Accreditation and Program Types
RN nursing schools offer three main pathways: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and accelerated BSN programs for career changers. Accreditation is provided by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The National League for Nursing (NLN) maintains a public database of accredited programs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that graduates from CCNE or ACEN accredited programs meet state eligibility requirements for the NCLEX-RN exam BLS Registered Nurses overview.
State boards of nursing set minimum clinical hour requirements, which typically range from 500 to 800 hours. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers the NCLEX-RN exam used by all 50 states for licensure. The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognizes both ACEN and CCNE as valid accrediting agencies NCSBN NCLEX information.
Costs, Financial Aid, and ROI
Average tuition for in-state ADN programs at public community colleges is approximately $10,000 to $15,000 for the full program. BSN programs at public universities average $40,000 to $80,000 for in-state students over four years. Private RN nursing schools charge $30,000 to $70,000 for ADN and $80,000 to $120,000 for BSN programs. The College Scorecard, maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, provides median earnings and debt data for nursing programs by institution College Scorecard nursing programs.
Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and subsidized Stafford loans, is available for accredited RN nursing schools. The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), covers tuition and fees for students who commit to working at eligible critical shortage facilities. The average starting salary for registered nurses was $81,220 in May 2023 according to BLS data HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship.
Admissions, NCLEX Pass Rates, and Employment
Most RN nursing schools require a high school diploma or GED, prerequisite courses in anatomy and physiology, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3.0. Competitive programs may require TEAS or HESI admission test scores above the 50th percentile. The NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for BSN graduates averaged 88.3 percent in 2023, compared to 79.5 percent for ADN graduates, according to NCSBN NCSBN NCLEX pass rates.
Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 193,100 openings per year. The median annual wage for RNs was $81,220 in 2023. Top employers include hospitals, outpatient care centers, and home healthcare services. The AACN reports that 94 percent of BSN graduates received a job offer within 4 to 6 months of graduation