2024 Rankings: The 100 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains

The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a prominent and vast institution that enrolls more than 3,700 students. Nearly half of the state’s bachelor-prepared nurses, physicians, dental professionals, pharmacists, and allied health professionals have graduated from UNMC. The school’s College of Nursing offers traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN programs for undergraduates, as well as MSN, DNP, and PhD degrees for graduate nurses. In addition, a post-master’s certificate is offered in areas ranging from adult gerontology to women’s health. Prelicensure BSN graduates have enjoyed an excellent 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN examination over the past eight years.

The University of Kansas School of Nursing has twice been designated an NLN Center of Excellence for enhancing student learning and professional development. The university also ranks among the top 25 public nursing schools nationwide in terms of National Institutes of Health research funding. KU School of Nursing offers a notable breadth of programs including advanced practice clinical, leadership, and nurse educator certificates; traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees; and a PhD program in nursing, the only one of its kind in the region. Traditional BSN graduates have averaged a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade.

Allen College graduated its first DNP class in 2013. The school also offers four nurse practitioner tracks in its MSN program, including adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, family practice, and family psychiatric mental health. The school’s baccalaureate program has three prelicensure tracks (traditional, accelerated, and LPN-to-BSN) and two postlicensure tracks (RN-to-BSN and public health). BSN students have the option to earn a minor in the pioneering area of population health. Allen College produces 100-125 prelicensure BSN graduates annually, and these students have passed the NCLEX exam at a stellar 94% rate over the past decade.

The College of Nursing at South Dakota State University has an 80-year history of providing high-quality nursing education. Home to more than 1,000 nursing students across its BSN, MSN, post-graduate certificate, DNP, and PhD programs, SDSU has posted an enviable job placement rate as high as 100% for some recent graduating classes. The undergraduate nursing program produces approximately 300 prelicensure candidates each year. These students have scored an impressive 92% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade. Recent years have also witnessed a perfect 100% pass rate for APRN graduates seeking certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The College of Nursing at Creighton University was the first nursing school in Nebraska to offer clinical nurse leader and doctor of nursing practice programs. The school also has MSN and post-graduate certificate programs, as well as both a four-year BSN and an accelerated BSN that can be completed in just one year. The college graduates between 150 and 200 BSN students annually, and they have achieved a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Just as impressively, Creighton’s graduate students typically score a 100% first-time pass rate on their nurse practitioner certification exams.

At more than 125 years old, Clarkson College was the very first nursing school in the state of Nebraska. It is also one of the few schools to provide a variety of in-demand bridge programs, including specific pathways like LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and RN-to-MSN. In addition, Clarkson offers a traditional BSN degree, an MSN program with five specialty tracks – each of which is also available as a post-graduate certificate – and a DNP curriculum with four specialty tracks and a post-master’s pathway. The college typically graduates 100-plus prelicensure BSN students each year, with a phenomenal 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past five years.

The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing at Maryville University has a considerable collection of program offerings for aspiring nurses. Maryville offers traditional and degree completion BSN programs, as well as a fast-track BSN for students who have completed 65 hours of liberal arts and science coursework. Across the prelicensure BSN pathways, the school graduates approximately 125 students annually. They have consistently scored stellar marks on the NCLEX licensure exam, averaging a 92% first-time pass rate over the past decade. Maryville’s MSN and DNP programs have five specialty NP tracks: family nursing, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care, pediatric nursing, and psychiatric mental health.

Bryan College of Health Sciences offers traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNAP programs. BSN students enjoy a low 6:1 clinical student-to-faculty ratio, more than 1,200 clinical hours (the highest in the state), and training experiences at Bryan Medical Center and 200+ other sites. BSN graduates have achieved an excellent 95% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, including a 99% pass rate in 2017, 2018, and 2020. The MSN program has two tracks (nurse educator and nurse leadership), a preceptor program with real-life situational learning, and a blended learning format that is conducted 75% online and 25% in-classroom. DNAP students also begin their clinical experiences very early in the program.

