How to Choose a Nursing Program

Choosing a nursing program is a significant decision that affects your finances, timeline, and career start. With thousands of programs nationwide, narrowing your options requires understanding what actually matters—and what doesn’t matter as much as you might think.

What Matters Most

The Priority Factors

Factor	Why It Matters
Accreditation	Required for licensure, graduate school, many employers
NCLEX pass rates	Indicates program quality and preparation
Clinical placements	Where you’ll gain hands-on experience
Cost and financial aid	Debt affects early career decisions
Completion rate	How many students actually finish
Location/format	Must fit your life circumstances

What Matters Less Than You Think

Factor	Reality
School prestige	Employers care about license, not school name
US News rankings	Rankings favor research, not clinical preparation
Beautiful campus	You’ll be in clinicals, not on the quad
Famous alumni	Doesn’t affect your education
Division I athletics	Irrelevant to nursing quality

Accreditation: Non-Negotiable

Why Accreditation Matters

Graduating from an accredited program is required to:

• Sit for NCLEX (state board requirement)
• Qualify for federal financial aid
• Transfer credits to other institutions
• Apply to most graduate nursing programs
• Get hired at many employers

Types of Accreditation

Type	What It Covers
Regional/Institutional (HLC, SACSCOC, etc.)	The university as a whole
CCNE	Nursing programs specifically
ACEN	Nursing programs specifically
State Board Approval	Minimum for NCLEX eligibility

Both CCNE and ACEN are acceptable. Neither is definitively “better.” Some schools have both.

How to Verify Accreditation

1. Check the school’s website (should be prominently displayed)
2. Verify on CCNE directory: aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation
3. Verify on ACEN directory: acenursing.org
4. Check your state board of nursing for approved programs

Red flag: If a program is vague about accreditation status, investigate further.

NCLEX Pass Rates

How to Interpret Pass Rates

Pass Rate	Interpretation
95%+	Excellent preparation
90-94%	Strong program
85-89%	Solid, around national average
80-84%	Acceptable but room for improvement
75-79%	Concerning; program may be at risk
Below 75%	Significant quality concerns

Where to Find Pass Rates

• State board of nursing websites
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
• Program websites (verify independently)
• Ask programs directly (they should share readily)

Pass Rate Caveats

Numbers don’t tell the whole story:

• Small programs can have volatile rates year to year
• Some programs are more selective in admissions
• Pass rates don’t indicate where graduates work
• High pass rates can reflect extensive NCLEX prep, not necessarily education quality

Look at trends over 3-5 years, not just one year.

Program Types

Comparing Pathways

Program	Duration	Credential	Requirements
ADN	2-3 years	Associate degree	High school diploma
BSN	4 years	Bachelor’s degree	High school diploma
Accelerated BSN	11-18 months	Bachelor’s degree	Non-nursing bachelor’s
LPN/LVN to RN	1-2 years	ADN or BSN	LPN license
Direct Entry MSN	2-3 years	Master’s degree	Non-nursing bachelor’s

ADN vs BSN: The Real Differences

Factor	ADN	BSN
Time	2-3 years	4 years
Cost	$10,000-$30,000	$40,000-$150,000+
NCLEX eligibility	Yes	Yes
Entry-level jobs	Most available	All available
Magnet hospitals	May require BSN within timeframe	Qualified
Management track	Usually need BSN	Qualified
Graduate school	Need BSN first	Qualified

Bottom line: Both ADN and BSN nurses take the same NCLEX and hold the same license. ADN is faster and cheaper; BSN opens more doors long-term. Many nurses do ADN, start working, then complete RN-to-BSN online.

Clinical Placements

Why Clinicals Matter

Clinical rotations are where you develop actual nursing skills. The quality and variety of clinical placements significantly impacts your preparation.

