Admission Requirements

The Towson University basic/pre-licensure nursing major is a screened, competitive program that accepts a limited number of students each term. This page provides a detailed overview of the major's admission criteria and application requirements. Please review carefully before applying.

Nursing Major (Basic/Pre-Licensure) Option

The Department of Nursing offers admission to the nursing major's basic/pre-licensure option each fall and spring term.

Screened & Competitive Major Declaration

This is a screened, competitive program which requires a separate application and additional admission criteria than what is required for university admission. Listing nursing as your major on the university application does not equal an application to the nursing major. All students who select nursing as their major on the university application will be automatically classified as pre-nursing students. Applicants who are not currently enrolled at TU may refer to the "University Enrollment" section of this page for more information.

Due to the competitive nature of this program, admission to the university and meeting the minimum nursing admission requirements do not guarantee program admission. The factors used to determine competitive standards for admission are outlined in the "Admission Competitiveness" section of this page.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to be aware of all application and admission requirements and deadlines. The Department of Nursing will not accept late applications or review applications that are incomplete or do not meet the minimum criteria outlined on this page.

Information Overview

Before applying, applicants must review this page for a comprehensive outline of of application and admission requirements for the basic/pre-licensure option.

On this page, prospective applicants will find the following information:

  • Current status of the nursing program application
  • Application and material deadlines
    • Priority review/early decision
    • Regular admission review
  • Required application materials
  • Minimum criteria for application review
  • Minimum criteria for admission consideration
    • Information for applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria
    • Information for applying from another nursing program
  • Admission competitiveness
    • What factors influence admission review
    • Competitive averages of recent terms
  • Guidelines for preparing to apply
  • Application instructions & link to application
  • University application and enrollment guidance for new or reenrolling TU students

program application status

Nursing Application Closed for Spring 2027

The Spring 2027 application deadline was August 17, 2026. The application is now closed. Late applications are not accepted.

The application for Fall 2027 will be open by mid-November at the latest. Please monitor to this site for updates.

You must read this entire page carefully to ensure that you understand all application and admission requirements and deadlines before applying.

Application & Material Deadlines

The deadlines for priority and regular admission review remain the same each year. There are two types of deadlines for each application cycle:

  • Application Deadline: The date by which the application must be submitted & paid in NursingCAS.
  • Material Submission Deadline: The date by which all required application materials must be received. Applicants must take processing time into account when submitting materials.

Deadline Reminder: If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday when both NursingCAS and Towson University are closed, the deadline will be automatically extended to the next business day. If a deadline falls on a day that NursingCAS is open and TU is closed, the deadline will remain as posted.

Early Admission Review

The Department of Nursing offers early application review to qualified students. Students must meet the minimum application and admission criteria and complete their application (including submission of all required materials) by the priority deadline to qualify for early application review. Students applying under the Individual Admissions Policy are not eligible for early review.

Meeting the early priority deadline and early review requirements does not guarantee early admission.

Students who qualify for early review may be offered either an early admission decision or have their application deferred to the regular application deadline. If a student is offered early admission, they will be required to accept their seat in the nursing program earlier.

Program start term early (pRIORITY) application deadline early (pRIORITY) material SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Fall December 15 December 31*
Spring
 July 15

July 15

*Applicants should note that Towson University is closed annually on December 31st due to winter break, but materials can still be received and processed by NursingCAS during our winter break. Application review begins when the university reopens in January.

Regular Admission Review

All applicants must meet the regular application and material submission deadlines in order to be considered for admission. Late applications or materials are not accepted.

Program start term Final application deadline Final Material submission Deadline
Fall January 15

February 1
Spring
 August 15

September 1

Application Requirements

It is an applicant's responsibility to understand their eligibility to apply and ensure that their application and all required materials are submitted by the deadlines listed above. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

Required Materials

Applicants must submit the following materials by the material submission deadline of the term for which they're applying. Refer to "Application Instructions" further down the page for guidance to submit each item.

