Guides for Registered Nursing Degrees and Careers
From your potential earnings to selecting the right nursing school, our Career Guides give prospective nursing students a much-needed compass for their first or next chapter in their nursing careers. We provide a wealth of information for aspiring nursing professions at all stages of their career. Our database includes campus, online and hybrid nursing schools that offer programs from the certificate level all the way through to earning a Ph.D.
Our editorial team of nurse educators, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and practical nurses explain how to choose the perfect program for you, and we provide the data and information we wish we had when searching for and applying to our nursing program(s). We write about the hard-won knowledge on how to succeed once you become a practicing nurse, specific details on the nursing school application process, scholarships and more.
Become an RN
RNs are qualified to assess patients health status, administer medications and initiate treatment plans, evaluate outcomes, make recommendations, provide patient education, and work as a part of a healthcare team to optimize patient well-being.
RNs play a key role in making decisions for patients that can have positive impacts on their healthcare. As one of the most trusted professions, RNs are often seen as patient advocates.
Go Beyond – NP, MSN, DNP
Being an RN is a rewarding career that many people love. But it is also not the end point. If you want to advance your RN Career, you can further your education by earning one of 100+ specialty RN certificates or degrees, earn your MSN or DNP degree in nursing.
With these degrees you can work as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), a Nurse Practitioner (NP) go into research or teaching and play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare.
Search for Accredited Schools
2021 Nursing School Rankings
5th Annual Best Nursing Schools in America

Let’s be real. Googling nursing programs can lead your down a rabbit hole of information that is tough to sort through. That’s why we have created our nursing school rankings to help you understand the various programs out there. Now you can make an educated decision about what program will best fit your lifestyle and background.
Using NCLEX first-time exam pass rates, program accreditation, number of students taking the exam, and other key data, we ranked every CCNE, ACEN, and state-approved nursing programs throughout the country. You now have a clear and transparent view into what matters to you most when it comes to deciding which nursing program(s) to apply to.
Grade | University | State Rank | US Rank | City | State | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
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100.00 | Davis & Elkins College LPN-ADN program | 1 | 1 | Elkins | WV | Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, West Virginia. They offer an ADN program. Unique to a community college, they also offer an online RN to BSN program. The online program can be completed in 12 months and students are kept with small cohorts so that they get to know their online peers. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
100.00 | Salem University | 1 | 1 | Salem | WV | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
100.00 | Laredo College | 1 | 1 | Laredo | TX | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Big Bend Community College | 1 | 1 | Moses Lake | WA | Big Bend Community College is located in Moses Lake, Washington. They offer a career ladder program. The program allows students to become a Nursing Assistant – Certified (NA-C) after the first quarter, an LPN after the third quarter and an ADN at the completion of the program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
100.00 | Lakes Region Community College | 1 | 1 | Laconia | NH | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Southcentral KY Cmty. & Technical College-Bowling Green | 1 | 1 | Bowling Green | KY | Public | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
100.00 | Clatsop Community College | 1 | 1 | Astoria | OR | Clatsop Community College is located in Astoria, Oregon. They currently offer an ADN program. Effective as of Fall 2016, they no longer offer an LPN program and are subsequently no longer offering advanced placement for their RN program. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Chabot College | 1 | 1 | Hayward | CA | Chabot College is located in Hayward, California. They boast that their faculty has 20 or more years of experience. Also, the majority of their RN graduates move on to pursue their BSN degree at CSUEB bridge program. They also have incredible NCLEX-RN pass rates – over the past 5 years, pass rates have ranged from 96.3% to 100%. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Monterey Peninsula College | 1 | 1 | Monterey | CA | Monterey Peninsula College has multiple campuses – in Oceanside, Monterey and Seaside, California. The Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing offers an RN degree with an LVN to RN option Unique to the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing is the Men in Nursing Program, which promotes and recruits men in the nursing program, then works towards male retention in nursing. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
100.00 | Mississippi University for Women | 1 | 1 | Columbus | MS | The Mississippi University for Women offers a 4-year BSN program in addition to an Advanced Placement RN to BSN program, ideal for registered nurses who are interested in advancing their nursing careers. Though the school’s name implies that it offers single-sex education, since 1982 men have been welcome to attend. The school’s BSN program focuses on preparing students to be skilled leaders who are agents for change in illness prevention and patient care. Those who graduate from the program will have a comprehensive educational foundation that opens the doors to opportunities for further study, such as a master’s degree in nursing. The BSN program is aware of the continually changing world, and places a focus on the prevention of illness, maintenance of health, and a responsibility for managing long-term and terminal disruptions to health. Additionally, the Mississippi University of Women emphasizes the nurse’s role as a client advocate and an important liaison on healthcare teams. Students can enroll in the summer, as well as in the fall. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
99.46 | Victor Valley College | 2 | 2 | Victorville | CA | Victor Valley College is located in Victorville, California. The nursing program is housed under the Dr. Prem Reddy School of Health Sciences Department. They offer an RN degree and an LVN to RN option. Their nursing program “prepares students for an entry-level position in nursing practice. The structure of this program promotes professional and personal growth, including continuing education, and provides upward and lateral mobility for career options.” | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
99.44 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 2 | 3 | Perkinston | MS | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public institution. The school offers five ACEN accredited programs in the nursing discipline: an ADN program, a Health Care Assistant (HCA) program, a Practical Nursing (PN) program, and LPN to RN hybrid and non-hybrid programs. The ADN program is designed to help students gain the understanding of holistic patient care that incorporates compassionate care, cultural sensitivity, and adapts to the physiological, psychosocial and spiritual needs of clients. Students will also become familiar with research and critical thinking skills to cultivate reliable clinical judgment. MGCCC focuses on matriculated the well-rounded, general nurse who is a strong and trustworthy healthcare provider, and is able to be an excellent team member in various healthcare settings. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.35 | Coastal Alabama CC (James H Faulkner State) | 1 | 4 | Bay Minette | AL | Coastal Alabama Community College is located in Bay Minette, Alabama and is known to have one of the lowest tuition rates in Alabama. They offer a number of nursing programs – an LPN program, a nursing mobility program (LPN to RN), and an RN program. Nursing graduates from Faulkner State Community College are prepared to be critical thinkers, practicing safely and effectively in a variety of healthcare settings. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.30 | Jackson State Community College | 1 | 5 | Jackson | TN | Jackson State Community College is located in Jackson, Tennessee. The average RN program requires 60 credits and their RN program requires 65 for degree completion. They offer an RN program and an LPN Mobility option, allowing the LPN advanced placement into the program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.26 | Hopkinsville Cmty. College-Hopkinsville | 2 | 6 | Hopkinsville | KY | Hopkinsville Community College is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. They offer an RN program, but do not offer an LPN to RN program at this time, although they do offer an LPN program. Hopkinsville Community College is primarily attended by students residing in western Kentucky and also northern Tennessee. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.24 | Kapiolani Community College | 1 | 7 | Honolulu | HI | Kapiolani Community College is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their motto is “Kulia I Ka Nu’u – Strive for the Highest.” They offer a practical nursing program, an RN program and a transition for LPN program. The transition program is designed for LPNs who are seeking an RN license. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.20 | Sierra College | 3 | 8 | Rocklin | CA | Sierra College is located in Rocklin, California. Their nursing department offers a CNA program, and their RN program offers both the general RN program and an LVN to RN option. In addition, students may elect to pursue their BSN concurrently with the River City Collaborative, which means that they would have certain BSN degree requirements to attend do while they are completing their ADN education | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
