Best Nursing Schools in Albany, NY in 2024 (Online & On-Campus)

Looking for a NY nursing program? You’ve come to the right place. If you live just about anywhere in the great state of New York and are looking to embark on a career in the nursing profession, you’ve got a lot of great schools to choose from. If, on the other hand, you call the charming community of Albany, NY your home—and you just can’t bear to tear yourself away from it—then the options shrink down a bit. Still, there are some terrific nursing schools in Albany NY and the nearby towns for you to choose from. Here are the best nursing schools we found in and around Albany, NY.

Note: This list is tailored to serve students looking to work, study, and stay in Albany, NY. However, we have included nine regional schools outside of Albany in order to give you a wider frame of reference. If you are determined to study in Albany, you can skip down to number eleven on our list. Whether you’re looking for a NY BSN program or another type of nursing program, you’ll be sure to find it here.

List of the 13 Best Nursing Schools in Albany NY and surrounding areas

1. Maria College of Albany | Albany, NY

With the longest list of nursing programs among the three nursing colleges in Albany, the Maria College of Albany is an elite institution in its exclusive category of Albany, NY nursing schools. MCA serves just 855 students each year. In addition to being the only private school among the three nursing schools in Albany, it is also the least expensive. For those who earn a passing grade on the TEAS test, attending MCA locally could be a very affordable way to become a highly sought after nursing school graduate. By our metrics, it is the best nursing college for those who wish to study and stay in Albany, NY.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 89.0% / 95.4%
• Program length or credit hours: 4-year Private
• Admission requirements: Test of Essential Academic Skills, (TEAS), at a required level for the desired program
• Tuition: $10,084
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

2. Albany BOCES-Adult Practical Nursing Program | Albany, NY

A public college in Colonie, New York within the Albany area, the Albany BOCES-Adult Practical Nursing Program is small with an enrollment average of just 142 undergraduate students for each academic year. The acceptance rate is 100%. The only major offered is the LPN training program. Successful graduates of the Albany BOCES nursing program go on to earn a high starting salary of more than $33,000 a year. Colonie is a suburb of Albany, making this school optimally situated for attendance by the local student population. A-BOCES has a very high student success rate and an 81% retention rate. Graduates do not enjoy the same high employer-demand that graduates of MESAC enjoy, but expected pay rates are still high, for students who successfully obtain employment.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 69.1%
• Program length or credit hours: Less than two year Public
• Admission requirements: Open
• Tuition: $19,737
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

3. Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus | Albany, NY

One of just two for-profit, two-year colleges in New York state, Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus serves a minuscule 520 students each academic year according to the NCES report from 2017. This school was established in 1917. In that time, it has earned its reputation for excellence. MESAC strives to promote a diverse student body and is proud of its history of service to the community. With its shockingly low retention rate of, 32%, those who do graduate successfully are considered to be among an elite group of nursing school graduates.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 62.5%
• Program length or credit hours: 2-year Private
• Tuition: $19,680
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

*If you’ve read through to this point, thank you very much. Here are additional nursing schools near Albany, NY.

4. Orange County Community College | Middletown, NY

Located in quiet Middletown, NY – Orange County Community College is a small part of New York’s famous SUNY system of college campuses. As such, it offers an unusually high volume of student resources and access to healthcare institutions, assets, and expertise. Established in 1950, OCCC is among the oldest SUNY installations and serves more than 6,400 students each academic year according to the 2017 NCES report. They boast an experienced and diverse faculty and offer students access to a wide range of medical organizations and institutions in the area.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 96.7%
• Program length or credit hours: 2-year Public
• Tuition: $5,335
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

5. Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program | Poughkeepsie, NY

As one of just 27 schools of its type in a state that is swimming in institutions of higher learning, Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program strives to keep the student to teacher ratios low for an optimal learning experience. D-BOCES serves just 132 students each academic year and boasts a high retention rate among two-year institutions.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 78.2%
• Program length or credit hours: ~2 years
• Tuition: $25,487
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

6. Belanger School of Nursing | Schenectady, NY

With their incredibly low student to teacher ratio of 4 to 1, the Belanger School of Nursing delivers an excellent learning environment with plenty of opportunity for hands-on, practical experience. BSN serves an average of just 114 students each academic year according to NCES.