  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
    • This includes your current school of attendance with most recently completed term, any high school dual enrollment, and/or any summer or winter transfer coursework.
    • Transcripts from currently attended schools must include grades up through the most recent term, including all summer or minimester/winter grades.
    • Transcripts must be submitted from the original institution attended. Transfer coursework on another institution's transcript is not accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
    • Applicants with international coursework are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the credential evaluation services accepted by the university.
  • Test of Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam Transcript for TEAS Version 7
    • TEAS scores must be taken within the two years of application
    • Applicants may submit up to two TEAS transcripts per application cycle

Minimum Criteria for Application Review

Applicants must meet the following criteria by the material submission deadline in order to be eligible for application review:

  • At least 42 undergraduate credits/units earned
  • Completion of at least three (3) laboratory science prerequisites with a C (2.0) or higher
  • Completion of English composition with a C (2.0) or higher (TU's ENGL 102 or equivalent transfer credit)
  • Score ranked Proficient or higher on the TEAS Version 7

Coursework in progress does not satisfy these criteria. Minimum units and courses required to apply must be completed as of the most recent term. Units completed may include credit by exam and high school dual enrollment coursework.

Students may apply with additional prerequisites to be completed as long as they have met the criteria listed above. Any offer of admission would be contingent upon the completion of remaining prerequisites prior to the start of the term. Please note that this does not include a repeat attempt of a prerequisite; any repeat attempt of an unsuccessful prerequisite course must be completed before applying.

Minimum Criteria for Admission Consideration

Applicants must have meet the minimum admission criteria outlined below in order to be eligible for admission consideration.

If you do not meet the minimum admission criteria listed below, please refer to the "Individual Admissions Policy" section for more information.

Students with prior nursing program enrollment should refer to the section titled "Applying from Another Nursing Program" for additional information.

Admission CriteriA

The following admission criteria apply to all program applicants, including current TU students, transfer students, reenrolling students, and second bachelor's degree-seeking students.

Meeting the minimum criteria for admission consideration does not guarantee admission to the program. Refer to the "Admissions Competitiveness" section of this page for more details.

Additional guidance for each requirement is provided below.

Minimum Admission Criteria

  • This includes all college coursework at the undergraduate level at all institutions attended, including any high school dual enrollment and transfer courses completed during the summer or minimester.
  • Repeat attempts are excluded from the cumulative GPA only when they are taken at the same school. If a student repeats a course at different schools, all attempts will be included in the GPA calculation.
  • Students who have attended multiple schools must also be in good academic standing at their current institution.
  • Aany former TU students who who have not completed a bachelor's degree at the university must have left the university in good standing. Students who left the university not in good academic standing are not eligible for admission to the nursing major and must return to good standing with the university before applying.
  • The nursing major prerequisites for admission are listed in the TU catalog. 
  • Pass/fail grades are not accepted. Exceptions may apply for special COVID-19 grading during select terms.
  • Grades below a grade point value of 2.0 are not accepted, even if the grade was accepted by another institution as passing. A C- grade does not count as a C grade, even it was accepted by another school.
  • Prerequisites may be in progress at time of application as long as students meet the minimum criteria to apply.
  • These courses can be satisfied by TU coursework, equivalent transfer credit, or TU credit by exam. Credit by exam (Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate) may satisfy nursing prerequisites only if it is posted as test credit or transfer credit equivalent to the required course on a student's TU transcript.
  • Pass/fail grades are not accepted. Exceptions may apply for special COVID-19 grading during select terms.
  • Grades below a grade point value of 2.0 are not accepted, even if the grade was accepted by another institution as passing. A C- grade does not count as a C grade, even it was accepted by another school.
  • Prerequisites may be in progress at time of application as long as students meet the minimum criteria to apply.
  • Credit by exam may satisfy nursing prerequisites as long it is posted as test credit or transfer credit equivalent to the required course on a student's TU transcript.
  • A basic statistics course is not required by time of admission, but it is required for enrollment in the nursing major's required research course. While not listed as a prerequisite, students should plan to complete this course prior to starting the nursing program.
  • Course age is based on the term in which you are applying (e.g., applicants for Fall 2027 are applying in Spring 2027 and must have taken the courses in Spring 2017 or later)
  • Students with science or math courses older than 10 years should plan to retake them in order to ensure a strong, current understanding of important foundational content.
  • This applies to repeat attempts of nursing prerequisite courses in which you earned below a C (2.0). Do not include the initial attempt in your repeat tally.
  • The repeat limit applies to both multiple repeat attempts of the same course and singular repeat attempts of multiple courses.
  • If a science prerequisite is taught as separate lecture and lab courses, both the lecture and lab count as one course each.
  • Repeat attempts must be completed in order for an application to be eligible for consideration. Students may not be considered for admission while a repeat of a failed prerequisite is in progress.
  • Multiple repeats of coursework to increase a passing grade to a higher grade is discouraged but not prohibited.
  • Courses repeated only because they were over 10 years old will not count against the repeat limit.

