An 84 on the TEAS 7 is a composite percentage score, not a pass/fail mark. For a BSN applicant, that one number can feel like a verdict, especially when other applicants cite scores in the 90s.
An 84 clears most published BSN minimums, which commonly fall between 65 and 78 percent. Whether it is competitive depends on the program's applicant pool, section-level minimums, and the GPA it sits beside. A strong composite can still mask a weak Science score.
The more telling comparison is the middle of the admitted cohort. Programs listing a 75 percent floor often enroll students with composites in the high 80s or low 90s, so an 84 is firm for some schools and borderline for others.
What TEAS Score Percentiles Actually Mean
ATI does not assign a simple pass or fail to the TEAS 7. Instead, your composite score and each of your four section scores (Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage) are mapped to one of five Academic Preparedness Levels. An 84 composite lands squarely in the Advanced band, which ATI defines as high overall academic preparedness with little need for additional preparation on tested objectives. While ATI also reports a national percentile rank on each score report, the exact percentile for any given composite varies by testing cohort and is not published in a fixed table.
Is 84 Good for BSN Programs? Minimum vs Competitive Cutoffs
Does an 84 on the TEAS, a nursing school entrance exam, actually make you competitive for BSN admission, or does it just clear the bar?
The short answer: an 84 composite clears most published BSN minimums by a comfortable margin, but it sits right at the threshold for selective programs and may fall just below the most competitive admitted-student ranges.
Published Minimums by Program Type
Most BSN programs publish minimum TEAS requirements well below 84:
- Traditional BSN programs: Minimums typically range from 65% to 75%, with competitive admitted students scoring 75% to 82%.
- Accelerated BSN programs: Published minimums usually fall between 70% and 80%, while competitive applicants score 78% to 90%.
- Elite or highly selective BSN programs: Minimums often start at 80% to 85%, with competitive ranges of 82% to 87% or higher.
By these benchmarks, your 84 exceeds the published floor at the vast majority of traditional programs and lands solidly within competitive territory for many state university BSN tracks.
Where 84 Meets the Mark
At programs with lower published thresholds, an 84 positions you well above average applicants. For example, UTHealth Houston lists a 60% minimum, UT Health San Antonio requires 65%, and Texas Lutheran University asks for 70%. In Ohio, Youngstown State requires 70%, Ohio University asks for 72%, and Kent State sets its floor at 75%. With an 84, you clear all of these with room to spare.
Even at moderately selective programs like the University of Cincinnati (76% minimum) or Texas State's general track (65% minimum), your score demonstrates strong academic preparation.
Where 84 Gets Tight
The picture changes at highly competitive programs. Texas State's priority admission track requires 80%, which you clear, but just barely. San Jose State University publishes an 84% minimum, meaning your score meets the exact cutoff with no cushion. Several California State University campuses, including CSU Long Beach, Sacramento State, CSU Fullerton, and San Diego State, list minimums in the 80% to 85% range.
At elite programs like Ohio State University or Case Western Reserve University, minimums start at 80% or higher, and competitive applicants typically score 82% to 87%. Your 84 falls within range but would not stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
The Bottom Line
An 84 is a genuinely strong score that opens doors at most BSN programs. However, program selectivity matters: at elite or highly impacted schools, your composite may be competitive but not exceptional. Section subscores and GPA will carry additional weight at these institutions, and reviewing the best TEAS prep books can help you decide whether a retake is worthwhile; we will address these factors in later sections.
School-By-School BSN Score Benchmarks to Compare
An 84 on the TEAS looks different depending on where you apply. Some programs set their floor well below that mark, while others admit cohorts whose averages land in the low 90s. The table-style breakdown below covers 10 programs across multiple states so you can see exactly where an 84 sits.
Programs Where an 84 Clears the Bar Comfortably
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (Traditional BSN): The published minimum is 65 percent. An 84 exceeds that cutoff by nearly 20 points, putting you well into competitive territory.
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (BSN/A-BSN): Also lists a 65 percent minimum. Your 84 would land far above the floor, though UAMS uses a holistic review that weighs additional factors.
- Texas State University (BSN): The priority admission threshold is 80 percent1, and the admitted-student average sits around 82.56 percent2. An 84 edges above that average, a solid position for this program.
