You can beat the deadline on NursingCAS and still sit incomplete.
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In 30 seconds
- 1NursingCAS is one online application you can send to many participating nursing programs. AACN runs it with Liaison International.
- 2You enter your coursework, send official transcripts, add references and program essays, and pay per program.
- 3Not every school uses it—many community colleges don’t—so check the directory first.
$70
your first undergraduate program, 2026–2027 cycle
$55
each additional undergraduate program
10 days
verification can take up to 10 business days
NursingCAS · three words
Submitted is not complete. Complete is not verified.
Your application is not reviewed until transcripts, payments, and references arrive.
- 1SubmittedYou clicked submit and paid, before the program’s deadline.
- 2CompleteNursingCAS has everything it needs: transcripts, fees, and references.Transcripts can take up to 5 business days to post after NursingCAS receives them.
- 3VerifiedYour entered coursework is checked against your transcripts and your GPAs are calculated.In the order applications are completed; up to 10 business days.
Submitted means you clicked submit and paid. You must do it before the program's deadline.
Complete waits on transcripts, fees, and references. Submitting on deadline day can leave you here.
Verified means your coursework was checked against transcripts and your GPAs calculated, in order, up to 10 business days.
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Create my free accountWho runs it
NursingCAS is the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's centralized application service, operated in partnership with Liaison International, according to its about page. It covers programs at many levels, from pre-licensure to graduate. The 2026–2027 cycle opened August 6, 2026.
What it collects
- Your academic history. You enter each college course yourself, from your transcripts.
- Official transcripts. Your schools send them by mail or electronically through Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse.
- References. You enter each person's name and email, and NursingCAS emails them a link. They submit it themselves.
- Program materials. Each program can add its own questions, essays, documents, and prerequisite checks.
- Test scores. Official GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS scores go to NursingCAS. For the TEAS or HESI (see HESI A2 vs TEAS), follow each program's instructions.
The work you do once—coursework and transcripts—carries across programs. The program pages do not, so budget time for each school's questions and essays. Our essay guide and references guide cover those pieces.
What it costs
For 2026–2027, NursingCAS lists $70 for your first undergraduate program and $55 for each additional program. Graduate programs are $90 and $60. Some programs charge a supplemental fee on top. A limited number of income- and service-based fee waivers exist; you must request one before you submit, and it covers only the first program. Fees change by cycle, so confirm on the official fee page. The bigger budget is in how much nursing school costs.
How to tell if your school uses it
Search the NursingCAS participating-schools directory, then confirm on the program's own admission page. Many community-college ADN programs use their own college application instead. If a program is not listed, apply the way its nursing page says—not through NursingCAS.
Submitted, complete, verified
These words mean different things. Submitted means you clicked submit and paid. Complete means NursingCAS has everything it needs, including transcripts, fees, and references. Verified means NursingCAS has checked your entered coursework against your transcripts and calculated your GPAs.
Per its submission guide, you must submit and pay before the program's deadline, but your application is not reviewed until transcripts, payments, and references arrive. Verification happens in order and can take up to 10 business days.
Common mistakes that slow things down
- Ordering transcripts late. Your registrar needs time, then NursingCAS says posting can take up to five business days after they receive it (transcript guide).
- Rushing course entry. Enter every course exactly as it appears on the transcript. Mismatches cause questions later.
- Submitting on deadline day. You may beat the deadline and still sit incomplete while transcripts and references catch up.
- Waiting for a missing-reference alert. NursingCAS says it does not notify you about missing references. Check the portal yourself.
- Asking for a fee waiver after submitting. It has to come first.
- Assuming every school uses it. Some of your programs may need a separate application.
Stuck on a specific screen? The NursingCAS applicant help center has step-by-step answers, and the NursingCAS site lists current cycle dates. For everything outside the portal, use our application checklist and timeline, or track each school on your Checklist.
Quick check · no scrolling back
Your NursingCAS application says “submitted.” Can programs review it yet?
Common questions
Who runs NursingCAS?
NursingCAS is the centralized application service of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), operated in partnership with Liaison International.
How much does NursingCAS cost?
For the 2026–2027 cycle, NursingCAS lists $70 for the first undergraduate program and $55 for each additional one, or $90 and $60 for graduate programs. Some programs add their own supplemental fee. Check the official fee page before you pay.
Do community colleges use NursingCAS?
Many do not. A lot of community-college nursing programs use their own college application instead. Search the NursingCAS participating-schools directory, and if a program is not listed, follow the application steps on its nursing page.
How long does NursingCAS verification take?
NursingCAS says verification happens in the order applications are completed and can take up to 10 business days. Transcripts can take up to five business days to post after NursingCAS receives them.