Best RN Programs in Georgia for 2024

Graduates of Chattahoochee College School of Nursing strive to promote optimum health, alleviate suffering, and help their patients achieve the best quality of life. The highly competitive and rigorous education takes place in classrooms, laboratories, and clinical rotations.

The nursing programs at Chattahoochee College have been consistently ranked as some of the nation’s and state’s best owing to the excellent NCLEX-RN pass rates and graduates placement. The students receive multiple scholarships and financial aids to facilitate their education at this college. The highly trained and qualified faculty help the nursing students develop judgment skills to effectively manage and care for patients in all kinds of healthcare facilities.

Undergraduate Programs: The ASN program at Chattahoochee College is one of the best in the entire state. This rigorous program prepares students to pass their NCLEX-RN examination and begin their journey as professional nurses. 

Similarly, for working LPNs who wish to become RNs and advance their career, the college offers a LPN-RN bridge option. The three semester LPN course prepares students to work under the supervision of RNs and physicians to provide care and treatment to injured, ill, disabled, convalescent, and terminally ill patients.

Gwinnett Technical College educates its students in a greatly diverse, cooperative, and challenging community. The students receive high-quality education and experiences that prepare them to take on healthcare challenges in all kinds of healthcare facilities like community care facilities, general medical and surgical hospitals, home healthcare nursing, nursing care facilities, physicians' offices, and so on.

Education at Gwinnett Technical College is a combination of classroom and laboratory training with clinical experience. The students learn the theory and technical competencies needed to provide high-quality patient care in every situation. In addition to being highly affordable at $100 per credit hour + fees, Gwinnett Technical College also provides multiple scholarships and financial aid such as HOPE Grant, the HOPE scholarship, Career Grants, and more.

Undergraduate Programs: Their Traditional ADN program provides the education required to pass the NCLEX-RN examination and practice as a nurse generalist. Similarly, if you are an LPN who is currently practicing as such or a paramedic, the ADN and Paramedic bridge pathway is a great way to complete your ADN degree and obtain an RN license.

There is also an Associate Degree Surgical Technologist Bridge Option, ADN for students who have completed an Associate Degree in Surgical Technology and obtained the Certified Surgical Technologist credential through NBSTSA as a Surgical Technologist. The students are awarded with an ADN degree and are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam upon completion.

Athens Technical College is located in Athens, Georgia.  Their nursing department offers an ASN degree and a bridge program, which is an LPN to RN program.  Their LPN to RN program allows the student to graduate in three semesters as opposed to four.

Albany Technical College is located in Albany, Georgia.  Their RN nursing program is relatively new - it opened its doors in 2012.  They had an existing LPN nursing program in place.  Their nursing program has a traditional RN program and an LPN-RN bridge path.

South Georgia State College School of Nursing provides quality education that focuses on individual attention that is facilitated and enhanced by a rich clinical learning environment. South Georgia State College itself has a long history of serving the people of Georgia by providing them with skilled and professional graduates.

Students at South Georgia State College learn the art of teamwork, professionalism, and trust not only in the classroom but also in the sports field. The college has extensive and diverse athletics that allow students to hone their talent and help make their college life interesting and fun. 

In addition to that, nursing students benefit from the high-fidelity simulation labs where fun activities and simulations are conducted in addition to the regular practical lessons. The students also get the chance to observe and practice in clinical settings under the supervision of highly accredited faculty.

Undergraduate Programs: South Georgia State College offers both, a generic Associate of Science in Nursing track and an LPN-RN bridge track. The ASN course prepares students to evaluate general education content and enables them to make clinical decisions based on critical thinking.

Similarly, for RNs looking to complete their bachelor's degree, this college provides an RN-BSN program which allows a smooth transition from an ASN degree to a BSN degree.

In addition to these nursing degrees, the school of nursing also offers a Bachelor of Science in Long-Term Healthcare Management degree that helps students develop educational skills and knowledge for managing long-term healthcare provided inpatient residences and long-term care facilities.

The nursing department at Middle Georgia State University strives to provide quality evidence-based nursing education to a diverse population. The nursing programs prepare culturally sensitive graduates who are committed to providing safe and effective nursing care through health promotion and disease prevention.