- University of Tampa (BSN): No published minimum score is required, and the admitted average is roughly 80.5 percent3. An 84 places you above the typical admitted student.
- University of California, San Marcos (Traditional BSN): The admitted average hovers near 82.6 percent4, so an 84 puts you slightly ahead of the pack.
Programs Where an 84 Lands Right at the Line
- University of Nevada, Reno (BSN): The admitted-student average is about 84.55 percent5. Your 84 essentially matches that figure, meaning you are competitive but not a standout on TEAS alone. GPA and prerequisite grades will carry extra weight here.
- Georgia State University (Undergraduate BSN): The competitive benchmark is around 85 percent6. An 84 falls just one point short, so strengthening other parts of your application becomes important.
Programs Where an 84 May Not Be Enough
- California State University, Sacramento (Traditional BSN): The published minimum is 75 percent, which an 84 clears. However, the admitted-student average is approximately 93.18 percent7. That gap of roughly nine points means an 84 is unlikely to be competitive on its own at this highly selective program.
Key Takeaways From the Data
Across these programs, a clear pattern emerges. An 84 comfortably exceeds published minimums at most schools, and it meets or beats the admitted average at roughly half of them. Where it falls short is at programs like Sacramento State, where applicant pools drive averages into the low 90s.
Before you assume your score is "good enough," check the admitted-student average, not just the minimum. The minimum tells you whether your application will be reviewed. The average tells you whether your TEAS score actually helps or hurts your standing in the applicant pool.
How Program Type Changes the Picture: Public, Private, and Direct-Entry BSN
Public BSN programs in 2026 commonly publish TEAS minimums between 65% and 75%, while competitive admitted students often score in the 75% to 82% range. An 84 typically clears those bars, but at a large public university with a points-based ranking, admitted cohort averages can run higher simply because the applicant pool is bigger and more applicants are clustered near the top of the scoring range.
Public universities: a higher admitted average
Large state schools often receive large pre-nursing pools, so even when the published minimum is modest, the admitted cohort average can drift upward. At those programs, an 84 is usually competitive but not a differentiator. Admissions formulas may assign heavy weight to TEAS and prerequisite GPA, leaving less room for subjective factors like recommendations or interviews.
Private colleges: a wider, more holistic range
Private BSN programs show more variance. Selective private universities often expect 80% or higher, with elite programs publishing minimums from 80% to 85%. An 84 can be right at or slightly above the threshold at those schools. The difference between private vs public nursing schools is that many private programs weigh essays, recommendations, interviews, and healthcare experience more heavily, so a mid-80s score paired with strong experience can outperform a slightly higher score with a thin application.
Direct-entry and accelerated tracks
Direct-entry BSN programs often do not require the TEAS at all, relying instead on high school academic records or holistic review. When a direct-entry or accelerated program does use the TEAS, accelerated tracks tend to set a higher floor, with minimums commonly around 70% to 80% and competitive applicants often scoring 78% to 90%.
Online vs. on-campus and the role of experience
For pre-licensure programs, the online versus on-campus split matters less than the school's overall selectivity. Both formats may require the TEAS. The exception is online RN-to-BSN completion, which is post-licensure and usually does not use the TEAS; if you are weighing RN to BSN vs direct-entry BSN paths, the TEAS requirement should not drive that decision. If your 84 feels borderline at a target school, direct patient care hours, CNA or EMT work, strong prerequisite grades, and a clear personal statement can offset the score at holistic and private programs more than at strict public formulas.
How Admissions Committees Weigh TEAS, GPA, and Section Scores
Most BSN programs do not admit students based on a single TEAS cutoff. Instead, they convert your academic record and test performance into points, then rank applicants by total score, a process outlined in a nursing school application guide. Understanding how committees balance these factors reveals where an 84 composite stands and what else you can strengthen.
Point-Based Rubrics Are the Norm
Public and private nursing programs typically assign weighted points to prerequisite GPA, science GPA, TEAS composite or section scores, and sometimes bonus categories like healthcare experience or prior degrees. At Watts College of Nursing, for example, science GPA accounts for up to 20 points, overall prerequisite GPA up to 15 points, and TEAS readiness up to 20 points.1 Valencia College caps total admission points at 68 and requires a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA alongside at least a 65 percent TEAS composite.2
These systems mean an 84 on the TEAS is not evaluated in isolation. A candidate with a 3.8 science GPA and an 84 composite can outscore someone with a 92 TEAS but a 3.0 GPA, depending on how each rubric weights the categories.
