The city of Gary, Indiana, ranks among the top three in the state in number of nursing jobs available, alongside Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. It also ranks near Indianapolis and Elkhart in highest median salaries for registered nurses.

Work opportunities continue to expand for all of the available nursing roles in the healthcare industry. Employers in Gary are constantly in search of certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs) to fill their openings. The responsibilities, as well as the preparations, for each of these roles vary, of course, and you will need to consider how much you are willing to invest in your education ahead of time.

The certified nursing assistant program is the shortest path to a nursing career. A CNA attends to healthcare needs of patients, but only under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. A CNA program in an accredited school in Gary can be completed in as little as three to eight weeks, after which you will have to take and pass a state-required certification exam. CNAs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, earn salaries within the range of $19,510 to $27,180 a year.

To qualify to be an LPN, you need to complete a 12 to 18 month program that includes academics and training in the care of sick, injured, disabled, or convalescent patients. As an LPN, you could earn anywhere from $35,830 to $46,060 annually, and your tasks would include documentation of vital signs and administration and monitoring of medication.

RNs are more specialized, having graduated from a nursing program with either a two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or the four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). They have also successfully passed the national licensing exam. In Gary, RNs earn a median salary of $63,240, ranging anywhere from $53,800 to $72,530 annually.

Two of Gary’s most prominent nursing schools are Indiana University - Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College - Gary. We’ve compiled below a complete list of the city’s nursing schools to help aspiring nurses jump-start their careers.

Gary nursing schools by NCLEX score

Ivy Tech Community College - Valparaiso
3100 Ivy Tech Drive | Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 98.2% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 87.8% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
Ivy Tech Community College - Lake County
1440 East 35th Avenue | Gary, Indiana 46409
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 96.4% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 81.5% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
Indiana University Northwest
3400 Broadway | Gary, Indiana 46408
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 94.8% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Valparaiso University
US Highway 30 & Sturdy Road | Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 91.7% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Purdue University Northwest
2200 169th Street | Hammond, Indiana 46323
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 87.6% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificates
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Saint Francis - Crown Point
12800 Mississippi Parkway | Crown Point, Indiana 46307
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 83.0% NCLEX pass rate (2011 through 2020)
V.R. Ashwood Training Institute
5518 Calumet Avenue | Hammond, Indiana 46320
  • Nursing Assistant Certificate
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Ivy Tech Community College - Valparaiso Certificate in Practical Nursing 98.2% 2011 to 2020
Associate Degree in Nursing 87.8% 2011 to 2020
Ivy Tech Community College - Lake County Certificate in Practical Nursing 96.4% 2011 to 2020
Associate Degree in Nursing 81.5% 2011 to 2020
Indiana University Northwest Bachelor of Science in Nursing 94.8% 2011 to 2020
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Valparaiso University Bachelor of Science in Nursing 91.7% 2011 to 2020
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Doctor of Nursing Practice
MSN: Nursing Education
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Baccalaureate DNP
Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Purdue University Northwest Bachelor of Science in Nursing 87.6% 2011 to 2020
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Doctor of Nursing Practice
LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Master's Certificates
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
University of Saint Francis - Crown Point Associate Degree in Nursing 83.0% 2011 to 2020
V.R. Ashwood Training Institute Nursing Assistant Certificate
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Indiana