons College MA
St. Anselm College NH
St. Francis University PA
St. Louis University MO
Stevenson University MD
SUNY Binghamton NY
SUNY Plattsburgh NY
Temple University PA
Texas Christian University TX
The College of New Jersey NJ
Truman State University MO
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL
University of California-Irvine CA
University of California-Los Angeles CA
University of Cincinnati (OH) - ck min requirements
University of Connecticut CT
University of Delaware DE
University of Detroit Mercy MI
University of Evansville IN
University of the Incarnate Word TX - ck min requirements
University of Iowa IA
University of Maine ME
University of Massachusetts – Amherst MA
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Miami FL
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN
University of Mississippi (Limited Freshman Early Entry Otherwise 2+2) MS
University of New England ME
University of New Hampshire NH
University of Pennsylvania PA
University of Pittsburgh PA
University of Portland OR
University of San Francisco CA
University of Scranton PA
University of Texas - Austin TX
University of Tennessee Knoxville TN
University of Vermont VT
University of Virginia VA
Valparaiso University IN
Villanova University PA
Virginia Commonwealth University VA - (if apply to their Guaranteed Admission by Nov, otherwise it is Pre-Nursing)
Waynesburg University PA
West Chester University, PA
Westfield State University MA
West Virginia University WV
Wheeling Jesuit University WV
Widener University PA
Wilkes University PA
Worcester State University MA
Xavier University OH
York College PA
Youngstown State University OH
More info below from URI, for those interested (https://web.uri.edu/catalog/nursing/). I found it interesting (and discouraging) that many nursing schools bury these details deep within their academic catalogs.
Admission Requirements:
There are three routes of admission to the college’s baccalaureate program:
Freshmen Students with no previous college study are admitted to University College for Academic Success with a major in nursing. After completion of the pre-requisite courses (BIO 220, 221, 222, 223, CHM 103, 124, NUR 100, WRT 104 or 106) with a minimum grade of C or higher in each course and 3.00 overall grade point average, students will be considered for transfer into the College of Nursing and the clinical course sequence. Seats are limited and competitively granted based on GPA. Please see the College of Nursing’s Academic Policies for a full description of the entry process: uri.edu/nursing.
As an aside, the academic catalogs are also great resources for progression requirements through the direct-entry programs as well: HESI subject exam scores, class grades, class final exam grades, cumulative GPA, GPA in nursing classes, entry math exam scores, math tests during clinicals, medical medication math exams/class scores, etc. - Phew!