99.19 | Southwest Mississippi Community College | 3 | 9 | Summit | MS | Southwest Mississippi Community College offers an ACEN accredited ADN program. The coursework strikes a balance between clinical and laboratory experience, current nursing theory, as well as general education. Their mission is to prepare nurses who are able to provide excellent care in a variety of health care settings. Students at Southwest will be cultivating their critical thinking skills in order to become professional members of an interdisciplinary health care team. The nursing school also places an emphasis on healthcare innovation and adaptability, giving students ample opportunity to challenge themselves in clinical simulations. There are two opportunities for enrollment each academic year, in the fall and in the spring semesters. For those who are Licensed Practical Nurse, there is an LPN to RN bridge program as well, which can be applied for through their regular admissions processes twice a year. Those interested in the bridge program have the opportunity for advanced placement, allowing them to matriculate from the program at an accelerated pace. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.11 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | 1 | 10 | Hudson | NC | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has two campuses – Hudson and Boone, North Carolina. They offer an associate’s degree program. They also offer the Hickory RIBN Program, which is basically a collaborative program between CCC & TI and Lenoir-Rhyne University that allows a simultaneous transition for students to earn their BSN degree. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.11 | Southeastern Illinois College | 1 | 10 | Harrisburg | IL | Southeastern Illinois College was founded in 1960 and is located in Harrisburg, IL. They offer an ACEN accredited ADN program that gives students in-depth training in general nursing as well as in specialty sectors such as obstetrics and pediatrics. The nursing program is a two-semester program that begins each fall and accepts 30 students annually. Their program is designed so that students first complete the Practical Nursing program, after which students may practice as licensed practical nurses. Or they may choose to reapply and continue to earn their ADN agree. This strategy aims to concentrate ADN students who are serious and passionate about the field. Students benefit from small class sizes, engaged peers, and faculty members who offer guidance in academics and career planning. Students are admitted based on their TEAS score, though other factors are weighed in as well. Southeastern Illinois College has an active nursing club that engages with the community through service and advocacy, aiming to increase the presence and voices of aspiring nurses as well as those of nursing professionals. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
99.10 | Holmes Community College | 4 | 11 | Goodman | MS | Holmes Community College is a public school in Goodman, MS. The school offers an ACEN accredited ADN program as well as an LPN-RN track. The ADN program is a two-year track that aims to prepare students for nursing roles in a variety of healthcare settings. With a balance of general education, nursing theory, and clinical experience, the program provides comprehensive preparation for students to meet the expanding and evolving healthcare demands of the community. Graduates that meet the requirements of the State Board of Nursing are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Holmes’ ADN program is accredited by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of Mississippi in addition to the aforementioned ACEN accreditation. The program focuses on two pillars, the first one being to ensure competency, as in the understanding of a nurse’s commitment to ethical and scientific principles alongside the excellent performance of specific tasks. The second pillar is grounded in equality, with a mission to provide equal access for traditional and nontraditional students. Students may enroll in the fall or in the spring. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.09 | Los Angeles Harbor College | 4 | 12 | Wilmington | CA | Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, California. They offer an RN program and an LVN to RN program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.06 | Grossmont College | 5 | 13 | El Cajon | CA | Grossmont College is located in El Cajon, California. They offer an RN, LVN to RN, and now offer an RN to BSN program, with the assistance of a local university, Point Loma Nazarene University. The RN classes must be completed at Grossmont College, and then the BSN classes are competed at Grossmont College as well, but are taught by PLNU faculty on-campus | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
99.00 | Western Piedmont Community College | 2 | 14 | Morganton | NC | Western Piedmont Community College is located in Morganton, North Carolina. WPCC offers an associate’s degree in nursing. They are proud to note that in 2008, they were one of seven North Carolina community colleges to be designated an “exceptional” community college. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.98 | Merritt College | 6 | 15 | Oakland | CA | Merritt College is located in Oakland, California. Their nursing program is an ADN program. Merritt nursing students also have the option to elect an ADN to BSN option, by enrolling in the Cal State East Bay BSN (CSUEB) program, which is a transfer bridge program to a neighboring university. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
98.92 | San Diego City College | 7 | 16 | San Diego | CA | San Diego City College is located in San Diego, California. They offer an RN program, an LVN to RN program, and a 30-unit option program. ADN graduates who seek to further their education also have the benefit of San Diego City College’s collaboration with San Diego State University; this allows the nursing graduate to continue for their BSN degree while working as an RN. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.90 | Concordia University Irvine | 8 | 17 | Irvine | CA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.88 | College of Coastal Georgia | 1 | 18 | Brunswick | GA | College of Coastal Georgia is located in Brunswick, Georgia. Their nursing department offers an ASN program, a prelicensure BSN program, which is designed for student without an RN license and an RN to BSN program, designed for students already holding their RN license. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.74 | Johnston Community College | 3 | 19 | Smithfield | NC | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.74 | Pikes Peak Community College | 1 | 19 | Colorado Springs | CO | Pikes Peak Community College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They offer an RN program and a dual enrollment RN to BSN program. Their RN program is unique in that students enrolled may exit with their LPN at a designated point in the program rather than continuing for the full program if they so choose. The dual enrollment program allows the RN student to also take classes towards their BSN while working towards their ADN. This would allow the student to first obtain their ADN but still have credits for their BSN after completion of the program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.74 | Louisiana Tech University | 1 | 19 | Ruston | LA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.71 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | 5 | 20 | Wesson | MS | Copiah-Lincoln Community College was established in 1915 as an agricultural high school in Wesson, Mississippi. Today it serves a seven-county area including Adams, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln and Simpson counties. CLCC has a nursing division that offers an ACEN accredited ADN program that was first rolled out in the fall of 1994. The Division of Nursing aims to provide comprehensive education and preparation for nursing positions within our health care system. The program emphasizes a student-centered educational environment by prioritizing high quality instruction as well as high expectations from its students. CLCC’s ADN program further focuses on the necessary versatility of nurses and their ability to adjust to unexpected circumstances in order to maintain maximum patient outcomes. Degree requirements to earn an ADN from Copiah-Lincoln consist of 72 hours, which are comprised of nursing hours as well as general education hours. It’s admissions process runs on an annual basis, enrolling students in the fall only. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.67 | College of the Albemarle | 4 | 21 | Elizabeth City | NC | College of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. They offer an LPN program an LPN to ADN program and an ADN program. They also offer a pre-BSN nursing pathway, which is for students who would like to obtain their general education credits but have not yet been admitted to a nursing program. They also have an RN to BSN Step Center, which helps students who have recently graduated with their ADN assistance in selecting an RN to BSN/RN to MSN program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.57 | Mira Costa College | 9 | 22 | Oceanside | CA | MiraCosta College has two campuses in Oceanside, California and a campus in Cardiff, California. Their nursing program offers a CNA program, a home health aide program, an LVN program, an RN program and an LVN to RN program. MiraCosta College has several partnerships with neighboring universities so that their graduates may easily obtain their BSN after graduation, should they so choose – Chamberlain College of Nursing, California State University College of Nursing and Brandman University, which also discounts the price for MiraCosta students.. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
98.53 | California State University-Stanislaus | 10 | 23 | Turlock | CA | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.52 | Northeast Mississippi Community College | 6 | 24 | Booneville | MS | Northeast Mississippi Community College is a public school located in Booneville, Mississippi. The college opened its doors in 1948 as an agricultural and junior college. Since then, NMCC has evolved into a multi-disciplinary college, including a nursing division. The nursing school offers an ACEN accredited ADN program, as well as a Practical Nursing (LPN) program. NMCC’s ADN program offers students a well-rounded education that focuses on instructional hours in local clinical facilities. The core mission of NMCC’s program is to prepare competent, caring professionals, who have the knowledge necessary to become a registered nurse and an excellent member of a healthcare team. The program can be completed in 5 semesters, though students may choose to complete the curriculum at a slower pace, as long as they complete it within 5 years of initial admission. LPNs interested in obtaining an ADN from NMCC may be eligible for advanced placement, offering a more challenging curriculum. Students may enroll in the fall and in the spring for all of NMCC’s nursing programs. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.52 | Worcester State College (WSU) | 1 | 24 | Worcester | MA | Becoming a nurse can be one of the best ways to start a rewarding career, establish yourself in a growing industry, and really improve the quality of people’s lives. If you’re considering becoming a registered nurse or a licensed practice nurse in Oregon, learn more about what it takes to become a nurse and how you can affect the health care field as a whole through your profession.
| Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.52 | Cape Fear Community College | 5 | 24 | Wilmington | NC | Cape Fear Community College is located in Wilmington, North Carolina. CFCC offers a practical nursing program, an RN program and a nursing transition option, which is an LPN to RN option. They are proud to announce that their 2015 NCLEX-RN pass rate was 100%. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.48 | East Mississippi Community College | 7 | 25 | Scooba | MS | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.47 | State Fair Community College | 1 | 26 | Sedalia | MO | State Fair Community College is a public community college in Sedalia, Missouri. The nursing division offers a bi-level program that allows students to become LPNs after year 1, or to complete a second year with an ADN diploma and NCLEX preparedness. At SFCC, the focus is on a blend of modern technology and traditional nursing theory. Classrooms are equipped with SMART board technology, and students will spend time in a dedicated health computer lab. This cultivates their familiarity with information processes, nursing technology, and analytical techniques. SFCC also has human patient simulators, which enhance students’ critical decision-making skills in a hands-on manner. SFCC places great importance on personal growth, development, teamwork, and the ability to apply the knowledge in various healthcare settings. SFCC also has an active Nursing Club, which fosters a community of like-minded individuals who are focusing on similar goals. Applicants can enroll once a year in the fall. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
98.44 | Chemeketa Community College | 2 | 27 | Salem | OR | Chemeketa Community College is located in Salem, Oregon. Their program is a ladder program, where first the student earns their LPN and then their RN degree. They also have an LPN to RN entry option, should a spot open up in the program for an eligible LPN. They also have inter-institutional agreements with Oregon Health Sciences University, University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and Linfield College for students seeking RN to BSN programs. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.42 | North Idaho College | 1 | 28 | Coeur d'Alene | ID | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.31 | Coahoma Community College | 8 | 29 | Clarksdale | MS | Coahoma Community College is located in Clarksdale, MS. Coahoma is a historically black college, and adheres to the tradition of providing excellent education to African Americans. Their nursing division offers an ACEN accredited ADN program. This program is tailored to LPNs, and is comprised of 2 general education semesters, 2 semester of nursing courses, and a summer term. Coahoma’s ADN curriculum has a clinical focus that incorporates academic knowledge, nursing theory, and simulated experiences. The program emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity and future-forward thinking. Learning outcomes are rooted in patient-centered care and professionalism. Students will cultivate leadership skills, communication techniques, teamwork methods, as well as familiarity with technology and modern advancement in the nursing field. Coahoma Community College’s mission is to prepare caring and independent nurses with critical thinking skills who can participate in their healthcare communities as a valuable member. Students can apply once a year for fall enrollment.
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.24 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 9 | 30 | Senatobia | MS | Northwest Mississippi Community College is a public community college in Senatobia, Mississippi. The institution first opened its doors in 1928, and has grown tremendously since then. The Division of Nursing offers an ADN program that is ACEN accredited, as well as an LPN-RN Transition program. The Division of Nursing strives to prepare community-oriented nurses that can provide excellent, patient-centered care in diverse settings. They also place emphasis on laboratory and clinical learning environments to stimulate student education and to increase outcomes. The program’s facility features highly technical simulation and skills laboratories, and provides students with professional career preparation through nursing seminar classes and Student Nurses Association memberships. Graduates of their ADN program are eligible and well-prepared to write the NCLEX-RN examination. The college also offers summer sessions for students who want to fulfill their curriculum requirements during the summer months. Students may enroll twice a year, in the fall and in the spring.
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.22 | Nashville State Community College | 2 | 31 | Nashville | TN | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.22 | Chattanooga State Community College | 2 | 31 | Chattanooga | TN | Chattanooga State Community College is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Baroness Erlanger Nursing Program offers an AAS in nursing; this program is subdivided into day and night programs. They also offer an AAS Transition track, which is available to LPNs and paramedics. Paramedics are accepted into the night program, and are accepted on even-numbered years. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.21 | California State University-Channel Islands | 11 | 32 | Camarillo | CA | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.17 | Cuesta College | 12 | 33 | San Luis Obispo | CA | Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California. They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program. Their LVN to RN program is 3 semesters, with the summer off. Clinical rotations are done at neighboring facilities. They also require their LVNs to have at least one year of experience prior to admittance into their program. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
98.17 | State College of Florida-Manatee−Sarasota | 1 | 33 | Bradenton | FL | State College of Florida – Manatee – Sarasota has campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice, Florida. It is the region’s first and largest public college. They offer multiple nursing programs, from an ADN program, to a BSN program to an ADN to RN and an RN to BSN program. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.09 | South Louisiana CC | 2 | 34 | Lafayette | LA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
98.07 | Seminole State College of Florida | 2 | 35 | Sanford | FL | Seminole State College of Florida is located in Sanford, Florida. They offer a generic RN program. They also offer a concurrent ASN-BSN program with University of Central Florida, which allows the student to complete both ASN and BSN requirements simultaneously. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.00 | Ohlone College | 13 | 36 | Fremont | CA | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.98 | Moorpark College | 14 | 37 | Moorpark | CA | Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California. They offer an RN program. LVNs can apply for advanced placement into the program; this accepts the LVN into the second or third semester of the program. While they do not have a specific LVN to RN program, this allows the LVN to proceed more quickly through their RN education. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.88 | Southside Virginia Community College | 1 | 38 | Alberta | VA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.88 | White Mountains Community College | 2 | 38 | Berlin | NH | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.87 | California State University-Chico | 15 | 39 | Chico | CA | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
97.84 | La Guardia Community College | 1 | 40 | Long Island City | NY | LaGuardia Community College is a part of the City University of New York and is located in Queens. Their ADN program is ACEN accredited. The focus of the program lies in patient care management, effective communication, awareness of the legal and ethical framework of nursing, the ability to deliver quality care to diverse populations, as well as leadership skills. Each student will be provided with an advising team, which is comprised of faculty, professional, and peer advisors. These individuals help with course selection, creating education and career plans, as well as connecting students with campus support services. There is an LPN to RN advanced standing pathway, through which students can receive 15 total exemption credits. Students may apply for enrollment ahead of each 12 week session. As LCC is part of CUNY, they offer a Citizenship and Immigration service, providing free counseling and assistance to those who may need help with their immigration status. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.81 | Howard College - Big Springs | 2 | 41 | Big Spring | TX | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.81 | Mt. San Jacinto College (Mt San Jacinto Community College District) | 16 | 41 | San Jacinto | CA | Mt. San Jacinto Community College has campuses in San Jacinto, California and Menifee Valley, California. They offer an RN and an LVN to RN program. Their nursing department philosophy, “focuses on the individual needs of the students and patients (persons), within the context of families, communities and environments who exist on a health continuum.” | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
97.81 | Regis College | 2 | 41 | Weston | MA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.80 | Labette Community College | 1 | 42 | Parsons | KS | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.80 | Stanbridge University | 17 | 42 | Irvine | CA | Stanbridge University is located in Irvine and Los Angeles, California. Stanbridge offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (RN) degree program. Stanbridge maintains a high standard of academic excellence by integrating innovative technology, hands-on practice, and community service for a holistic student experience. | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | ||
