&NA;Of 182 students who successfully completed an eight‐week program for high school graduates with marginal credentials and who were admitted to schools of nursing, 125 (69 percent) subsequently received degrees or certificates. This success rate compares favorably with national and regional norms. This study documents the marginality of the students' credentials and evaluates their success rates. Of 11 academic variables correlated with successful completion of nursing programs, the two subjective evaluations of each student by the academic personnel teaching the eight‐week program were the only variables to reach significance (p = .01).