New Jersey Nursing Programs and Degrees Guide

The following guide is designed to provide you with essential information on the many nursing programs available in the state of New Jersey. Nursing students in New Jersey’s colleges and universities have an eclectic menu of nursing concentrations from which to choose, including family health nurse practitioner in emergency care, nursing education, clinical leadership, pediatrics nurse practitioner, and nursing informatics. Those students in search of a flexible, convenient alternative to a traditional nursing program may want to consider an online bachelor’s or master’s in nursing program.

Quick Facts

• 46 schools with nursing programs in New Jersey are in our database (see below).
• 25 colleges and universities offer associate’s degrees or certificates in nursing.¹
• 20 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing.¹
• 16 colleges and universities offer master’s or advanced degrees in nursing.¹
• 2 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.²
• No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Nursing Majors in 2018.³
• 5 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s programs.⁴
• 2 schools ranked in US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.⁴

Top-Ranked Schools with Nursing Programs in New Jersey

Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges 2018*

• Ramapo College of New Jersey (#72 in-state, #51 out-of-state)
• Rutgers University-New Brunswick (#34 in-state, #31 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

US News Best Nursing Schools: Master’s

• Rutgers University-Newark (#20 tie)
• Seton Hall University (#65)
• Fairleigh Dickinson University (#167 tie)
• Monmouth University (#190 tie)
• Rowan University (#190 tie)

US News Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Rutgers University-Newark (#16 tie)
• Seton Hall University (#83 tie)

Following you will find more information, including profiles, about the various undergraduate and graduate nursing programs offered in New Jersey’s colleges and universities.

NCLEX Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Nursing Schools in New Jersey

The following table allows you to easily compare not-for-profit New Jersey nursing schools on a variety of factors. Click on the arrows in the top row to sort the table. In addition to seeking a program that leads to licensure in your desired area of nursing, it’s advisable to consider accreditation as a factor in your decision. If you are considering education beyond the associate’s level, know that a degree from a school that holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a common requirement for admission to master’s degree, ADN/LVN and RN to BSN, and specialized certificate programs. You should also check to ensure that the school you are considering is approved or accepted by the New Jersey Board of Nursing (https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/).

*The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits ADN/ASN/BSN programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits BSN/MSN/DNP programs.^5,6
**NCLEX-PN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.⁷ You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^NCLEX-RN pass rates reported are for first-time undergraduates testing between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016.⁷ You can compare these pass rates to the national average through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
^^The National Center for Education Statistics calculates net price from the total estimated cost of attendance, including includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses, for in-state students minus the average financial aid award (such as grants and scholarships).

Schools in New Jersey with Nursing Degrees

Associate’s in Nursing Programs

Essex County College
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing program at Essex County College provides students with the skills and learning to become professional registered nurses. The program’s state-of-the-art simulation lab and multi-media computer lab provide students with up-to-date learning opportunities. After meeting program prerequisites students can typically complete the AAS in four semesters with a full-time course load. Admission to the program is highly competitive and is based on the candidate’s GPA, results on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam, and county of residence. Essex County College also offers a licensed practical nurse certificate program.

Ocean County College
Ocean County College offers three pathways to earning an associate’s degree in nursing. The traditional pathway admits students twice per year in the fall and spring semesters and offers both day and evening lectures. The On-Site Online nursing program is a full-time program that requires face-to-face classes one day per week, with the remainder of coursework delivered online. The Career Mobility nursing program is designed for practicing licensed practical nurses. The competitive admissions process for the nursing programs is based in part on an applicant’s score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam and residency in Ocean County. Through the school’s partnership with Kean University, Ocean County College (OCC) students can begin taking courses for the RN to BSN and BSN to MSN programs at Kean on the OCC campus.

Bachelor’s in Nursing Programs

Farleigh Dickinson University
Farleigh Dickinson University confers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to students who successfully complete the four-year, 128 credit program. The nursing curriculum consists of 67 credits in a range of topics, including nursing research, cross-cultural perspectives, medical surgical nursing, and community health nursing. Clinical rotations are mandatory with students working at such affiliated sites as Atlantic Health Systems, Chilton Memorial Hospital, Overlook Medical Center, and V.A. New Jersey Health Care Systems. Students may study on a full-time or a part-time basis. The Nursing Department also features an RN to BSN program for current registered nurses who already hold an associate’s degree in nursing.

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey features a four-year undergraduate nursing program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The highly competitive program prepares graduates to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In addition to mandatory clinical rotations, students will complete coursework in the childbearing family, care of the adult, and issues in nursing. Nursing majors may become involved on campus, joining the Nursing Club or Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society for nursing students. Students may also apply to live in the nursing living-learning community where they will share housing and take part in activities with other nursing majors.

