Most nursing programs — BSN, ABSN, MSN, DNP, and CRNA — use NursingCAS, a centralized application service that recalculates your GPA from your official transcripts using its own standardized method. Like other health professions application services, NursingCAS doesn’t recognize your school’s grade forgiveness policy, and it calculates several separate GPAs your program will actually see.
Calculate a Standard GPAHow NursingCAS Calculates GPA
Each grade is converted to NursingCAS’s numeric value on the standard 4.0 plus/minus scale, multiplied by credit hours to get quality points, then totaled and divided by attempted credits — the same method used across Liaison International’s other application services (NursingCAS and CASPA are both operated by Liaison). Courses in quarter hours are converted to semester hours at 1.0 quarter hour = 0.667 semester hours. Non-graded credits — AP credit, pass/fail courses — are excluded entirely.
NursingCAS typically reports several separate GPAs to programs: Overall GPA, Science GPA, Non-Science GPA, and often a Prerequisite GPA covering just the specific courses required for the nursing program you’re applying to. Individual programs set their own minimum requirements for each.
No Grade Forgiveness
NursingCAS does not recognize your school’s grade replacement or academic renewal policy. If both the original grade and a retake grade for a repeated course appear on your transcript, both are factored into your NursingCAS GPA.
Retake: Anatomy & Physiology, 4 credits, A (4.0) → 16.0 quality points
Both attempts count: 4.0 + 16.0 = 20.0 quality points ÷ 8 credits = 2.50
One important nuance specific to nursing applications: once your bachelor’s degree is conferred, your overall degree GPA is generally fixed — retaking a course afterward won’t change it. But your prerequisite GPA can still be affected by courses repeated after graduation, since prerequisite GPA is calculated separately and specifically for the nursing application. Check your target program’s specific policy, since this detail varies.
Typical GPA Expectations by Program Type
| Program Type | Common Minimum | Competitive Range |
|---|---|---|
| BSN (traditional) | 2.5–3.0 | 3.0–3.5+ |
| ABSN (accelerated, second degree) | ~3.0 | 3.3–3.5+ |
| MSN / DNP / CRNA | 3.0+ | 3.3–3.5+ |
These are general ranges, not universal standards — individual programs set their own specific minimums for overall GPA, science GPA, and prerequisite GPA separately, and a low prerequisite GPA is often treated as a bigger red flag than a low overall GPA. Always check your target program’s published requirements directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my NursingCAS GPA different from my school GPA?
The most common reason is repeated courses. NursingCAS counts both the original and retake grade for a repeated course, with no grade forgiveness, even if your school’s own transcript only reflects the newer grade. NursingCAS also includes coursework from every institution you attended.
What GPAs does NursingCAS calculate?
NursingCAS typically calculates several separate GPAs including Overall GPA, Science GPA, Non-Science GPA, and often a Prerequisite GPA covering the specific courses required by the nursing program you are applying to.
What is a good GPA for nursing school?
Requirements vary by program type and competitiveness. Traditional BSN programs commonly expect a minimum around 2.5 to 3.0, while accelerated (ABSN) and graduate nursing programs often expect 3.0 or higher, with competitive programs looking for 3.3 to 3.5 and above. Always check your specific target program’s published requirements.
Does retaking a prerequisite course after graduation affect my GPA?
It can affect your prerequisite GPA even after your degree GPA is fixed at graduation, since prerequisite GPA is calculated separately and specifically for nursing applications. Check your target program’s specific policy on this.
Does NursingCAS use plus/minus grading?
Yes. NursingCAS uses the standard 4.0 scale that incorporates plus and minus grades, the same convention used across most U.S. institutions.
Estimate Your Standard GPA
For a general credit-weighted GPA using the standard scale, this calculator uses the same underlying quality-points method.
Go to GPA Calculator