97.79 | Rockland Community College | 2 | 43 | Suffern | NY | Rockland Community College was established in 1959 and is located in Ramapo, NY. The school offers an ACEN accredited ADN program, and students may enroll in the fall or in the spring. The program’s focus is regional, preparing nurses who can meet the needs of the community. The curriculum combines nursing theory with general education courses to build a foundation of competency to ensure graduates can provide patient-centered care. Students will gain hands-on experience in the simulation lab as well as in healthcare facilities. RCC offers various clinical opportunities in close proximity to campus. There are also evening clinical options for those interested. There is an LPN to RN pathway that offers those eligible an accelerated curriculum. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.77 | Arkansas Northeastern College - Blytheville | 1 | 44 | Blytheville | AR | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.77 | Washington State Community College | 1 | 44 | Marietta | OH | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.76 | Eastern Maine Community College | 1 | 45 | Bangor | ME | Eastern Maine Community College is located in Bangor, Maine. EMCC calls their ADN program a “Multiple Entry Nursing Program” as it allows students to enter the program at various times based on their education level. For example, a new student would enter the program at the beginning. An LPN would enter the program later based on the fact that they already have nursing experience. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.76 | Helena College University of Montana | 1 | 45 | Helena | MT | Helena College – University of Montana is located in Helena, Montana. Their program admits 16 student each fall and spring – 8 of which are regular RN cohorts and 8 off which are LPN to BSN pathway cohorts. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.72 | New Mexico State University-Carlsbad | 1 | 46 | Carlsbad | NM | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.72 | York Technical College/USC Lancaster | 1 | 46 | Rock Hill | SC | York Technical College is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. They offer a DAS (diploma) for practical nursing, a AAS degree – Gen Tech Nursing – Practical, an AAS – Nursing (ADN) and an AAS – Gen Tech to Nursing (ADN). Their program is a collaboration with University of South Carolina Lancaster, and students (even LPN students earning AAS degree) ready themselves for advanced degrees at University of South Carolina Lancaster. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.70 | College of Our Lady of Elms | 3 | 47 | Chicopee | MA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.69 | Saddleback College | 18 | 48 | Mission Viejo | CA | Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California. They offer a generic RN program and an LVN to RN program. They also have a “Southern California New Graduate RN Transition Program” that is open to Orange County community college nursing graduates who have graduated within the past year; it is designed to transition the nurse from the school setting directly into the work setting. The program pairs the new graduate with a practicing RN for the duration of the program, working approximately 240 hours on the night shift. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.69 | East Central College-Union | 2 | 48 | Union | MO | East Central College is a comprehensive community college with three campus locations. East Central College offers two different programs that result in an ADN degree. The main campus in Union and the one in Rolla offer a pre-licensure program. An LPN to RN Bridge program is offered at the Rolla location as well. Both education sites have the approval of the Missouri State Board of Nursing, and are well-equipped with clinical simulation labs. This exposes students to technology and allows them to apply knowledge and skills to high-fidelity human patient simulators. The program places great importance on access and flexibility, allowing students to pave their way to a nursing career while balancing other aspects of their lives. Some courses are offered online. Students will be prepared for their future roles as nurses through the combined classroom and clinical components of the program, which cultivate strong, competent, and caring professionals. Enrollment is once annually, in the fall. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
97.66 | Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 2 | 49 | Canton | OH | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
97.64 | Chaffey College | 19 | 50 | Rancho Cucamonga | CA | Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Their nursing program was founded in 1957 and was one of the first five associate’s degree nursing programs in California. They offer an RN program, a VN to RN program and a VN to RN (non-degree option). | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.63 | River Valley Community College | 3 | 51 | Claremont | NH | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.53 | Pierce College | 2 | 52 | Puyallup | WA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.51 | Anne Arundel Community College | 1 | 53 | Arnold | MD | Anne Arundel Community College is located in Arnold, Maryland. The school of nursing offers an RN program, an an LPN to RN Advanced Placement option, which allows LPNs to enter the program at a later time, and a Veterans to RN Advanced Placement option, which also allows the veteran to enter the program at a later time. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.49 | California State University-San Marcos | 20 | 54 | San Marcos | CA | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.46 | Manchester Community College | 4 | 55 | Manchester | NH | Manchester Community College is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Their nursing program has a variety of options – there is both full-time and part-time ADN programs. There is also a practical nursing program and an LPN to RN program, which is a hybrid program, meaning that it utilizes both online and on-campus courses. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.46 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences | 6 | 55 | Charlotte | NC | Carolinas College of Health Sciences is located within the Carolinas HealthCare System. Their college is devoted entirely to educating healthcare professionals. They offer an associate’s degree program and an LPN to ADN program. They like to brag that 80% of their graduates choose to take a position with Carolinas HealthCare System after graduating. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.43 | Maricopa Nursing - Scottsdale Community College | 1 | 56 | Scottsdale | AZ | Scottsdale Community College is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. This community college is known to offer perks to its students, such as the latest versions of Windows and Microsoft Office suite; this allows their students to have the latest technology with which to do their assignments. They also offer academic support services to students in a variety of topics. Scottsdale Community College offers an ADN program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.42 | Bismarck State College | 1 | 57 | Bismarck | ND | Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota. Through the Dakota Nursing Program, a collaboration of several community colleges, a standardized nursing program allows students to earn their LPN and then their RN in a stepwise fashion. They are also eligible for bridge programs for RN to BSN/RN to MSN with neighboring universities. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.28 | Kennebec Valley Community College | 2 | 58 | Fairfield | ME | Kennebec Valley Community College is located in Fairfield, Maine. They offer an ADN program and an LPN to ADN program. KVCC has over 2,500 students currently enrolled in classes. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.25 | Forsyth Technical Community College | 7 | 59 | Winston-Salem | NC | Forsyth Technical Community College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They offer a practical nursing an associate’s degree program. They also offer an LPN to RN transition option. Annually, they offer 144 students admission into their ADN programs. Students are accepted in the fall and spring semesters, with LPN to RN students gaining entrance during the fall semester only. The LPN to RN program has classes in a traditional pattern on-campus, with the clinical portion during the evenings and weekends. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
97.25 | Iowa Central Community College | 1 | 59 | Fort Dodge | IA | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.24 | NHTI-Concord's Community College | 5 | 60 | Concord | NH | NHTI – Concord’s Community College is located in Concord, New Hampshire. They offer an ADN degree (generic) and an LPN to RN option. They also offer an RN to BSN Public Pathway (with Granite State College) and an RN to BSN Pathway with Saint Anselm College; both pathways allow ADN graduates to complete their third year towards a BSN degree at NHTI before transferring to their chosen school to complete the program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.23 | Ozarks Technical Community College | 3 | 61 | Springfield | MO | Ozarks Technical Community College was founded in 1990, and is located in Springfield, Missouri. They offer an LPN to ADN program, and students can enroll at 4 different points throughout the year. The program is uniquely designed as a bridge curriculum that lasts 36 weeks and has ACEN accreditation. This fast-paced program aims to enhance students’ ability in providing high quality, caring, and competent care. There’s a focus on critical thinking, and interdisciplinary teamwork dynamics that nurses will likely operate in. The program further equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful care provider and care manager. The specialized LPN to ADN focus of the program is a great strength, as it prepares those with similar foundations in the nursing field for the NCLEX exam and makes them capable of working through the challenges prominently experienced in nursing roles. They also offer a Hybrid Cohort track, which is an online and face-to-face combination format. However, it does require clinical time on the Springfield or Table Rock campuses. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.22 | Oakton Community College | 2 | 62 | Des Plaines | IL | Oakton Community College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois. There is also a campus in Skokie, Illinois. They offer an RN program and an LPN to RN bridge program. The RN program is offered twice yearly, whereas the bridge program is only offered once per year. The LPN seeking entrance into their program must have a minimum of two years of nursing experience prior to admission. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.10 | Mitchell Community College | 8 | 63 | Statesville | NC | Mitchell Community College is located in Statesville, North Carolina. They offer an associate’s degree RN. MCC has a collaboration with Lenoir-Rhyne University called the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN), which allows a seamless transition for students after graduation in competing their BSN degree. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.09 | Rogue Community College | 3 | 64 | Grants Pass | OR | Rogue Community College is locate in Grants Pass, Oregon. They offer an ADN degree; they also offer an advanced placement option for LPNs for the second year of the nursing program. In order to be eligible for advanced placement, you must have worked at least 500 hours as an LPN. The program reserves at least 4 spots for LPNs. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
97.08 | South Georgia State College | 2 | 65 | Douglas | GA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.02 | Maricopa Nursing - Estrella Mountain Community College | 2 | 66 | Avondale | AZ | At the Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) nursing programs, students learn the practical and technical skills along with the clinical training to become a registered nurse with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. Students are prepared to work in a number of healthcare settings including physician offices, hospitals, nursing homes among others. EMCC is located in Avondale, AZ and is part of the Maricopa Community College District Nursing Program (MCCDNP). Its nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. EMCC offers the following nursing programs:
| Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
