2024 Rankings: The 100 Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is home to approximately 600 students enrolled in BSN, ABSN, MSN, PhD, and DNP programs. The university is consistently ranked among the top ten graduate nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report, including a number of highly rated specialty programs. At the undergraduate level, Emory produces approximately 200 BSN graduates annually who have passed the NCLEX-RN examination at a 92% rate over the past decade. The nursing school has an impressive 82% employment rate immediately after graduation, and students have landed positions at more than 500 diverse clinical sites nationwide.

The LSU Health School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. Undergraduate students can select from a traditional four-year BSN, an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, and the Career Alternative RN Education (CARE) pathway. The CARE BSN is designed for individuals who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The university’s prelicensure BSN students have averaged a 97% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade; indeed, the pass rate consistently exceeded 95% in every single year. At the graduate level, LSU Health offers two MSN specializations (clinical nurse leader, nurse educator), an impressive 11 distinct DNP concentrations, and the unique Doctor of Nursing Science degree program.

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing focuses solely on graduate nursing study. The university offers traditional and direct-entry MSN programs, eleven distinct post-master’s certificates for aspiring advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and two doctoral options (DNP and PhD). The direct-entry MSN program graduates approximately 150 new nurses annually who have passed the NCLEX exam at a 93% first-try rate over the past decade. Vanderbilt’s APRN specialties run the gamut from family nurse practitioner to nurse-midwifery to nursing informatics. The MSN program also partners with Vanderbilt Divinity School to offer two innovative dual degrees.

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is home to the Simulation Hospital for Advancing Research and Education (SHARE), one of the nation’s first education-based simulation hospitals. The school frequently ranks among the top 25 nursing schools nationwide in National Institutes of Health research funding. A member of the respected UHealth family, SONHS offers BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD degrees. Post-master’s certificates are also available in several nurse practitioner specializations. The school graduates approximately 200 students annually from its flagship prelicensure BSN program. During the past decade, more than 95% of these students passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam on their first try.

UAB School of Nursing is nationally ranked among the top three percent of nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report. The school provides several unique opportunities for veterans, Peace Corps volunteers, and nurse practitioner students who plan to provide primary care in one of Alabama’s rural counties upon graduation. UAB offers two BSN entry points (traditional, ADN) and two MSN entry points (BSN, second degree), as well as DNP and PhD programs. The school’s traditional BSN program has more than 250 graduates annually, and they are well prepared for their licensure exams, tallying a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past eight years.

The University of Virginia School of Nursing was recently ranked among the top four percent of nursing schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers an impressive breadth of program options including prelicensure BSN, RN-to-BSN, seven distinct MSN tracks, two DNP entry points, and a PhD in nursing science. UVA graduates a prelicensure BSN class of approximately 90 students each spring. These candidates have averaged a 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination over the past decade. UVA’s direct-entry clinical nurse leader students have performed even better on the licensure exam, with a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Several recent CNL cohorts have scored a perfect 100% pass rate.

The UNCG School of Nursing has earned five consecutive NLN Center of Excellence designations for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. The school offers three undergraduate pathways: traditional four-year BSN, RN-to-BSN, and BSN as a second degree. UNCG graduates more than 100 prelicensure BSN students annually, who have averaged a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The school’s online MSN program is consistently ranked among the top twenty nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. UNCG also offers a dual MSN / MBA degree and very selective DNP and PhD programs.

The UTHSC College of Nursing offers students a breadth of options at both the baccalaureate and doctoral levels. Undergraduates can pursue either a 12-month accelerated second degree or an RN-to-BSN completion pathway. Over the past decade, the accelerated BSN program has scored a phenomenal 98% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination. Doctoral candidates have several options. UTHSC’s DNP program has nurse practitioner concentrations in adult-gerontology acute care, family nursing, neonatal nursing, pediatric acute care, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric-mental health nursing. PhD and dual DNP/PhD programs are also available.

