Applications for the Fall 2026 cycle will open on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and close on Tuesday, March 31 at 10:59 PM CT.

Traditional BSN Admission Criteria

Students can apply for admissions during the last semester of completing all nursing program requirements.

Students are admitted to the nursing program through the NursingCAS application process each semester. Students not

admitted for a specific semester cohort may re-apply for the next semester’s cohort.

Applications into the BSN program must be received, reviewed, and accepted to Tarleton State University for

consideration to fall admissions and spring semester admissions to be reviewed/ranked for

admission. Students who have been dismissed from a previous nursing program or who have failed any nursing

coursework at a previous college or university are not eligible for program admission.

Minimum requirements for Nursing Program eligibility include:

  • The application must be submitted through NursingCAS. This includes official copies of transcripts of all schools attended and records of current enrollment.
    • At the time of application, students must have completed or be currently in their final semester of prerequisite coursework (with a minimum grade of C in each course).
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80 in all coursework to date. More favorable consideration will be given to applicants with higher GPAs and to those who passed courses the first time taken.
    • Effective for Students Applying to the College of Nursing for the Spring 2027 Admission Cycle:
      • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required in all coursework to date. More favorable consideration will be given to applicants with higher GPAs and to those who passed courses the first time taken with grades of A or B.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.00 in English and Science courses. This includes microbiology, anatomy and physiology 1 & 2, and chemistry.
    • Effective for Students Applying to the College of Nursing for the Spring 2027 Admission Cycle:
      • The minimum Science GPA of 3.00 will be based on the science courses of: microbiology, anatomy and physiology 1 & 2, and chemistry.
      • All designated nursing program prerequisite courses with a C or higher in accordance with the two attempt policy.
  • All designated nursing program prerequisite courses with a C or higher.
  • Acknowledge and agree to the complete criminal background screening as directed by the nursing program.
  • Take and achieve required minimum scores on the HESI A2 Exam (Math, Anatomy & Physiology, Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Comprehension), with a minimum score of 80% in EACH section and a composite score of 80%.
  • Effective for Students Applying to the College of Nursing for the Spring 2027 Admission Cycle: Students will be required to take the biology portion of the HESI A2 Exam.
    • HESI A2 results will only be accepted within two years of taking the exam. All results submitted for consideration must be uploaded to NursingCAS.
    • If a potential applicant fails to achieve the standards listed above for the HESI A2 Exam, the applicant’s waiting time between exam attempts is one month for the second attempt and 12 months between the second and third attempt. When repeating the exam, the applicant can choose to only re-take the section that was less than 80%.
      • Effective for Students Applying to the College of Nursing for the Spring 2027 Admission Cycle: When repeating the exam, the applicant must repeat all elements of the HESI A2 Exam (Math, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension).
  • Locations for clinical placements are determined based on availability of clinical sites
  • Acknowledgment of understanding that clinical components include experience across the greater Stephenville, Fort Worth, and the North-Central Texas area. Locations for clinical placements are determined through availability and facilities and assessment of students for success.

Clinical Compliance Requirements:

  • Students are required to complete immunizations, criminal background checks, and drug screening prior to starting the program. Students who do not meet this requirement by the deadline will forfeit their admission to the program.
  • Students should anticipate that completion of all requirements can take 4-6 weeks.
  • Students will pay for and submit two criminal background checks as part of program admission requirements:
    • Texas Board of Nursing (TBON)
    • Designated companies as required by clinical sites (upon admission and prior to specific clinical sites once admitted).
  • Urine Drug Screening:
    • Students will be required to complete a 10-panel urine drug screen upon admission at a location approved by the College of Nursing.
    • Students may be required to complete additional drug screening throughout the program at random, for cause, or as required by clinical facilities.

Conditional Admission Requirement:

  • For students enrolled in courses at the time of application, all courses during the semester must be completed with a “C” grade or higher.
  • Students who fail to meet Clinical Compliance Requirements by the deadline will forfeit their admission to the program.

Fulfillment of minimum requirements for eligibility does not guarantee admission.

Admission numbers to the undergraduate nursing program (BSN) may be limited based on College of Nursing resources,

including but not limited to the availability of qualified faculty and clinical resources.