About Nursing Schools in Wyoming

There are currently more than 5,070 nurses working in various healthcare settings in Wyoming. However, it has been proven that most nursing graduates move to other states from Wyoming; thus, the state has been developing different programs like the ReNEW (Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming) program to encourage nurses to stay in Wyoming to uplift the healthcare status of the state. Therefore, multiple factors, including the success of this program, have led to the prediction that there will be about 5,890 nurses working in the state by 2028. Currently, the average annual opening for nurses in Wyoming is 380, and the number is expected to rise as with the rise in healthcare needs of the people in the state.

Similarly, Wyoming is one of the many states that allow Full Practice to NPs in the area. A Full Practice authorization means that the NPs are permitted to evaluate patients; diagnose, order, and interpret diagnostic tests; and initiate and manage treatments, including prescribing medications and controlled substances under the exclusive licensure authority of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 

This further proves that this state is very welcoming of RNs and NPs alike and is working hard to create better working and education environments for them.

Nursing Schools at Wyoming provide a safe and family-like environment for their students while giving them the highest quality education through small class sizes, simulation labs, and hands-on experience in healthcare settings. Multiple educational institutions offer quality nursing education on all levels, from ADN to Ph.D. We have compiled here a list of nursing schools in Wyoming that have been producing highly skilled and competent nurses and nurse leaders.

Best Ranked Nursing Schools in Wyoming

Best Ranked Nursing Schools

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 Wyoming and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.

To create our rankings, we evaluated 6 ADN degree programs and 1 BSN degree programs in Wyoming. 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 Wyoming to provide our state rankings. View our methodology

Central Wyoming College

Science and Humanities Division

93.50% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • 2660 Peck Avenue, Riverton, WY - 82501
  • (800) 735-8418
Nurse Admin: Stacey Stanek, DNP, RN, CNE
Title: Director Of Nursing
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (A) 93.50%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Associate

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 55
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $4,680
  • Book and Supplies: $1,200
  • Percent Received Aid: 99%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $5,184
  • Percent Admitted: N/A
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
  • Graduation Rate: 2,925%

One of the best in the entire state, Central Wyoming College proudly calls itself the cultural center for the region. The college has outreach centers located in Lander, Jackson, and Dubois, and each of them is designed to meet the needs of the community they serve. If you are looking for a college experience that is fulfilling and that prepares you for the life you want to lead, then there is no better option than Central Wyoming College. With faculty that care about you and the learnings of community enrichment calls, professional development, adult education, and career readiness, you can be assured that this college does more than give you a degree; they educate you for life.

Central Wyoming College has merged innovation with instruction to prepare professional nurses who can take on any challenge when it comes to nursing education. They use a team-based learning strategy (TBL) which encourages active learning through the use of small group classroom activities. The students are taught professional teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, much like how they would work in real healthcare settings. 

In addition to that, students also get access to state-of-the-art simulation labs where they can perfect clinical skills in a controlled environment while also practicing teamwork.

Undergraduate Programs: Their Associate Degree In Nursing (ADN) program prepares nurses for professional practice when they become RNs. The graduates of the ADN program of Central Wyoming College are able to adjust quickly to the complex and ever-changing global healthcare environment.

Furthermore, there is also an LPN to RN completion program for LPNs who wish to advance their career further and become competent RNs.

Western Wyoming Community College

87.70% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • 2500 College Dr, Rock Springs, WY - 82901
  • (307) 382-1600
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 87.70%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Associate

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 75
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $3,600
  • Book and Supplies: $1,692
  • Percent Received Aid: 94%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $5,300
  • Percent Admitted: N/A
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
  • Graduation Rate: 34%

One of the state's best affordable colleges, Western Wyoming Community College, is all about providing quality, individualized education. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, the graduates from this community college only have good things to say about the individualized attention and guidance they have gotten from the faculty. Along with multiple degree options and stellar placements, the college also has 21 student clubs that provide students with leadership opportunities while also teaching them teamwork, independence, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. 

The nursing program at Western makes optimum use of modern technology to provide students with the opportunity to practice in safe, controlled, yet high-end environments that closely resemble the real field. The simulation labs have all the mannequins and technologies that allow students to practice all kinds of complex nursing skills. The nursing exams are also computerized so that the students are prepared for the real licensure examination. The theory classes are available online while opting for face-to-face interactions for lab, clinical, and simulation. This college has all the makings of a great place for prospective nurses to learn and thrive, and their NCLEX passing rate, which is above national and state averages, proves exactly that.