Master’s in Nursing Programs

Rutgers University
Graduate students at Rutgers University may pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in one of nine concentrations: adult gerontology acute/crucial care nurse practitioner, adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, advanced community health leadership, family health nurse practitioner in emergency care, clinical leadership, nursing informatics, nursing education, and nurse anesthetist. Students must complete between 32 and 60 credits depending on the concentration. Clinical practicums are also mandatory for most of the specializations. Students in the family health nurse practitioner in emergency care program, for example, must complete 60 credits and 990 hours in clinical practicums. Successful candidates must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a current registered nurse’s license.

Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program features five tracks: case management and health administration, health systems administration, adult gerontological nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, and school nursing. A Master of Arts (MA) in nursing education is also available. Students complete between 30 and 62 credits depending on the concentration. Clinical rotations are mandatory for some tracks. The adult gerontological nurse practitioner track requires students to complete 675 hours in a clinical practicum. Successful applicants must already possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and hold a current registered nurse’s license. A personal statement and letters of recommendation are also required.

Student Reviews

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Bergen Community College
400 Paramus Rd
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 447-7100
https://bergen.edu/

Student Review: “Bergen Community College nursing program was really knowledgeable. The program helped to learn everything in nursing in order to peruse my future career. The campus and staff helped me and I also made a lot of new relationships with like-minded people. The program has taught me so much that I can see myself being very successful in life and the future. In the program, I worked with sickly elders in a retirement home where I was able to care for them and take of their medical needs under the supervision of the professor. Overall this program was amazing I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it and I look forward to helping people down the road in life.” – Student at Bergen Community College

Kean University
1000 Morris Ave
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-5326
https://www.kean.edu/

Student Review: “I would like to take this time to thank Kean University for not giving up on me. When I stopped attending for a couple of semesters, an advisor reached out to me and helped go to go the process of being reinstated at Kean University. Now, I have already graduated and received my degree in the mail already. I would say Kean University is a thinking school which helps you to come up with thoughtful ideas on your own about different kinds of topics. I’ve had a blast being at this place of higher learning. Wonderful memories!!” -Student at Kean University

Jersey College
546 US-46
Teterboro, NJ 07608
(201) 489-5836
https://www.jerseycollege.edu/

Student Review: “I have been to many colleges, due to me having to move often and switching around majors. Out of the three other colleges I have been to, I would rank Jersey College toward the bottom. It is very hard to become involved in activities (outside of regular school classes), as very few are offered. Many of the teachers do not make their own coursework, instead, they use past teacher’s or materials they have found online. The parking situation is terrible, and sometimes it is very hard to even find somewhere to park. The expectations placed upon the students by the Dean and some teachers/professors can often be impossible-to-get without stressing yourself out to the highest possible value. It is also often hard to get help when you are in need of it also, whether it be (related to school and learning) or personally related. Many assignments and needed things are given just days before they are needed/demanded to be finished, which makes it very stressful. At times, it almost feels like the students do not have a voice.” -Student at Jersey College

Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Rd
West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
(609) 586-4800
https://www.mccc.edu/

Student Review: “Mercer County Community College’s Nursing program was challenging, but it prepared me very well to pass the state licensing exam and to work as an RN. Students are able to enroll in either a day or night program, however, some classmates had scheduling issues because class times varied between semesters. Each course required a substantial amount of Clinical hours and subsequently gave students appropriate opportunities to practice in the field. Throughout the program, students were able to access testing practice questions. The final course of the degree included access to multiple licensing exam practice tests. The Professors were available outside of class hours to answer questions and to clarify course concepts. No Nursing program is a walk in the park, but the Professors were supportive of the students and that made the program bearable. Certainly, some students were unhappy, but the majority of students understood the degree of professionalism required to achieve a Nursing Degree.” -Student at Mercer County Community College

Ocean County College
1 College Dr
Toms River, NJ 08754
(732) 255-0400
https://www.ocean.edu/

Student Review: “The nursing program itself was very interesting. I’ve always had a passion for helping people and this was a great way to accomplish that goal. However, the college/program did not make it easy for things to be accomplished for sure. Repeatedly lost paperwork and a generally disorganized staff made me have to wait an extra semester before I could start with the program. The content itself was extremely interesting and I learned a lot. The practical applications were also very fun. The instructors were a mix of exceptional and terribly poor. I’ve had some that spent the extra time working with me and I’ve had others who have flat out ignored my correspondence and questions via email. The amount of work was to be expected for the importance of being a good RN. I’d say it would be a tossup if you want to attend as my experience was a total mix with some days I could wait to attend and other days I wanted to quit, but I kept my goal in mind and now I’m an RN.” -Student at Ocean County College

