RN Programs in Maine

Maine RN Program Guide

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, you will find both ADN and BSN Degree program rankings, tuition costs, enrollment information, NCLEX passing rates, and more. You will find key Maine RN Program information to help you compare programs metrics and apply to best RN program(s) for the advancement of your career.

The State of Maine offers 13 RN programs in 12 different cities. Public institutions offer 8 of the RN programs in the state while there are 0 private, for-profit and 5 private, not-for-profit schools that make up the rest.

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 are able to then obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties.

Find your ideal program from information and data in our guide to Maine RN Programs.

ADN Programs in Maine

Community and technical colleges in Maine often offer a late entry option into RN programs.  This means that the nursing experiences and prior education is taken into account, allowing, for example, an LPN to “skip out” of various classes, entering the RN program at a later date.  Some universities in Maine also offer all types of nursing education, from practical nursing to nursing at the bachelor's level.

NCLEX Passing Rates for Maine  ADN Programs

Eastern Maine Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in Maine of 94.24%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $8,407.00 a year.

• ADN Programs Offered in Maine: 9
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 84.55%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 37.50% to 94.24%

How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in Maine?

We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in Maine so that you can find RN programs to meet your budget expectations.

When comparing ADN vs BSN programs, the average net-price per year for an Associate Degree in Nursing program is considerably less than for a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

The lowest cost ADN program in Maine is offered by Central Maine Community College at about $7,924.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 94.13%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by  Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and it will cost about $30,806.00.

• Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inMaine: $14,329.78
• Net-Price Range for Maine ADN Programs: $7,924.00 to $30,806.00

Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Maine Schools: $12,805.78
• Student borrowing range for ADN programs in Maine: $7,500.00 to $25,000.00

ADN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 6
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 3

BSN Programs in Maine

In order to be accepted into an BSN program in Maine, the following requirements may be needed:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Successful completion of two years of high school college preparatory science with a lab including biology, chemistry, or anatomy & physiology; or one semester of college biology with a lab
• Completion of ENG 101
• Completion of Mat 030 Algebra 1
• Two or more years of a foreign language

NCLEX Passing Rates for Maine BSN Programs

University of New England wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in Maine with a score of 89.50%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $30,174.00 a year.

• BSN Programs Offered in Maine: 6
• Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 85.23%
• NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 79.60% to 89.50%

Prepare for to pass the NCLEX-RN exam with our NCLEX practice questions with rationales.

How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in Maine?

We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in Maine to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.

The lowest cost BSN degree program in Maine is offered by University of Maine and will cost you about $16,255.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 87.86%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and will cost you about $30,806.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 79.60%.

• Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in Maine: $23,310.83
• Net-Price Range for Maine BSN Programs: $16,255.00 to $30,806.00

Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs

• Average Student Borrowing for Maine Schools: $20,849.33
• Student borrowing range for BSN programs in Maine: $17,240.00 to $25,000.00

BSN Programs at Public or Private Institutions

• Public Institutions: 2
• Private For-Profit Institutions: 0
• Private Not-for-Profit Institutions: 4

MSN Programs in Maine

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.

Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Maine 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
• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.

Maine RN Licensing Requirements

Maine State Board of Nursing
161 Capitol Street
158 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: (207) 287-1133

Web Site: https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/

Fees:
Initial licensing fee, RN: $75
License renewal, RN (every two years): $75

Continuing Education Requirements:
None

Nursing licensure in Maine is strict but there are a few ways to obtain it. Licensure can be obtained by exam, endorsement, and, sometimes, through an education completed in a foreign country.

RN Licensure by Exam

The candidate will be required to submit an application to the Board along with a $75 fee before applying to take the exam. The application must be notarized and have a passport-type photo included. There is a $200 fee that will be paid when candidates apply for the NCLEX through Pearson VUE. Scheduling the exam can only occur after the candidate has received an Authorization to Test.

RN Licensure by Endorsement

RNs who have obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states are able to apply for licensure by endorsement. In order to complete this, candidates must submit the following:

• License verification
• Evidence, such as transcripts, proving that a two-year program in nursing was completed
• $75 application non-refundable fee
• NCLEX will be require if the candidate had not passed it already

RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad

The following does not apply to nurses who were trained in Canada. International nurses must complete additional requirements. First, they will need to pass an exam conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. Second, transcripts should be submitted in English.

RN Salaries in Maine

There are about 669 registered nurses in the state of Maine. There are also 715 registered nurses, six from Canada, and 11 from other countries that have been endorsed in that state of Maine. According to a National Nursing Database, reported that Maine currently has approximately 22,560 registered nurses holding active licenses. The Maine Board periodically publishes NCLEX passing rates organized by each school. There are many professional organizations that nurses in Maine will want to know about. The main organization is Maine State Nurses Association. It provides continuing education and other professional resources for nurses.

Maine Registered Nursing Salaries

Southwest Maine has the largest amount of registered nurses employed in comparison to any of the other areas in Maine. However, it does not have the highest annual median wage. The Portland metropolitan area has both the highest hourly mean wage salary and annual median wage.

Best RN Programs in Maine