Utah has had a nursing shortage for several years and has been working hard to fill the voids. Nursing schools have responded to the call by creating nursing programs with flexibility to meet the needs of busy, working adults. There are currently just over 19,000 nurses licensed in the state of Utah and the numbers are continuing to grow. With all the options that are available, it is recommended that nurses seek out information from multiple schools. This will ensure that nurses are able to make a well-informed decision. Nursing is a very noble profession and now is a better time than ever to join this constantly evolving industry.
In our Utah RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Utah 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 Utah, 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.
Utah RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 11 | 11 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 92.40% | 86.33% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 54.47% to 186.10% | 71.11% to 98.67% |
| Average Net Price | $15,238.00 | $15,556.00 |
| Average Net Price Range | $6,799.00 to $32,165.00 | $9,122.00 to $32,165.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $10,113.10 | $11,545.70 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $3,500.00 to $15,275.00 | $8,075.00 to $17,936.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Utah State | BSN Rankings for Utah State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Utah
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 Utah 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 7 BSN degree programs in Utah. 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 Utah to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | UT Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90.22 | ADN | Fortis College | 1 | 347 | Salt Lake City | Private For-Profit | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 90.11 | ADN | AmeriTech College-Draper | 2 | 351 | Draper | Ameritech College of Healthcare is located in Draper, Utah. The college educates nurses, dental assistants, medical assistants and occupational therapy assistants. Their nursing program is an ADN degree that is designed to be completed quickly, in less than 2 years. They also offer an RN to BSN completion option, which is an online program and can be completed in 3 semesters. | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | |
| 86.74 | ADN | Salt Lake Community College | 4 | 473 | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer an RN program. They also allow LPNs/LVNs advanced placement into the nursing program. They have a Nursing Arts Lab where students can use state-of-the-art equipment to practice nursing skills. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 86.51 | ADN | Weber State University | 5 | 479 | Ogden | Weber State University is located in Ogden, Utah. The university offers a variety of options for its students; they offer both an ASN and BSN degree. They also offer RN to BSN and PN to RN options. Their program allows you to begin your studies in the ASN degree, and progress to the MSN level of nursing; however, they also allow entrance for new students in all levels of their nursing programs. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 84.30 | ADN | Utah State University | 6 | 531 | Logan | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 69.11 | ADN | Snow College | 8 | 681 | Ephraim | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 53.19 | ADN | Nightingale College | 9 | 696 | Ogden | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 98.77 | BSN | Western Governors University | 1 | 18 | Salt Lake City | Western Governors University is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer many options for nursing students, from the bachelor’s level to master’s level. They offer a prelicensure BSN program and an RN to BSN program. WGU is a non-traditional university and their education is based on competencies, which means that their approach allows the students to learn things they do not already know, taking into consideration past education and work experience. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 97.17 | BSN | Brigham Young University-Provo | 2 | 63 | Provo | Brigham Young University is located in Provo, Utah. BYU offers a BSN program. They have a clinical simulation laboratory where they can practice nursing skills prior to working with actual patients. As part of their global health course, students have the opportunity to travel to distant areas, such as Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, and Ghana. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 94.22 | BSN | Southern Utah University | 3 | 181 | Cedar City | Southern Utah University is located in Cedar City, Utah. They offer a prelicensure BSN program and an RN to BSN program. The RN to BSN program accepts 35 students per year. Students attend class on day per week, with clinical experiences offered in Cedar City and throughout Southern Utah. | Public | Campus | CCNE | See School Details | |
| 92.69 | BSN | Utah Valley University | 4 | 242 | Orem | Utah Valley University is located in Orem, University. They have several nursing options; they offer an ASN degree, a BSN degree and a BSN degree. They also offer several “bridge” options for students, such as the RN to BSN program and an ASN with BSN completion option, allowing for the student to earn first their ASN degree then their BSN degree. | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 91.45 | BSN | University of Utah | 5 | 285 | Salt Lake City | University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They offer a BSN program, an RN to BSN program, and multiple post-graduate options, from a variety of MSN options to a DNP. The College of Nursing is also home to the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, which offers degrees and certificates in gerontology. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 89.21 | BSN | Dixie State University | 6 | 343 | Saint George | Dixie State University is located in St. George, Utah. DSU offers an ADN program and an RN to BSN program. Students enrolled in the ADN program may continue into the RN to BSN program without reapplying if they pass their courses and the NCLEX-RN. The RN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 12 months, if attending full-time, but can also be completed on a part-time basis, which is ideal for the working nurse. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 74.27 | BSN | Provo College | 7 | 507 | Provo | Private For-Profit | Campus | CCNE | See School Details |
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Utah
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 Utah
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Utah 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 Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Utah RN Licensing Requirements
Utah State Board of Nursing Heber M. Wells Building 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 530-6701RN Licensure by Exams
Candidates are encouraged to apply to the board during the final semester of nursing school. This will allow for licensure to be gained as soon as the candidate is eligible. There is a $60 fee for the application and two $20 fees for background checks. The background check must be completed through both the Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Candidates will need to register for the NCLEX ahead of time and pay the $200 testing fee. Official transcripts will be sent to DOPL immediately after graduation. At this point, as long as all requirements have been met, the candidate will be issued authorization to test (ATT) and will be able to schedule the exam. In the case that a candidate is unsuccessful, the candidate may submit a notice of intent to retake in order to verify eligibility.RN License by Endorsement
A registered nurse who obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states will be able to gain licensure in Utah by endorsement. The candidate will be required to submit verification of licensure. If the candidate is declaring Utah as their primary residence, they must submit a Utah address to the board within 30 days of arriving in the state.RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
Registered nurses who obtained licensure outside of the United States will be required to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) qualifying exam and submit a credential evaluation before taking the NCLEX exam.RN Salaries in Utah
Salaries in the state of Utah are dependent on the experience and education level of the individual registered nurse. However, the median salary in Utah is just under $59,000 annually. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree opens up many opportunities to nurses that would not have been previously available. Some positions include home health care and community agencies. There are also job opportunities outside of direct care, which include case management, among other exciting careers. Advanced training can even open up roles such as hospice care managers.Utah Registered Nursing Salaries
The Salt Lake City metropolitan area has the highest number or registered nurses employed than any other area statewide. In addition, it also has the highest hourly mean wage and annual median wage.| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, UT-ID | 610 | $27.63 | $55,950 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 2,760 | $28.77 | $58,520 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 3,070 | $27.91 | $57,230 |
| St. George, UT | 1,140 | $27.80 | $56,940 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 10,610 | $30.51 | $62,080 |
| Northern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 140 | $27.18 | $56,960 |
| West Central Utah nonmetropolitan area | 280 | $27.38 | $57,040 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 690 | $26.53 | $55,020 |