The College of St. Scholastica’s School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing schools in Minnesota. St. Scholastica offers three undergraduate nursing tracks: a traditional four-year undergraduate program, an accelerated pathway for students who have a non-nursing baccalaureate degree, and an RN-to-BS offering for registered nurses with associate degrees. The school graduates 140-180 students annually from its prelicensure BS tracks, and these students have achieved an 84% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade. St. Scholastica also offers DNP tracks for both APRNs and baccalaureate-prepared RNs.

Mayo School of Health Sciences is part of the prestigious Mayo Clinic, which ranks number one in more specialties that any other hospital in the nation. The school enrolls nursing students across its three campuses in Jacksonville, Florida; Phoenix / Scottsdale, Arizona; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Rochester campus houses a wide breadth of clinical graduate nursing programs including nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist offerings. Clinical experiences allow students to rotate through the entire hospital care setting, from pediatrics to critical care.

The School of Health Sciences at the University of Mary offers a community-focused nursing program with several degree paths. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional four-year BSN or a BSN completion program with LPN and RN entry points. The school produces 50-70 prelicensure BSN graduates annually, and these students have passed the NCLEX-RN licensure examination at a solid 86% rate over the past ten years. At the graduate level, the University of Mary offers two MSN tracks (nursing administrator, nursing informatics) and a DNP program with an FNP focus. The university offers clinical opportunities at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck and at local public health agencies, nursing homes, hospitals, and schools.

St. Catherine University, also known as St. Kate’s, is home to the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health. The school offers 22 professional and pre-professional healthcare programs, including several options within nursing. At the undergraduate level, St. Kate’s offers an associate degree program on its Minneapolis campus, a traditional BSN degree on its St. Paul campus, and an RN-to-BSN program for adult learners. Graduate offerings include three MSN tracks (entry-level, nurse educator, nurse practitioner) and a DNP program with several dual-degree options. Entry-level MSN students have passed the NCLEX licensure exam at a phenomenal 96% rate since the program’s recent inception.

The University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) College of Nursing enrolls more than 1,100 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. The college offers a breadth of nursing pathways including prelicensure BSN (traditional, accelerated, or part-time), RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD degrees. Post-graduate certificates are also available in areas of advanced nursing practice such as women’s health, psychiatric-mental health, and adult-geriatric health. UMSL graduates approximately 200 prelicensure BSN students annually, and the school has averaged an 87% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade.

The UMKC School of Nursing offers a diversity of nursing programs. Degree options include three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN-to-BSN) and graduate programs at the MSN, DNP, and PhD levels. Prelicensure BSN students consistently perform well on the NCLEX exam, scoring an 89% average pass rate over the past decade and an impressive 97.4% pass rate in 2019. The postlicensure RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees can all be completed online. In addition, UMKC offers a graduate certificate program for nurses who already hold an MSN or DNP degree. Eight tracks are available, including a nurse educator certificate and seven distinct nurse practitioner specialties.

The Metropolitan State University Department of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. For the past decade, the university has partnered with seven community colleges to lead the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) BSN program. This innovative curriculum expands the BSN’s reach by offering courses both at local community colleges and on the university’s Saint Paul campus. Metro State also offers an RN-to-BSN pathway with both online and hybrid cohorts. Registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma can complete the part-time program in just five semesters of study. The university’s graduate nursing students can pursue either an entry-level MSN (ELMSN) degree or a terminal DNP degree. The ELMSN program graduates 25-30 new nurses annually who have passed the NCLEX exam at an impressive 91% first-try rate over the past decade. The DNP curriculum offers post-baccalaureate tracks for aspiring family nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists; the latter is conducted in partnership with the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia.

