Best RN Programs in Connecticut for 2024

The University of Connecticut was founded in 1881; its nursing school is located in Storrs, CT. They offer a BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD program, all of which are CCNE accredited. Nursing students here will have extensive collaborative and interdisciplinary learning experiences in the University of Connecticut Health Center, which is located nearby in Farmington. The BSN program is a 4-year track that enrolls students once annually in the fall. Those who hold a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree can take an accelerated curriculum to earn their BSN from UConn, which only takes about one year to complete. This program is offered at four UConn campuses: Waterbury, Stores, Avery Point, and Stamford.

All full-time faculty members hold doctoral level degrees, and the school has partnerships with many nearby healthcare facilities to provide diverse exposure to the field in addition to their own health facility. Research is encouraged in graduate nursing programs, and UConn’s Homer Babbidge Library ranks in the nation’s top 30 for research resources. They have extensive collections in the nursing field as well as in the physical and social sciences.

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) School of Nursing is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and offers prospective students many pathways to become a nurse, including: a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program, and an accelerated second degree (ASD) - BSN program.

The traditional BSN program requires students to apply in the fall of their sophomore year, and also requires CPR certification to be completed prior to application.

The RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and allows nurses with an associate degree and a valid Connecticut nursing license to complete 30 credit hours of online coursework to earn their BSN.

A unique offering of USJ, the ASD program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and allows a student who has previously earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline to earn their BSN in just 15 months. The program begins a new class every May, and the application deadline is February of the anticipated year of starting.

BS in Nursing - Curriculum is an upper-division major. Prerequisite courses in the major are required, followed by clinically focused classes taught at both hospital and community-based sites. Options for full-time study with daytime hours or very limited evening/weekend hours are available

ACE Program - Individuals who have already earned a baccalaureate degree in another field and want to change careers into nursing can enroll in the ACE program. This 12-month program includes all prerequisites for students without any necessary undergraduate coursework. The ACE program is based on the same curriculum as SCSU’s highly successful and nationally accredited traditional nursing program. The distinctions of this program are the opportunities to learn with other adult learners who also have rich life and work experience, and dedicated faculty members working specifically with these students.

RN to BSN - The department offers an accelerated BSN program for licensed RNs who want to earn their bachelor's degree in nursing. The program will be tailored to each individual student as they progress through the coursework.

Clinical Nurse Leader - The Clinical Nurse Leader is a new type of job. It is like an advanced nurse with training at the graduate level. The focus of this job is to manage complex groups of patients in many different kinds of healthcare settings. You need 42-45 credits to be able to do this, which include core courses (24 credits), two clinical courses (12 credits), and either a thesis or special project component (6 credits). You also have to spend 400 hours doing work as a nurse in order to be certified for this role.

Family Nurse Practitioner - Nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) are eligible to apply for the FNP program. The FNP program consists of 24 credits in core courses, 18 credits in each from the FNP role courses--3 for regular or 6 if on thesis track-- and either 3 credit special project or 6 credit thesis that applies to both tracks.

The 3 FNP Role Courses require 220 hours of clinical practice each semester, in addition to weekly classroom time. A total of 660 clinical hours is required to complete the FNP program. These hours include practicing women's health, pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine including practicing with older adults.

Nurse Educator - The Nurse Educator program is a master's degree which develops the knowledge and skills needed to teach nursing. Among those credits are 24 core courses, 15 credits in the role of a nurse educator courses, and much more that prepare experienced nurses who know about curriculum development, teaching strategies, etc.

Courses on student teaching strategies, developing course syllabi and preparing for class presentations are available. Eucation in evaluating effectiveness is part of this. And two courses require practicum experience which involves 12-hours per week or completion of a thesis project to graduate from the program

Fairfield University was founded in 1942 by the Society of Jesus in Fairfield, CT. It has retained its religious affiliation as a Jesuit university, and in 1970 the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies was established. They offer undergraduate and graduate programs that are fully CCNE accredited. In addition to a traditional BSN program, they also offer a second degree program, which takes 15 months to complete. Their facilities for learning include a fully equipped intensive care unit, complete with simulation mannequins. Fairfield has a strong faculty team behind its nursing programs that focus on academic excellence, career planning, and individualized attention. Needless to say, small classes are the norm.

Fairfield has local community partnerships with nearby hospitals and health centers that offer students a diversity of experiences in clinical settings. There are also additional workshops and specialty trainings in trauma and resilience available. Nursing students may even choose to do a study abroad in Nicaragua, Australia, or Ireland. Fairfield’s nursing department has an excellent reputation both locally and nationally, and admissions are competitive.

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.