Belmont University’s School of Nursing has program options for students new to nursing, RNs looking to complete their baccalaureate education, and seasoned nurses seeking career advancement. Undergraduate offerings include a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN program. Belmont graduates 100-150 prelicensure BSN students each spring, who have posted an impressive first-time NCLEX pass rate of 90% over the past decade. Graduate options include MSN, post-bachelor’s DNP, and post-master’s DNP programs. The School of Nursing provides several innovative opportunities in its curriculum, include the Cambodia Study Abroad Program and the Nursing Christian Fellowship.

The UAMS College of Nursing provides education to more than 600 nursing students. It is the only Arkansas university with four distinct programs – BSN, MSN, APRN certificates, and DNP – all maximally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The college also offers two degree completion tracks (RN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN-to-MSN) and the state’s only nursing PhD program. Each spring, UAMS graduates 100-175 BSN students who perform very strongly on the licensure exam, including an NCLEX pass rate of 91% over the past ten years.

The VCU School of Nursing boasts a state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Center with a skills lab and two intensive care simulation suites. The center was recognized in 2010 as a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence. VCU also provides nursing students with 45,000 square feet of classrooms, auditoriums, and research laboratories. The university offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN completion), five MSN concentrations, and both doctoral nursing degrees (DNP and PhD). VCU graduates approximately 150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have passed the NCLEX exam at an impressive 93% first-try rate over the past decade.

The USF Health College of Nursing performs more than 100,000 clinical hours in the community each year with more than 1,000 clinical partners. The school offers so many different nursing degrees, you’ll lose count. Undergraduate options include a traditional prelicensure BSN, an accelerated second degree BSN, and the innovative veteran-to-BSN (VCARE) pathway. Across all of its BSN programs, USF graduates more than 250 nurses annually, who have achieved an outstanding 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past decade. Graduate nursing pathways include an MSN program with six concentrations, several graduate certificates, a DNP program with six concentrations including a new nurse anesthesiology option, and a PhD degree for aspiring nurse scientists.

LMU’s Caylor School of Nursing offers programs across seven physical sites and a robust online platform. The school’s main campus in Harrogate offers ASN, BSN, and MSN programs. Three satellite locations offer ASN programs only: Alcoa, TN; Corbin, KY; and Physicians Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. The Cedar Bluff site in Knoxville offers LMU’s BSN and MSN programs, while the Kingsport Center for Higher Education offers just the MSN program. A partnership with Florida Hospital provides accelerated ASN and BSN programs in Tampa, while the online platform delivers the school’s RN-to-BSN and DNP programs. LMU students from all campuses perform well on their licensure exams. For example, Tennessee graduates from the ASN program have scored a 93% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, while graduates from the BSN program have scored at a 95% first-time rate over the same timeframe.

The UT College of Nursing enrolls approximately 750 students across its academic programs. Seventy percent of these students pursue a BSN degree through one of three pathways: a traditional four-year program, an accelerated 12-month option, or an RN-to-BSN completion program. UT’s prelicensure BSN graduates are well-prepared for the NCLEX exam, with a 94% first-time pass rate over the past decade and an exceptional 98% or better first-time pass rate in each of the past three years. The remaining thirty percent of nursing students pursue an MSN, DNP, or PhD degree. UT’s graduate nursing department offers concentrations for aspiring nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nursing administrators. Students have the opportunity to participate in the school’s International Outreach Program, which includes an immersive service mission to Costa Rica.

The University of Tampa’s College of Natural and Health Sciences offers three nursing programs: a traditional four-year BSN, an MSN with two nurse practitioner concentrations (family and adult-gerontology), and a DNP program designed for APRNs who are Florida residents. The BSN program has achieved a near-perfect 99% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam over the past decade, graduating approximately fifty students each year. The MSN program emphasizes the importance of holistic assessment, cultural congruency, and consumer inclusion in healthcare. The DNP program is conducted online with only three required visits to campus, allowing working students to continue their careers in clinical practice. The university maintains formal affiliations with more than 120 Tampa Bay-area healthcare facilities, providing students with a breadth of options for clinical exposure.