St. Olaf College takes a holistic approach to nursing that integrates development of the whole person, a commitment to lifelong learning, and service to others. The school’s four-year BSN program includes unique courses such as Images of Wellness, Holistic Health Assessment & Promotion, and Complex Patient Care. Besides an innovative curriculum, the program incorporates clinical learning experiences across a variety of local and Twin Cities medical centers, long-term care facilities, and community agencies. After years of offering the BSN jointly with Gustavus Adolphus, St. Olaf College recently launched a separate program with a small class size of approximately 25 students per cohort. These BSN students have passed the NCLEX exam at an outstanding 96% first-time rate over the past several years.

The nursing programs at Augsburg University are designed to address the specific needs of diverse populations, both in the U.S. and abroad. Immersion courses and study abroad experiences are integrated into all of the school’s nursing programs. Many of these experiences take students to overseas locations ranging from England to Namibia. Classes for all of the school’s nursing programs meet at both the Minneapolis and Rochester campuses. Augsburg University offers a BSN completion pathway, a master of arts in nursing, and a DNP degree with tracks in transcultural nursing leadership and family nurse practitioner.

Graceland University prepares a tight-knit graduating class of 40-50 prelicensure BSN students annually. Over the past decade, these graduates have achieved a 90% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, well above both state and national averages. Graceland’s School of Nursing also offers both campus-based and online RN-to-BSN programs, an MSN program with two specialty tracks (family nurse practitioner and nurse educator), an RN-to-MSN entry option, and an online DNP program. The MSN offering is frequently named one of U.S. News & World Report’s top twenty online MSN programs nationwide, with particularly high marks for faculty credentials and student engagement.

The nursing programs at Mount Marty University focus on mastering current technology and treating diverse populations. The school offers an undergraduate nursing major that accommodates both traditional and LPN entry points. The BSN program graduates approximately thirty students annually, and they have averaged a 77% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past decade. Mount Marty’s MSN degree has two nurse practitioner focal areas (family, psychiatric-mental health) and a unique six-semester structure, with both online and face-to-face coursework designed for working adults. In 2016, Mount Marty University became the first South Dakota institution to offer an accredited doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP) degree. Located in Sioux Falls, the DNAP program accepts both baccalaureate- and master’s-prepared candidates.

USD Nursing has been designated a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence three times for enhancing student learning and professional development. USD graduated its first four-year BSN class in May 2015, and the university currently offers the prelicensure BSN program at four campuses: Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre. BSN graduates have maintained a strong 90% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam since the program’s launch. Other offerings include an LPN-to-ASN bridge program (available at the Watertown campus) and an RN-to-BSN completion program (available exclusively online). A unique component of USD Nursing is the international clinical experience in Guatemala, where students have the opportunity to provide healthcare services to rural indigenous people.

The Concordia College nursing curriculum is approved by both the Minnesota and North Dakota Boards of Nursing. The school’s traditional and accelerated BSN programs emphasize global health and cultural competence through immersion opportunities in countries like China, Vietnam, and Tanzania. Concordia students have access to laboratories with simulation manikins, as well as convenient clinicals and internships at renowned healthcare facilities throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. Each year, approximately 40 BSN graduates from Concordia take the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam, achieving a stellar 94% first-time pass rate over the past decade.

Newman University admits 64 students annually into its nursing program in two installments, half in August and half in January. Undergraduate nursing options include traditional BSN, LPN-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN pathways. The university’s BSN graduates have averaged an 84% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past five years, including a perfect 100% pass rate during 2017. Newman University also offers the coveted doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP) degree, one of only two such programs approved to operate in the state of Kansas. The DNAP curriculum requires approximately 36 months of full-time study to complete.

Walden University offers more than thirty online degree and certificate pathways for registered nurses with a current, unencumbered license. Those who wish to complete their undergraduate education can pursue either an RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN pathway. The university’s MSN curriculum provides nine in-demand specializations including nurse executive, nursing education, nursing informatics, public health nursing, and five nurse practitioner fields. Most MSN specializations are also offered as a post-master’s certificate. Doctoral candidates can choose from six DNP specializations and five PhD specializations, including an innovative Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Interdisciplinary Health. In fact, Walden University has awarded more doctoral degrees to African-American students than any other U.S. institution over the past five years.

The Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing at Pittsburg State University offers two BSN pathways (prelicensure, RN-to-BSN), an MSN degree with an educational emphasis, and two DNP entry points (post-BSN, post-MSN). Since 2012, Pittsburg State’s prelicensure BSN students have averaged a 90% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, including an exceptional 98.7% pass rate in 2018. A unique option offered at the university is Army ROTC Nursing. Pittsburg State Army ROTC is the only such program in Kansas deemed a Cadet Command Nursing Center of Excellence. The program seeks to commission well-trained nurses into active duty, the National Guard, and the Army Reserves.

The nursing curriculum at Nebraska Wesleyan University has several undergraduate and graduate tracks. At the undergraduate level, NWU offers both a traditional four-year BSN and an RN-to-BSN completion program. The traditional BSN graduated its first cohort in May 2018. Students in this program gain clinical experience at many facilities in and around Lincoln, including CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital which has held the prestigious Magnet designation since 2004. Graduate nursing students can select from two MSN entry points (BSN-to-MSN, RN-to-MSN) and two focal tracks (nurse educator, nurse leader). The school also offers an MSN/MBA joint degree, an MSN-to-MBA bridge, and a post-master’s certificate in either nursing education or nursing leadership. With the exception of the traditional BSN, students can pursue all nursing programs at either the main university campus in Lincoln or a conveniently located learning site in Omaha.

Truman State’s School of Health Sciences & Education prepares students for entry-level positions in the registered nursing field. Two BSN degree pathways are available: traditional and accelerated. Both pathways feature clinical experiences in acute care and community health settings, and both provide access to the ten-bed Nursing Simulation Center. The NSC has several Laerdal mid-fidelity manikins including adult, child, infant, and newborn versions. Truman State graduates approximately 40-50 BSN students each year, with an exceptional NCLEX exam pass rate of 94% over the past decade.

Luther College’s nursing graduates achieve some of the highest exam pass rates in the region. Since 2012, Luther’s BSN students have passed the NCLEX-RN licensure examination at an exceptional 95% rate on their first attempt. In addition to superior preparation for the licensure exam, the nursing major provides important perspectives on both rural and urban healthcare, as well as a solid base for graduate nursing study. It also features highly coveted clinical experiences at Mayo Medical Center, Rochester Methodist Hospital, and Saint Mary’s Hospital that begin as early as sophomore year.

Through its education of professional nurses, the Washburn University School of Nursing seeks to improve health, enhance the experience of care, and maximize the value of health services to a diverse population. The school offers three BSN pathways (generic, LPN entry, RN completion), an MSN for aspiring clinical nurse leaders, and a DNP with two specialty areas (family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner). The RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are all offered online. Students have access to the university’s state-of-the-art simulation labs, and they can secure clinical placements at top hospitals and healthcare centers throughout the Northeast region of the state. Over the past decade, prelicensure BSN graduates have maintained an 85% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.

Capella University launched in 1993 as The Graduate School of America. In 1997, 14 students graduated from TGSA, earning nine master of science (MS) and five doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees. Today, Capella has more than 35,000 alumni, as well as 2,700 employees serving 36,000 current students. Capella University offers forty programs with 145 distinct specializations. The School of Nursing and Health Sciences provides a plethora of nursing degree options. Undergraduates with an active, unencumbered RN license can pursue either a traditional RN-to-BSN pathway or an accelerated master’s pathway. Capella’s MSN program offers concentrations in care coordination, nursing leadership and administration, nursing informatics, and nursing education. The first three specializations may also be pursued as a graduate certificate. Finally, the university conducts a post-master’s DNP program with a professionally relevant curriculum that explores healthcare delivery, patient advocacy, and healthcare policy. All of Capella University’s nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership (SNHL) at Minnesota State University Moorhead has educated nurse leaders since 2007. SNHL offers several healthcare degree options including an RN-to-BSN completion program, a bachelor of science in health services administration, an MSN program, and a master of healthcare administration. The school also offers post-baccalaureate certificates in nurse educator (NED) and nursing administration & organizational systems leadership (NAOSL).