Undergraduate Programs: The college offers an ADN degree for nurses looking to dive into healthcare and prepare for further advancements in the field.

They also offer the ReNEW RN to BSN program in which students in the ADN program can also enroll simultaneously in a BSN program in other colleges in Wyoming.

Students can also choose to transfer their ADN degree to Western Wyoming Community College from other parts of the nation. Or they can opt to go for their Practical Nursing Certificate, which allows them to take their PN licensure exam and practice in various settings.

Northern Wyoming Community College District-Sheridan

87.00% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • 1 Whitney Way, Sheridan, WY - 82801
  • (307) 675-0505
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 87.00%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Associate

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 104
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $4,590
  • Book and Supplies: $1,400
  • Percent Received Aid: 96%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $4,773
  • Percent Admitted: N/A
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
  • Graduation Rate: 42%

The Sheridan College of Northern Wyoming Community College encourages quality and affordable education. With more than $3 million spent on scholarships and financial aids every year, this college offers something for everyone. They also claim to have one of the strongest nursing programs in the region and looking at their recent NCLEX-RN passing rates, and they are undoubtedly right as well. The college keeps its classes small and diverse, allowing the students to get individualized attention from highly skilled instructors. 

The nursing program at Sheridan College prepares its students to practice effective problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict management strategies. The students also learn communication skills and health evaluation strategies of diverse populations. The degree prepares nurses to become RNs or enroll in advanced degrees and training pertaining to nursing. With their strong partnerships with regional hospitals, dental offices, rehab centers, and other healthcare facilities in the area, Northern Wyoming Community College District is thoroughly invested in providing its students with the hands-on learning experience they need to become successful RNs.

Undergraduate Programs: NWCCD offers a fully online Associate Degree in Health Sciences (Associate of Science in Health Science) program, which is considered an effective stepping stone to work as RNs or get admissions in advanced degrees. Students are free to choose electives in the program that are preferred for a nursing pathway and which help to create strong applications for Nursing Programs.

University of Wyoming

Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing

86.26% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • Corner of Ninth and Ivinson, Laramie, WY - 82071
  • (307) 766-1121
Nurse Admin: Sherrill J. Smith, PhD, CNL, CNE, RN
Title: Dean And Professor
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 86.26%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Accelerated BSN, Bachelor, BSN to DNP, MSN, MSN to DNP

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 1003
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $6,277
  • Book and Supplies: $1,200
  • Percent Received Aid: 95%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $8,139
  • Percent Admitted: 94%
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: 31%
  • Graduation Rate: 59%

If you want to be a part of a college experience that is very much in touch with nature and adventures, then there is no better option than the University of Wyoming's Fay. W. Whitney School of Nursing. UW connects you with 30 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails, 300 miles of snowmobiling trails, and more than 100 miles of mountain bike trails, as well as fishing, rock climbing, national forest excursions, etc. So if you are an aspiring RN with an adventurous soul, then this brilliant outdoor school is where you should be headed.

In addition to access to adventures, UW also offers affordable tuition and substantial financial aid, so no great mind is deprived of quality education.

UW's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing has an excellent track record when it comes to the NCLEX-RN passing rates, which is no surprise really, given the qualified faculties, excellent simulation labs, and clinical rotations in some of the state's best health care centers. All the nursing programs in this school prepare nurse leaders to provide compassionate and quality healthcare that is patient-focused and aimed to uplift the health status of everyone under their care.

Undergraduate Programs: The Basic BSN is a four-year course where 48 students prepare for their NCLEX-RN and life as professional healthcare providers in advanced classrooms and clinical simulation centers.

UW also has an accelerated BSN option for students with a previous non-nursing undergraduate degree who want to become registered nurses. The Bachelors Reach for Accelerated Nursing Degree or BRAND is a distance program that takes students to Wyoming's rural and isolated healthcare centers so that the students learn to grow on their own. 

There is also a program called BSN Completion available for two types of students. The first is the RN-BSN program which aims to provide BSN degrees to RNs. The second is Wyoming's ReNEW (Revolutionizing Nursing Education Education in Wyoming) program, where students are eligible to enroll in the ReNEW BSN degree simultaneously with their ADN programs.

Graduate Programs: The Master of Science Program (MS) at UW prepares nurse educators or nurse leaders who aim to advance nursing education and practice. Nurses who have already completed their BSN degree are eligible to apply for this part-time online course.

