I applied to six nursing programs with a 3.1 cumulative GPA and got accepted to two of them, so it's absolutely doable, but there's a lot more nuance to what programs are actually looking at than just the overall number. My science GPA was a 3.4 because I'd retaken Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology after struggling with them the first time. Most nursing programs care a lot more about your science prerequisite GPA than your overall, so if that's where you've been strong, lead with it.
TEAS score was the other factor that helped me. I scored an 83.3% overall, which put me in the advanced category. I studied for about 7 weeks, averaging 1.5 hours per day, and the science section was where I put most of that time since it overlaps heavily with what nursing programs care about anyway. A strong TEAS score can offset a lower GPA in most programs' holistic review processes.
The programs I got into both had essays and interviews as part of the process, and I've heard from admissions staff that the personal statement carries more weight than people expect. I wrote about 18 months of CNA experience and specifically how that shaped my clinical perspective. Generic statements about wanting to help people get filtered out fast — specific experiences and what they taught you are what actually land.
If you're below a 3.0 overall you'll want to either do a post-baccalaureate year to raise your science GPA or look at programs with rolling admissions that weigh other factors more heavily. But a 3.1 with a strong TEAS is competitive at most community college ADN programs and a fair number of BSN programs too.
83.3% on the TEAS is solid. I scored a 79% and still got into two programs but I had stronger recommendation letters. The combination of scores and letters is what most programs are actually looking at holistically.
CNA experience is genuinely valuable for the interview portion, not just the essay. They asked me to describe a patient situation where I had to advocate for something and my CNA background gave me real material to work with. People without clinical exposure struggle with those questions.
The science prerequisite GPA distinction is something I wish someone had told me earlier. I spent two years worrying about my 3.0 overall when my A&P, Microbiology, and Chemistry grades were all As and Bs. Ended up getting into an ADN program without any issues.
Rolling admissions programs are underrated. I applied to one that reviewed applications as they came in rather than at a cutoff date and heard back in 3 weeks. Competitive programs with single annual deadlines are much harder to plan around.