Rasmussen University opened in 1900 as Rasmussen Practical School of Business in St. Paul, Minnesota. Today, Rasmussen operates 23 campuses in six states as well as a thriving online division. The School of Nursing houses 600 faculty that serve 8,500 students across the full gamut of pre- and post-licensure programs. Prelicensure options include a practical nursing diploma, an associate degree in professional nursing, and a traditional BSN degree. These programs are delivered through the university’s network of campus locations. Indeed, Rasmussen was the largest educator of ADN graduates in the country during 2020, as well as the largest educator of LPN graduates in both Florida and Minnesota. Post-licensure options include an RN-to-BSN completion program, an MSN degree with four advanced nursing specializations, and a DNP program with executive leadership and public health specializations. These programs are delivered through a combination of online courses and field experiences, making them more accessible to working nurses.

Webster University’s College of Arts and Sciences houses a nursing department that offers RN-to-BSN, MSN, and doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP) programs. The RN-to-BSN curriculum focuses on holistic health promotion for the individual, the family, diverse groups, and the broader community. The program is offered online or on-site in part-time eight-week sessions. The MSN program allows students to choose a nurse educator, nurse leader, or healthcare leadership specialization. Designed for working professionals, the MSN is also delivered through part-time courses in eight-week terms. The DNAP program offers clinical experiences at ten private-practice and university-based facilities. Students obtain real-world exposure at most of these institutions by the time they graduate.

Central Methodist University offers several pathways to a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing. The school’s traditional BSN program is taught in the Thogmorton Center for Allied Health on the university’s residential campus in Fayette. Each graduating cohort is small, typically around forty students. These graduates have scored an 89% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2018. Students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can pursue an accelerated BSN at the CMU center in Columbia. ADN- and diploma-prepared nurses can enroll in an RN-to-BSN program offered at three CMU centers (Arnold, St. Charles, St. Louis) and online. Finally, graduate nursing students can pursue an online MSN with tracks for aspiring clinical nurse leaders and nurse educators.

The University of Central Missouri offers a unique nursing program that includes both urban and rural clinical experiences. This diverse exposure has helped UCM’s nursing graduates achieve a 100% employment rate. The school’s 70-80 annual BSN graduates have also enjoyed a solid 88% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. In addition to a traditional BSN, the undergraduate nursing department offers an online RN-to-BSN program that can be completed in just one calendar year. UCM’s graduate nursing department offers an MSN with two emphasis areas: nurse educator and family nurse practitioner.

The Department of Nursing at Benedictine College offers a prelicensure BSN program that accepts 25 new juniors each fall. Interested students must submit an application to the nursing program during their sophomore year at Benedictine, and admission is very competitive. The college places special emphasis on the spiritual care and psycho-social support of patients, as well as fostering nursing leadership in its BSN students. The school counts among its alumni Madeleine M. Leininger, a retired professor and founder of the worldwide transcultural nursing movement. Since the BSN program’s inception, students have averaged an 81% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, including a perfect 100% pass rate during 2017.

