With a population of almost 170,000 registered nurses (RNs), impressive salaries, and hundreds of top-rated nursing schools, New York is one of the nation’s best places to start a nursing career. While nursing programs and career opportunities are plentiful throughout the state – especially in Long Island – it still takes hard work and the right education to obtain a lucrative position in this competitive field.

In addition to registered nurse, the most common career paths for aspiring nurses include licensed practical nurse (LPN) and certified nursing assistant (CNA). RNs must be skilled at performing a variety of challenging tasks that include conducting diagnostic tests, analyzing results, and establishing patient care plans. To prepare for these tasks, New York’s aspiring RNs must complete either a hospital diploma, associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). All registered nursing candidates must also pass the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination.

Licensed practical nurses care for the sick or injured under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians, while nursing assistants provide hands-on care and perform routine patient care tasks. New York’s aspiring LPNs must complete a 12- to 18-month certificate program and successfully pass the NCLEX-PN national licensure examination. CNAs must complete a briefer state-approved certificate program.

Graduates of RN, LPN, and CNA programs in New York will join a large community of nurses that earn some of the highest salaries in the healthcare industry. Long Island is home to 23,800 RNs with a median annual salary of over $82,000. The area’s 7,000 LPNs earn over $52,000 per year, and its 14,750 CNAs earn roughly $35,000 per year. These professionals work at top Long Island hospitals and healthcare centers such as North Shore-LIJ Health System, Franklin Hospital Medical Center, Eastern Long Island Hospital, and Mercy Medical Center.

The following is a list of accredited nursing schools in Long Island, New York that offer top-tier programs in all areas of this lucrative field.

Long Island nursing schools by NCLEX score

Farmingdale State College
2350 Broadhollow Road | Farmingdale, New York 11735
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 94.7% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Stony Brook University
310 Administration Building | Stony Brook, New York 11794
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 92.8% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Molloy College
1000 Hempstead Avenue | Rockville Centre, New York 11571
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 86.8% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Baccalaureate DNP
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead
121 Speonk-Riverhead Road | Riverhead, New York 11901
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 86.4% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Nassau Community College
One Education Drive | Garden City, New York 11530
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 85.3% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Hunter Business School
3601 Hempstead Turnpike | Levittown, New York 11756
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 85.2% NCLEX pass rate (2013 through 2021)
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
100 Second Avenue | Brentwood, New York 11717
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing (Adult): 84.8% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing (Secondary Extended): 70.0% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Suffolk County Community College - Selden
533 College Road | Selden, New York 11784
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 83.8% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Suffolk County Community College - Brentwood
1001 Crooked Hill Road | Brentwood, New York 11717
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 81.4% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Western Suffolk BOCES
152 Laurel Hill Road | Northport, New York 11768
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 79.9% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
St. Joseph's College - Long Island
155 West Roe Boulevard | Patchogue, New York 11772
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 79.5% NCLEX pass rate (2019 through 2021)
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Nassau County Vocational Education & Extension Board
30 East Cherry Street | Hicksville, New York 11801
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 79.4% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
Adelphi University
One South Avenue | Garden City, New York 11530
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 76.3% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
New York Institute of Technology
Two Northern Boulevard | Old Westbury, New York 11568
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 73.9% NCLEX pass rate (2012 through 2021)
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
LIU Post
720 Northern Boulevard | Brookville, New York 11548
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 62.8% NCLEX pass rate (2019 through 2021)
  • Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Hofstra University
160 Hofstra University | Hempstead, New York 11549
  • Advanced Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Certificate: Registered Nurse First Assistant
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner / Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Farmingdale State College Bachelor of Science in Nursing 94.7% 2012 to 2021
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Stony Brook University Bachelor of Science in Nursing 92.8% 2012 to 2021
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Doctor of Nursing Practice
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Baccalaureate DNP
Post-Master's Certificate: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Molloy College Bachelor of Science in Nursing 86.8% 2012 to 2021
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Nursing Education
MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Baccalaureate DNP
Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Education
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead Certificate in Practical Nursing 86.4% 2012 to 2021
Nassau Community College Associate Degree in Nursing 85.3% 2012 to 2021
Hunter Business School Certificate in Practical Nursing 85.2% 2013 to 2021
Eastern Suffolk BOCES Certificate in Practical Nursing (Adult) 84.8% 2012 to 2021
Certificate in Practical Nursing (Secondary Extended) 70.0% 2012 to 2021
Suffolk County Community College - Selden Associate Degree in Nursing 83.8% 2012 to 2021
Suffolk County Community College - Brentwood Associate Degree in Nursing 81.4% 2012 to 2021
Western Suffolk BOCES Certificate in Practical Nursing 79.9% 2012 to 2021
St. Joseph's College - Long Island Bachelor of Science in Nursing 79.5% 2019 to 2021
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Nursing Education
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Nassau County Vocational Education & Extension Board Certificate in Practical Nursing 79.4% 2012 to 2021
Adelphi University Bachelor of Science in Nursing 76.3% 2012 to 2021
Accelerated Second Degree BSN
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Nursing Administration
MSN: Nursing Education
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
New York Institute of Technology Bachelor of Science in Nursing 73.9% 2012 to 2021
LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
LIU Post Bachelor of Science in Nursing 62.8% 2019 to 2021
Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Hofstra University Advanced Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Advanced Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
Advanced Certificate: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Advanced Certificate: Registered Nurse First Assistant
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner / Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
DNP: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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New York