What Is Considered a Competitive TEAS Score in 2026?
A competitive TEAS score is usually 10-15 percentage points higher than the minimum score published by your target program. No one passing score is universal; each nursing program has its own. The typical competitive ranges are higher for BSN and accelerated programs than they are for ADN programs. This guide decodes the meaning of a good TEAS score for nursing school by program type. For baseline numbers, see the TEAS passing score guide.
Minimum vs Competitive: The Gap Nobody Explains
Published minimum does not indicate an admission goal. It lets you know if your application is read, not if you get a seat. There are many more well-qualified applicants than seats available in most nursing programs. The real cutoff is determined by the applicant pool and NOT the website. This is the core reason a competitive TEAS score looks so different from the listed TEAS score requirements.
Many programs employ a points/ranked admission system in which the TEAS contributes a significant percentage to the overall score. If you make it to the floor in that system, you’ll get just a few points for real entry.
The bottom line: The averages of the students who were accepted are usually a few points higher than the published minimums. Do not use the minimum as your goal, but as your starting point. For more detail, see how TEAS requirements differ between nursing programs.
ATI’s Five Academic Preparedness Levels
ATI’s TEAS 7 score reportings are available in 5 levels of preparedness. Below are ranges sourced from ATI’s official TEAS 7 score report documentation. Many sites continue to post TEAS 6 bands; check with ATI for up-to-date bands.
| Level | Score range | What it means for admissions |
| Developmental | Lowest band | Rarely competitive for any nursing program |
| Basic | Below most minimums | May not meet published eligibility requirements |
| Proficient | Meets many published minimums | Common acceptance range for ADN programs |
| Advanced | Above most minimums | Generally expected for competitive BSN and ABSN applicants |
| Exemplary | Highest band | Reached by very few test takers |
The majority of ADN programs accept students who earn a Proficient score. Advanced or higher on the TEAS 7 score report is most likely expected in competitive BSN and accelerated programs. Exemplary is possible but only for a small percentage of the total number of test takers. The first step toward knowing what is a good TEAS score to determine where your score falls within these five bands. To understand how the TEAS is scored, see section weighting.
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Competitive TEAS Scores by Program Type
| Program type | Typical published minimum | Competitive range | Notes |
| ADN / ASN (community college) | ~55–65% | ~70–78% | Many use ranked admission rather than a hard cutoff |
| BSN (4-year university) | ~65–80% | ~78–85% | TEAS often weighted heavily in a points formula |
| Accelerated BSN (ABSN) | ~70–85% | 80%+ | Smallest cohorts, highest applicant volume |
| LPN / PN programs | Generally lower minimums | Verify per program | Requirements vary significantly |
| Allied health (radiography, respiratory, dental hygiene) | Varies widely | Varies widely | Often uses TEAS for Allied Health scoring |
Some community college ADN programs have minimums closer to the low end of this range, for instance, and some university BSN programs have higher TEAS score requirements, for example, from the beginning of the program. Please check the exact figures on every school’s admissions page.
These are general ranges, not guarantees. A competitive TEAS score for teas score for nursing school admission also varies by state and by how many programs operate in that region; a smaller applicant pool can shift the real cutoff considerably. For more schools and their published requirements, see US universities that accept the TEAS exam.
Why Percentile Rank Matters as Much as Percentage
The percentage score indicates the number of correct answers given. The TEAS percentile rank is a comparison of how you did against other students who took the test nationwide. For instance, if you score a 75th percentile score, you performed better than 75% of the students who took the test, but not as well as 25%.
It’s important because admissions committees who are comparing dozens of applicants are interested in relative standing. The average TEAS score will vary from one testing cohort to another, and thus from one student to another, if both are in the same percentile. Students with the same percentage may be in different percentile positions, depending on the testing cohort, and thus differ from one student to another in terms of the average TEAS score of the cohort of students that applied in the same cycle.
Both of these are included on your score report. Read both before assuming that you know where you stand. To analyze the results, refer to how to analyse your practice test results.
Composite Score vs Section Scores
The TEAS provides a total composite score as well as separate scores for Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. This is a critical warning: some programs have minimums for individual sections and not for the composite. While a strong overall competitive TEAS score may be denied if one section is not up to their standard.
Science is usually one of the weakest components for applicants, and is often the most heavily weighted component in terms of TEAS score requirements. Don’t assume that your composite is all you need; check that your target programs weight sections differently.
Determine if your program uses composite only, section minimums, or a weighted composite formula. To learn about the length of the sections, check out how many questions are on the TEAS exam.
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How to Set Your Own Target Score
- Check the published minimum for each program you are applying to.
- Add 10-15 points to that highest of minimums, and you have your goal.
- Look for section minimums (and ensure that the weakest section passes the highest one).
- Complete a full-length practice test to determine where to start, then work out the difference.
If your practice score is 15 or more points off your competitive TEAS score goal, it can take 6-8 weeks to prepare, not 2. It’s important to set a realistic good TEAS score 2026 target early to plan accordingly instead of cramming.
The first step in creating a successful timeline is to know what is a good TEAS score. Understand how to plan your TEAS study timeline and build a study plan around your weak areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a good TEAS score in 2026?
A high score typically falls in the Advanced band or higher, but it is important to keep in mind that there are no fixed standards for what is a good TEAS score; it varies depending on the program’s published minimum and number of applicants.
- What is the average TEAS score?
The average TEAS score is in the Proficient range nationally, but varies with each testing cohort, so please refer to the percentile rank on your score report.
- Is a 70 on the TEAS a good score?
A 70 is competitive for some ADN programs and not competitive for most BSN or accelerated programs; compare it to your target’s requirements.
- Do nursing schools see all my TEAS attempts?
Yes, many programs will look at all your tests some will only consider the first or first two; check this out before retesting. Learn about the ATI retake policy explained.
- Can I get into nursing school with a low TEAS score?
Yes, especially if you have a good GPA, meet the prerequisites, or retake the exam to apply to programs that have lower requirements. See what happens if you fail the TEAS.
- How much does the TEAS score count toward admission?
This is used in different ways in some programs as an eligibility screen, and in others it plays a major role in a points-based TEAS score for nursing school ranking formula.
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Conclusion
Find your published minimums for your programs, plus 10-15 points, and create your study plan around that real competitive TEAS score. Looking for a way to catch up? Get in touch with Take My TEAS Exam today.