The Union University School of Nursing offers well more than 15 different nursing programs. Undergraduates can pursue five pathways to a BSN degree: traditional, accelerated, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and a unique First Step to BSN program which helps adult students with few college credits earn their degree. The school graduates 130-170 prelicensure BSN students annually. These graduates have passed the NCLEX exam at a 94% rate over the past decade, well above the state and national averages. Union’s graduate nursing students can pursue one of six MSN tracks, six DNP tracks, or seven graduate certificates in nursing.

Georgia Baptist College of Nursing conducts a breadth of nursing programs at Mercer University’s Atlanta campus. The school offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated second degree, RN-to-BSN), three MSN tracks for aspiring nurse practitioners (family, adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care), and two doctoral degrees with a hybrid online format (DNP, PhD). Georgia Baptist College of Nursing is the second-largest Baptist-affiliated institution in the world, with access to more than thirty clinical sites for valuable hands-on experience. The college graduates 120-150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have averaged a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade.

The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing has posted a 92% NCLEX pass rate among BSN graduates over the past seven years. Just as impressively, recent MSN cohorts – including the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner track – have achieved a 100% pass rate on their certification exams. In addition to traditional BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees, UNC Charlotte leads an interdisciplinary collaborative PhD program in the College of Health and Human Services. The school also offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program, a Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) option in partnership with local community colleges, and several post-master’s and graduate certificates.

Augusta University’s College of Nursing takes full advantage of the university’s Medical College of Georgia and the 350-plus clinical training sites of its teaching hospitals. This provides nursing students the opportunity to gain experience in the full spectrum of medicine, from tertiary/quaternary care hospitals to small-town solo practices. The College of Nursing offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN-to-BSN), two MSN-CNL pathways (direct-entry, BSN-prepared), a breadth of DNP specializations (adult gerontology, anesthesia, executive, family, pediatric, psychiatric mental health), and a nursing PhD program. Graduates of all programs enjoy some of the nation’s highest exam pass rates. For example, BSN graduates have achieved an 88% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, while direct-entry MSN graduates have achieved a 91% NCLEX pass rate during that timeframe.

Tennessee Tech University is home to the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing. Undergraduate offerings include a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated second bachelor’s degree, and an RN-to-BSN degree completion pathway. TTU graduates approximately 100 prelicensure BSN students annually, and they have passed the NCLEX exam at a stellar rate of 97% over the past decade. In fact, the 2018 and 2020 graduating BSN classes achieved a 99% NCLEX pass rate. TTU offers several MSN specializations online including family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education. The school’s DNP program is conducted in consortium with East Tennessee State University. The two institutions jointly deliver concentrations in executive leadership and five nurse practitioner fields.

The Department of Nursing is the anchor of UL Lafayette’s College of Nursing & Allied Health Professions, educating more than 2,000 students across a breadth of baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral offerings. Undergraduates may pursue a traditional prelicensure BSN or an online RN-to-BSN pathway. The traditional BSN program has a phenomenal track record on the NCLEX licensure examination, including a 97% first-time pass rate over the past decade. Master’s degree students may pursue a concentration in either family nurse practitioner or nursing education. UL Lafayette is also the only university in Louisiana to offer a graduate certificate in cardiovascular nursing. Finally, doctoral candidates can enroll in either a post-baccalaureate program with an FNP focus or a post-master’s pathway. The Department of Nursing has won numerous accolades for its stellar outcomes, including two designations as an NLN Center of Excellence, recognition as an End-of-Life Nursing Consortium Hall of Fame School, and programmatic accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

In July 2005, UNF selected the College of Health’s School of Nursing as its first flagship program. The school’s RN-to-BSN offering has earned recognition on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best online bachelor’s programs. UNF also offers on-campus RN-to-BSN, traditional BSN, and accelerated BSN pathways for its undergraduate students. The school graduates 100-150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have posted a strong 93% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Graduate nursing students can pursue three APRN roles through the DNP program: nurse anesthetist, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

The UofL School of Nursing has two campus locations: Louisville and Owensboro. Each year, 140-180 prelicensure BSN students graduate from the Louisville campus, sustaining an excellent 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Owensboro graduates a smaller class of 30 BSN students with a 90% NCLEX pass rate since the program’s start, including two straight years at 100%. UofL also offers a master’s entry into professional nursing (MEPN) pathway for candidates with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Postlicensure candidates can pursue an RN-to-BSN completion program, post-MSN certificates in four different specialties, and either type of doctoral nursing program (DNP and PhD).