Student Review: “My experience has been great. I take half of my courses online and half in the field. We work hands-on with patients now after completing our prerequisites. I learned phlebotomy first and then how to read an EKG. I now Know the difference between a myocardial infarction and a-fibrillation (one is a clot and the other is a heart murmur). The hands-on experience is what allows for true understanding. I am currently completing a few side classes to achieve the next level of degree even before I am ready to fully pursue it (I can take certain classes required for my bachelors before I finish my primary entry-level degree). The program does require long hours and they recommend not working more than 12.5 hrs a week, which does put a strain. The program is almost like having a full-time job since we put in close to 40 hrs a week into hands-on training and classes.” -Student at Ocean County College

Rutgers University
7 College Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 445-4636
https://www.rutgers.edu/

Student Review: “My experience in the Rutgers University- Camden nursing program has been great so far, with a bit of mishaps. I think the program is a bit unorganized and needs to work on the communication with students, and even professors/instructors. However, they are getting better; there is a brand new building dedicated to nursing which helps a great deal. The SNA is great with setting up meetings and getting students involved with volunteering, etc. The clinical locations and instructors have been great so far, and the nurses we work with are amazing. I feel as if I’m learning so much, and I can’t wait to finish up!” -Student at Rutgers University

Student Review: “Rutgers is a well-known nursing program and the school constantly emphasized our reputation for being one of the best. However, since the merger with UMDNJ, many student issues arose because the administration itself couldn’t figure out what they were doing. Additionally, when students complained about these issues to try to get things to change, it seemed like the administration didn’t care and nothing was ever done. Throughout the program, there were several outstanding professors/instructors but also some really terrible ones who were unorganized and just reading off of powerpoints. Some of the lower level classes that are required of the undergraduate students were a waste of time such as requiring a literature class, humanities class, technology class. Many students resorted to just taking “GPA booster” classes to fulfill the requirement which made it a waste of time and money. Some of the clinical rotations were very enriching and taught a lot but others seemed like a waste of time. Overall, the experience is a hit or miss depending on who happens to be teaching. The only positive aspect of this nursing program is the reputation…but I’m not sure what they are priding themselves on.” -Student at Rutgers University

Student Review: “The nursing program at Rutgers Camden was a wonderful experience. The professors are excellent and extremely helpful. The curriculum was extremely difficult but it is expected in any nursing program. The clinical sites areThe nursing program at Rutgers Camden was a wonderful experience. The professors are excellent and extremely helpful. The curriculum was extremely difficult but it is expected in any nursing program. The clinical sites are great and most nurses are great helpers. We recently got a new nursing building and it is very innovative and gives us a lot of space to study. The only downsides would be the administration and the lack of academic advisors. If you fail one course, you are automatically behind one year. There needs to be more tutoring opportunities and more preparation for the NCLEX throughout the years instead of it all the last semester. I would recommend this program to many people. great and most nurses are great helpers. We recently got a new nursing building and it is very innovative and gives us a lot of space to study. The only downsides would be the administration and the lack of academic advisors. If you fail one course, you are automatically behind one year.” -Student at Rutgers University

William Paterson University
Atrium, 300 Pompton Rd
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 720-2000
https://www.wpunj.edu/

Student Review: “The William Paterson University nursing program is one of the best programs in the state of New Jersey. The program is very competitive. Maintaining the GPA to stay in the program was very challenging. Though it felt like 4 years of the program was very brutal but I have all my professors to thank for shaping me the nurse I am today. At first, learning the fundamentals of nursing seemed impossible to reach, however, by the time we spent 8 hour days for clinicals made the experience very rewarding and made us students feel that we have touched patient’s lives even though we’re not full-fledged nurses. Professors were helpful, very approachable and encouraging. Though the curriculum for the program is strictly hard, the only thing I would suggest for them to improve is the nursing research syllabus. To me, it was the only class that didn’t make sense and very hard to follow. The school offered Holistic Nursing as an elective and I think it should be offered to all the colleges/universities in this country. It made me understand why most people choose the holistic route without making a judgment for declining the western medicine way.” -Student at William Paterson University

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. New York, Penguin Random House, 2018.
4. US News Top Graduate Nursing Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools
5. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm
6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp
7. New Jersey Board of Nursing: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/