Individual AdmissionS Policy

If you do not meet one or more of the admission criteria listed above, you may still be eligible to apply for admission review through the Individual Admissions Policy. This does not apply to students who do not meet the minimum criteria for application review.

The Individual Admissions Policy requires submission of additional materials that support a student's request for admission consideration. Special admission consideration requires evidence of academic improvement and a demonstrated ability to succeed in a rigorous program.

It is an applicant's responsibility to understand if the Individual Admissions Policy applies to them. All applicants should review the policy carefully before initiating their application. The Department of Nursing is not responsible for notifying students that this policy applies to them.

Applying from Another Nursing Program

The basic/pre-licensure major is designed for students with no previous nursing education. However, students who have previous enrollment in a nursing program may still be eligible to apply. For the purposes of admission review, the information in this section only applies to students who took courses in the nursing subject. If you were enrolled in a direct-entry nursing program but did not take any actual nursing courses, you are still considered a pre-nursing student.

If you have been successful in another nursing program's courses and want to transfer, you must still meet the application and admission criteria outlined on this page. For questions about transferring nursing courses, refer to the department's transfer student policy.

If you were unsuccessful in another nursing program's nursing coursework, you may  only apply through the Individual Admissions Policy.

Admission Competitiveness

Admission to the nursing major is highly competitive due to the number of applicants, limited space in the major, and rigor of the program. Admission review is focused on a student's academic strengths and ability to handle a rigorous academic curriculum.

Work or volunteer experience in a healthcare setting does not bear any weight in the admission decision. Students are still encouraged to seek patient contact experience on a paid or volunteer basis in order to confirm their interest in a nursing career and make sure they understand the career they want to pursue. Prior experience in a clinical/healthcare environment can also help admitted students with the transition into the clinical setting.

Factors tHAT iNFLUENCE Competitiveness

The following factors are all considered in the admission review process:

  • overall cumulative GPA from all schools attended
  • GPA of all completed science prerequisite courses at time of application
  • TEAS score
  • overall academic record & performance trends
    • positive enrollment trends (consistent full-time enrollment, balancing difficult courses, advanced credits, etc)
    • history of course repeats or excessive withdrawals
    • consistency of academic performance or demonstration of academic improvement over time

Earning the minimum GPA or a proficient TEAS score does not guarantee admission to the program. Meeting the minimum criteria is not the same as being a competitive applicant. Students should aim for a higher, competitive TEAS score, a higher overall cumulative GPA, and a strong science GPA.

While there is no minimum science GPA requirement to apply, students are encouraged to strive for B (3.0) or higher in their science prerequisites or an overall 3.0 science GPA. Beginning with the Fall 2027 admission cycle, admitted applicants will be required to have a 3.0 science GPA by the time they enter the nursing major.

Competitive ADMISSION Averages

The following averages are ranges based on the admission data for the past two years:

  • Overall Cumulative GPA: 3.4-3.7
  • TEAS Score: 81-83%
  • Science GPA: 3.2-3.5

As a reminder, these are averages and not minimums. Meeting one or more of these competitive averages does not guarantee admission, and not meeting one or more of them is not a sign that you will be denied admission. The degree of competitiveness for admission is determined by the number of applications received and the strength of applicant pool each term.