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Barry University is the first and only institution in Florida to be named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing. At the undergraduate level, the college offers both a traditional BSN and an accelerated 15-month program for students with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Barry University typically graduates 100-130 prelicensure BSN students annually, with a solid 82% NCLEX-RN exam pass rate over the past decade. MSN students can pursue a nurse practitioner specialization in either family practice or adult-gerontology acute care, with post-master’s certificates also available in both specializations. Doctoral candidates have four options: a four-year post-baccalaureate DNP, a two-year post-master’s DNP, a newly launched DNP in anesthesiology, and an interdisciplinary PhD program that features classes from both the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Education.

Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia is the only independent and fully accredited anesthesia institution in the nation. The school recently phased out its master of science degree with a focus in anesthesia, enrolling all new students in the doctor of nurse anesthesia practice (DNAP) terminal degree program. MTSA offers two DNAP tracks: a three-year precertification program for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and a two-year online completion program for existing certified registered nurse anesthetists. Since the school’s founding, greater than 99.75% of graduates have passed the National Certification Examination administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. The school has achieved a 90% first-time pass rate over the past five years, which far exceeds the Council on Accreditation’s preferred pass rate of 81% during that time period.

The Hunt School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University is part of the College of Health Sciences. The school offers several levels of nursing education including an associate degree, three pathways to a bachelor’s degree (traditional, accelerated second degree, RN-to-BSN), a master’s degree with two specialty tracks (education, administration), and a doctor of nursing practice with three pathways (post-master’s, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner). In addition, the Hunt School of Nursing offers graduate certificates in both MSN specialty areas and post-doctoral certificates in both nurse practitioner specialty areas. Undergraduates consistently perform well on their licensure exams. ADN graduates have averaged a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past seven years, while their counterparts in the BSN program have scored an exceptional 97% pass rate during that timeframe.

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas offers both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Part of the nationally ranked College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP), the school has a traditional prelicensure BSN, an RN-to-BSN pathway for existing nurses, an MSN with a nurse educator specialization, and a DNP program. The DNP program has two levels of entry: post-BSN and post-MSN. The school conducts all of its postlicensure programs online to make them more accessible for working RNs, requiring only minimal campus visits. During the past decade, the school’s BSN graduates exceeded a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination.

Eastern Mennonite University offers both undergraduate and fully online graduate programs in nursing. The undergraduate BSN program offers six different pathways including a traditional four-year curriculum, an entry option for transfer students, two second degree pathways (traditional, accelerated), and two bridge programs (LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN). The university graduates approximately forty prelicensure BSN students each year, with a solid 86% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. At the graduate level, EMU offers an MSN degree with two concentrations (leadership and management, leadership and school nursing), a school nurse certification program, an MSN/MBA dual degree, and a DNP program that prepares nursing professionals to lead within dynamic healthcare systems.

The School of Nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University offers a traditional four-year BSN, an online RN-to-BSN, an MSN in health systems leadership, and a multifaceted DNP. PBA’s traditional BSN program graduates 40-60 students annually, with an outstanding 92% NCLEX exam pass rate over the past decade. The DNP program has entry points for both BSN and MSN degree-holders. Candidates in the BSN-to-DNP pathway can select a concentration in either executive leadership (71 graduate credits) or family nurse practitioner (74 graduate credits). The post-master’s option requires 38 to 44 graduate credits. Programs are offered in a hybrid combination of online delivery and monthly in-person classes at PBA’s West Palm Beach campus.