In 1930, Briar Cliff University opened with just one building and 25 female students. Today, the school serves 1,100 students from all backgrounds. The Department of Nursing offers the most complete selection of nursing programs in western Iowa, including two BSN pathways (traditional and degree completion), an MSN program, and the terminal DNP degree. Briar Cliff students gain hands-on experience through clinical practice in hospitals, community health agencies, long-term care facilities, and other community-based settings. They also learn in state-of-the-art laboratories, including the region’s only educational cadaver labs. The past two graduating BSN classes have averaged an 80% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

Hesston College, traditionally a two-year liberal arts college, now offers several pathways to a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In the fall of 2015, Hesston launched a four-year BSN program and an LPN-to-BSN bridge to meet the region’s increasing demand for baccalaureate-prepared nurses. The BSN curriculum, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, graduates approximately forty students annually. These graduates have achieved an 85% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination since the program’s inception. The recently discontinued ADN program also witnessed excellent student outcomes over its fifty years, educating more than 1,600 nurses with a first-time NCLEX pass rate typically around 90%. Hesston College’s nursing graduates enjoy a 100% job placement rate across a diverse range of clinical settings including medical-surgical, maternal, and pediatric care.

The USF School of Nursing has several options for earning a BSN degree. Each track is tailored to the needs of a particular student profile. The traditional four-year BSN is for students seeking their first undergraduate degree, the four-semester accelerated BSN is for career changers who possess a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, and the RN-to-BSN is for ADN- or diploma-prepared nurses who wish to complete their baccalaureate education. Approximately 40-60 students graduate annually from the prelicensure (traditional and accelerated) tracks, while another twenty students graduate annually from the RN-to-BSN program. The prelicensure students have averaged a 91% first-time NCLEX pass rate since the program’s launch, including a stellar 96-98% pass rate in each of the past four years.

William Jewell College has produced more than 1,000 nursing graduates who work in staff and leadership positions at just about every hospital in the Kansas City area. The undergraduate nursing program boasts an overseas experience in Central America, participation in the Pryor Leadership Program, and an employment rate of 85% immediately after graduation. William Jewell College graduates 90-100 BSN students annually, and these graduates have averaged an 86% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade.

The Dakota Nursing Program at Bismarck State College offers tightly integrated LPN and ADN programs. The practical nursing program allows students to earn a certificate after the first 11 months of nursing classes. If students maintain a 2.75 GPA and meet other matriculation requirements, they may complete the second year of study which leads to the associate degree. Clinical experiences at local hospitals, nursing homes, and agencies provide exposure to a vast array of healthcare settings, including the emergency room, intensive care unit, maternal / newborn care, the operating room, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Over the past decade, ADN graduates have scored an exceptional 95% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, while their LPN counterparts achieved a near-perfect 99% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.

Tabor College offers a broad liberal arts curriculum with a strong Christian foundation. The school has enjoyed an affiliation with the Mennonite Brethren Church since its establishment in 1908. Tabor provides two online degree options in the field of nursing: an RN-to-BSN completion pathway and an MSN program with a specialty track in executive leadership. Both degree programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The RN-to-BSN pathway is structured as a series of five-week courses that students may complete in approximately 16 months, culminating with a clinical capstone project. The MSN program also tackles one course at a time over a 24-month curriculum. Tabor College is proud to provide some form of financial aid to all students.

The University of Jamestown’s BSN program offers students the opportunity to travel to Chogoria, Kenya or Nkhoma, Malawi to deliver healthcare in hospitals and villages located deep in the jungle. Students will visit schools and orphanages during their three-week stay. UJ also offers an international leadership opportunity in a Nha Trang, Vietnam hospital. Closer to home, the university’s students benefit from clinical experiences at major local healthcare centers like North Dakota State Hospital, Sanford Medical Center, and Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Over the past decade, BSN graduates have achieved an 84% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Many graduating classes have also enjoyed a 100% job placement rate.

Serving nearly 3,200 students, Minot State University is the third-largest university in North Dakota. The Department of Nursing offers both a prelicensure BSN program and an online RN-to-BSN pathway. Students enjoy high-fidelity clinical simulations in the university’s Nursing Clinical Simulation Center. They also gain hands-on work experience in the Adult Health Maintenance Clinic, which helps elderly persons remain independent. The prelicensure BSN program graduates a close-knit cohort of 25-40 students annually. Over the past decade, these BSN students have scored a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam.