• Program length or credit hours: 2-year Private
• Admission requirements: Applicable, fees, Kaplan admission test
• Tuition: $10,094
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

7. Rome ACCESS Site | Rome, NY

Founded in 1968, the Rome ACCESS Site is a regional cooperative providing academic support to area students, teachers, and schools. They provide a range of instructional programs and services and expertise to school districts in counties in upstate New York.

• Program length or credit hours: Not applicable
• Admission requirements: Open tuition
• Tuition: N/A
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

8. SUNY College of Technology at Canton at Veteran’s Administration | Rome, NY

One of New York State’s premier pro-military colleges, the SUNY College of Technology at Canton at Veteran’s Administration offers outstanding opportunities for veterans and their families that can be difficult to obtain elsewhere.

• Tuition: $12,652.50
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

9. Monroe Community College | Rochester, NY

One of just 37 public, 2-year colleges in New York state, Monroe Community College is a great place to start for students who need to complete some prerequisites or get their GPA up before going onto another institution. MCC serves an average of 12,900 students each year, according to the 2017 NCES report.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 94.2%
• Program length or credit hours: 2-year Public
• Tuition: $6,930
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

10. Roberts Wesleyan College | Rochester, NY

The Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY is one of 162 private non-profit colleges in the state of New York. It serves an average of 1,700 students each academic year. Each year, 60% of graduates complete their coursework in 150% of the standard time.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 83.2%
• Program length or credit hours: 4-year Private
• Admission requirements: SAT, ACT or CLT Scores, High school transcripts
• Tuition: $23,081
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

11. Nazareth College | Rochester, NY

One of more than 150 schools that are non-profit, 4-year institutions in New York, Nazareth College has a 79% freshmen retention rate. The school serves an average of 2,900 students each year. This school is conveniently located in a suburban area in Rochester, NY.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 81.3%
• Program length or credit hours: 4-year Private
• Admission requirements: Application, Essay, Letters of recommendation
• Tuition: $29,274
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

12. The University of Rochester | Rochester, NY

Established in 1850, the University of Rochester offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It serves an average of 11,000 students and more than 200 different majors. Small class sizes and a high NCLEX pass rate are just some of its strong points.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 97%
• Program length or credit hours: 4 years
• Admission requirements:
  •  Secondary school transcript
  •  Teacher recommendation (one required)
  •  School report/counselor recommendation
  •  Applicable transcripts (when available)
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

13. Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing | Rochester, NY

One of just eight private, non-profit nursing schools in New York State, The Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing serves an average of just 70 students per academic year according to the NCES. It is conveniently located in a suburban area in Rochester, NY.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 88.6%
• Program length or credit hours: 2 years
• Admission requirements: A score of “Basic” or higher on the Test of Essential Academic Skills(TEAS) entrance assessment
• Tuition: $4,784
• Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.

Methodology

The schools on our list were ranked according to considerations which we feel make them more amenable to the average nursing student. Our reasoning is that many nursing students are non-traditional students who require access to distance learning, and other accommodations in order to enable them to pursue their education while attending to the needs of an existing career and/or family obligations. For this list, in particular, proximity to Albany, NY was a primary consideration. This is because while nursing students need distance learning options, practical learning opportunities make proximity a premium commodity.

Still, determining the best nursing school for you will depend on your lifestyle, needs, access to transportation, financial aid qualifications, and more. Therefore, the rank order presented above should be taken as a suggestion and not a prescription. To learn more about the available nursing programs in your area, get in touch today. Our courteous and professional academic counselors look forward to answering all of your important questions.