In the crystal structure of the title mononuclear CuII complex, [Cu(C11H16N3O2)(NO3)]·0.25C2H5OH, the complex molecules are linked by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a dimer with an approximate non-crystallographic twofold rotation axis of symmetry. In the monomeric unit, the Cu2+ ion exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal configuration, whereby the anionic [HL]− Schiff base ligand binds in a tetradentate fashion via the O and the three N atoms which all are approximately coplanar. The O atom of a nitrate anion occupies the fifth coordination site, causing the CuII atom to move slightly out of the approximate basal plane toward the bound nitrate group. The structure exhibits disorder of the ethanol solvent molecule.