Their distance accessible DNP program is designed for nurses who want to get their doctoral degree as in Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

They also offer a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences where postgraduates are prepared for long-term competitive success in the rapidly changing and multifaceted health-related arena of the modern world.

Casper College

85.30% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • 125 College Drive, Casper, WY - 82601-4699
  • (307) 268-2100
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 85.30%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 128
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $3,480
  • Book and Supplies: $1,300
  • Percent Received Aid: 95%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $4,898
  • Percent Admitted: N/A
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
  • Graduation Rate: 40%

First established as Wyoming's first junior college, Casper College has a whopping 28 buildings and spans 200 acres. The college prides itself in providing a big city feel without the big city hassle. 

The student to faculty ratio here is 13:1, and almost 86% of the faculty have a master's or doctoral degree. Thus, students here benefit from individualized interaction with the faculty as they develop themselves as professional nurses ready to provide quality care in any kind of health care facility. There are also several scholarships and financial aid options available, and each year the college awards a substantial amount of aid to students. 

The nursing students learn clinical skills in high-fidelity simulation labs and practice them in a variety of health clinics around the state under the guidance of excellent instructors. Some of the nursing programs can be taken online and are also transferable.

Undergraduate Programs: Casper College offers a two-year ADN degree which is a statewide curriculum. You can also easily transfer your ADN degree to the University of Wyoming and complete your bachelor's degree online. The program allows for Fall and Spring applications.

In addition, Casper College also has an LPN to RN program, which starts in Spring and Summer. 

Casper College is also one of the nursing colleges in Wyoming that offer the ReNEW (Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming) curriculum, under which students in the ADN program can successfully sit for their NCLEX-RN and begin working as RN as they complete the ReNEW BSN.

Northwest College

83.50% 3-Year
Pass Rate
  • 231 W 6th St, Powell, WY - 82435-1898
  • (307) 754-6000
  • NCLEX Passing Rate: (B) 83.50%
  • Programs: Registered Nursing
  • Award Levels: Associate, Bachelor

University Information

  • Total Faculty: 61
  • In-State Undergraduate Tuition: $4,862
  • Book and Supplies: $1,600
  • Percent Received Aid: 94%
  • Average Grant or Scholarship: $6,416
  • Percent Admitted: N/A
  • Percent Admitted who Enrolled: N/A
  • Graduation Rate: 44%

Located in Powell, WY, this public college is one of the best in the state when it comes to its nursing program. With almost 19 technical degrees, 22 certificates, and 45 transfer degrees, Northwest College leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing affordable education. It also allows students to thrive in a safe and family-like environment. The college awards more than $5 million in grants and scholarships annually so that finance does not stand in the way of quality education. 

Being an outdoor institution, Northwest College allows students to immerse themselves in the beauty of Yellowstone country while taking classes both in the field and the classroom. The courses are designed to provide the students with practical, technical, and leadership skills. All three of which are vital when it comes to being a successful nurse and making a significant difference in the global healthcare situation. The courses are available full-time, part-time, or as single courses, and they can be online, traditional, or hybrid, according to the campus. Northwest College is all about finding what's best for you and becoming esteemed healthcare professional.

Undergraduate Courses: The college offers a five-semester ADN program designed to prepare nurses for their LPN NCLEX exam or advanced degrees like BSN. The degree is available in both Powell Campus and Cody Campuses.

The Powell RN Program is delivered in a traditional format in a small classroom size of 24 students. Students practice their clinical skills in the classroom, labs, and local healthcare centers.

On the contrary, the NWC Cody RN Program is delivered in a hybrid format that comprises lectures, face-to-face labs, and hospital rotations. Each year 16 students are admitted in the Spring semester in the Cody cohort.

Recommended Nursing Programs

Discover information on start dates, credit transfer processes, initial salary expectations, financial aid opportunities, GRE requirements, tuition fees, student-to-faculty ratios, and average post-graduation employment rates.

You Might Also Be Interested In

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Wyoming Nurses

Embarking on a nursing education is both a noble and pragmatic pursuit, yet the financial aspect warrants careful consideration. To that end, students have access to a diverse array of financial aid options, each with its own merits and requirements. In the following overview, we distill the essentials of loans, grants, and scholarships, providing a concise guide to the financial pathways that can support your journey toward a fulfilling nursing career.

