Nursing School Frequently Asked Questions

To apply to the program, the following must be met:

• Accepted to HCU through the undergraduate admission process
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (Cumulative GPA, Science GPA, HCU GPA)
• Transcripts reflect no more than two grades of “D” or “F” in the required science courses, or more than one grade of “D” or “F” in a nursing course (if more, not eligible for admission)
• Completed the TEAS or HESI A2 entrance exam (details below)
• Completed all nursing prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better
• Met with a Nursing  advisor to review the hard copy checklist and receive an application

Yes. The HCU nursing education program prepares students for eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam to become a registered nurse (RN). RN licenses are issued by the Texas Board of Nursing, not HCU.

The Board of Nursing may refuse to admit an applicant that has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. Under its procedures, the Board of Nursing is required to conduct a background check of these areas.

Anyone enrolled or planning to enroll in the HCU nursing education program who believes he/she may not be eligible for the RN license, may petition the Board of Nursing for a declaratory order as to become eligible.

Neither the University nor its faculty can answer this question for an applicant.

The Board of Nursing may be reached at:

The Board can be reached by phone at 512-305-7400 or online at Bon.state.tx.us.

The deadline for Spring entry into the BSN program is September 30 by 4 p.m.  The deadline for Fall entry into the BSN program is April 30 by 4 p.m.  Official transcripts are due two weeks before the application deadline for Fall and Spring entry. Please have your transcripts sent to:

Official TEAS  or HESI scores are due one week before the application deadline for Fall and Spring entry. Please have your official scores sent to:

Email (most expedient method) to Nursing@HC.edu

Students take more than one nursing course per semester. Please see a Nursing advisor for specific information. The nursing curriculum is designed to progress in a specific order.

HCU has a traditional face-to-face nursing program offering classes during the day, as well as some evenings and weekends.   Classes include 1-3 days per week for didactic and 1-3 days of clinical/lab per course.

University admission requires completion of the application for undergraduate study and submission of all official transcripts to the Admission’s Office.

The admission requirements have been outlined by the Office of Admissions.

Meeting minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry into the nursing program.  Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 3.0 science GPA, and 3.0 HCU GPA (if applicable).  A score of 75% or higher must be achieved on the TEAS Entrance Exam, with no more than 2 attempts in all of the four sections (Science requires a “Proficient” level or above at 58.7%) OR a score of 85% or higher on every section of the HESI A2 Entrance Exam, with no more than 2 attempts in all of the sections. A student also must show proof of a clear background check from the Texas Board of Nursing before enrolling in classes in the nursing program. This is required for state licensure.

It is a requirement to apply to the University and have your application and transcripts processed by the Office of Admissions. For specific transfer credit information, please contact the Office of Admissions.

To see which of your courses will transfer, please view the Transfer Equivalency web page.

Yes, we require that students take either the TEAS Entrance Exam or the HESI A2 Entrance Exam. Students can only take their chosen test twice in attempting to earn the desired scores (with at least a fourteen-day period between the two attempts for remediation).

Students may only take ONE of the two offered entrance exams.  If you take one and fail it both times, you cannot take the other and submit those scores instead.  We will require all of your previous scores.

For the TEAS, a score of 75% or higher is required on each of the three sections: Reading, Math, and English and Language Usage. The Science section is also required and you must be within the “Proficient” level or above (58.7% or above). For more information about the TEAS Entrance Exam, go to the Campus Testing Center.

For the HESI A2, a score of 85% or higher is required on each of the four sections: Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Mathematics, and Anatomy & Physiology. For more information about the HESI A2 Entrance Exam, go to the Campus Testing Center.

Official TEAS or HESI A2 scores are due one week prior to the application deadline for the Spring and Fall entry. Please send official scores to:

Email (most expedient method): Nursing@HC.edu

The initial letter received by students is from the Admissions Department stating acceptance to the University. The next step is to review the requirements on our website to determine if all have been fulfilled before requesting an application to the Nursing Program.

Students attend clinicals at least one day per week with each required nursing course.

For four (4)-hour clinical courses, the student usually goes to the clinical site 90 hours per semester.

A wide variety of sites are used in the Texas Medical Center and surrounding communities.

Yes, a student may obtain a BSN degree after obtaining an ADN degree. For more information, visit the BSN Program webpage under the section Online: RN to MSN program.

For information about tuition costs, visit the undergraduate tuition webpage.

The number typically accepted is 40-50 students per entering group, depending upon factors such as faculty and clinical site availability.

No; however, the program is very competitive. Completing as few as 12 course credit hours at HCU could significantly increase your chances of being selected.

You can find us on campus by going to the Visiting Campus page. This is also be helpful in finding visitor parking.