Registered Nursing Schools by State

Demand for nurses keeps climbing as the population ages, and the number of program options can make the choice feel overwhelming. Use the directory below to compare BSN and RN-to-BSN programs across the country, then read on for how the programs work, what they require, and what graduates earn.

When you compare schools, weigh four things: academic quality, cost, accreditation, and whether the format fits your life. The NCLEX-RN pass rate tells you how well a program prepares students for licensure. The median earnings figure comes from College Scorecard and reflects pay roughly two years after graduation, so treat it as a rough signal, not a guarantee. Confirm current credits, costs, and admission requirements directly with any school before applying.

Program Directory

School	Location	Type	Accreditation	Program	NCLEX Pass	Median Earnings (2 yr)
Saint Anselm College	Manchester, NH	Private	CCNE	Traditional BSN	100%	$68,860
College of Saint Mary	Omaha, NE	Private	ACEN	3-yr BSN	82.1%	$63,690
Calvin University	Grand Rapids, MI	Private	CCNE	Traditional BSN	n/a	n/a
Belmont University	Nashville, TN	Private	CCNE	Hybrid RN-to-BSN	79%	$55,030
Huntington University	Huntington, IN	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	90%	$48,430
Catawba College	Salisbury, NC	Private	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN, 12 mo	88%	n/a
Northern New Mexico College	Española, NM	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University	Phoenix, AZ	Public	CCNE	5 pathways	95.7%	$65,660
Florida State University	Tallahassee, FL	Public	CCNE	Traditional + fast-track	94.7%	$58,920
Stockton University	Galloway, NJ	Public	CCNE	BSN / RN-to-BSN / ABSN	93.6%	$71,950
Elmhurst University	Elmhurst, IL	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	100%	$63,830
Weber State University	Ogden, UT	Public	ACEN	RN-to-BSN	88.4%	$54,380
Baker University	Baldwin City, KS	Private	CCNE	Traditional BSN	97.4%	$57,170
Bellarmine University	Louisville, KY	Private	CCNE	Online BSN, 15 mo	90%	$60,090
Berry College	Mt. Berry, GA	Private	CCNE	Traditional BSN	96.3%	$51,480
Colorado State University-Pueblo	Pueblo, CO	Public	ACEN	5 pathways	91.9%	$60,970
Lewis-Clark State College	Lewiston, ID	Public	CCNE	BSN / LPN-to-BSN / RN-to-BSN	95.7%	$65,130
Towson University	Towson, MD	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN (90% online)	88.8%	$66,980
Rhode Island College	Providence, RI	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN + second degree	98.4%	$65,610
Winona State University	Winona, MN	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN, 1 yr	93%	$65,100
Gonzaga University	Spokane, WA	Private	CCNE	Pre-licensure BSN	97.4%	$71,930
Fairfield University	Fairfield, CT	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	93%	$76,750
Auburn University	Auburn, AL	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN + paths	98.9%	$57,080
Wittenberg University	Springfield, OH	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	n/a	n/a
Carroll University	Waukesha, WI	Private	CCNE	BSN (assoc–master's)	99%	$61,320
University of Providence	Great Falls, MT	Private	CCNE	Hybrid RN-to-BSN	n/a	$100,130
Dillard University	New Orleans, LA	Private	ACEN	BSN / LPN-to-BSN / RN-to-BSN	n/a	$59,250
University of Central Arkansas	Conway, AR	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	93.7%	$58,840
Delaware State University	Dover, DE	Public	ACEN	Traditional BSN	92.9%	$72,020
Siena College	Loudonville, NY	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	n/a	n/a
Shepherd University	Shepherdstown, WV	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	93%	$61,020
University of Mary Washington	Fredericksburg, VA	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	n/a	n/a
South Dakota State University	Brookings, SD	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	92.4%	$57,860
North Dakota State University	Fargo, ND	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	96.6%	$62,400
Endicott College	Beverly, MA	Private	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	91%	$69,080
University of Hawaii at Hilo	Hilo, HI	Public	ACEN	RN-to-BSN	73.5%	$72,360
University of Alaska Anchorage	Anchorage, AK	Public	ACEN	RN-to-BSN	91%	$72,100
University of Houston	Houston, TX	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	98.7%	$68,860
University of New England	Biddeford, ME	Private	ACEN	RN-to-BSN	91.8%	$63,810
University of Nevada-Reno	Reno, NV	Public	CCNE	RN-to-BSN	92.5%	$69,160
University of Wyoming	Laramie, WY	Public	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN	96.1%	$66,370
Claflin University	Orangeburg, SC	Private	CCNE	Online RN-to-BSN (HBCU)	n/a	n/a

How BSN Programs Work

A traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing runs four years and combines general education, nursing coursework, and clinical experience. Most general education lands in the first year, with years two through four focused on nursing. Plan on 120 to 130 credits and 700 to 800 clinical hours, where you apply classroom material in patient-care settings alongside licensed nurses. After you finish coursework and clinicals, you sit for the NCLEX-RN. Pass it, and you can apply for your RN license and start working.

RN-to-BSN tracks, which make up most of the directory above, are built for nurses who already hold a license and an associate degree or diploma. They are shorter, often run online, and frequently finish in 12 to 24 months.

Applying

Requirements vary by school, but most pre-licensure BSN programs want high school coursework in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, SAT or ACT scores, a resume, a personal essay, recommendation letters, and any volunteer experience. A minimum 2.75 GPA is common. RN-to-BSN programs require an active RN license plus an associate degree or diploma, and many set a minimum prerequisite GPA.

Why Accreditation Matters

Stick to programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditation signals that a school prepares nurses for safe practice, and it has practical consequences: graduates of unaccredited programs may be ineligible for federal financial aid, unable to transfer credits, and blocked from graduate study. Employers also favor accredited graduates.

Common Questions

ADN or BSN? Both qualify you to become a licensed RN, but BSN holders generally access more roles and higher pay, and a growing number of employers prefer or require the bachelor's. An ADN takes about two years full time; a traditional BSN takes four.

Where do RNs earn the most? Pay tracks closely with cost of living. As of May 2024, the national median RN wage was $93,600, and California led the country by a wide margin, followed by states like Hawaii, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska. The lowest-paying states tend to cluster in the South and Midwest, including Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Can I do it online? Yes. Online and hybrid programs are common, especially RN-to-BSN tracks. Coursework runs synchronously, asynchronously, or both, but you complete clinical hours in person, usually in your home community.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses, May 2024.