Nursing students learn the core competencies of nursing practice, patient evaluation and treatment, and the basics of nursing leadership from highly qualified nursing educators. The students practice their skills in the laboratory and gain real-life experiences in clinical rotations in various healthcare institutions in the community. 

Middle Georgia State University deems itself a cornerstone of human growth, progress, and success, so it has a very strict non-discrimination policy. The university provides its students with a collaborative and safe environment where they can learn and thrive to serve the community.

Undergraduate Programs: The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that combines nursing and general education courses. There is also an RN-BSN Completion Program designed to provide Central Georgia Registered Nurses with the opportunity to complete their bachelors' degree. The course is delivered in a flexible schedule and is available via both traditional classroom delivery and online.

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree enables students to sit for the NCLEX examination and begin a career as a professional general healthcare provider.

The College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA) is a public, four-year, liberal arts institution located in Brunswick, Ga. Founded as the Georgia Normal School in 1909, this college was named after its location being on coastal Georgia. It has grown and evolved since opening its doors with an enrollment of 20 students and eight educators. In the fall of 2012, CCGA boasts an enrollment of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The oldest four-year institution in southeast Georgia is home to a variety of programs from arts and science majors to pre-professional and technology studies. The College also holds the distinction as being accredited by all six regional accrediting agencies for both its baccalaureate and its associate degree programs. CCGA is also the only institution in southeast Georgia to offer an internationally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Courses are offered at the main campus as well as centers located throughout the region such as Brunswick, Jesup, Kingsland, Ludowici, Waycross, and St. Marys.

This institution is part of the University System of Georgia (USG) which allows students to transfer seamlessly between USG institutions such as Waycross College in South Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. The University System also offers a core curriculum for all associate's degree programs that eliminates the need for students to take a general education core at the institution of their choice.

College transfer options are also available as CCGA diplomas can be used at other USG institutions or many local universities such as Georgia Southern, The University of Georgia (UGA), Armstrong Atlantic State University (ASU), Jacksonville State University (JSU) and Valdosta State University (VSU).

The College of Coastal Georgia offers courses which lead to the Baccalaureate degree in Nursing (Pre-Licensure BSN and RN to BSN) as well as Career Associate of Science degrees in Nursing. These classes are available on campus, faculty practice clinics, or through distance education; our staff is transforming patient care and taking the nursing profession into the digital age.

The nursing programs at CCGA have also been recognized by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and Approved Nurse Education Programs (A-NEP). Students in these programs are required to pass a comprehensive state board exam, administered by NCSBN, upon graduation and receive their license issued through the Georgia Board of Nursing (GON) on their first attempt.

All programs are accredited through the ACEN or a comparable organization and graduates will be eligible to sit for appropriate certifying examinations with each examination board.

College of Coastal Georgia promises students the following:

• Clinical Experience: College of Coastal Georgia students receive a combined school and clinical experience from more than 40 regional clinical facilities within the Southeast Health System.
• Nursing programs at Coastal Georgia focus on practical instruction and critical thinking.
• Full-Time Faculty: Nursing students are taught exclusively by faculty who can offer individualized instruction due to the smaller class size.
• College of Coastal Georgia is one of the few schools in the country to have achieved a 100% passing rate and/or #1 ranking.
• The College of Coastal Georgia Nursing program consistently scores higher than the national average on their NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

Georgia Perimeter College has multiple campuses in Atlanta, Georgia - Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, and Newton.  Nursing is offered at their Clarkson campus.  Perimeter College offers an ASN degree.  Perimeter College is proud to boast that they are the #1 associate-degree-granting institute in Georgia and their students transfer easily to Georgia State and other four-year colleges after graduation.

Since 1963, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has focused on providing students with the education, training, and skills to influence society and the economy positively. The nursing students learn the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to practice competently and safely as a Registered Nurse in a variety of acute and long-term care settings. 

