BACKGROUND: Cultural care is necessary for healthcare settings due to the presence of culturally diverse clients. Nursing students face different challenges in the path of cultural competence. PURPOSE: This study aimed to characterize nursing students' educational challenges in achieving cultural competence. METHOD: Data were collected through interviews with 14 nursing students, 2 faculty members, and 2 nurses working in educational and clinical centers affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southeastern Iran. The Graneheim and Lundman approach was used to conduct purposeful sampling and analyze data. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed the theme of nurses' educational challenges with cultural competence with four major categories: the neglect of cultural competence in educational approaches, the lack of importance of culturally congruent care in clinical settings, poor intercultural communication, and insufficient skill in cultural humility. CONCLUSION: The present study shows numerous barriers to nursing students' cultural competence, which impair their learning and care for culturally diverse patients.