Best Nursing Schools in Connecticut in 2024 (Online & On-Campus)

Looking for BSN programs in Connecticut or other nursing programs in the area? You’re in luck. Nurses are in high demand across the nation. In fact, year after year, job growth in the area of skilled nursing has continued to grow, in some cases twice as fast as other job sectors. The trend shows no signs of slowing down, especially for those wanting to attend nursing schools in Connecticut, so it is important for people who are considering a nursing career to have access to accurate information about education.

Most American hospitals now require traditional staff registered nurses to have a BSN degree. To meet this need, many universities have begun to implement RN to BSN completion programs. To help provide nurses with this information, we have created lists of the best  nursing programs in the country.

In this segment, we have compiled information on the best nursing schools in CT: RN, RN to BSN, traditional BSN, and graduate-level programs. We have found that the best programs have a broad range of curricula, including traditional classroom learning as well as laboratory and research skills. The best nursing programs also include clinical experience and community health practices. When nurses have a formal nursing education, they move up to hold prominent positions in hospitals and other settings. Whether you’re looking for an LPN program in Connecticut or another type of nursing program, you’ll be sure to find an option below.

The best nursing schools in Connecticut in 2024

1. Yale University

Yale University is a private college in Orange, Connecticut, offering advanced nursing degrees: MSN, Accelerated MSN, RN-to-MSN, Ph.D. and DNP. They also offer a graduate entry to the nursing program, which is a three-year, full-time course of graduate nursing study with no prerequisites that combines preparation in basic nursing with advanced preparation in a clinical specialty.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:97%
• Program length or credit hours: Varies
• Admission requirements: Varies
• Tuition: $15, 170 per year
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2. University of Connecticut

The School of Nursing, founded in 1942, is located on the main campus in Storrs and is one of the best nursing schools in Connecticut. Selected courses are offered at the regional campuses. The School is fully approved and accredited. Our programs are supported by well-qualified faculty, many of whom are internationally renowned experts in their areas of specialty. All full-time tenure-track faculty members are prepared at the doctoral level. Programs offered are RN-to-BSN, Accelerated BSN, BSN, MSN, RN-to-MSN, DNP, DNP Nurse Anesthetist.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:95%
• Program length or credit hours: Varies
• Admission requirements: Varies
• Tuition: $19,104 per year
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

3. Western Connecticut State University

Western Connecticut offers four areas of study in nursing including undergraduate, RN/BSN, Masters and doctoral studies. The comprehensive interactive curriculum and program of study engages learners, promotes critical thinking and promotes a professional role in nursing practice. WCSU offers small class sizes and accessible faculty. Faculty members develop connections with their students that enable to excel in the classroom and clinical setting.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:94%
• Program length or credit hours: Varies
• Admission requirements: Varies
• Tuition: $17,422 per year
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

4. University of Bridgeport

The University of Bridgeport offers a non-degree pre-nursing curriculum, a traditional BSN, an RN to BSN completion and a masters degree in nursing. The school offers experiences for inter-professional practice in a variety of healthcare settings.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98%
• Program length or credit hours: 5 semesters
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 840
• Tuition: $24,733
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

5. Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac University is a private, not-for-profit institution with three campuses, including a campus in North Haven, Connecticut where the School of Nursing is located. The school offers bachelors, masters and doctoral programs to prepare students for a successful career in hospitals, clinics, schools and many other settings. Graduates become leaders at every level of their careers, and facilitate positive change to government, law and patient care policies. The school offers  RN-to-BSN, BSN, MSN, DNP (Leadership or Care of Populations track), and post-baccalaureate DNP Nurse Anesthesia.

• NCLEX-RN first time Pass Rate: 91%
• Program length or credit hours: 127 credits for traditional BSN degree; 31 nursing credits for RN to BSN completion program
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, Holistic Admission review
• Tuition: $25,735.00 per semester for FT traditional BSN program; $565 per credit for RN to BSN completion program
• 1 of 15 nursing schools in the nation that offer programs endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

6. Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University is a Private not-for-profit institution with a campus in Trumbull, Connecticut. The school offers several programs, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN-BSN, RN-BSN-MSN, Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science – Clinical Nurse Leader, and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 1040
• Tuition: $36,393
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

7. Southern Connecticut State University

The vision of the Department of Nursing at Southern Connecticut State University is to be a center of excellence and innovation in nursing education and to prepare nursing graduates to practice, educate, and lead within an evolving, complex world. This is accomplished by (a) Discovering and applying the science of nursing and related disciplines in the pursuit of excellence and innovation, through scholarship and lifelong learning; (b) Preparing graduates to incorporate professional standards to provide, safe, evidence-based and compassionate care of the highest quality to diverse populations, and; (c) Providing the foundation for students to develop professionally in order to optimize their contributions within the context of inter-professional practice. The school offers RN-to-BSN, BSN, RN-to-MSN, MSN, MSN Nurse Educator, MSN Clinical Nurse Leader, and EdD degrees.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 830
• Tuition: $14,960
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

8. Norwalk Community College

The Connecticut Community Colleges Nursing Program (CTCCNP) is an innovative associate degree nursing program offered at six Connecticut Community Colleges. The nursing program is a four-semester program designed to prepare registered nurses to function in the professional role utilizing current standards of nursing practice. The curriculum is built upon courses from the social and biological sciences, liberal arts, and nursing. These courses provide the foundation for the practice of nursing. The school offers ASN, BSN, and the RN-to-BSN completion program.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 89%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 830
• Tuition: $7.477
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

9. Goodwin College

After passing the NCLEX exam and are licensed as an RN, students may continue on to complete the bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Goodwin. The curriculum for the RN-to-BSN Degree program can be completed part-time in 16 months. For added flexibility, the RN-to-BSN curriculum is offered completely online allowing students to complete your degree while working and managing life’s other responsibilities. The school offers ASN, BSN, and RN-to-BSN.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 84%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $17,832
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