Francis Marion University’s nursing program was recognized as an NLN Center of Excellence in 2016 – and again in 2020 – for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. The school offers a traditional prelicensure BSN program as well as two RN-to-BSN pathways (one generic, one for veterans). The traditional BSN program graduates 50-75 students annually who have scored a solid 88% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The RN-to-BSN for Veterans is an innovative degree program that recognizes military training and experience with course credits – a first in nursing education. Many veterans will earn their BSN degree in just 11 months of fulltime study. For BSN-educated nurses, Francis Marion offers an MSN degree with tracks in family nurse practitioner (hybrid format) and nurse educator (fully online). The university also recently launched a DNP program, a practice-oriented terminal degree that includes both MSN and BSN entry points.

Wake Forest School of Medicine has doctoral degree options in nurse anesthesia and nursing leadership. Wake Forest has provided nursing education since the 1920s, with the nurse anesthesia program in continuous operation since 1942. The nurse anesthesia DNP is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation. The curriculum follows one year of fulltime distance learning with two years of onsite education, including frequent clinical instruction. The nursing leadership DNP is open to any registered nurse with a master’s degree, even if it is not in nursing. This fully online program includes health law elective credits taken within Wake Forest School of Law.

The Keigwin School of Nursing at Jacksonville University has so many nursing pathways, you’ll lose count. BSN options include traditional, second degree, veteran’s, and RN-to-BSN programs. The school graduates approximately 100 prelicensure BSN students annually, and these individuals have achieved an outstanding 93% pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade. The MSN program offers specializations in clinical nurse educator, healthcare systems leadership, informatics, and several nurse practitioner fields. Jacksonville University’s DNP program offers both BSN and MSN entry points. The school also provides post-graduate certificate programs in many of the MSN specializations that can be completed as standalone certificates or embedded within the DNP program.

The School of Nursing at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University offers three BSN tracks: a traditional prelicensure program, an accelerated second degree track, and a postlicensure RN-to-BSN pathway conducted entirely online. Prelicensure BSN students have passed the NCLEX exam at a 90% first-time rate since the program’s inception, including an unbelievable 99% pass rate over the past five years. Clinical sites include acute care hospitals, clinics, community care centers, and schools. FranU also has skills laboratories that employ high-fidelity manikins in a realistic setting designed to mirror the actual clinical arena. The university’s graduate nursing curriculum includes an MSN for aspiring family nurse practitioners and a DNP in nurse anesthesia. Several recent graduating classes from the MSN program have earned a perfect 100% pass rate on the FNP certification examination.

Sentara College of Health Sciences offers a master’s entry to nursing practice (MENP) pathway, one of only two such programs in the state of Virginia that allow students with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree to enter nursing practice at the master’s degree level. The college also offers two pathways to the BSN degree: a traditional prelicensure program and an RN-to-BSN degree completion program. Since its launch, the traditional BSN has an excellent track record of student success. Graduates have scored a stellar 93% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2018. The 30-credit-hour RN-to-BSN program opened in 2010 and has a current enrollment of around 300 students.

The College of Nursing at University of South Alabama offers numerous BSN and MSN pathways. Options include traditional BSN and MSN programs, early acceptance for high school seniors and college freshmen, an accelerated BSN/MSN program for baccalaureate-educated non-nurses, and RN completion programs (e.g., RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN, or RN-to-BSN/MSN). South Alabama’s graduating BSN class is large (250-300 students annually) and well-prepared for the NCLEX exam, with an 88% pass rate over the past eight years. The MSN program offers specialties that run the gamut from adult-gerontology acute care to family practice to neonatal nursing, with in-demand subspecialties like cardiovascular care, oncology, and palliative care.

Frontier Nursing University is home to the nation’s first family nurse practitioner program, as well as the largest and oldest continually operating nurse-midwifery program. The university also offers specialization as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner or a women’s health care nurse practitioner. FNU’s programs are consistently ranked among the top graduate nursing programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner specialties are offered as either an MSN degree or a post-graduate certificate. The curriculum is conducted through online coursework with only two brief campus immersion experiences. Frontier Nursing University also conducts a post-master’s DNP program, offering full- and part-time options with four convenient start dates annually.

