2023 - Best Nursing Schools in Georgia

WellStar School of Nursing is known for creating nurse leaders through its innovative teaching and scholarships. The faculty of this competitive program is committed to providing guidance and mentorship. The school has maintained its reputation of being one of the best and biggest nursing programs in north Georgia as the graduates consistently perform above the national average on the licensing exams.

Kennesaw State University prides itself in its vibrant campus culture, diversity, strong global ties, and students' entrepreneurial spirit. Students here learn more than just their coursework; there are almost 300 student-led organizations encompassing student governance, social media, co-curricular club, and much more. 

The nursing course at WellStar School of Nursing is designed to positively impact the healthcare delivery process across the region, nation, and the world itself.

Undergraduate Programs: The Wellstar School of Nursing offers both traditional and accelerated BSN pathways to prepare students for their NCLEX-RN exam and a professional career as an RN. These courses include both theoretical classes and practical skills mastery in labs and healthcare settings. 

Graduate Programs: The MSN course is designed to prepare nurse leaders, educators, and advanced practitioners who can change the nursing profession's shape and provide quality healthcare to patients in various settings.

The three MSN courses available at Wellstar School of Nursing are Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, and Family Nurse Practitioner.

MSN in Nursing Education: The MSN in Leadership in Nursing program's Nursing Education Leadership track prepares the experienced professional registered nurse to practice as a leader and educator. The graduate will demonstrate knowledge of both nursing education theory, research, and healthcare issues for their specific field so they can provide leadership at any level.

MSN in Nursing Administration: The MSN in Leadership program prepares nurse leaders for a myriad of healthcare institutions and agencies, especially those that are expanding. It takes the form of an online course with asynchronous learning modes taking only 15 months to complete; most sessions take place on weekends or evenings when students may be more available.

Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: The Wellstar MSN Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is a professional degree which prepares experienced Registered Nurses to sit for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The program builds on the background of professional nurses - teaching them how to take care of patients, and managing their own time efficiently. A heavy emphasis is placed upon precepted clinical experiences with healthcare agencies in the community (including hospitals).

The Wellstar MSN Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program is a 40 semester hour course of study which consists of three components:

• 14 credit hours of core classes
• 8 credit hours of primary care area of concentration
• 18 credit hours of residency

The DNP program at the school educates nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing.

At Georgia College and State University College of Health Sciences, students learn courses that emphasize health education, promotion, maintenance and restoration. The university focuses on helping students develop into empowered leaders who are committed to improving the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and global society. Students are committed to these values through lifelong learning and dedicated service. 

The school of nursing creates nurse leaders who engage in evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and civic participation in a health information intensive environment. They are taught to care for individuals holistically in an ever-changing healthcare system and positively influence the nursing profession through research and collaboration. Students are engaged in simulations, research, study abroad programs, service learning, preceptors, and internships to foster practical application to the nursing profession.

Undergraduate Programs: Georgia College and State University prepares registered nurse graduates of the BSN program who are qualified for employment in a variety of healthcare settings including long-term care facilities, hospitals, community healthcare centers, and so on.

Graduate Programs: The university offers a variety of MSN degrees, most of which are delivered online to provide ease to the working RNs. The MSN concentrations include Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Nurse Midwifery.

Post-Master’s certificates in these areas are also available for nurses who are seeking them.

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.

The nursing department at the University of North Georgia is led by some of the most creative, qualified, and professional faculty in nursing and other related disciplines. The university itself is committed to providing the best education comprising learning, research, clinical practice, and professional service. 

The university itself is one of the state's largest public universities that has a rich and diverse history of being one of the state's best in terms of nursing education as well. Students here can benefit from a variety of state and federal financial aid sources and institutional scholarships in addition to affordable tuition. The university also has multiple resources available to support clinical practice, research, intellectual inquiry, and creative learning. Some of these resources include high-fidelity simulation labs, rigorous classes, intensive clinical experiences, study abroad, service-learning opportunities, etc.

Undergraduate Programs: The traditional four-year BSN program at the University of North Georgia prepares students to become successful Registered Nurses who can provide quality care in various healthcare settings.

Graduate Programs: University of North Georgia offers an MSN-FNP program for RNs who want to practice as family nurse practitioners. This program can be completed in two years or three years if the students want to continue working while completing their degree. Similarly, there is also an MSN degree with a concentration in Nursing Education, which is delivered online and prepares students to become nurse educators.

For students seeking a terminal degree in nursing, the university offers a DNP degree which provides the students with the option to either complete an area of concentration in nursing education or executive leadership. This program is also delivered online with minimal campus visits.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is a four-year program for students who want to become registered nurses but have not yet attained their licensure. The rigorous curriculum, practice in simulation labs, and extensive clinical experiences will prepare you to work as a nurse generalist with knowledge and skills to practice in acute care and community settings. By the time you graduate from the program you'll be eligible to sit for the necessary exam (NCLEX) required for those pursuing their license.

RN to BSN The RN to BSN degree is targeted towards people who are already nurses with a desire to obtain their bachelor’s in nursing (BSN). Graduates can expect to use the education from this program for either professional practice as a nurse or work in community settings.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) The MSN-FNP program has two options: a two-year plan and three-year plan. The latter option allows students to take one class at a time, until their final year of study; it delays the entry into clinical courses by one year--ideal for those who want to continue working fulltime, have other responsibilities, or are in no hurry.

