What is a good HESI A2 score for nursing school?

Most nursing programs require a minimum HESI A2 composite score of 70–75%. Competitive BSN programs typically expect 75–80%. Community college ADN programs may accept 65–70%. Your target should be 5–10 points above the published minimum at your specific program.

How is the HESI A2 scored?

Each HESI A2 section is scored separately as a percentage. Programs may require a minimum composite score, minimum scores on specific sections (usually Anatomy & Physiology and Math), or both. Always check which sections your specific program requires.

How many times can I take the HESI A2?

Elsevier requires a 60-day waiting period between HESI A2 attempts. Individual programs may have stricter limits — some allow only 2 attempts per application cycle. Always verify your program's specific retake policy before testing.

HESI A2 Score Requirements — 2026

HESI A2 Score Requirements by School

Minimum HESI A2 scores for nursing programs across the top states. Find your school and know exactly what score you need.

Quick Answer

HESI A2 score requirements vary significantly by program — from 58% at open-enrollment community colleges to 85%+ at elite BSN programs. The minimum score gets you in the door; competitive admitted students typically score 5–10 points above the published minimum. Use the table below to find your target schools, then build a study plan around that score.

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28 programs found

School	State	Program	Min. HESI Score	Notes
Texas A&M University College Station · University	Texas	Traditional BSN	Competitive	Competitive — no published minimum; holistic review
University of Texas at Austin Austin · University	Texas	BSN	Competitive	Holistic review — no HESI minimum published
UT Health Houston (Cizik) Houston · University	Texas	Pacesetter BSN	60%	Minimum 60% recommended; last attempt used
Tarrant County College Fort Worth · Community College	Texas	ADN	Competitive	Used as ranking factor; no published minimum
Dallas College (El Centro) Dallas · Community College	Texas	ADN	Competitive	Competitive ranking; no published minimum
Austin Community College Austin · Community College	Texas	ADN	Competitive	HESI used in selection; no published cutoff
CSU Long Beach Long Beach · University	California	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite required
San Diego State University San Diego · University	California	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite
CSU Los Angeles Los Angeles · University	California	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% overall
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles · Community College	California	ADN	70%	Minimum 70%; lottery-based admission above threshold
University of Miami Miami · University	Florida	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton · University	Florida	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% recommended
Miami Dade College Miami · Community College	Florida	ADN	70%	Minimum 70% composite
South Florida State College Avon Park · Community College	Florida	ADN	65%	Minimum 65% composite
Hunter College (CUNY) New York · University	New York	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite required
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Lehman College (CUNY) Bronx · University	New York	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% required
Pace University New York · University	New York	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite
Drexel University Philadelphia · University	Pennsylvania	BSN	75%	Minimum 75%; used in holistic review
Temple University Philadelphia · University	Pennsylvania	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% composite
Ohio State University Columbus · University	Ohio	BSN	Competitive	Holistic review; HESI used as one factor
Kent State University Kent · University	Ohio	BSN	75%	Minimum 75% composite required
Georgia State University Atlanta · University	Georgia	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% overall score
Rutgers University Newark · University	New Jersey	BSN	75%	Minimum 75%; holistic admissions
UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill · University	North Carolina	BSN	Competitive	Holistic review; competitive applicant pool
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond · University	Virginia	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% composite
Wayne State University Detroit · University	Michigan	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% composite required
Arizona State University Phoenix · University	Arizona	BSN	Competitive	Holistic review; competitive ranking
UMass Boston Boston · University	Massachusetts	BSN	70%	Minimum 70% composite

Requirements shown are based on published program information and may change annually. Always verify directly with your program before applying. Some programs use HESI as a ranking factor without a published minimum cutoff.

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