Bemidji State University offers its BSN program in a clinical setting that prepares students to address patient health needs in a changing and diverse environment. Two tracks are available to complete the baccalaureate degree. The four-year BSN track is designed for students just beginning their nursing education. The two-year RN-to-BSN track is for licensed RNs with an associate degree or diploma. Students in both programs receive an innovative curriculum that covers critical topics like technology, rural health, family health, cultural awareness, and palliative care. The four-year BSN program graduates 40-60 students annually, who have scored a solid 83% first-time NCLEX pass rate since the program’s inception.

College of Saint Mary is the region’s only Catholic university for women. It is also the only school in Nebraska to offer a three-year prelicensure BSN program. College of Saint Mary actually offers two prelicensure BSN pathways (accelerated three-year, traditional four-year) as well as a one-year certificate in licensed practical nursing. The college is noted for its small class sizes, study abroad experiences, and intensive service learning opportunities. Indeed, CSM has provided more than 10,000 hours of service to more than fifty organizations in the surrounding community, and Campus Ministry offers two service learning opportunities each year. Over the past decade, LPN graduates have achieved a strong 93% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. BSN graduates have scored an 81% NCLEX-RN pass rate since the program’s inception, including an 87% pass rate in 2018.

Doane University traces its roots back nearly 150 years. In 2010, the school introduced an RN-to-BSN program that allows registered nurses with an associate degree or hospital diploma to complete their baccalaureate education. Students can earn up to 72 credit hours for previous education or work experience, and clinical requirements may be completed in the student’s own community. The curriculum, which requires 123 total credit hours to graduate, may be completed online, on-campus, or a combination of the two. The entire program typically takes two years or less to complete.

Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP) is a private liberal arts university with over eighty programs for students seeking traditional undergraduate, degree completion, graduate, or doctorate degrees. In 2017, CSP expanded its nursing offerings with the addition of a prelicensure BSN. Like the university’s existing RN-to-BSN program, the prelicensure BSN provides a curriculum that is relevant to the current healthcare arena. The prelicensure program is offered year-round in a traditional academic setting, allowing students to complete their degree in just three years. The RN-to-BSN program is conducted online and may be completed in two years or less.

Hutchinson Community College offers aspiring nurses the opportunity to earn either a certificate in practical nursing or an associate degree in registered nursing. HCC’s practical nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, one of just two such accredited programs in Kansas. The college’s ADN program offers four pathways: a traditional two-year schedule, campus and online versions of an LPN-to-RN bridge, and an online paramedic-to-RN bridge. The LPN and paramedic pathways are the state’s first online ADN programs. Graduates of all nursing pathways perform admirably on their licensure exams: HCC students have posted an 86% NCLEX-PN pass rate and an 83% NCLEX-RN pass rate over the past decade.

Bellevue University is a private, non-profit, regionally accredited institution with more than 50,000 alumni nationwide. The university’s nursing program sits within the College of Arts and Sciences. It allows registered nurses with an ADN or hospital diploma to complete their baccalaureate nursing education. This RN-to-BSN program is offered online and requires 127 credit hours to graduate. The curriculum teaches the fundamentals of leadership and what makes an effective healthcare team. During their final year, students complete a hands-on practicum in their local area, allowing them to apply the concepts they have learned in realtime. Students will develop and execute an evidence-based plan, and then reflect on the outcomes.

Bolivar Technical College is the sister campus of Texas County Technical College. The school specializes in adult education, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience to prepare graduates for immediate employment. Bolivar Technical College offers several nursing pathways including a ten-week CNA course, a one-year LPN certificate, and two entry options for an associate degree in nursing (20-month generic program, 12-month LPN-to-RN bridge). Across all programs, graduates have an excellent track record on their respective certification or licensing exams. For example, ADN graduates have posted an 86% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam over the past decade. Six of the past eight LPN classes notched a perfect 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN exam.