William Carey University’s School of Nursing offers three pathways to the BSN degree: a prelicensure program, an LPN advanced placement option, and an RN-to-BSN completion program. The prelicensure and LPN advanced placement pathways are on-campus programs that may be completed in eighteen months at an accelerated pace. Graduates have sustained an excellent 95% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Courses for the RN-to-BSN program are offered online, and the degree may be completed in just 12 months. At the graduate level, Carey offers an MSN degree with a clinical nurse educator focus, an MSN/MBA dual degree program, and a PhD program in nursing education and administration with a unique DNP-to-PhD pathway.

Tanner Health System School of Nursing (THSSON) at the University of West Georgia offers a prelicensure BSN program, an RN-to-BSN pathway, an MSN degree, and a doctorate (EdD) in nursing education. The MSN has role options in education and health systems leadership; post-master’s certification is also available in both areas. The THSSON doctorate degree, master’s program, and RN-to-BSN pathway can each be completed 100% online. By contrast, the four-year BSN program is campus-based and graduates approximately 100 newly minted nurses each spring. Over the past decade, these students have achieved a solid 87% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

The University of Southern Mississippi is one of just 130 doctoral universities in the nation with very high research activity according to the widely used Carnegie Classification system. Southern Miss has educated nurses for more than fifty years. The undergraduate BSN program is offered through the School of Professional Nursing Practice, with both a campus-based prelicensure track and an online RN-to-BSN option. The prelicensure track graduates 150-175 students annually; over the past decade, these graduates have posted a 97% NCLEX pass rate. Graduate nursing students attend the School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice. Degree options here include an MSN or DNP in two clinical specialties (family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner), a nurse anesthesia DNP, a post-master’s DNP, and a nursing PhD with post-baccalaureate and post-master’s entry points.

Western Kentucky University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health offers the full gamut of nursing degrees. For students entering the profession, WKU offers an LPN-to-ASN bridge program, a prelicensure BSN program, and a master’s entry to professional nursing (MEPN) program. Over the past decade, ASN students have scored a strong 88% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam. The traditional BSN program has witnessed even more impressive results, with a 96% NCLEX pass rate over the same timeframe. For existing nurses, WKU offers an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, an MSN degree for aspiring psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, a post-master’s DNP pathway, and a post-baccalaureate DNP with two concentrations (family nurse practitioner and nurse executive).

In January 2013, two of the top-performing schools in the University System of Georgia – North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College – joined forces to create the new University of North Georgia (UNG). The school serves 18,000 students in total, making it one of Georgia’s largest public universities. UNG’s Department of Nursing offers a breadth of degree programs. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional BSN degree or an RN-to-BSN completion pathway. The traditional BSN program graduates well over 100 students annually, and these graduates have posted a 91% NCLEX pass rate since the program’s launch. At the graduate level, UNG offers two MSN specializations, three graduate certificates, and the terminal DNP degree.

Harding’s Carr College of Nursing (HCCN) was established to develop nurses as Christian servants. The program features close teacher-student relationships, a variety of clinical experiences in wellness and health promotion, several admission tracks to meet different learner needs, and a Health Missions Program with local and international experiences. The undergraduate program has two distinct pathways: a traditional BSN and an accelerated second degree BSN. Over the past decade, HCCN’s BSN graduates have posted a 91% cumulative pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, including several recent years with a perfect 100% pass rate. The school’s online MSN program has a Family Nurse Practitioner track that educates students to become advanced practice registered nurses.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU) was the first public institution in the state to establish a baccalaureate program in nursing, welcoming its first students in 1949. NSU was also the first in the state to offer a master’s degree in nursing. Today, the College of Nursing offers the full breadth of professional nursing degrees. The ADN program graduates 80-100 students annually across its traditional and LPN bridge tracks. These students have posted a strong 92% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The college’s BSN program has four tracks: traditional, accelerated second degree, LPN bridge, and RN degree completion. Prelicensure BSN students have an even more impressive track record on the NCLEX exam, with a 94% pass rate over the past decade. NSU’s MSN program offers ten distinct areas of specialization, and its DNP curriculum has concentrations in both advanced practice nursing and organizational systems leadership.

