A good TEAS score for nursing school is generally 78% or higher, which places you in the “Advanced” proficiency level. Most competitive programs require scores between 70% and 91%, depending on the school, and the national average sits around 62.6%. Where your score needs to land depends entirely on the specific programs you’re applying to.
ATI Proficiency Levels Explained
The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is scored as a percentage and sorted into five proficiency levels set by ATI, the company that makes the exam:
- Developmental: 0% to 40.7%
- Basic: 41.3% to 58%
- Proficient: 58.7% to 77.3%
- Advanced: 78% to 90%
- Exemplary: 90.7% to 100%
Most nursing programs expect applicants to score at least in the Proficient range, and many set their cutoff right at the boundary of Proficient and Advanced. Scoring in the Advanced tier (78% or above) puts you in a strong position at the majority of schools. Exemplary scores are impressive but not required anywhere outside a handful of ultra-competitive programs.
What Nursing Schools Actually Require
Minimum TEAS requirements vary dramatically from one program to another. Some community college nursing programs accept scores as low as 60%, while certain state universities won’t consider anything below 90%. Here’s a sample of real cutoffs from California State University nursing programs to show the range:
- San Bernardino: 70% minimum
- Bakersfield: 72% minimum
- Fresno: 75% minimum
- San Francisco: 78% minimum
- San Jose: 78% minimum
- East Bay: 80% minimum
- San Diego: 80% minimum
- Chico: 90% minimum
- Long Beach: 90% minimum
- Sacramento: 91% minimum
These are minimums, not targets. Meeting the minimum means your application will be reviewed, not that you’ll be admitted. At competitive programs, admitted students typically score well above the posted floor.
What Admitted Students Actually Score
The gap between a program’s minimum requirement and the scores of students who actually get in can be significant. At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, for example, the average TEAS score among the top admitted students for the Fall 2026 cohort was 87%, and for the Spring 2026 cohort it was 83%. These students also carried math and science GPAs above 3.8, so a high TEAS score alone doesn’t guarantee a seat.
The national mean composite score on the TEAS Version 7 is about 62.6%. That means scoring in the low 60s puts you right at average among all test-takers, which includes people who may not ultimately apply to nursing school. If you’re aiming for a competitive BSN program, you’ll want to be well above that average, ideally in the upper 70s to mid-80s or higher.
How Programs Weigh Your Score
Your TEAS score is one piece of a larger admissions picture. Most nursing programs use a points-based system that combines your TEAS result with your prerequisite GPA and sometimes other factors. At Nevada State University, for example, the TEAS accounts for 20% of the application score while prerequisite GPA accounts for 50%. This means a strong GPA can partially offset a mediocre TEAS score, and vice versa, but neither alone will carry you.
Some programs also give extra weight to specific sections. Monroe County Community College, for instance, awards additional points for performance on the science portion of the TEAS on top of overall score requirements. Science-heavy nursing curricula often care most about that section because it covers anatomy, physiology, and biological processes you’ll encounter immediately in your program.
What the TEAS Actually Tests
The TEAS Version 7 has 170 total questions, of which 150 are scored and 20 are unscored experimental items (you won’t know which are which). The four sections break down as follows:
- Reading: 39 scored questions
- Math: 34 scored questions
- Science: 44 scored questions
- English and Language Usage: 33 scored questions
Science is the largest section by a wide margin, which reflects its importance to nursing programs. It covers human anatomy and physiology, biology, and basic chemistry. The reading section tests comprehension and the ability to evaluate written information. Math focuses on arithmetic, algebra, and data interpretation. English tests grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. You receive both a composite score and individual section scores, so a weakness in one area will drag down your overall percentage even if you perform well elsewhere.
Retaking the TEAS
If your first score isn’t where you need it to be, you can retake the exam. ATI requires a 14-day waiting period between attempts when testing through their own scheduling system. Many nursing schools impose a longer waiting period, often 30 days, and some limit you to two or three total attempts. A few programs only accept your first score, while others take the highest of multiple attempts.
Check the retake policy of every school you’re applying to before scheduling another attempt. If a program averages all your TEAS scores rather than taking the highest, retaking without adequate preparation could actually hurt your application. Most students who improve significantly between attempts spend at least a few weeks with targeted study in their weakest section rather than reviewing material they already know well.
Score Targets by Program Type
Your target score should match the competitiveness of the programs on your list. As a general guide:
- Community college ADN programs: A score of 60% to 70% often meets the minimum, though admitted students typically land in the 70s.
- Mid-range BSN programs: Aim for 75% to 82%. This puts you above average and within the Advanced tier.
- Highly competitive BSN programs: You’ll want 85% or higher. At selective state universities, admitted cohorts routinely average in the mid-to-high 80s.
The smartest approach is to look up the specific requirements and, if available, the admitted student profiles for each program you’re targeting. Many schools publish this data on their nursing admissions pages. A score that makes you a strong candidate at one school might not clear the minimum at another just a few hours away.