The Top Nursing Schools in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is home to many excellent hospitals and offers easy access to both cities and coastal recreation. Although it’s the smallest state,12,150 nurses work in Rhode Island.

This guide can help you choose between the best nursing programs in Rhode Island. We explore how to get your Rhode Island registered nursing (RN) license and typical salaries.

Keep reading for more about nursing schools in Rhode Island and your career prospects.

The best nursing program in Rhode Island for you depends on your preferences, learning needs, background, and career goals. If you want to earn your license quickly, an associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes two years to complete. A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) takes longer but is more valuable for career advancement.

Our Methodology: We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best nursing schools in Rhode Island, making it easier for you to find a program that works for you. Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.

When choosing between nursing schools in Rhode Island, consider the program quality and National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) pass rate, one of the strongest indicators of quality, tuition, and financial aid availability.

Acceptance and graduation rates and logistics of attending are also key. For example, if attending online, can you seek clinical placement as an online student in your community?

Because nursing accreditation is the most important factor in a program’s value, this guide only lists accredited programs.

The 2019 NCLEX-RN pass rate for Rhode Island was 88.9%, above the national average of 88.2%, an indication of quality among nursing programs in Rhode Island. Rhode Island requires disclosure of nurse staffing ratios, since a higher nurse-to-patient ratio is associated with less burnout for nurses and better outcomes for patients.

Rhode Island has the third highest ratio of nurses to the total working population in the country, with 27.42 nurses for every 1,000 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While this means demand for nurses is lower, it also means healthcare facilities are less likely to be understaffed than in most states.

Rhode Island also offers emergency temporary licenses to nursing school graduates in Rhode Island or RNs from other states who may work in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island is also famous for its natural beauty, with stunning coastlines. Newport, Rhode Island, is a world-famous tourist destination for its gorgeous Gilded Age mansions, many of which are open as museums.

Both RN and nurse practitioner (NP) salaries in Rhode Island rank 11th highest in the country. RNs earn an average $85,270 annually, compared to >$82,750 nationally. Rhode Island NPs earn an average $126,760, above the national average of $118,040. The cost of living is also high at 117.2.

Rhode Island is projected to have only 4% job growth for nurses between 2018 and 2028, the lowest in the country.

Learn more about RN salaries in Rhode Island.

Providence is full of historic interest and natural beauty. Home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, it offers easy access to Newport’s stunning beauty and world-famous mansions.

You can also access lovely small coastal towns and artist colonies from Providence.