Preparing to Apply

Before you submit your application, it is imperative that you are prepared to properly complete the nursing program application and understand your eligibility to apply and be considered for admission. Here are key actions that every applicant should take before they begin the application process:

Review your eligibility to apply and be considered for admission.

Confirm that you will have completed the minimum criteria to apply by the end of the most recent term (minimester/winter or summer):

  • 42 earned undergraduate credits
  • English composition
  • Three (3) lab science prerequisites (including both lecture & lab if taught separately)

Remember that in progress coursework does NOT count toward any of these requirements. These requirements must be met as of the most recent term. The minimum grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in all prerequisites.

Calculate your overall cumulative GPA. Applicants who want to understand how their GPA will be calculated when applying may refer to NursingCAS' verification & GPA calculation resources. GPA is calculated by dividing total grade points earned by total attempted credits. Following the NursingCAS verification process, our program will calculate a program GPA. Keep the following in mind when checking your GPA:

  • If you have attended more then one school, you should refer to each school's transcript for the grade points and attempted hours.
  • Note that attempted credits are sometimes referred to GPA credits/hours on transcripts.
  • Do not count any withdrawals or transferred credits in the total of attempted/GPA hours for any school. GPA is calculated using original transcripts from each school.
  • Repeat attempts are only excluded from the GPA if all attempts are completed at the same school. If a course is repeated at more than one institution, all attempts will be included in the GPA.
  • International coursework is not verified by NursingCAS, but it is still required and included in our program GPA calculation.

If you have repeated any of the nursing prerequisite courses due to earning below a C (2.0), count how many repeat attempts you have on your transcripts. Keep the following in mind when tallying repeats:

  • Please note that withdrawals are not counted as a course attempt for the purpose of repeats.
  • Do not include the initial failing attempt as a repeat attempt.
  • All repeat attempts after an initial grade below C (2.0) are included. This includes multiple repeat attempts of the same course or singular repeat attempts of multiple courses.
  • Courses that were failed during high school dual enrollment or were repeated at different schools all count under the repeat attempt policy.

The course age is based on the term you're applying in. For example, if you're applying for Fall 2027 admission, your application is being reviewed during Spring 2027. Any coursework taken before Spring 2017 would be outside of the ten year range.

  • If your science or math prerequisites are more than 10 years old, it is strongly recommended you repeat these courses. The science and math prerequisites are critical to success in the program, so it is imperative that you have a strong and current grasp of the content.
  • If you plan to request an exception through the Individual Admissions Policy, you should be able to demonstrate some kind of current proficiency in the course content.

The science GPA is calculated using all completed science prerequisite courses at the time of application. A minimum of three (3)  science prerequisites (lecture and lab) must be completed.

  • If you have repeated a science course, the highest earned grade will be factored into the science GPA.
  • While there is not currently a minimum science GPA required to apply, students should strive for a science GPA of 3.0 and a B (3.0) or higher in all science prerequisites.

A minimum score of Proficient is required, but you should be aiming for a higher, competitive score. TEAS scores are due by the material submission deadline.

  • First time TEAS takers should aim to take the TEAS at least one month prior to the material submission deadline to allow time for a second attempt in case they're not satisfied with the first score.
  • Remotely proctored TEAS scores take 3-4 business days to be verified by ATI. Students planning to take a remote TEAS exam should factor this into their planning to ensure timely delivery.

 

  • The nursing major requires 11 prerequisites for admission. Students must be prepared to match the courses they expect to satisfy their prerequisites when completing the NursingCAS application.
  • Students may apply with prerequisites in progress as long they have meet the minimum criteria to apply, as long as they are enrolled in their first attempt of the course. Any prerequisite courses in progress at time of admission must be completed with a C (2.0) or higher by the start of the program.
  • Current TU students can refer to their Academic Requirements (AR) or Advising What-If Report in their Student Dashboard to confirm whether the courses they have completed or are taking will satisfy the nursing prerequisites. The Registrar's Office provides the "Academic Requirements - Undergraduate" guide to help navigate these tools.
  • Transfer courses must be directly equivalent to a required TU course. Students should not assume that a transfer course will satisfy a prerequisite solely based on course number, title, or subject. Students with transfer credit should refer to our transfer student resources to understand how their transfer courses could satisfy the nursing prerequisites.
  • The Standards and Functional Abilities for Nursing Students (PDF) are essential functional abilities that students need to attain the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for entry-level nurses.
  • These standards are not required for program admission but will be expected of students admitted to the nursing major. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review these functional standards to better understand what will be expected of them in the nursing major.