97.00 | Hagerstown Community College | 2 | 67 | Hagerstown | MD | Hagerstown Community College is located in Hagerstown, Maryland. They offer an ASN program, an LPN to RN transition program and a paramedic to RN transition program. They also offer an ATB (associate-to-bachelor’s) program inn conjunction with Frostburg University ad Towson University. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
96.97 | North Dakota State College of Science | 2 | 68 | Wahpeton | ND | North Dakota State College of Science is located in Wahpeton, North Dakota. They offer several options for their nursing students; they offer an LPN diploma, an LPN AAS, which is designed for students who will eventually seek to obtain their ADN, and an ADN degree. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
96.95 | Surry Community College | 9 | 69 | Dobson | NC | Surry Community College is located in Dobson, North Carolina. They offer a practical nursing program, an ADN program, and a separate LPN to ADN program. The programs uses a points system to determine entrance in the program. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
96.94 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 1 | 70 | Williamsport | PA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
96.91 | Tidewater Community College | 2 | 71 | Norfolk | VA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
96.91 | Mountain View College | 3 | 71 | Dallas | TX | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
96.89 | Wake Technical Community College | 10 | 72 | Raleigh | NC | Wake Technical Community College is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. They offer an ADN degree and an advanced placement option for LPNs. The WTCC Department of Nursing is “proud of our reputation in the community for preparing excellent, well-qualified nurses.” | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
96.88 | Lane Community College | 4 | 73 | Eugene | OR | Lane Community College is located in Eugene, Oregon. They offer an LPN certificate, an ADN degree and an LPN to RN bridge option. The bridge option allows LPNs to enter the into the second year of the ADN program. | Public | Campus | See School Details |
Grade | University | State Rank | US Rank | City | State | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
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100.00 | Saint Francis University | 1 | 1 | Loretto | PA | Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania. In terms of undergraduate programs, they offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. They also are extremely proud of the fact that their faculty to student ratio is 8:1 in the clinical setting. Their faculty and nursing students regularly volunteer in clinics for underserved populations. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
100.00 | East Texas Baptist University | 1 | 1 | Marshall | TX | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Texas State University-San Marcos- St. David School of Nursing | 1 | 1 | San Marcos | TX | Texas State University is located in San Marcos, Texas. The St. David’s School of Nursing is ranked #2 of the “Best Nursing Schools in the State of Texas.” Their most recent 2016 BSN graduates had a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate. They offer a traditional BSN program, with 100 students being admitted yearly. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
100.00 | Muskingum University | 1 | 1 | New Concord | OH | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
100.00 | Berea College | 1 | 1 | Berea | KY | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
99.49 | California State University-Long Beach | 1 | 2 | Long Beach | CA | California State University – Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California. For BSN nursing, they offer a traditionl nursing program, designed for students without a prior nursing license, and a “registered nurse student” program which is designed for students already holding an RN license. They also offer a DNP program. | Public | Campus | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
99.41 | Mississippi University for Women | 1 | 3 | Columbus | MS | The Mississippi University for Women offers a 4-year BSN program in addition to an Advanced Placement RN to BSN program, ideal for registered nurses who are interested in advancing their nursing careers. Though the school’s name implies that it offers single-sex education, since 1982 men have been welcome to attend. The school’s BSN program focuses on preparing students to be skilled leaders who are agents for change in illness prevention and patient care. Those who graduate from the program will have a comprehensive educational foundation that opens the doors to opportunities for further study, such as a master’s degree in nursing. The BSN program is aware of the continually changing world, and places a focus on the prevention of illness, maintenance of health, and a responsibility for managing long-term and terminal disruptions to health. Additionally, the Mississippi University of Women emphasizes the nurse’s role as a client advocate and an important liaison on healthcare teams. Students can enroll in the summer, as well as in the fall. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
99.36 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 1 | 4 | Columbia | SC | University of South Carolina is located in Columbia, South Carolina. USC has been rated #1 in the nation by US News and World Report for their online education Master’s programs. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program, in addition to a wide variety of post-graduate options. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
99.33 | Longwood University | 1 | 5 | Farmville | VA | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
99.21 | University of the Incarnate Word | 2 | 6 | San Antonio | TX | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
99.15 | Thomas Edison State College | 1 | 7 | Trenton | NJ | Thomas Edison State College is located in Trenton, New Jersey. They have several degree options; there is a BSN option, an RN to BSN option, an RN to MSN option and an accelerated BSN option (available for students with a prior bachelor’s degree). Thomas Edison State College has a rolling admission, meaning that students can enter any time of the year and go at their own pace through their chosen program. | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
99.15 | Concordia University-Texas | 3 | 7 | Austin | TX | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
99.11 | Trinity Christian College | 1 | 8 | Palos Heights | IL | Trinity Christian College is a private Christian college located in Palos Heights, Illinois. The nursing school offers a four-year BSN program that comes with an integrated minor in science. Trinity’s nursing program is the only nursing school in the Chicago area with a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2015 and 2016 and has continued to earn that perfect score each consecutive year. The program prepares students academically and clinically for the patient’s physical, spiritual, and mental needs. The coursework incorporates knowledge from the humanities and the natural, social, and nursing sciences to cultivate a holistic understanding of nursing care. The program offers small class sizes and state-of-the-art facilities, providing a comprehensive and hands-on experience grounded in a Christian environment. Trinity Christian College’s nursing program has an excellent reputation in Illinois, attracting a strong, albeit small yet dedicated group of students. The college offers a robust program and is accessible to most interested students with an 88% acceptance rate. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
99.10 | Saint Anselm College | 1 | 9 | Manchester | NH | Saint Anselm College is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. They have a state-of-the-art simulation lab, with the latest in simulation technology, including Simbaby, Simman, Birthing Mother and a Pyxis. They also are proud to boast that they have 8 to 1 student to instructor ratios. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
99.09 | University of Houston-Victoria | 4 | 10 | Victoria | TX | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
99.07 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 1 | 11 | Fort Myers | FL | Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, Florida. FGCU offers a BSN program. At this time, they do not offer an RN to BSN program. RNs may enroll in their program but they must attend the full program along with all other BSN students. They do offer BSN to DNP , MSN to DNP, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner programs. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
99.04 | Fransciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | 1 | 12 | Baton Rouge | LA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
98.96 | Eastern Kentucky University | 2 | 13 | Richmond | KY | Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, Kentucky. EKU offers a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program. They also have a wide variety of post-graduate options for those who want to continue their education after graduating with their BSN degree. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.93 | University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2 | 14 | Jackson | MS | The University of Mississippi School of Nursing was founded in 1948, and has developed and expanded their offerings ever since. Today, their offerings are extensive. On the Bachelor’s level they offer a BSN, Early-Entry BSN, Accelerated BSN, and an RN-BSN program. On the Master’s level they offer an MSN and Post-Masters, RN-MSN, and RN-MSN Early Entry program. On the Doctoral level they offer a DNP, BSN-DNP, Post-Masters DNP Early Entry, PhD in Nursing, and BSN-PhD. Their School of Nursing develops nurse leaders through evidence-based practice and research, innovative local partnerships, and unique community-based systems. They believe that nurses should be versatile, knowledgeable, life-long learners who are able to advocate for their patients. The traditional BSN program admits students annually in the fall, though the RN-BSN admits students for the spring, summer and fall semesters. For master’s programs the application deadlines and enrollment times vary based on program concentration. The University of Mississippi’s nursing program boasts a strong faculty with a diversity of skill and experience, as well as state-of-the-art equipment for their students. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.89 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 1 | 15 | Martin | TN | The University of Tennessee – Martin is located in Martin, Tennessee. UTM offers a traditional BSN program and an online BSN program. UTM also recognizes nursing student excellent with Sigma Theta Tau (Pi Tau Chapter), which is an international honor society for nursing. | Public | Campus, Online | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
98.88 | Colby-Sawyer College | 2 | 16 | New London | NH | Colby-Sawyer College is located in New London, New Hampshire. They offer a BSN program and a MSN program. Colby-Sawyer has a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), which allows students to do the majority of their clinical rotations onsite at their facility. They also actively seek the graduates of Colby-Sawyer for employment. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.78 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 2 | 17 | Chattanooga | TN | Public | Online | See School Details | |||