10. Fairfield University

Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies departments use the latest in health equipment and innovative classroom settings to provide a practical and engaging education for its students. The school offers students a strong liberal arts education along with the theory-based knowledge and skills to work in the expanding fields of nursing and health studies. Students grow personally and professionally and become committed and compassionate nurses, capable of providing professional care to people in any setting.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 84%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $38,527
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

11. University of St. Joseph

The Department of Nursing educates students for all levels of nursing practice by building on a firm foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. The mission promotes the growth of the whole person in a caring environment and fosters strong ethical values, intellectual curiosity, personal integrity and a commitment to the health and well-being of society. The goal is to prepare graduates to practice the art and science of Nursing, be effective leaders and use evidence-based resources to improve the health of persons, families and communities.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 77%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum 840
• Tuition: $29,241
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

12. Central Connecticut State University

The Department of Nursing, in accord with CCSU, believes that the primary goal of the nursing faculty is to empower the BSN student to attain the highest standards of professional achievement, public service, and personal development. The Nursing Faculty believe that, in a dynamic society, education for membership in a profession includes the development not only of expertise in a field but also of social awareness.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 71%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 900
• Tuition: $14,852
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

13. University of Hartford

If you are a registered nurse who plans to complete your bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), the program at the University of Hartford is designed for you (there is no freshman entry). Its purpose is to provide licensed registered nurses with the opportunity to complete a BSN degree on a part-time basis in a supportive, caring atmosphere. Courses generally meet one time per week in the late afternoon or evening. Community-oriented clinical placements occur in the final two semesters and are designed to accommodate various working schedules. The RN to BSN program was the first completion program in Connecticut. Their focus has consistently been oriented to the adult learner, facilitating advanced study for nurses while addressing their unique needs as individuals and professionals. The school also offers an MSN.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: not available
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 920
• Tuition: $30,233
• Accreditation: not listed

14. Naugatuck Valley Community College

Naugatuck Valley Community College offers an associate of science degree program in nursing that prepares graduates to sit for the Registered Nurse licensing exam (NCLEX-RN). The NVCC nursing program is one of six community college nursing programs in Connecticut that have formed a collaborative called the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) (http://www.ct.edu/academics/nursing ). This collaborative shares a common nursing curriculum.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma, SAT minimum of 900
• Tuition: $5,866
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

15. Three Rivers Community College

TRCC will prepare you to become a registered nurse through a four-semester program of study to earn an ADN. Critical thinking, safe and competent practice, caring, professionalism, communication, and holistic care are the core values that provide the curricular framework.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $5,833
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

16. Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Northwestern is part of the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) which is comprised of six nursing programs across the community college system. Our graduates are prepared to assume the multi-faceted role of the professional nurse which includes planning and provision of care, client advocacy, communication and teaching, along with managing human, physical, financial and technological resources. Our mission is to provide a dynamic educational experience for the preparation of safe, competent, entry-level practitioners of nursing.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $5,491
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

17. Gateway Community College

Gateway Community College offers evening classes, with day and evening clinical experiences, at a variety of healthcare institutions in the greater New Haven area and throughout the State of Connecticut. Gateway’s brand new, state-of-the-art nursing skills lab provides students with the opportunity for skills practice and simulated learning activities.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 89%
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $5,413
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

18. Capital Community College

The Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) at Capital is an innovative associate degree program of study offered in the heart of Hartford, Connecticut. The program serves a diverse population of students, offers excellent clinical sites, and has a forty plus year record of proven success. The Nursing Program offers a four-semester curriculum designed to prepare registered nurses to function in the professional role utilizing current standards of nursing practice.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 86
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $6,951
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

19. Housatonic Community College

Housatonic Community College offers an ADN, BSN, RN to BSN and an RN for college graduates with a non-nursing undergraduate degree. They also offer MSN and doctorate level degrees.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: not rated
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $5,295
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

20. Stone Academy

Stone Academy offers flexible degrees for LPN nurses licensed by the state to provide routine patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. The majority of Licensed Practical Nurses work in long-term care facilities, home care, rehabilitation centers or hospice facilities.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: not rated
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $16,554
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

21. Lincoln Technical Institute

At Lincoln, students enrolled in our Practical Nursing programs are prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The curriculum is taught in Simulation Labs, medical wet labs and nursing arts laboratories. Hands-on nursing training instruction is taught by a staff of experienced instructors and Certified Nursing Educators (CNEs). Skills competency training requires students to master specific skills (making a bed and bathing a patient, for example) before they are allowed to perform skills in clinical rotations in the field. This ensures they have a complete understanding of these essential skills. Students are given hands-on nurse training in class to practice and develop the everyday tasks they’ll perform as Practical Nurses such as taking and reading vital signs, immobilizing injured limbs, learning about infection control, how to properly dress wounds and administering medications.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: not rated
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $19,168
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

22. Porter and Chester Institute of Stratford

If you want a career where you can make a real difference in people’s lives, begin your training in the Practical Nursing program at Porter and Chester Institute today! Practical nurses are vital members of today’s growing healthcare teams. As a practical nurse, you’ll get to work directly with patients and physicians and help concerned family members learn how to best care for their loved ones.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: not rated
• Program length or credit hours: varies
• Admission requirements: High school diploma
• Tuition: $22,432
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

Schools with BSN degrees were ranked first, followed by Associates (ADN/RN) degrees. Within each of these, schools were ranked on NCLEX pass rate, class size, and tuition. We hope you have found this list useful as you prepare to embark on your exciting new nursing education and career.

If you would like to add your school to this list for next year or would like to update the information about your school that’s already on this list, please contact us today.