The Maine State Nurses Association encourages nurses to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, which has resulted from an influx of nurses seeking out their BSNs. It is predicted that the nursing workforce will increase by 26% by the year 2020. This will create many new job opportunities within the state. When this information is analyzed, there is no reason why nurses shouldn’t seek out higher education. It is only logical in that it puts you in a great position. Researching nursing schools and the best program possible can be overwhelming. Nursing students want to make sure they find the best school possible. Fear not! A lot of schools offer distance and online learning that makes attending school more feasible for a busy nurse.
In our Maine RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Maine 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 Maine, 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.
Maine RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 7 | 5 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 83.49% | 86.35% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 37.50% to 94.24% | 83.34% to 89.50% |
| Average Net Price | $9,712.57 | $21,811.80 |
| Average Net Price Range | $7,924.00 to $12,126.00 | $16,255.00 to $30,174.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $9,732.43 | $20,594.20 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $7,500.00 to $14,826.00 | $17,240.00 to $25,000.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Maine State | BSN Rankings for Maine State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Maine
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 Maine and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 7 ADN degree programs and 5 BSN degree programs in Maine. 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 Maine to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | ME Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93.87 | ADN | Eastern Maine Community College | 1 | 144 | Bangor | 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 | |
| 91.86 | ADN | Southern Maine Community College | 2 | 222 | South Portland | Southern Maine Community College is located in South Portland, Maine. They offer an ASN and an ASN – LPN Upgrade Option. The LPN Upgrade Option allows the LPN to become an RN. SMCC is proud to offer over 45 degrees to over 7,000 students. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 89.21 | ADN | Central Maine Community College | 3 | 317 | Auburn | Central Maine Community College is located in Auburn, Maine. They offer an ADN program. LPNs can gain entrance into their program; they enter the same program but may be able to skip a few courses. CMCC currently has about 3,000 students and graduates about 300 students each year. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 88.69 | ADN | Kennebec Valley Community College | 4 | 337 | Fairfield | 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 | |
| 84.21 | ADN | Northern Maine Community College | 5 | 507 | Presque Isle | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 81.94 | ADN | Maine College of Health Professions: Home | 6 | 562 | Lewiston | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 95.02 | BSN | University of New England | 1 | 92 | Biddeford | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 88.50 | BSN | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 2 | 310 | Standish | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 87.01 | BSN | University of Southern Maine | 3 | 348 | Portland | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 85.37 | BSN | Husson University | 4 | 391 | Bangor | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 84.27 | BSN | University of Maine | 5 | 408 | Orono | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details |