98.77 | Western Governors University | 1 | 18 | Salt Lake City | UT | Western Governors University is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer many options for nursing students, from the bachelor’s level to master’s level. They offer a prelicensure BSN program and an RN to BSN program. WGU is a non-traditional university and their education is based on competencies, which means that their approach allows the students to learn things they do not already know, taking into consideration past education and work experience. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.67 | Gardner-Webb University | 1 | 19 | Boiling Springs | NC | Gardner-Webb University is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Hunt School of Nursing has had an ADN program since 1965 and has expanded to include a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program, an MSN program, which includes either education, FNP, or administration, and a DNP program. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.63 | University of Kentucky | 3 | 20 | Lexington | KY | University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky. Their College of Nursing had over 1,500 students enrolled in 2015. They offer a traditional BSN, an LPN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program. The mission of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing is to promote health and well-being through excellence in nursing education, research, practice and service while fostering diversity and inclusion. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.60 | Harding University - Searcy | 1 | 21 | Searcy | AR | Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas. Carr College of Nursing was founded in 1975; their graduates are now working throughout the world. Carr College of Nursing produces nurses who are not only prepared for entry-level nursing positions, but are also Christian servants. Their students have the opportunity to join a Health Care Missions Program, with local and international experiences. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.60 | Carlow University | 2 | 21 | Pittsburgh | PA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
98.52 | Carson-Newman University | 3 | 22 | Jefferson City | TN | Carson-Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. They offer two avenues towards a nursing degree – the traditional BSN degree, which is 8 semesters over 4 years, or the accelerated BSN degree, which is 8 continuous semesters. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.52 | The University of Tampa | 2 | 22 | Tampa | FL | The University of Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida. University of Tampa offers a BSN program and a MSN program. Their BSN program is highly competitive and students are accepted for fall, spring and summer semesters. Their program is designed for students without nursing credits. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.48 | Duke University | 2 | 23 | Durham | NC | Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina. The Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) is unique in that their only BSN program is an accelerated BSN (ABSN) – it is designed for adult learners with a prior bachelors degree. DUSON’s primary focus is on educating nurses to advanced degrees; in fact, aside from the ABSN degree students, they graduated their last BSN students in 1983. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.48 | Kennesaw State University | 1 | 23 | Kennesaw | GA | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
98.45 | University of Holy Cross | 2 | 24 | New Orleans | LA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACME, COA | See School Details | ||
98.45 | Georgia College and State University | 2 | 24 | Milledgeville | GA | Public | Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
98.43 | OHSU Accelerated Portland | 1 | 25 | Portland | OR | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.40 | Montana Tech of the University of Montana | 1 | 26 | Butte | MT | Montana Tech is located in Butte, Montana. They offer two BSN programs – a pre-licensure and a post-licensure. The pre-licensure program is for students without a prior degree. The post-licensure program is for students with a prior RN degree. Montana Tech’s nursing program is the first four-year nursing program to be approved by Montana in the past 78 years. | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.36 | University of Virginia-MSN | 2 | 27 | Charlottesville | VA | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
98.36 | Delta State University | 3 | 27 | Cleveland | MS | Delta State University is a public university in Cleveland, MS, in the Mississippi Delta. Established in 1924, Delta State has blossomed into a diverse college with a plethora of offerings for its students. The Robert E. Smith School of Nursing has several programs. They offer a BSN track, in addition to the following online offerings: RN to BSN, MS in Nursing, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice. Delta State prides itself for its skilled faculty within the nursing school, who have various nursing specialities and are committed to providing high quality education in the classroom, online, as well as in clinical environments. Simulation practicals are also incorporated into the program, facilitated by their extensive Skills and Simulation Labs. These labs include a variety of mannequins, supplies and equipment, including mannequins with abdominal, heart, lung sounds, wounds, and nursing care applicability. Students may enroll in the fall and in the spring. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.35 | University of New Hampshire (DEMN), Durham | 3 | 28 | Durham | NH | University of New Hampshire is located in Durham, New Hampshire. UNH offers a BSN program. Their nursing department has a simulation laboratory that offers its students a clinical experience; the sim lab has mannequins, task trainers and other clinical equipment. Nursing students who excel and maintain a high GPA are considered “honors in major” students and graduate with Honors in Nursing on their diploma. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
98.33 | Lincoln Memorial University | 4 | 29 | Harrogate | TN | Lincoln Memorial University is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. They offer a variety of undergraduate options for their nursing students – an ASN program, a BSN program, and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program is offered completely online. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
98.24 | Anderson University | 1 | 30 | Anderson | IN | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.22 | Southern Connecticut State University-Accelerated | 1 | 31 | New Haven | CT | Public | Campus | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
98.18 | California State University-Sacramento | 2 | 32 | Sacramento | CA | California State University – Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California. They offer a variety of BSN programs – a traditiona BSN program, an RN to BSN program and an LVN to RN 30-unit option, non-degree program. The non-degree program serves the LVN who wants to work as an RN but may not have time to complete an ADN or BSN degree. On the downside, they do not have a degree after completion and their nursing license may not transfer state-to-state. | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
98.15 | South University | 3 | 33 | Glen Allen | VA | Private For-Profit | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | ||
98.13 | York College | 1 | 34 | Jamaica | NY | Public | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | ||
98.10 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 5 | 35 | San Antonio | TX | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.98 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 1 | 36 | Shawnee | OK | Oklahoma Baptist University is a private university that was founded in 1910 in Shawnee, OK. They offer a four-year BSN program, an LPN to BSN track, and an online RN to BSN/MSN track, all of which are CCNE accredited. OBU’s programs infuse principles of the Christian faith and worldview into nursing education. Unique to OBU is their RN to BSN/MSN track, offering a flexible opportunity for nurses seeking to advance their careers with a 2-year program that they may exit upon earning the BSN, or may continue to finish with an MSN. The traditional BSN track fosters a collaborative and supportive environment with close faculty to student interaction. OBU’s nursing school further educates nursing students to understand civic and regulatory processes as well as fiscal and Human Resources management. This is an integrative program resting on pillars of faith, collaboration, and excellence. Students may apply twice a year for enrollment in the fall or in the spring. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
97.96 | Western Kentucky University-Bowling Green | 4 | 37 | Bowling Green | KY | Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. WKU offers a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a second degree BSN program. The second degree BSN program allows students with a prior bachelor’s degree to become an RN in 4 semesters. This program is separate from the RN to BSN program.. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.90 | Lander University | 2 | 38 | Greenwood | SC | Lander University is located in Greenwood, South Carolina. The William Preston Turner School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an online RN to BSN program and an MSN for Clinical Nurse Leader program. | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
97.89 | University of Southern Mississippi | 4 | 39 | Hattiesburg | MS | The University of Southern Mississippi has multi-level nursing programs within their CCNE accredited College of Nursing and Health Professions. They offer a 4-year BSN program, an online RN to BSN program, as well as various programs on the master’s and doctorate levels. On the master’s level they offer nursing degrees with different specializations, including Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. On the doctorate level, USM offers nursing degrees with concentrations on clinical nursing, leadership, and anesthesia. The master’s level concentrations are applicable to the doctorate level as well. The College of Nursing and Health Professions places a strong emphasis on innovative and evidence-based learning and teaching. USM has cultivated an academically robust nursing school that challenges its students with ethical and legal implications, professionalism, research, and leadership. The program also has a simulation lab, giving students hands-on experiences with high-fidelity mannequins. Students can enroll in the fall, though eligible transfer students can enroll in the spring. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.85 | University of Sioux Falls | 1 | 40 | Sioux Falls | SD | University of Sioux Falls is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They offer three nursing tracks: a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The online RN to BSN program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
97.83 | Univ. of Louisiana Lafayette | 3 | 41 | Lafayette | LA | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.82 | University of Dubuque | 1 | 42 | Dubuque | IA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
