The field of nursing is constantly evolving and has become a part of the grand conversation in the healthcare industry. There is a high need for registered nurses who have obtained a BSN but, only half of current RNs have done so. Iowa is working hard to change this statistic. Since 2000, the American Nurses Association Board of Directors believed that a BSN should be a standard requirement for those entering the nursing profession. This debate has been constantly debated but many states are in favor of this legislation being passed. Nursing schools in Iowa have responded to this need by introducing accelerated courses for nurses to transition from an RN to a BSN in a small amount of time through on-sites classes, online programs, or a combination of both.
In our Iowa RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Iowa RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.
In the State of Iowa, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Iowa RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 15 | 18 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 85.27% | 86.41% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 65.28% to 96.53% | 68.38% to 95.85% |
| Average Net Price | $10,444.71 | $20,268.89 |
| Average Net Price Range | $6,797.00 to $21,626.00 | $15,966.00 to $24,873.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $9,542.14 | $20,919.11 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $7,203.00 to $18,301.00 | $16,500.00 to $27,000.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Iowa State | BSN Rankings for Iowa State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Iowa
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Iowa and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 13 ADN degree programs and 15 BSN degree programs in Iowa. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Iowa to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | IA Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97.25 | ADN | Iowa Central Community College | 1 | 58 | Fort Dodge | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 96.00 | ADN | North Iowa Area Community College | 2 | 102 | Mason City | North Iowa Area Community College is located in Mason City, Iowa. NIACC is proud to boast that it is Iowa’s oldest community college, having been founded in 1918. NIACC offers an LPN and an ADN program. They also have a partnership with various universities that allow ADN graduates to pursue their BSN after graduation; the University of Iowa is local, and there are also various other education options for the ADN graduate. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 92.99 | ADN | Southeastern Community College | 3 | 235 | West Burlington | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 92.03 | ADN | St Luke's College | 4 | 275 | Sioux City | St. Luke’s College is located in Sioux City, Iowa. Their college is unique because it is a medical center based college – it is the only one in their area, and one of a handful in the entire country. The college is devoted entirely to healthcare degrees. They offer both an ASN and a BSN program. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | |
| 90.16 | ADN | Southwestern Community College | 5 | 349 | Creston | Southwestern Community College is located in Creston, Iowa. Their nursing program is unique; they describe it as a “ladder program.” Their students first complete their LPN. This allows them to earn their LPN degree and work within a year, and simultaneously obtain the AAS in nursing. They also have the option of opting out of the RN portion. | Public | Campus | See School Details | ||
| 88.10 | ADN | Northeast Iowa Community College Dist | 6 | 425 | Calmar | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 86.00 | ADN | Des Moines Area Community College | 7 | 492 | Ankeny | Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa. DMACC currently offers an LPN program and an RN program. They do not have an LPN to RN program, but it is in the developmental stages and will be available at a later date. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 84.35 | ADN | Northwest Iowa Community College | 8 | 530 | Sheldon | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 80.69 | ADN | Indian Hills Community College | 9 | 601 | Ottumwa | Public | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
| 77.98 | ADN | Eastern Iowa Community College Dist | 10 | 633 | Davenport | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 77.05 | ADN | Hawkeye Community College | 11 | 641 | Waterloo | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 75.55 | ADN | Western Iowa Tech Community College | 12 | 649 | Sioux City | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 71.77 | ADN | Mercy College of Health Sciences | 13 | 672 | Des Moines | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 97.82 | BSN | University of Dubuque | 1 | 42 | Dubuque | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 97.20 | BSN | Allen College | 2 | 62 | Waterloo | 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 | |
| 95.62 | BSN | University of Iowa | 3 | 120 | Iowa City | University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa. Their College of Nursing offers a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. For the BSN who chooses to continue his or her education, they also offer an extensive graduate program. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 93.89 | BSN | Mount Mercy University | 4 | 195 | Cedar Rapids | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 93.27 | BSN | Northwestern College | 5 | 225 | Orange City | Northwestern College is located in Orange City, Iowa. They offer a traditional BSN program and an online RN to BSN program. Students in their traditional BSN program have an advantage as their Nursing Arts Laboratory is located in a former hospital, which has a nurses station, patient rooms with beds, IV equipment, hospital-based computerized medication system and an electronic health record simulation program. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 91.92 | BSN | Iowa Wesleyan College | 6 | 269 | Mount Pleasant | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACME, COA | See School Details | ||
