RN Programs in New Hampshire
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.
RANKED 1
Lakes Region Community College
- 379 Belmont Road, Laconia, NH - 3246
- (603) 524-3207
School Information
Location: Laconia, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 98.15%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 25
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 2
NHTI-Concord’s Community College
- 31 College Drive, Concord, NH - 03301-7412
- (603) 271-6484
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.
School Information
Location: Concord, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 96.99%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 47
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 3
Manchester Community College
- 1066 Front St, Manchester, NH - 03102-8518
- (603) 206-8000
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.
School Information
Location: Manchester, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 96.30%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 63
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 4
Great Bay Community College
- 320 Corporate Dr, Portsmouth, NH - 03801-2879
- (603) 427-7600
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.
School Information
Location: Portsmouth, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 95.51%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 85
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 5
River Valley Community College
- One College Place, Claremont, NH - 03743-9707
- (603) 542-7744
School Information
Location: Claremont, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 95.05%- State Rank: 5
- US Rank: 101
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 6
Rivier University
- 420 South Main St, Nashua, NH - 3060
- (603) 888-1311
School Information
Location: Nashua, NH- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Hybrid
NCLEX
Overall Score: 92.46%- State Rank: 6
- US Rank: 201
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree, Master Degree, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 7
Nashua Community College
- 505 Amherst St, Nashua, NH - 03063-1026
- (603) 578-8900
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.
School Information
Location: Nashua, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 90.19%- State Rank: 7
- US Rank: 289
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
RANKED 8
St Joseph School of Nursing
- 5 Woodward Ave, Nashua, NH - 3060
- (603) 594-2567
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.
School Information
Location: Nashua, NH- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 81.56%- State Rank: 8
- US Rank: 572
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Program Accreditors: ACEN
NOT RANKED
White Mountains Community College
- 2020 Riverside Road, Berlin, NH - 3570
- (603) 752-1113
School Information
Location: Berlin, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
- State Rank: N/A
- US Rank: N/A
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Associate Degree
ADN Programs In New Hampshire
Many community colleges in New Hampshire work under the New Hampshire Community College System. This allows students to become an RN in their chosen community college. Then, they can work on prerequisites for their BSN (third year of school) and transfer to a university - the final year of the BSN program is completed at the tuition rate of the community college, or at a reduced rate.
NCLEX Passing Rates for New Hampshire ADN Programs
Manchester Community College has the highest NCLEX-RN rate in New Hampshire of 97.33%. Attending this stellar school will cost you about $13,423.00 a year.
- ADN Programs Offered in New Hampshire: 9
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 89.87%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 83.65% to 97.33%
How Much Do ADN Programs Cost in New Hampshire?
We compiled the net-price costs for RN Programs in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire is offered by Nashua Community College at about $13,154.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 93.60%. The highest cost ADN program is offered by Rivier University and it will cost about $26,072.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 86.34%.
- Average Net-Price for ADN Programs inNew Hampshire: $16,954.00
- Net-Price Range for New Hampshire ADN Programs: $13,154.00 to $26,072.00
Median Student Borrowing for ADN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for New Hampshire Schools: $11,937.44
- Student borrowing range for ADN programs in New Hampshire: $8,250.00 to $26,250.00
RANKED 1
Colby-Sawyer College
- 541 Main St, New London, NH - 03257-7835
- (603) 526-3000
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.
School Information
Location: New London, NH- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 100.00%- State Rank: 1
- US Rank: 1
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
RANKED 2
Saint Anselm College
- 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH - 03102-1310
- (603) 641-7000
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.
School Information
Location: Manchester, NH- Type: Private Not-For-Profit
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 98.99%- State Rank: 2
- US Rank: 6
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingg, Registered Nursing, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
RANKED 3
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
- 105 Main St., Thompson Hall, Durham, NH - 03824-3547
- (603) 862-1234
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.
School Information
Location: Durham, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Hybrid
NCLEX
Overall Score: 97.16%- State Rank: 3
- US Rank: 36
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nursing- Award Levels: APRN Certificate, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, MSN to DNP, Post Master's NP Certificate
- Program Accreditors: ACEN, CCNE
RANKED 4
Plymouth State University
- 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH - 03264-1595
- (603) 535-5000
School Information
Location: Plymouth, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
NCLEX
Overall Score: 91.85%- State Rank: 4
- US Rank: 208
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
RANKED 5
Keene State College
- 229 Main Street, Keene, NH - 03435-1506
- (603) 352-1909
School Information
Location: Keene, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX
Overall Score: 76.45%- State Rank: 5
- US Rank: 469
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
NOT RANKED
Granite State College
- 25 Hall Street, Concord, NH - 03301-3471
- (603) 228-3000
School Information
Location: Concord, NH- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus, Online
Nursing Degrees Offered
Programs: Registered Nursing- Award Levels: Bachelor Degree
- Program Accreditors: CCNE
BSN Programs In New Hampshire
In order to enroll in a BSN program, candidates must submit the following:
- Active New Hampshire RN license
- Completion of prerequisite courses
- Official transcript
Most online campuses are available 24/7 and coursework is generally designed in the hybrid format. This means two classes must be completed on campus. Classes that are typical of an RN to BSN program may include:
- Introduction to Professional Nursing
- Legal and Ethical Foundations
- Clinical Specialty Settings
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Patient-Centered Assessments
NCLEX Passing Rates for New Hampshire BSN Programs
Colby-Sawyer College wins the highest NCLEX-RN passing rate for BSN programs offered in New Hampshire with a score of 97.84%. Attending this influential program will cost you about $22,701.00 a year.
- BSN Programs Offered in New Hampshire: 6
- Average NCLEX-RN Passing Rate: 87.12%
- NCLEX Passing Rate Range: 69.12% to 97.84%
How Much Do BSN Degree Programs Cost in New Hampshire?
We compiled the net-price costs for BSN Programs in New Hampshire to give you an idea of how much nursing school will cost.
The lowest cost BSN degree program in New Hampshire is offered by Granite State College and will cost you about $14,025.00 and has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of N/A%. The highest cost BSN degree program is offered by Saint Anselm College and will cost you about $30,469.00 and it has an average NCLEX-RN passing rate of 96.04%.
- Average Net-Price for BSN Programs in New Hampshire: $20,918.83
- Net-Price Range for New Hampshire BSN Programs: $14,025.00 to $30,469.00
Median Student Borrowing for BSN Programs
- Average Student Borrowing for New Hampshire Schools: $23,412.17
- Student borrowing range for BSN programs in New Hampshire: $11,478.00 to $27,000.00
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 period
RN 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 |
Source: http://www.dol.gov/, 2014 Data
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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