The Best Nursing Programs in New Jersey
Credit: SDI Productions / E+ / Getty ImagesProspective nurses in New Jersey may have good reason to enroll in nursing school soon.
Per the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, New Jersey is among the top five states with the largest projected shortage of registered nurses (RNs) by 2036. Further, many graduates from bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs in New Jersey find employment within three months.
Explore these top ranked New Jersey nursing programs and discover which is best for you.
How Do New Jersey Nursing Programs Work?
Prospective RNs can choose from several nursing program options. Associate degree in nursing (ADN) and BSN programs prepare students for the RN role through classroom and clinical training. Core classes typically include:
- Nursing fundamentals
- Adult medical-surgical care
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics
- Mental health
- Critical care
ADN and BSN programs generally take two and four years to complete, respectively, with BSN programs including additional coursework in community health and leadership. Nurses with an ADN can earn a BSN in two years through RN-to-BSN bridge programs. The process can take a little longer for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) — about 2-3 years — to earn their BSN through the state.
Applying to a New Jersey Nursing Program
Certain criteria must be met before applying to any of the BSN programs New Jersey offers. Admission criteria can vary per school and program type, but most programs call for applicants to meet a few basic requirements, including GPA, test scores, and completion of prerequisite courses.
As always, check with your school to learn more about the specific requirements for your program.
- Admission Materials: Transcripts listing completed prerequisite courses such as chemistry, psychology, and statistics and standardized exam scores that can predict an applicant’s readiness for college and likelihood of passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) after graduation. RN-to-BSN program applicants must have already passed the NCLEX.
- GPA Requirement: strong>3.0
- Other Requirement: Essays and recommendation letters which can highlight an applicant’s personal readiness for nursing school.
Learn More About the Best New Jersey Nursing Programs and Schools
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ- 4 year
- Campus
The College of New Jersey, founded in 1855, offers a 128-credit RN-to-BSN program that takes as few as 2.5 years.
Courses provide a foundation in professional development, research, and nursing practice. Most classes require in-person learning at convenient regional healthcare institutions such as Hunterdon Medical Center, Capital Health Medical Center, Penn Medicine University Medical Center of Princeton, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
You can take some courses online, but you must complete the clinical experience in person. TCNJ also offers a traditional BSN program.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Ewing, New Jersey
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $7,070 per semester for full-time students
- Admission Requirements: Associate degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing from an accredited program; current RN license in New Jersey; and official transcripts
- Minimum Time Commitment: 30 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 96.55% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $75,946 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard
- In-State$13,239
- Out-of-state$25,217
- In-State$14,554
- Out-of-state$14,554
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled7,783
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Stockton University
- Galloway, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Stockton University offers a traditional BSN pathway and an accelerated BSN program that takes only 15 months.
The accelerated program requires 64 credits in subjects such as pathophysiology, health assessments, pharmacology, and nursing research methods. Students attend courses and labs 3-4 days a week at Stockton's Manahawkin site and work at clinical sites throughout New Jersey.
Stockton accepts new students in fall and spring for the accelerated program.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Galloway, New Jersey
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $6,370 per semester for New Jersey residents; $20,474 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate; minimum 3.5 GPA; SAT or ACT scores; two letters of recommendation; completed required undergraduate courses; accelerated BSN applicants need a bachelor's degree
- Minimum Time Commitment: 15 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 93.55% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $71,947 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard
- In-State$12,245
- Out-of-state$19,679
- In-State$13,787
- Out-of-state$20,102
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled9,893
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment97%
- AccreditationYes
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- New Brunswick, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Rutgers University's school of nursing offers a customizable RN-to-BSN degree that only takes four semesters to complete.
The online, asynchronous program includes 121 undergraduate credits. You can also earn up to 12 graduate credits toward a master's in nursing degree.
Learners study community health promotion, health assessments, nursing informatics, professional role development, and research processes. Rutgers admits new nursing students in the fall or spring.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $7,550 per semester for New Jersey residents; $13,311 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Associate degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing from an accredited program; current RN license in New Jersey; completed two semesters of nursing curriculum with a minimum 3.2 GPA; personal statement
- Minimum Time Commitment: 14 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 93.75% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $72,975 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard
- In-State$12,230
- Out-of-state$29,012
- In-State$17,736
- Out-of-state$30,144
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled50,411
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
Montclair State University
- Montclair, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
With more than 300 majors, minors and programs, Montclair State University offers a traditional four-year bachelor's in nursing degree and an online RN-to-BSN degree.
The 120-credit BSN degree, which begins in the fall, builds your generalist practice through in-person clinical rotations and access to the school's simulation center. The lessons cover pathophysiology, health assessments, health and healing in cross-cultural perspective, pharmacology, family-centered nursing care, and information technology.
If you have an associate degree in nursing or diploma, Montclair also offers an accelerated RN-to-BSN program.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Montclair, New Jersey
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $6,377 per semester for New Jersey residents; $10,732 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school transcripts; completed college preparatory courses; two letters of recommendation; personal statement
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 77.27% first-time pass rate
- In-State$12,082
- Out-of-state$20,042
- In-State$12,600
- Out-of-state$18,432
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled21,005
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment95%
- AccreditationYes
Rowan University
- Glassboro, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Rowan University's School of Nursing and Health Profession offers a fully online RN-to-BSN program for working nurses.
To earn a BSN degree, you must complete 120 credits. The 30 nursing concentration credits cover comprehensive health assessments, nursing informatics, research applications, community health nursing, health care policy, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health care ethics. Academic advisors can help you with course selection.
Get started in the fall, spring, or summer with courses that follow 7- or 14-week modules.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Glassboro, New Jersey
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $5,357 per semester for New Jersey residents; $10,054 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Associate degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing from an accredited program; current RN license in New Jersey; minimum 2.5 GPA; resume; current CPR card; official transcripts
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $71,015 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard
- In-State$9,573
- Out-of-state$18,605
- In-State$12,879
- Out-of-state$12,879
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled19,678
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best nursing programs, making it easy to find a program that meets your needs. Informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, our methodology is based on metrics that matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings. This list was created prior to 2025.
Why Is New Jersey Nursing Program Accreditation Important?
Nursing school accreditation proves that a nursing program meets specific educational standards established by accrediting bodies, such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Accredited programs undergo rigorous evaluations to ensure graduates have a high chance of passing the NCLEX.
The large majority of nursing programs are accredited. Choosing an accredited nursing program in New Jersey increases the likelihood you will graduate and pass state boards. It also makes you eligible for financial aid and gives you the ability to transfer course credits to other accredited schools.
All New Jersey nursing programs in our rankings are accredited.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Programs in New Jersey
Becoming an RN in New Jersey can take as little as two years, but the journey can be longer depending on your educational goals and personal needs. If attending school full-time, you can earn an ADN in two years and a BSN in four.
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