| 91.71 | BSN | Coe College | 7 | 276 | Cedar Rapids | Coe College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their nursing program’s slogan is, “The nursing program is elite, selective, and known for educating outstanding nurses. We are not a typical BSN program!” Their program is unique in that their students have the opportunity to travel abroad, are paired one-on-one with nurse experts, and participate in highly interactive classrooms. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 89.63 | BSN | Luther College | 8 | 333 | Decorah | Luther College is located in Decorah, Iowa. They offer a BSN program and a Direct Entry Program. The Direct Entry Program allows a high school senior to apply for entrance into the program their freshman year of college. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 88.03 | BSN | Morningside College | 9 | 372 | Sioux City | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 87.62 | BSN | Saint Ambrose University | 10 | 383 | Davenport | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 83.82 | BSN | Mercy College of Health Sciences | 11 | 448 | Des Moines | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 80.42 | BSN | Grand View University | 12 | 478 | Des Moines | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 76.00 | BSN | Clarke University | 13 | 500 | Dubuque | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 73.72 | BSN | Briar Cliff University | 14 | 509 | Sioux City | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details |
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Iowa
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Iowa
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Iowa offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Iowa RN Licensing Requirements
Iowa has strict regulations nurses must complete in order to gain licensure. There are three ways a nursing candidate can obtain licensure: by exam, by endorsement, and in some cases, by completing a program abroad.RN Licensure by Exam
Before a candidate can register for test, he/she must have received authorization to do so. The following items must be completed in order to be authorized to test:- Completed Application for Exam
- Two fingerprint cards and signed waiver form (they must be received from the Iowa Board of Nursing to the nursing program.
- $93 application fee and $50 fee for fingerprint cards. Fees can be paid online, by check, or money order. All fees are non-refundable.
- Official transcripts
- Separate application submitted online to NCLEX which includes the $200 fee
RN Licensure by Endorsement
Nurses who have gained licensure in one of the other 50 states can obtain licensure in Iowa through an endorsement. The following documentation must be submitted in order to complete this process:- Proof of graduation from a board-approved RN program
- Criminal background check
- Passing the NCLEX exam
- $169 fee payable to the Iowa Board of Nursing
- Verification of original license
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
In some cases, nurses who were educated abroad will be able to obtain licensure in the state of Iowa. In order to do so candidates must complete the Professional Report application of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Credentials Evaluation Service (CES). In order for the report to be complete, the candidate must submit validation of license/ registration. Candidates will also be required to pass an English as a Foreign Language test. This does not apply to nurses who used a textbook and program that was presented in English.Iowa State Board of Nursing
River Point Business Park 400 S.W. 8th Street Suite B Des Moines, IA 50309-4685 (515) 281-3255RN Salaries in Iowa
A lot of medical facilities prefer nurses that have obtained a Bachelor’s degree. Nurses who have completed a program are likely more knowledgeable when employed in some of the following areas:- Areas requiring administrative and leadership skills
- Research departments that compile statistical nursing data
- Legal units to handle nursing problems and mishaps
Iowa Registered Nursing Salaries
Iowa City has the highest hourly and annual median wage, while Des Moines highest RN employment for nurses. Almost all cities within Iowa are within 10% in salary range.| Area name | Employment | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 700 | $26.81 | $55,760 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2,630 | $24.77 | $51,510 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3,220 | $25.37 | $52,770 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 6,510 | $26.87 | $55,880 |
| Dubuque, IA | 1,150 | $23.61 | $49,110 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3,320 | $28.81 | $59,910 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1,590 | $22.99 | $47,810 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 2,080 | $25.72 | $53,500 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 2,130 | $24.24 | $50,420 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 3,180 | $23.20 | $48,260 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 1,970 | $24.41 | $50,770 |
