Many universities in the state of New Hampshire offer RN and BSN programs that offer flexible options to busy, working nurses. Nurses who are interested in expanding their knowledge base, refining patient care skills, and developing professional practice are encouraged to pursue higher education. There are currently 20,548 registered nurses in New Hampshire. In addition, New Hampshire is a member of the nurse license compact. This means a candidate will be awarded a multi-state license and be allowed to work in another compact state.
In our New Hampshire RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire, 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.
New Hampshire RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 9 | 6 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 89.87% | 87.12% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 83.65% to 97.33% | 69.12% to 97.84% |
| Average Net Price | $16,954.00 | $20,918.83 |
| Average Net Price Range | $13,154.00 to $26,072.00 | $14,025.00 to $30,469.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $11,937.44 | $23,412.17 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $8,250.00 to $26,250.00 | $11,478.00 to $27,000.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for New Hampshire State | BSN Rankings for New Hampshire State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 9 ADN degree programs and 5 BSN degree programs in New Hampshire. 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 New Hampshire to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | NH Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100.00 | ADN | Lakes Region Community College | 1 | 1 | Laconia | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 97.88 | ADN | White Mountains Community College | 2 | 38 | Berlin | Public | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 97.63 | ADN | River Valley Community College | 3 | 51 | Claremont | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 97.46 | ADN | Manchester Community College | 4 | 55 | Manchester | Manchester Community College is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Their nursing program has a variety of options – there is both full-time and part-time ADN programs. There is also a practical nursing program and an LPN to RN program, which is a hybrid program, meaning that it utilizes both online and on-campus courses. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 97.24 | ADN | NHTI-Concord's Community College | 5 | 60 | Concord | NHTI – Concord’s Community College is located in Concord, New Hampshire. They offer an ADN degree (generic) and an LPN to RN option. They also offer an RN to BSN Public Pathway (with Granite State College) and an RN to BSN Pathway with Saint Anselm College; both pathways allow ADN graduates to complete their third year towards a BSN degree at NHTI before transferring to their chosen school to complete the program. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 90.94 | ADN | Great Bay Community College | 6 | 326 | Portsmouth | Great Bay Community College is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. GBCC offers an associate degree RN program. Their program is unique in that it allows students to earn certification for licensed nursing assistant (LNA) after Nursing I course and to take the NCLEX-PN to earn their LPN after the Nursing III course. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 90.19 | ADN | Rivier University | 7 | 354 | Nashua | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 89.56 | ADN | Nashua Community College | 8 | 380 | Nashua | Nashua Community College is located in Nashua, New Hampshire. Their program is an associate’s degree program. There is also an advanced placement option, which allows LPNs to enter the program during the spring semester of the first year. Nashua Community College is also part of the Community College System of New Hampshire, which has a partnership with Granite State University. This partnership allows graduates of certain community colleges to bridge the gap to their BSN degree, but at the cost per credit hour of their community college. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 86.60 | ADN | St Joseph School of Nursing | 9 | 488 | Nashua | St. Joseph School of Nursing is located in Nashua, New Hampshire. They offer an ASN degree. They also offer a one-year track for LPNs; this allows LPNs to have advanced placement into their ASN program. The school of nursing is located in St. Joseph Hospital, and has graduated nurses (both RNs and LPNs, at different times in its history) since 1910. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 99.10 | BSN | Saint Anselm College | 1 | 9 | Manchester | Saint Anselm College is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. They offer a BSN program and an RN to BSN program. They have a state-of-the-art simulation lab, with the latest in simulation technology, including Simbaby, Simman, Birthing Mother and a Pyxis. They also are proud to boast that they have 8 to 1 student to instructor ratios. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 98.88 | BSN | Colby-Sawyer College | 2 | 16 | New London | Colby-Sawyer College is located in New London, New Hampshire. They offer a BSN program and a MSN program. Colby-Sawyer has a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), which allows students to do the majority of their clinical rotations onsite at their facility. They also actively seek the graduates of Colby-Sawyer for employment. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 98.35 | BSN | University of New Hampshire (DEMN), Durham | 3 | 28 | Durham | University of New Hampshire is located in Durham, New Hampshire. UNH offers a BSN program. Their nursing department has a simulation laboratory that offers its students a clinical experience; the sim lab has mannequins, task trainers and other clinical equipment. Nursing students who excel and maintain a high GPA are considered “honors in major” students and graduate with Honors in Nursing on their diploma. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 90.37 | BSN | Plymouth State University | 4 | 316 | Plymouth | Public | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 88.90 | BSN | Keene State College | 5 | 352 | Keene | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details |
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in New Hampshire offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties: Learn about Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree.New Hampshire RN Licensing Requirements
New Hampshire State Board of Nursing 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 16 Concord, NH 03301 (603) 271-2323 Fees: Initial licensing fee, RN: $120 License renewal (every two years), RN: $80 Continuing Education Requirements: All nurses: 30 contact hours every renewal periodRN Licensure by Exam
When the candidate has completed, graduates should apply for permanent licensure. A temporary license may be issued if the candidate has completed 1,080 hours of nursing education. In addition, the candidate must submit a fingerprint based criminal background check. There will be a $120 application fee required for candidates applying for licensure by examination. Following this, the candidate must register with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX and pay the $200 fee. The test can only be scheduled when the candidate received the official Authorization to Test. There are limits of how many times a nurse can attempt the NCLEX. An unsuccessful candidate may apply for a lover level of nursing if he/she prefers.RN Licensure by Endorsement
RNs who are licensed in one of the other 50 states may apply for licensure by endorsement. The application fees are the same of those who apply by examination. However, there is a continuing competency requirement. Nurses who have not practiced the minimum number of hours will need to complete a refresher course or retake the NCLEX. The Board site lists approved courses, all of which include 40 hours of instruction and 80 hours of clinical.RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Canadian nurses may be licensed by endorsement without having to take the NCLEX. The exemption applies to those nurses who took the exam in English prior to July 31, 1995. Registered nurses who were educated in foreign countries other than Canada must be certified through CGNFS or have a course-by-course evaluation of their credentials.RN Salaries in New Hampshire
The global healthcare environment is constantly evolving and becoming more complex. The American Nurses Association (ANA) recommends that nurses pursue higher education. The New Hampshire Nurse’s Association works closely with the American Nurses Association works closely with the ANA in the advocacy of nurses and patients in becoming a united voice. Registered nurses in New Hampshire enjoy a slightly higher average salary earning $67,930. Experience and education level help to determine the salary a nurse will make.New Hampshire Registered Nursing Salaries
Manchester has the highest employment rate for registered nurses in the state of New Hampshire. The Western nonmetropolitan area of New Hampshire has highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NH | 2,610 | $32.53 | $66,870 |
| Nashua, NH-MA NECTA Division | 1,690 | $30.88 | $62,270 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 580 | $31.89 | $64,220 |
| Rochester-Dover, NH-ME | 840 | $30.03 | $59,170 |
| Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 730 | $27.85 | $57,110 |
| Other New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 2,090 | $31.24 | $62,620 |
| Western New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 2,270 | $34.34 | $70,170 |
| Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 710 | $29.33 | $59,460 |