97.78 | Sonoma State University | 3 | 43 | Rohnert Park | CA | Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California. Sonoma State University offers “pre-licensure BSN” and “post-licensure” BSN programs. The pre-licensure program is designed for traditional BSN students, where as the post-licensure BSN program is designed for students who hold an ADN degree and their RN license. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.76 | The University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston | 6 | 44 | Galveston | TX | UTMB is located in Galveston, Texas. They are a health system that also offers several healthcare education options, such as nursing. They offer a BSN program, an MSN program, a DNP program, and a PhD program. The BSN program offers the traditional BSN option and an RN to BSN option, which is an online option. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.73 | Western Carolina University | 3 | 45 | Cullowhee | NC | Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Their nursing department offers a pre-licensure BSN program, an accelerated BSN program (allowing a student with a prior bachelor’s degree to obtain a BSN degree) and an RN to BSN program, which is an online program. Their programs are also offered at Biltmore Park Towne Square in Asheville, North Carolina; this location offers only a selection of majors, nursing being one of the few. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.68 | McNeese State Univ | 4 | 46 | Lake Charles | LA | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.65 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 1 | 47 | Standish | ME | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.62 | Ohio Northern University | 2 | 48 | Ada | OH | Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, Ohio. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN completion program. Their RN to BSN program is just 12 months; students meet once weekly for 4 12-week terms, in addition to two clinical experiences. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
97.61 | Cedar Crest College | 3 | 49 | Allentown | PA | Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. They offer a BSN program and an BSN Completion Program for RNs. Unique to Cedar Crest College is the School Nurse Certification that is offered; it can be completed on-campus, online or a combination of the two. It can be completed in 18 months to 2 years. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
97.60 | East Carolina University | 4 | 50 | Greenville | NC | East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina. They offer several BSN degree options – a traditional BSN degree, an accelerated BSN degree (for second degree students), an an RN to BSN degree. East Carolina University has been in existence since 1908, when it broke ground as a teachers training institution. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.58 | Indiana University-Northwest | 2 | 51 | Gary | IN | Indiana University – Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana. They offer a traditional BSN program. They also offer an online RN to BSN program. They also offer a BA/BS to BSN program, which allow those already holding a bachelor’s degree to become a BSN. | Public | Campus, Online | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
97.57 | Chamberlain College of Nursing | 3 | 52 | Columbus | OH | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
97.53 | Rhode Island College | 1 | 53 | Providence | RI | Rhode Island College is located in Providence, Rhode Island. For BSN students, they offer a basic program, an accelerated program for second degree students and an RN to BSN program. They also offer several post-graduate options for students, after graduating with their BSN. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | |
97.52 | Austin Peay State University | 5 | 54 | Clarksville | TN | Austin Peay State University is located in Clarksville, Tennessee. They offer a traditional BSN program and an online RN to BSN program. The traditional program is for pre-licensure students and students with a prior bachelor’s degree. The online program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.50 | Emory University | 3 | 55 | Atlanta | GA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.48 | Messiah College | 4 | 56 | Mechanicsburg | PA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
97.43 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 5 | 57 | Williamsport | PA | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
97.42 | LSU Health Science Center | 5 | 58 | New Orleans | LA | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.38 | Bryan Health College | 1 | 59 | Lincoln | NE | Bryan College of Health Sciences is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. They offer a BSN and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program is a hybrid program – it is a mix of online and traditional, on-campus courses. Bryan College of Health Sciences is a college devoted entirely to educating healthcare professionals, from nurses to sonographers. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
97.26 | Southeastern LA Univ | 6 | 60 | Hammond | LA | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
97.21 | University of Arizona | 1 | 61 | Tucson | AZ | The University of Arizona is in Tuscon, Arizona. Their nursing program has a lot to boast about – they are #20 in the “Top 30 Cutting-Edge Nursing Schools.” In addition, they are #1 in the state of Arizona for program outcomes according to the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Their programs are also offered online, which caters to non-traditional learners, especially veterans, earning them #32 among “Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans.” | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.20 | Allen College | 2 | 62 | Waterloo | IA | Allen College is located in Waterloo, Iowa. Allen College is unique in that it is a college that provides only healthcare education. The following degrees are available: Associate of Science in Radiography, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education degree programs. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.20 | Concordia College | 2 | 62 | Bronxville | NY | Concordia College is located in Bronxville, NY and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church. They offer a CCNE accredited BSN program that fully incorporates a liberal arts foundation with nursing theory and clinical experience. With a focus on familiarity with advanced technology used in healthcare settings as well as the needs of the whole person, students will be prepared to provide quality care to diverse populations in various settings. The curriculum includes education on cultural sensitivities and the tailored approaches of care that many patients require. They also offer an accelerated, 2-year program for students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field. Students will receive hands-on practice in mental health facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals in the New York metropolitan area and Westchester County. The student-to-teacher ratio is small, and the nursing faculty is committed to nurturing a supportive environments in which students can flourish. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
97.17 | Brigham Young University-Provo | 2 | 63 | Provo | UT | Brigham Young University is located in Provo, Utah. BYU offers a BSN program. They have a clinical simulation laboratory where they can practice nursing skills prior to working with actual patients. As part of their global health course, students have the opportunity to travel to distant areas, such as Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, and Ghana. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.17 | University of Charleston | 1 | 63 | Charleston | WV | University of Charleston is located in Charleston, West Virginia. They have several undergraduate nursing options – an ADN degree, a BSN degree and an RN to BSN option. The RN to BSN degree is completed online and can be finished in as little as 12 months. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | ||
97.15 | Sacred Heart University | 2 | 64 | Fairfield | CT | Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 in Fairfield, CT. SHU is a private Roman Catholic school, and since 1980 they have committed to providing excellent nursing education. Today they offer three CCNE accredited nursing trajectories: a BSN program, an online RN to BSN program, and an online RN to MSN program. The online RN-BSN and RN-MSN programs are designed to be flexible and convenient. These programs offers six start dates each year, allowing students to choose how to balance their coursework with their other commitments. Those seeking to enroll in the traditional four year program must be first-time full-time undergraduate students who begin the application process during their senior year of high school. SHU fosters a close-knit on-campus community, though they do encourage their nursing students to experience and understand the nursing field globally. Students have the opportunity to participate in clinical field experiences in Guatemala, Antigua, Jamaica, or Kingston, where they will gain hands-on practice as a member of a nursing team. They further offer a nursing leadership course on Sacred Heart’s campus in Dingle, Ireland, allowing students to explore the Irish healthcare system. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.11 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | 2 | 65 | Omaha | NE | Nebraska Methodist College is located in Omaha, Nebraska. Their college educates healthcare professionals, from nurses to respiratory therapists to occupational therapists. Their nursing program is extensive, offering everything from BSN programs to DNP programs. They offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, an RN to BSN program and an LPN to BSN program. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
97.10 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 4 | 66 | Zanesville | OH | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
97.00 | Colorado State University-Pueblo/ Univ Southern Colorado Accelerated BS | 1 | 67 | Pueblo | CO | Colorado State University – Pueblo is located in Pueblo, Colorado. This university offers various options for their BSN students – they offer a traditional option and an ADN to BSN option. However, they also have an LPN to BSN program, a Degree Plus to BSN option (allows students with prior degrees to obtain a BSN degree) and a paramedic to BSN option. | Public | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
96.99 | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | 6 | 68 | Bloomsburg | PA | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. Their RN to BSN program is offered entirely online; at this time, their online program is available only to PA residents but they are seeking to expand to non-PA residents in the very near future. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.98 | Eastern University | 7 | 69 | Saint Davids | PA | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
96.98 | Carroll University | 1 | 69 | Waukesha | WI | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
96.98 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | 7 | 69 | Lubbock | TX | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