How Schools Convert Scores to Points
Programs translate raw percentages into discrete bands rather than crediting every point equally. San Jacinto College awards 2 points for an 80 to 85 percent TEAS composite, 3 points for 86 to 90 percent, and the maximum 5 points only above 96 percent.3 Jamestown Community College assigns 6 points for an Advanced TEAS score and 9 points for Exemplary, but just 3 points for Proficient.4 If an 84 places you in a lower band at a particular school, even a few extra percentage points on a retake could bump you into the next tier and add meaningful points to your total.
Suffolk County Community College breaks it down further by section. Each TEAS subsection (Reading, Math, Science, English) earns points on its own scale: 90 to 99 percent yields 12 points, 80 to 89 percent yields 10 points, and so on.5 That structure leads directly to a critical warning.
Section Minimums Can Override a Safe Composite
A strong composite can mask a weak subsection. If your 84 overall includes a Science score of 68 percent, you may fail to meet a program's section minimum even though your composite looks competitive. Some rubrics award the lowest point value for any subsection below a threshold, which can undercut the application regardless of total score. Review each target school's published rubric to confirm whether section floors apply.
Where Experience and Credentials Add Points
Several programs award bonus points for CNA certification before nursing school, EMT licensure, military service, or a completed bachelor's degree. Watts College explicitly includes veteran status and medical certifications in its rubric.1 If you hold credentials like these, they may offset a mid-range TEAS score more than you expect.
California BSN Programs Where an 84 Meets the Published Minimum
Sacramento State's traditional BSN program sets its published TEAS floor at 75 percent1, and San Francisco State University requires at least 78 percent2, meaning an 84 composite clears both minimums on paper. However, the gap between "meeting the minimum" and earning admission in California is unusually wide, so prospective students should dig deeper before treating an 84 as competitive.
CSU Programs That Require the TEAS
The California State University nursing programs covered here use the TEAS as a required admission component. The catch is that admitted-student averages tell a very different story. Sacramento State's Spring 2024 cohort, for example, averaged a 93.18 percent composite, with admitted scores ranging from 87.3 to 98.7 percent3. An 84 would have fallen well below that cohort's lowest accepted score. San Francisco State likewise screens applicants holistically after they clear the 78 percent threshold2, so meeting the floor does not guarantee a seat.
UC and UCSF Programs
No University of California undergraduate campus in this article's research set lists a TEAS requirement for its BSN track. UCSF, a graduate-level institution, does not list a TEAS requirement in its own admissions materials4, though third-party sources sometimes cite an 84 percent minimum for UCSF. If you are applying to UCSF, contact the School of Nursing directly to verify current testing expectations rather than relying on external compilations.
Private Universities
Some California private schools skip the TEAS entirely. The University of San Francisco, for instance, does not require or review TEAS scores in its nursing admissions process; for its Fall 2026 cycle, 64 percent of admitted nursing students were accepted without any standardized test scores on file6. Other private programs may still require the TEAS but set their own cutoffs, so checking each school's admissions page is essential.
What This Means for an 84
An 84 satisfies the published minimums at the CSU programs discussed here, but the real competition plays out well above those floors. Treat the minimum as a gateway, not a finish line. If your target program publishes admitted-student averages in the low-to-mid 90s, an 84 leaves meaningful ground to make up through GPA, prerequisite grades, and other application components, or through a focused retake using TEAS: Top 10 Study Tips.
What an 84 Composite Can Hide: Section-By-Section Minimums
An 84 composite puts you well above most program cutoffs, but many nursing schools enforce minimum scores in each individual TEAS section. A strong overall number can mask a weak area, and if that area falls below a program's section floor, your application may be disqualified regardless of the composite. The chart below compares section minimums at programs that publish them, so you can see how widely these floors vary.
Should You Retake the TEAS With an 84?
