RN Programs Near Me: Find Nursing Schools by State and City
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To find RN programs near you, start with your state board of nursing's list of approved programs, then compare those schools by degree, schedule, and first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. Board approval comes first, because it is what lets graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and get licensed. RN programs at nursing schools near you take one of these forms: an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), an accelerated BSN for people who already hold a bachelor's degree, an LPN-to-RN bridge, or a hospital-based diploma. Dreambound lists RN programs in Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and online, along with city pages and licensing guides for 43 states.
RN Licensing Guides by State
Each state board sets its own application steps and fees. Pick your state for its licensing guide.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Compare RN With Other Healthcare Careers
- LPN vs RN
- CNA vs RN
- Medical Assistant vs RN
- Patient Care Technician vs RN
- Respiratory Therapist vs RN
- Radiology Technician vs RN
- Surgical Technician vs RN
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer vs RN
- EMT vs RN
- Psychiatric Technician vs RN
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a nursing program near me is approved?
Check your state board of nursing's list of approved programs. RN licensure requires graduating from an approved program and passing the NCLEX-RN, so approval comes before any other comparison.
How do I compare RN schools near me?
Start with the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. Some state boards publish it by program, such as the California Board of Registered Nursing. Compare each school's rate against the 2025 national rate of 86.7 percent for first-time, U.S.-educated candidates, reported by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Then compare schedule, clinical sites, and cost.
Are there RN programs near me that take less than 2 years?
Yes. The Northbridge University College of Nursing ADN programs in Kissimmee and Tampa listed here run 18 months. For people who already hold a bachelor's degree, accelerated BSN programs take 12 to 18 months, including prerequisites, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Can I take RN classes online?
Coursework, yes. Clinical experience, no: every RN program includes supervised clinical experience. Herzing University's BSN listed above is an online program that includes 585 clinical hours. Dreambound's online RN programs page covers more programs that put coursework online.
What's the difference between RN and LPN programs?
LPN programs typically take about 1 year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and lead to the NCLEX-PN exam. RN programs are an ADN, a BSN, or a diploma, and lead to the NCLEX-RN. Program options are listed under LPN programs near you.
Finding the Right RN Program Near You
Checking a registered nurse program's approval with your state board of nursing is a good place to start your comparison. The first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is a useful next check, since it shows how a school's recent graduates did on the licensing exam.
After that, weigh fit: a schedule you can keep, clinical sites you can reach, and a cost you can plan for. Dreambound lists ADN, BSN, and LPN-to-BSN programs from partner schools, grouped by state.