The two-year curriculum has students taking two courses each semester with clinical hours beginning in the fall. Most clinical courses require 120 clinical hours, but this can be difficult for those who work a great deal or have other commitments to their time. In short, the College of Nursing offers many different options for students seeking their BSN or RN to BSN degrees.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Educator The University of North Georgia offers a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education degree. The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education is delivered online, with minimal on-campus visits. This graduate program offers 35 credit hours that prepares students to obtain employment as nurses who teach nursing. Employment settings include colleges and universities, vocational technical schools and hospital education departments, the curriculum supports foundational knowledge for further doctoral education

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.

Nursing graduates from Georgia Southwestern State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences are prepared to assume professional roles in a variety of healthcare settings and meet the challenges surrounding the modern healthcare environment. The university consistently ranks as one of the state's best because of the consistent above-average performance of the nursing graduates in the licensure examinations.

Georgia Southwestern State University offers a diverse learning environment that values collaboration, community engagement, and faculty, staff, and student interactions. The School of Nursing houses state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms, and experienced faculty that provide nursing students with all the technical skills and theoretical knowledge required to become the best in the field. The graduates are competent in problem-solving, critical thinking, understanding cultural differences, quantitative reasoning, communication, and more. 

Undergraduate Programs: The two-year ASN degree at Georgia Southwestern State University provides students with the hands-on training and rigorous coursework to help them excel in their NCLEX examination and practice as LPNs in a variety of healthcare facilities. Upon completing the ASN degree, the practicing LPNs can choose to enroll in the LPN-BSN pathway, enabling them to work as RNs and further advance their careers.

Similarly, the university offers three tracks for a BSN degree; students can choose to enroll in the Traditional BSN program, or the Second Degree BSN for students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, or practicing RNs can enroll in the online RN-BSN track and get their bachelors' degree.

Graduate Programs: There is also an online MSN program designed to prepare safe and competent professional nurses who can provide or facilitate high-quality patient-centered care in a global society. This online degree prepares professional RNs for advanced practice roles such as nursing educators, leaders, informatics, or family nurse practitioners.

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.

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 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.

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.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia Emory University is a private, coeducational research university with about 15,000 plus students. The school uses a semester-based academic calendar and offers more than 100 areas of studies to its enrolled college students. In addition to undergraduate studies, the school also has highly ranked graduate and professional schools. According to Emory's official webpage, "The number of jobs for registered nurses is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations nationally, as healthcare organizations seek to fill a record number of both new and replacement positions. Employment growth will be driven by the expanding population of elderly people." The Baccalaureate Nursing program at Emory is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

As the second largest nursing program in Georgia, Emory's school of nursing has close to 1,200 students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department offers an expansive list of degree choices for prospective students, which include- Bachelor's degrees: (BA) Biological Sciences with a nursing emphasis; (BSN) Registered Nurse/Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing; (BS) Health Sciences with a nursing emphasis; and Master's degrees: MSN-Master of Science Nurse Practitioner; MSN-Master of Science Nurse Midwifery (Family Nurse Specialist); DNP-Doctorate of Nursing Practice. The school also boasts an online RN to BSN program.

The nursing school is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing as well as the Georgia Nurses Association. A few notable clinics are offered to enrolled students at Emory including clinical rotations at Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta's hospital system), Scottish Rite, VA Medical Center (Decatur), and Atlanta Regional Hospital.

Emory University allows students to immerse in the world of healthcare by providing real-life experiences in the classrooms themselves. The students graduate to become excellent care providers and apt leaders who strive to make a difference in the global healthcare scenario.

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is one of the leading nursing schools when it comes to graduate placement and research facilities. In the fiscal year 2021, the school invested $20 million just in research funding. But that's not all that makes this college one of the best in the state and the nation. In addition to providing state-of-the-art learning facilities in the form of labs and classroom tech, the school also invests in providing the students with scholarships, grants, and aids to fund their education. 

The nursing students at Emory University learn to work together and share their knowledge. They are taught to treat every individual with the same respect and dignity and positively influence health and social justice for everyone.

Undergraduate Programs: The BSN program at Emory University allows both high school and transfer students to earn a nursing license through cutting-edge resources, clinical experiences, and instruction from highly skilled faculty.

Graduate Programs: The college offers multiple MSN pathways for students who want to become advanced practice nurses (APRNs). The curriculum consists of a theoretical core, clinical core, and specialty content. Some of the MSN courses include Nurse-Midwifery, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and more.

There are also Doctor of Nursing Practice or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree tracks for students who want to become nurse scientists and clinical leaders. Students can choose from Post-BSN DNP, Post-Masters DNP, DNP Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA), or Ph.D. tracks to complete their nursing course.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Piedmont University offers rigorous and challenging nursing courses designed to bring out the best in their graduates. For that very reason, the nursing program at this university ranks among the state's best, and the graduates are highly sought after.

In addition to the highly competitive and diverse coursework, the college also conducts annual Disaster Drills and other training activities to ensure that the students are prepared to handle every kind of emergency situation. Students also enroll in focused internships and/or immersive clinical experiences so that they master their professional skills. Students also learn in immersive high-fidelity simulation labs, multiple healthcare facilities, and state-of-the-art classrooms under the guidance of highly qualified instructors in this highly affordable university.

Undergraduate Programs: The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Piedmont University offers a personalized four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that prepares them to enter a career as a professional RN. The students apply their nursing theory and skills in multiple healthcare settings. On top of that, all the students are provided with the opportunity to work with under-served populations as a part of their clinical practice so that they develop the compassion and flexibility required to be a successful RN.