Is an 84 strong enough to submit, or would retaking the TEAS give you a meaningful edge in BSN admissions? The answer depends less on the number itself and more on your target programs, your section breakdown, and each school's retake rules.
When an 84 is likely enough
- Published minimums: Many programs set thresholds well below 84. Stanbridge University lists a 70% composite minimum, Texas Woman's University references 64%, and UAMS has considered 60 to 65% under a pilot. If your schools fall in this range, an 84 already clears the bar comfortably.
- Balanced section scores: If your reading, math, science, and English scores, including using conventions of standard English spelling, are all in a similar band, admissions committees see a consistent applicant. Retaking rarely changes a balanced 84 into a dramatically better composite unless you have a specific, fixable gap.
- Score use policy: Some programs use your highest attempt, not your most recent one. If the school will take the 84 you already have and you cannot realistically improve by several points, the retake may add little.
When a retake may be worth the effort
- Selective programs and below-average profiles: If your target BSN admits students with competitive composites above 84 and your GPA or other materials are average or below, a higher score can strengthen the application. The stronger the program, the more an 88 or 90 may matter.
- One weak section dragging the composite: TEAS section scores are not combined across attempts; each full attempt is evaluated as a whole. If a single section, such as math, pulled your composite down, targeted prep on applying estimation strategies and rounding rules plus a retake can make sense, provided your school accepts the improved version.
- Retake logistics work in your favor: Many schools allow two to three attempts per cycle, often with a 30-day wait between tries. ATI testing centers impose a 14-day wait, while a few programs have no wait. Some schools cap attempts tightly, including programs that accept only the first two attempts and require both score reports. Check the cap before scheduling.
The practical rule for 2026 applicants
Retake the TEAS if your target is notably selective, your 84 sits below its typical admitted range, you have an obvious weak section, and the school will accept a better score. Skip the retake if your 84 exceeds the program's minimum by a comfortable margin, the school already uses your highest score and realistic improvement is unlikely, or the waiting period and attempt cap create timing risk for this application cycle.
Action Plan: Strengthening the Rest of Your BSN Application
An 84 on the TEAS positions you within reach of many BSN programs, but admissions decisions rarely hinge on a single metric. The question becomes whether the rest of your application reinforces that score or leaves gaps that could push you toward the waitlist.
Audit Your GPA Against Program Medians
Start by pulling your cumulative GPA and your science GPA (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry) as separate figures. Many programs weight science coursework more heavily, and some publish median admitted GPAs alongside TEAS cutoffs. If your science GPA falls below a program's median by more than 0.2 points, consider whether retaking a course or adding a strong A in a remaining prerequisite could shift the math before you apply.
Build or Document Patient-Care Experience
Clinical exposure signals that you understand the realities of bedside work. Hours as a CNA, EMT, medical assistant, or hospice volunteer carry weight, especially at programs that use holistic review when weighing nursing school GPA vs experience. If you lack formal credentials, structured volunteer shifts at hospitals or community clinics can help you gain clinical experience before nursing school. Keep a log of total hours and specific responsibilities so you can quantify this experience in your application.
Sharpen Your Personal Statement and Recommendations
A mid-80s TEAS score is solid but not exceptional, which means your narrative materials need to do more work. Your personal statement should articulate why nursing, why now, and why this program, with concrete anecdotes rather than generic praise for the profession. For letters of recommendation, choose writers who can speak to your reliability under pressure, your communication skills, or your academic resilience. A supervisor from a clinical setting often carries more weight than a professor who only knows your test grades.
Construct a Balanced School List
Using published TEAS minimums and median data, sort prospective programs into three tiers:
- Likely: Your 84 exceeds the published minimum by five or more points, and your GPA meets or exceeds the median.
- Match: Your score lands near the median, and other application elements are competitive.
- Reach: The program's median TEAS sits above 85, or prerequisites favor applicants with stronger science GPAs.
Applying across all three tiers protects you from an unexpectedly competitive cycle while keeping aspirational options open.
Use the Score Report Before Deciding on a Retake
Your TEAS score report breaks down performance by section. If one area, such as science or reading, dragged down an otherwise strong composite, targeted study could push you into the high 80s on a second attempt. If your section scores are balanced, the effort may yield diminishing returns, and your time is better spent elsewhere in the application.