How to Apply to the Program

In this section, you will find instructions on how to apply and submit required materials. Please read all instructions carefully before starting the application.

It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that all required documents have been received. The Department of Nursing is not responsible for materials not received by the deadline.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Create your NursingCAS application.

  • Applicants will need to first select the correct application term and then login. New users must create a NursingCAS account to get started. The email used to create the NursingCAS account will be used for all application communications. TU students are encouraged to use their TU student email.
  • NursingCAS charges an application fee. Fees may vary based on application cycle and the number of NursingCAS programs a student is applying to. These fees are managed by NursingCAS and cannot be waived by the Department of Nursing.
  • The NursingCAS application requires time to complete all required sections, including entering all courses from all transcripts and identifying the courses that apply to each prerequisite. Students cannot wait until the deadline to begin their application due to the time it requires. NursingCAS does offer paid assistance for transcript entry as an option.
  • Applicants must report every college/university they've attended on their application. 
  • TU requires full transcript entry with all grades reported through the most recent term. This includes any summer or minimester/winter coursework. Students must report all course attempts, including withdrawals, failed courses, repeats, and passed courses according to how the courses appear on their original transcript. If you are uncertain how to report a course, refer to the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center.
  • Students must submit all grades through the most recent term (summer or minimester/winter). Students who submit their application while a summer or minimester course is in progress must complete the NursingCAS Academic Update during their update period.
  • Planned courses for the next term should be reported as in progress. This is especially important for sharing where any outstanding prerequisites will be completed.
  • NursingCAS does not allow for international coursework to be submitted in transcript entry. If you expect international credits to satisfy a prerequisite, please send an email to with your NursingCAS ID, the specific course, term/year, and grade for each prerequisite after you have submitted your application.
  • All program communications are sent to the email on file with NursingCAS. If you have multiple email accounts, please use your primary email address. For TU students, we strongly recommend using your TU student email.
  • To avoid any application-related emails going to your junk/spam folder, please add both donotreply@webadmit.org and as an email contact or "Safe Sender" in your email account.

Step 2: Submit all required materials.

  • Students must follow the transcript submission instructions in the Academic History section of the NursingCAS application to ensure they are submitted correctly.
  • Transcripts should not be submitted to Towson University. Additionally, current and former TU students must still submit all official transcripts to NursingCAS. NursingCAS is a third party service that does not have access to TU records. The Department of Nursing cannot provide official transcripts to NursingCAS on your behalf.
  • Original, official transcripts from all schools you've attended must be submitted. This includes high school dual enrollment and any coursework you may have transferred to another school. Transfer credit on another school's transcript is not accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
  • Test scores for advanced credit exams are not required by the Department of Nursing. Credit by exam should be reported according to the instructions provided in the NursingCAS transcript entry section.
  • Transcripts must include grades for the most recent course work completed including summer or winter courses. Please verify all recently completed coursework have grades posted before requesting your official transcripts.
  • Your TEAS transcript must be submitted directly to the Department of Nursing via your ATI Testing account. When you select Towson University as the recipient, your transcript will be emailed directly to the department.
  • TU is not a TEAS testing center, so you must submit your transcript after completing the test. If you took your exam remotely (TEAS at ATI), confirm that your score is final before submitting. Refer to ATI's TEAS Transcript guidance for further instructions.
  • Up to two TEAS transcripts may be submitted per application cycle. The higher of the two scores will be used.
  • TEAS scores must be received by the material submission deadline (see "Application & Material Deadlines" on this page).
  • TEAS scores are valid for two years. Any TEAS transcripts older than two years as of the material submission deadline will not be accepted.
  • If the name on your TEAS transcript is different than your name on NursingCAS, you must be sure to report the alternate name in NursingCAS.
  • Evaluations must be completed by one of the university's approved credential evaluation services.
  • World Education Services (WES) Only: Use the World Education Services (WES) link in the Academic History section of NursingCAS to order your official WES evaluation.
  • Other services: Use the “Download Evaluation Request Form” in the Academic History section of the application to request an evaluation from an evaluation service other than WES.