  • Loans: Borrowed funds to be repaid, often with interest.
    • Federal loans offer fixed rates and flexible repayment.
    • Private loans may have variable rates and terms.
  • Grants: Need-based awards with no repayment obligation.
    • Federal Pell Grants and state grants are common.
    • Award amounts depend on financial need and enrollment.
  • Scholarships: Merit-based or need-based awards with no repayment obligation.
    • Offered by schools, organizations, and private entities.
    • Criteria may include academics, service, or talents.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is key to accessing these options. It determines eligibility for federal aid and is often required for state and institutional aid.

Nursing Scholarships for Wyoming Nurses

Wyoming Nursing Scholarships: Opportunities for Aspiring Nurses

Wyoming Nursing Excellence Scholarship

  • Award Amount: $2,000
  • Application Deadline Month: March
  • Supporting ADN students with academic achievement and nursing commitment, this scholarship requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and Wyoming residency.

Future Nurses of Wyoming Scholarship

  • Award Amount: $1,500
  • Application Deadline Month: May
  • Celebrating ADN students with leadership potential and community service dedication, this scholarship is open to those enrolled in Wyoming nursing schools.

Wyoming Healthcare Advocates Scholarship

  • Award Amount: $1,000
  • Application Deadline Month: November
  • Awarded to ADN students advocating healthcare improvements, this scholarship requires an essay on a current healthcare issue impacting Wyoming.

Wyoming Nurses Association Scholarship

  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Application Deadline Month: Varies
  • The Wyoming Nurses Association offers scholarships to Wyoming residents in nursing programs, including ADN. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement and nursing commitment.

Hathaway Scholarship Program

  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Application Deadline Month: Varies
  • Providing merit-based scholarships to Wyoming high school graduates attending eligible colleges, including ADN students. Award levels vary based on academic performance.

Wyoming Community Foundation Scholarships

  • Award Amount: Varies
  • Application Deadline Month: Varies
  • The Wyoming Community Foundation offers scholarships to Wyoming residents, some applicable to ADN students. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines vary.

Wyoming Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program

  • Award Amount: Loan repayment assistance
  • Application Deadline Month: Varies
  • Providing loan repayment assistance to healthcare professionals, including ADN graduates with loans, who work in underserved areas of Wyoming. Not a traditional scholarship.

Wyoming Advanced Practice Nursing Scholarship

  • Award Amount: $3,000
  • Application Deadline Month: September
  • Designed for NP, MSN, and DNP students in Wyoming, this scholarship supports advanced practice nursing education. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to serving Wyoming communities.

Wyoming Resources for Nurses

Wyoming's nursing community benefits from a wealth of resources offered by state entities and professional organizations. These resources provide valuable information, networking opportunities, and support for nursing practice and education. Below, we present a curated directory of key resources for nursing professionals and students in the Cowboy State.

  • Wyoming State Board of Nursing - The regulatory authority for nursing licensure and practice in Wyoming. Provides information on nursing licensure, education programs, and practice standards.
  • Wyoming Nurses Association (WNA) - A professional organization representing Wyoming nurses. Offers advocacy, networking, continuing education, and resources for nurses at all levels.
  • Wyoming Center for Nursing - Aims to strengthen the nursing workforce in Wyoming. Provides resources, workforce data, and initiatives to promote nursing education and practice.
  • Wyoming Hospital Association (WHA) - Represents Wyoming hospitals and healthcare systems. Advocates for healthcare policy and offers resources for healthcare professionals, including nurses.
  • Wyoming Student Nurses' Association (WSNA) - Supports nursing students in Wyoming. Provides leadership opportunities, networking, and resources to foster professional growth for future nurses.

Find Nursing Schools in Your State


RNCareers

CONTACT US

Let’s Get in Touch

At RNCareers.org, you are teaming up with our team of nurse educators, nurse practitioners, DNPs, RNs LPNs and students to learn about nursing careers, programs and salaries for nurses.

Headquarters, California

Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

US Team:  Agoura Hills, CA; Cumming, GA; Beverly Hills, CA; Marquette, MI; Lilburn, GA; Terre Haute, IN; Pittsburgh, PA; Loma Linda, CA; Carlsbad, CA

Worldwide Team: Salford, United Kingdom; Cairo, Egypt; Novovolynskiy, Ukraine; Ahmedabad, India; Alexandria, Egypt; Kushtia, Bangladesh; Kyiv, Ukraine; Toronto, Canada

© 2009 – 2023 RNCareers.org –  About | Contact | Experts | Data Sources |  Sitemap | Privacy | Terms of Service | Advertising Disclosure | Cookie Policy | Do Not Sell My Information | Ranking Methodology