One of the most unique features of this college is that the college provides a complete guarantee of its programs. That means that the curriculum standards have been developed with the direct involvement of business and industry. That said, if an employer finds a graduate of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College deficient in one or more competencies as defined by the standards of the program, the college will retrain the graduate at no additional instruction cost within two years of graduation. Similarly, students get the chance to take part in multiple campus clubs and organizations to strengthen their leadership qualities, teamwork skills and build strong resumes.

This college is also a part of the HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) program that provides financial assistance to students in order to complete their degree at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Undergraduate Programs: Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing degree that produces highly trained, technically advanced, competent and caring individuals who can successfully practice as Registered Nurses in a variety of Healthcare Settings.

Dalton State College Department of Nursing prepares students for employment as safe, caring, and talented nursing professionals. The students are taught in an open, cooperative, and technologically enhanced learning environment that prepares them to meet the needs of all kinds of patients and uplift their overall quality of life.

The department of nursing has a selection of supportive, talented, and caring faculty and staff who are dedicated to creating an open, cooperative, technologically enhanced learning environment. The learning environment strives to bring out the best in a diverse student body by promoting high levels of student achievement in a range of educational and student life opportunities. Nursing students at Dalton State College are actively involved in public service through economic development and cultural activities that address the needs of the people and improve the quality of life of the region.

Undergraduate Programs: Dalton State College offers a 12-month long certificate in Practical Nursing program that provides the graduates with the knowledge and clinical experience necessary to pass their NCLEX-PN examination and provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings. 

For students currently practicing as LPNs or Paramedics, the college offers an accelerated 3-semester curriculum that allows them to get an Associate of Science in Nursing degree.

Similarly, the traditional ASN degree prepares students for employment as safe, effective, caring nurse generalists who can provide healthcare to the community, region, and state as Registered Nurses.

Currently practicing RNs can choose to enroll in the RN to BSN program that provides them with hands-on practical experience that will help them advance their career and pave the way for further education.

The Georgia Highlands College department of Nursing provides students with the educational opportunities designed to produce competent entry-level nurses who can provide collaborative, holistic care to all kinds of patients. The graduates learn to deliver safe, client-centered care using sound nursing judgment and evidence-based practice.

Georgia Highlands College promotes a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all its students. The college offers multiple scholarships and financial aid options in addition to the low tuition rates to facilitate affordable education to all. The nursing program teaching/learning environment here promotes inclusiveness and provides educational opportunities, programs, and services to meet the needs of both the students and the healthcare environment. Students here learn to provide clinical care that resonates with the clients' values and is based on evidence-based practices.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate of Science in Nursing Program aims to produce graduates who strive for life-long learning through a rigorous and competent curriculum that enhances their professional identity.

For individuals currently practicing as RNs, Georgia Highlands College offers an RN to BSN program that prepares graduates to become professional, ethical, and accountable in their journey as quality care providers.

West Georgia Technical College is located in Waco, Georgia.  They currently offer an LPN program and an RN program.  Their RN programs graduate 70 students per year, 35 in the spring and 35 in the fall.  They currently do not offer an LPN-RN bridge program.

Columbus Technical College is located in Columbus, Georgia.  Their nursing department offers an LPN program, an ADN program and an LPN-ADN program.  Columbus Technical College has agreements with both Columbus State University and Troy University for graduates to attend their RN-BSN programs after graduation.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College offers hands-on, real-life clinical experiences to the nursing students. The college offers superior quality instruction and individual attention supported by a rich clinical learning environment. 

The college has partnered with multiple medical centers in the community so that students learn to develop and refine their clinical judgment under the guidance of excellent faculty members and instructors. The nursing department has a long history of providing immersive and comprehensive programs that teach students to provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public on health promotion, as well as provide guidance and provide emotional support to families and patients. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduates have entered the healthcare field with all the hands-on experience, confidence, and skills necessary to guarantee a successful career as a professional nurse.

Undergraduate Programs: The college offers both a traditional and a one-year bridge track for its ASN program. This degree teaches students in classroom settings, laboratories, and clinical settings to perfect their nursing skills and provide quality care once they graduate.

There is also an RN to BSN program that provides practicing RNs the opportunity to earn their BSN degree. The students are taught leadership, critical thinking, collaboration, and population-level nursing care skills in addition to the clinical bedside care.