Re-Applying in NursingCAS

Students who are re-applying via NursingCAS have the option to copy application data from their previous application. The following guidance is to ensure accurate applications when re-applying:

  • Update any information that has changed since the last application.
  • Report any new academic history or test scores and update transcript entry.
    • TEAS scores are not automatically reused. To reuse a TEAS score, make sure that the score has been reported in the Standardized Tests section and sent by ATI Testing. Send an email to with your NursingCAS ID, name, and date and score of the test to confirm that you want to re-use it.
    • If retaking the TEAS, update the Standardized Tests section with the date of the new test & score earned (if taken already).
  • Submit new official transcripts with grades for the most recently completed term.
  • Confirm whether the Individual Admissions Policy applies to you. This is especially important if you've since completed new repeat attempts or your GPA was previously close to the minimum.

For more guidance, visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center.

Application Status

Applicants can monitor the status of their application and official transcripts using their NursingCAS application dashboard. For information about checking your application status, visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center.

For TEAS transcripts, check your ATI testing account to confirm if your TEAS score was sent. If it shows that you sent a score to Towson University, that means it has been received by the Department of Nursing.

NursingCAS Status Disclaimer

NursingCAS is a third-party service that serves hundreds of programs and is not responsible for screening applicants based on our program's criteria. If your NursingCAS status is "complete" or "verified," this is not an indication that your application is complete and eligible for review according to our standards.

"Complete" status only indicates that NursingCAS has received all official transcripts from the U.S.-based schools you reported on your application.

"Verified" status only indicates that NursingCAS has confirmed that what you reported in transcript entry matches the transcripts you submitted.

If you have any international coursework or in-progress summer/winter coursework, your application may be verified by NursingCAS and still be missing materials. It is your responsibility to follow the guidelines on this page and ensure prompt submission of all required materials.

University Enrollment

Submission of the NursingCAS application is not an application to the university.  Admission to and enrollment at Towson University is required in order to enroll in the major, but it is not required by the time you apply to the major.

Students who are not currently enrolled at TU must complete the appropriate application to enroll at the university if admitted. Students who are admitted to the major and do not complete the necessary steps to enroll at TU by the deadline provided to them have their program admission rescinded. If you are not currently enrolled at TU, please read the following reminders to ensure that you understand what you must do to enroll.

  • New TU Students: New students must submit the transfer application through University Admissions.
    • This includes any students who has not attended TU in the past or who has completed a bachelor's degree since attending TU. This includes if you are a current or previous TU student who will have a completed bachelor's degree prior to the start of the nursing program.
    • New transfer students should refer to Transfer Admissions for more information.
    • New second bachelor's students should refer to Second Bachelor's Admissions for more information.
    • Spring Applicants Only: Please note that the spring transfer application will not be available before the nursing program's spring application deadline. Spring applicants should apply for program admission first and wait to apply to the university until the spring transfer application is available.
  • Reenrolling Students: Reenrolling students must submit the university's reenrollment application.
    • This includes any students who have previously attended TU, have not attended TU for at least two consecutive fall and spring terms, and have not not completed a degree at TU or anywhere else since last attending.
    • If you previously attended TU but have since completed a bachelor's degree since attending, you are considered a new second bachelor's student.

University admission or reenrollment does not guarantee admission to the major. All students who list nursing on their university transfer or reenrollment application will automatically be classified as a pre-nursing major.

Questions?

For any questions about the nursing admissions process or requirements, please contact the Nursing Admissions & Advisement Manager at .