Questions to Ask

Question	Why It Matters
Where are clinical sites located?	Long commutes add stress
What types of facilities?	Hospitals, long-term care, community?
What’s the instructor-to-student ratio?	More attention = better learning
How are placements assigned?	Competitive? Lottery? Guaranteed?
Do students struggle to get placements?	Waitlists indicate problems

What to Look For

Variety of settings:

• Acute care hospital
• Long-term care/rehabilitation
• Community health
• Psychiatric/mental health
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics

Quality indicators:

• Major health systems or academic medical centers
• Preceptorships in final semester
• Specialty rotation options
• Simulation lab for skill practice

Cost Considerations

True Cost Comparison

Cost Element	Consider
Tuition	Total program cost, not per credit
Fees	Lab fees, clinical fees, technology fees
Books/supplies	Can be $1,000+ per year
Clinical requirements	Uniforms, equipment, immunizations
Living expenses	If relocating or can’t work
Opportunity cost	Income lost while in school

Financial Aid Reality

Aid Type	Notes
Pell Grant	Free money; based on financial need
State grants	Varies by state
School scholarships	Merit or need-based
Nursing-specific scholarships	Professional organizations, employers
Federal loans	Must be repaid; consider total debt
Private loans	Usually higher interest; last resort

Employer-Sponsored Options

Some employers offer:

• Tuition reimbursement while working as CNA/tech
• Loan repayment in exchange for work commitment
• Free CNA/LPN training leading to RN sponsorship

These can significantly reduce costs but come with employment obligations.

Practical Considerations

Location and Format

Factor	Questions to Consider
Commute	How far to campus and clinical sites?
Schedule	Day, evening, weekend options?
Online components	What can be done remotely?
Clinical flexibility	Can you request certain locations/shifts?
Work compatibility	Can you work while enrolled?

Program Culture

Sign of Good Culture	Sign of Concerning Culture
Students support each other	Cutthroat competition
Faculty accessible	Faculty dismissive
Reasonable workload expectations	”Nursing school should be your only priority”
Support for diverse learners	One-size-fits-all approach
Resources for struggling students	Sink or swim mentality

Attrition and Completion

High dropout rates suggest problems:

• Inadequate student support
• Unrealistic expectations
• Poor teaching quality
• Mismatch between admissions and program rigor

Ask for completion rates. Programs should share this data.

Red Flags

Avoid Programs That:

Red Flag	Why It’s Concerning
Won’t share NCLEX pass rates	Hiding poor performance
High-pressure enrollment tactics	Quantity over quality
Accreditation issues or warnings	Program may be at risk
Very low tuition with no explanation	May cut corners
Can’t place students in clinicals	Fundamental problem
No faculty with clinical experience	Theory without practice
Complaints on state board website	Pattern of problems

How to Research

1. State board of nursing website — Check for complaints, program status
2. NCSBN — NCLEX pass rate data
3. Nursing forums — Student and graduate experiences (take with grain of salt)
4. Talk to current students — Ask directly, not through admissions
5. Talk to local nurses — What’s the program’s reputation among employers?

Making Your Decision

Comparison Framework

Create a spreadsheet comparing your top choices:

Factor	Weight	School A	School B	School C
Accreditation	Must-have	✓	✓	✓
NCLEX pass rate	High	92%	85%	78%
Total cost	High	$25,000	$45,000	$60,000
Clinical sites	High	Good	Excellent	Good
Commute	Medium	20 min	45 min	10 min
Schedule fit	Medium	Day only	Flexible	Evening

Final Decision Factors

After meeting minimum requirements (accreditation, acceptable pass rates):

1. Financial fit — Can you afford it without crushing debt?
2. Life fit — Does the schedule work for your circumstances?
3. Clinical quality — Will you get solid hands-on experience?
4. Gut feeling — After visiting, did it feel right?

Next Steps

Ready to choose a nursing program?

1. Verify accreditation first — CCNE or ACEN
2. Check NCLEX pass rates — State board websites
3. Calculate true costs — All expenses, not just tuition
4. Visit programs — Talk to students, see facilities
5. Compare financial aid offers — After acceptance
6. Trust your assessment — You’ve done the research

Use our program finder tool to search programs in your area, or browse programs by state.

The “best” nursing program is the one that prepares you well, fits your life, and leaves you financially able to start your career without overwhelming debt. Prestige matters far less than practical factors.