St. Vincent's College, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is a community-based institution dedicated to providing top-tier education in nursing and allied health. As a private Catholic college, it upholds the values of the Catholic Church while offering comprehensive nursing programs designed to meet the needs of today's healthcare industry. The college offers three CCNE accredited programs: an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and an RN to BSN program. These programs are structured to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for their nursing careers.

St. Vincent's College is affiliated with St. Vincent's Medical Center, a major teaching hospital, which provides students with unparalleled access to clinical experiences. This affiliation allows nursing students to gain hands-on practice in a real-world healthcare setting, enhancing their learning and professional development. The college's commitment to excellence in nursing education is reflected in its high NCLEX pass rates and strong job placement rates for graduates, making it one of the leading nursing schools in Connecticut.

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) is a public university located in New Britain, CT, with a longstanding commitment to excellence in nursing education. CCSU offers two CCNE accredited nursing programs: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master’s degree in Nursing. The BSN program is designed for traditional undergraduate students, while the Master’s program caters to those seeking advanced practice roles and leadership positions in healthcare. Both programs emphasize critical thinking, interpersonal competence, and therapeutic care, integrating liberal arts, sciences, and nursing theories to develop well-rounded professionals.

CCSU nursing students benefit from hands-on learning experiences through state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical practicums at top healthcare facilities. These practical experiences are crucial for developing the skills and confidence needed in real-world clinical settings. Graduates of CCSU’s nursing programs have a strong track record of success on the NCLEX exam and are highly sought after by employers, often receiving job offers upon graduation. The university’s commitment to community service and civic engagement further enriches the educational experience, preparing students to provide compassionate care in diverse healthcare environments.

Quinnipiac University was established in 1929, and is located in Hamden, CT. They offer undergraduate and graduate programs in their nursing school, one of twelve schools nationally endorsed by the American Holistic Nursing Credentialing Corporation. This means that their nursing education focuses on the whole person, meaning that a patient must be cared for with consideration of spiritual, lifestyle, cultural, and psychosocial factors. Nursing students at Quinnipiac will further experience a very collaborative environment with the School of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences.

Students have over 300 clinical settings to choose from where they will gain hands-on experience and exposure to the field. Their facilities on campus have advanced and interactive equipment for student learning and practice. Their simulator mannequins aren’t one and the same—they have an adult, pediatric, and neonatal simulator. Volunteer work is another major component of Quinnipiac’s program, and they encourage their students to be advocates and inquisitive learners.

Western Connecticut State University is located in Danbury, Connecticut.  WCSU offers a traditional BSN program, an RN to BSN program, a Masters program and a doctorate program. All of their programs are CCNE accredited. WCSU fosters a close-knit community with a low faculty to student ratio that ensures each student is guided and completing the curriculum at a good pace.

Admissions to WCSU’s undergraduate nursing program is once annually in the fall, though the online program admits students on a rolling basis. WCSU does require all nursing applicants to go through a dual enrollment process. Once students are accepted, they will have to apply for admissions to the Department of Nursing during the spring semester of freshman year.

The RN to BS program is taught in a hybrid format or entirely online, depending on the student’s preference. In-person classes are scheduled during the afternoons and evenings, which allows RNs to fit their career advancement into their busy schedules.

Three Rivers Community College was founded in 1992 and is located in Norwich, CT. They offer an ACEN accredited ADN program that was co-designed with six other schools, known as the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program. Their program is highly competitive, and graduates from the program are very likely to find employment in nearby healthcare facilities. LPNs are eligible for advanced placement, though the length of their course of study depends on an individual basis. They will take a bridge course and be assessed by specialized nursing advisors who ultimately determine placement in the program.

Three Rivers also has agreements with numerous nearby colleges, including Yale University, offering graduates a seamless transition into a BSN program. The program has a great reputation in the nearby area for preparing competent nurses, as well as their dedication to supporting the long-term goals of their students. Scholarships and financial aid are offered, and students will have an academic advisor to guide them through the process. Those interested in the program may apply once annually for enrollment in the fall.

Naugatuck Valley Community College has a 110-acre campus in Waterbury, CT. They offer an ACEN accredited 4-semester ADN program that focuses on student preparedness to work in outpatient care, long-term care, and acute nursing care. The program places emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills, as well as honing in on a solid foundation in mathematics, science, social science and English. Students will also get hands-on practice by using simulation mannequins and through clinical rotations in nearby healthcare facilities.

With NVCC’s narrow focus on outpatient care, long-term care, and acute nursing care, they prepare students to meet the demands of populations in Connecticut, where nursing shortages are largely in these three areas. This approach boasts career prospects for graduates, as their education is more specialty-specific than most ADN programs.