96.97 | William Carey University | 5 | 70 | Hattiesburg | MS | William Carey University is a private, Christian school that offers three tracks towards earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). They have a pre-licensure BSN program, LPN Advanced Placement program, and an RN to BSN program. On the graduate level, WCU offers an MSN, an MSN and MBA dual program, and a Doctor of Philosophy, which concentrates on Nursing Education and Administration. William Carey operates on a trimester system, meaning that there are fall, winter, spring, and summer trimesters, each being 10 weeks long. WCU’s BSN program takes six trimesters to complete, and students can enroll in the fall and in the spring. The LPN Advanced Placement program is an opportunity for LPNs to strengthen their educational and career advancement. The program is part time, allowing working nurses to incorporate further education into their schedule. The part time program takes ten trimesters, or thirty months to complete. Students can enroll in the fall only. The RN-BSN program is an online program to meet the needs of working RNs and takes twelve months to complete. Students may enroll in the fall and in the spring. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
96.93 | University of Miami | 3 | 71 | Coral Gables | FL | University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida. Their post-graduate programs for nursing are highly awarded by US News & World Report – their doctorate of nursing program is rated #38, while their master’s of nursing is rated #40 in their respective divisions. For a bachelor’s level of education, they offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, and an RN to BSN program. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.91 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 2 | 72 | Teaneck | NJ | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
96.90 | Stephen F Austin State University | 8 | 73 | Nacogdoches | TX | Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Richard and Lucille Dewitt School of Nursing They offer a BSN degree and an online RN to BSN degree. SFA’s first BSN students were accepted in 1981; their program prior was primarily an ADN education. The school has since adopted a BSN curriculum. | Public | Campus, Online | ACME, COA | See School Details | |
96.89 | Saint Anthony College of Nursing | 2 | 74 | Rockford | IL | Saint Anthony College of Nursing is located in Rockford, IL. Their health sciences facility is located on the campus of Rock Valley College, which provides for an interdisciplinary campus and student experience. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN track. All programs are CCNE accredited. Saint Anthony’s additionally offers high school students the chance to reserve a seat in the BSN program beginning in the fall, two years after high school graduation. Students must take general education and pre-nursing requirements at other institutions before enrolling into the BSN program at Saint Anthony’s. The RN to BSN program is 18 months long and offers classes during the evening and afternoon, making it possible for RNs to incorporate an academic curriculum into their schedules. The school is owned and operated by OSF HealthCare, and provides nursing education that deeply integrates Christian values and the example of Francis of Assisi. OSF HealthCare has a rich and extensive history for its efforts to care for those in need and saving lives. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.89 | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | 4 | 74 | Richmond | VA | Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing is located in Richmond, Virginia. They offer a traditional BSN degree and an online RN to BSN degree. The online program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis and is designed with the working nurse in mind. The college has a Clinical Simulator Center, which offers an 8-bed Med/Surg unit, an adult critical care unit, a pediatric unit and a maternal/child unit. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
96.88 | University at Buffalo | 3 | 75 | Buffalo | NY | The University at Buffalo was founded in 1846 as a private medical school, but since 1962 it has been part of the SUNY system. The University at Buffalo School of Nursing offers three baccalaureate programs, a traditional 4-year track, an accelerated 1-year track, and an RN to BSN program. The traditional program offers enrollment once annually in the fall. Students will complete 700 hours of clinical rotations, and has a unique three week preceptorship at the end of a student’s course of study. These are one-on-one experiences with nurses in clinical settings in Buffalo or New York City. The accelerated BSN option is designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. This 12 month program is intensive and demanding, even giving students the ability to earn up to even graduate credit hours. The accelerated program enrolls students annually in the spring. The RN to BSN program has a one-year track and a two-year track in an online learning environment that allows practicing nurses to balance their careers with the advancement of their education. Applications for this program are considered on a rolling basis. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.80 | Nazareth College | 4 | 76 | Rochester | NY | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
96.78 | Spring Hill College | 1 | 77 | Mobile | AL | Spring Hill College is located in Mobile, Alabama. Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third oldest Jesuit college in the US. They boast that their student to faculty ratio is 13:1. In addition, nursing students comprise 9% of their student population, which is pretty outstanding when their are 46 majors available. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
96.78 | Anderson University | 3 | 77 | Anderson | SC | Anderson University is located in Anderson, Texas. Anderson University is a Christian university. They offer a traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program is offered online and can be completed at the student’s pace. The students with at least 59 college credits, or a previous bachelor’s degree, are eligible for the ABSN degree. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
96.78 | Lipscomb University | 6 | 77 | Nashville | TN | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | ||
96.74 | Geo. Mason Univ. Acc 2nd Deg | 5 | 78 | Fairfax | VA | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
96.74 | Appalachian State University | 5 | 78 | Boone | NC | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
96.71 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 2 | 79 | Birmingham | AL | The University of Alabama at Birmingham is located in Birmingham, Alabama. Their RN-BSN program is unique in that it can be tailored to fit the needs of the student. If the student chooses to attend school full-time, it can be completed in two semesters. However, for the student who may have to work full-time, they can opt for a decelerated program and attend for as long as five semesters. In addition, the bulk of the coursework can be completed online, with professors being accessible via the Internet as well. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.70 | Tennessee Technological University | 7 | 80 | Cookeville | TN | Tennessee Technological University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Whitson-Hester School of Nursing offer a BSN program, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) and an RN to BSN program. Their RN to BSN program is an online program and is one of the most affordable options available, at $365 per credit hour for in-state tuition and $661 per credit hour for non-resident students. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.68 | WV University Morgantown Campus BA-BS To BSN Program | 2 | 81 | Morgantown | WV | West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The cost of WVU is below the national average, at $7,992 per year for in-state tuition. They offer a BSN degree; their degree requires that their students log 1,100 clinical hours, 950 of which must take place in an Academic Medical Center with Level I Trauma designation. They also boast that their 2014 graduating class had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
96.68 | University of Southern Indiana | 3 | 81 | Evansville | IN | University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana. They offer a BSN program and a RN to BSN program. Their nursing programs are unique because they partner with local hospitals and specifically, partner with certain nursing units – Designated Education Units (DEUs). These DEUs allow students to spend a duration of their clinical practice with the same staff to “ensure consistency with clinical skill progression.” | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details |
2021 Best Nursing Schools by State
In addition to ranking nursing school nationally, we provide state-by-state rankings. This is important for two reasons. Most students will choose a nursing program within the state they live. Secondly, sates do not report NCLEX rankings in the same way. For instance, some state boards of nursing do not provide the number of students taking the NCLEX test each year, and each state reports their NCLEX passing rates at different times of the year.
Beyond an RN Career
Explore High Paying, In-Demand Nursing Degrees
Becoming a nurse can offer you a lifetime of opportunities. You never have to worry about being stuck in a career specialty you don’t like because you will always have the flexibility to change it up — something not everyone can say about their profession. You can specialize, become a clinical nurse specialist, a nursing administrator, nurse educator, conduct research, become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and more. Check out some of our most popular guides to see the possibilities yourself:
Nursing School Scorecard
By aggregating information from 1,046 ADN and 932 BSN accredited nursing schools and combining the school data with 100,000 data points, prospective nursing students the data they need to make a sound decision about the best nursing school to attend. RNCareers.org empowers prospective nursing students with real-time information taken from the sources – the institutions themselves and the U.S. Department of Education. We pride ourselves on providing the most accurate up-to-date information about nursing programs.
Nursing School Comparison: ADN vs BSN
Compare ADN to BSN Programs | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) | Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) |
---|---|---|
Number of Nursing Programs | 1,046 | 932 |
Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 85.48% | 87.22% |
NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 22.50% to 186.10% | 42.50% to 100.00% |
Average Net Price | $9,169.31 | $17,218.69 |
Average Net Price Range | $61.00 to $41,243.00 | $1,846.00 to $39,975.00 |
Average Student Loan | $8,833.57 | $18,429.83 |
Average Student Loan Range | $1,325.00 to $28,333.00 | $3,125.00 to $42,625.00 |
Average Annual Salary | $65,470 | $71,730 |
See Additional Detail | Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Programs | Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) |
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