Baptist Health Sciences University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Baptist Health Sciences University, established in 1912 in Memphis, Tennessee, is a specialized healthcare education institution affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. The university offers programs in nursing, radiography, and other health professions, combining rigorous academics with clinical training at Baptist's medical facilities. BHSU's simulation center features high-fidelity manikins and virtual reality technology that replicates real healthcare scenarios. The university's 10:1 student-faculty ratio ensures personalized instruction from experienced healthcare educators. With a focus on preparing competent, compassionate healthcare providers, BHSU graduates have strong licensure exam pass rates and employment outcomes. Recent expansions include new programs in high-demand healthcare fields and upgrades to simulation technology, ensuring students train with industry-standard equipment and techniques.
Baptist Health Sciences University Acceptance Rate
Baptist Health Sciences University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 67.8% each year.
What Baptist College of Health Sciences Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Baptist Health Sciences University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Baptist Health Sciences University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Baptist College of Health Sciences reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Program-specific) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Baptist College of Health Sciences GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Baptist College of Health Sciences is 3.21. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.91–3.21 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.41–3.61.Baptist College of Health Sciences GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- US citizenship or permanent residency is required for admission - international students are not eligible.
- Nursing BSN: 30 prerequisite credit hours required at 2.7 GPA (not rounded) before advancing to NSG courses; RAD program: 24 pre-program credit hours, 2.7 GPA minimum, competitive applicants hold 3.0+, includes written essay and personal interview for selection.
- College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM) launched fall 2024; clinical partner is Baptist Memorial Health Care - 24 hospitals, 200+ clinics across the Mid-South; DO program students access the full BMHC network for clinical rotations.
- 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio; enrollment approximately 782 students (352 full-time, 430 part-time); located in Memphis Medical District, downtown Memphis; historically founded 1912 as nursing diploma program, became a college in 1994, renamed Baptist Health Sciences University in 2020.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Baptist College of Health Sciences
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Baptist Health Sciences University's verified institutional data
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Baptist Health Sciences University (Baptist College of Health Sciences) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Baptist College of Health Sciences is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Baptist College of Health Sciences Without SAT or ACT?
Baptist Health Sciences University Average SAT Score: 1050
The average SAT score of admitted students at Baptist Health Sciences University is 1050 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
If your score is below 1010, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Baptist College of Health Sciences. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1050 | 1010 | 1080 |
Below 1010, you're behind most admitted students; at 1080 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Baptist Health Sciences University (Baptist College of Health Sciences) with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of Baptist College of Health Sciences's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Baptist Health Sciences University (Baptist College of Health Sciences) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Baptist College of Health Sciences is 20.
ACT Competitiveness
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 20 | 17 | 22 |
| ACT English | 21 | 19 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 19 | 21 |
Can I get into Baptist Health Sciences University with a 21 ACT?
A 21 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Baptist College of Health Sciences's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Baptist College of Health Sciences.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Baptist College of Health Sciences
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Baptist College of Health Sciences is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Getting accepted to Baptist Health Sciences University does not mean you are admitted to your intended clinical program. Nursing requires completion of 30 prerequisite credit hours with a minimum 2.7 program GPA before you can advance to nursing coursework - and that 2.7 is not rounded. Medical radiography (RAD) requires at least 24 credit hours of pre-program work with a 2.7 cumulative GPA, and competitive applicants typically hold a 3.0 or higher; the program selection also includes a written essay and a personal interview. Plan your first two years as a competitive pre-program phase, not as a general transition to college.
Baptist Health Sciences University is operated by Baptist Memorial Health Care, giving students clinical access to a system of 24 hospitals, 200+ clinics, cancer care networks, imaging centers, and urgent care facilities across the Mid-South. This is not a rotation list students compete for - it is the institution's own clinical infrastructure. Students who treat those clinical placements strategically - asking for placements in specific specialties or locations relevant to their career goals, building relationships with attending clinicians early - graduate with a professional network that comparable programs at larger universities can't replicate from coursework alone.
Baptist Health Sciences University is a Christ-centered institution grounded in Baptist principles, and that identity is embedded in the graduation requirements, not just the campus culture. Students are required to complete 100 Service and Worship points to graduate - earned through chapel attendance, mission trips, student retreats, and similar activities. Prayer is a regular feature of classroom settings. Students who share or are genuinely open to this faith environment thrive here; students who underestimate the degree to which Christian practice is woven into the academic experience often find it more present than expected. Read the university's mission statement carefully before applying.
BHSU launched its College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM) in fall 2024 - a significant structural addition to the institution. For undergraduate students who are pre-med and planning to apply to DO programs, being embedded at the same institution as a functioning COM creates networking and familiarity advantages: access to DO faculty mentors, familiarity with the BUCOM admissions process, and visibility within a system whose residency and fellowship programs run through Baptist Memorial Medical Education. This pathway is too new for long-term outcome data, but the structural opportunity is concrete and worth asking about directly at information sessions.
Acceptance rate figures for Baptist Health Sciences University vary significantly across aggregators - BigFuture/IPEDS report ~68%, Niche reports 82%, and uniRank places the rate at 30?39%. The most likely explanation is that program-level admission (nursing, RAD, sonography) is considerably more selective than general university admission, and different tools measure different stages. Students who assume 68?82% means getting into nursing is straightforward consistently underestimate the program GPA requirements and the competitive cohort selection process. General acceptance rate does not translate to program acceptance rate.
Baptist College of Health Sciences Profile
Is a Baptist College of Health Sciences Degree Worth It?
Whether Baptist College of Health Sciences is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $61,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.41%.
How much does a degree from Baptist College of Health Sciences Cost?
The sticker price is $21,438/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
47% of students receive a Pell Grant and 72.7% take federal loans at Baptist College of Health Sciences — file your FAFSA early and list Baptist College of Health Sciences as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Baptist College of Health Sciences Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $72,529 — about 79% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Baptist Health Sciences University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 1037 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Baptist Health Sciences University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Baptist Health Sciences University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Baptist College of Health Sciences
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
First Professional Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Baptist College of Health Sciences Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Baptist Health Sciences University run about $72,529 a year.
At about $21,438 a year, Baptist Health Sciences University is on the more affordable end.
About 47.0% receive a Pell Grant at Baptist Health Sciences University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 67.8%, Baptist Health Sciences University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Baptist Health Sciences University average a 3.21 GPA.
Baptist Health Sciences University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.91 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.81, Baptist Health Sciences University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Baptist Health Sciences University — aim above 1050, ideally within the 1010–1080 range admitted students typically fall in.
Baptist Health Sciences University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The application fee is 25. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Program-specific. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