King University resides on 135 scenic acres nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The School of Nursing offers a breadth of degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduates can pursue either a prelicensure BSN or an RN-to-BSN degree completion pathway. Prelicensure BSN students have scored an 84% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination over the past decade. Graduate nursing students can choose from four MSN specializations: family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, nursing administration, and pediatric nurse practitioner. The university also offers a post-master’s certificate in the first two areas, as well as a terminal DNP degree that prepares students for advanced nursing practice and leadership in the profession.

Wheeling University is founded on the Catholic tradition of academic excellence and service to others. The Department of Nursing offers several undergraduate pathways and graduate specialization options. Traditional students can pursue a BSN that integrates nursing and the liberal arts, while students with a bachelor’s degree in another field can earn an accelerated second degree in just 18 months. Graduates of both programs have earned an 83% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade. WU also offers an RN-to-BSN/MSN pathway for ADN- or diploma-prepared nurses who wish to obtain an advanced degree. Coursework is delivered online, with clinical requirements completed in students’ hometowns. At the graduate level, Wheeling University offers specialized MSN tracks in family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.

Kennesaw State University is home to the WellStar School of Nursing, the largest nursing school in northern Georgia. WellStar School of Nursing has produced thousands of graduates who are currently employed in a breadth of healthcare settings including Atlanta’s world-class medical facilities, the United States military, and medically underserved regions of the Southeast. Nursing programs are offered at the baccalaureate and master’s degree levels. The BSN has both traditional and accelerated second degree options. BSN graduates have achieved a stellar 96% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade, including a perfect (170 out of 170) pass rate in 2018. The MSN program offers tracks in family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.

The Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte offers both BSN and MSN degree programs. The BSN has three pathways: a traditional track, an accelerated second degree option, and an online RN-to-BSN degree completion program. The traditional and accelerated tracks are designed for students without a nursing license. These prelicensure programs graduate 70-90 students in total each year, with a stellar 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past five years. The online RN-to-BSN program just recently launched in the fall of 2018. Queens University’s online MSN program has three specializations: clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator, and nurse educator.

The University of Memphis’s Loewenberg College of Nursing is home to more than 1,000 students enrolled on two physical campuses – the flagship Memphis campus and the Lambuth campus in Jackson, TN – as well as online. At the undergraduate level, the college offers three pathways to a BSN degree. Traditional undergraduates can complete the nursing curriculum in five semesters, while students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can prepare for licensure in just four semesters. Finally, existing nurses can complete a flexible online 31-credit RN-to-BSN curriculum. The prelicensure pathways graduate approximately 250 students annually, with an excellent 90% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. At the graduate level, UofM offers an MSN degree, post-master’s certificates, and a post-master’s PhD in nursing. MSN students can select from concentrations in executive leadership, family nurse practitioner, and nursing education. The nursing PhD program just enrolled its first cohort. The curriculum is conducted fully online with a primary focus on health equity research in education, practice, and policy.

East Tennessee State University’s College of Nursing is one of the largest nursing schools in the state. The college operates nine nurse-led clinics in Northeast Tennessee to address the rural region’s underserved population. At the undergraduate level, ETSU offers four pathways to a BSN degree: traditional prelicensure, accelerated second degree, LPN-to-BSN bridge, and RN-to-BSN completion. Approximately 200-250 students graduate annually from the prelicensure BSN pathways, with an 88% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade. Graduate nursing students can pursue an MSN, DNP, or PhD degree. ETSU offers six different nurse practitioner specialties across its master’s, graduate certificate, and doctoral programs. The most recent cohort of family nurse practitioner students achieved a stellar 98% pass rate on the FNP certification exam, while psychiatric-mental health graduates achieved a perfect 100% pass rate on the PMHNP certification exam.

The Nursing Department at Pensacola Christian College offers two degree programs: a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and a master of science in nursing (MSN). Students in the BSN program receive their clinical experience at a number of healthcare facilities, including several large hospitals in the Pensacola area. Sample topics of study include pharmacology, pediatric nursing, and nursing informatics. The BSN program graduates approximately 100 students annually, with a strong 92% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The MSN program prepares RNs to use scriptural and traditional methods of nursing education in both clinical and classroom settings.