Best Nursing Schools in New Hampshire

Plymouth State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and emphasizes patient-centered, evidence-based, and holistic care. The curriculum includes microbiology, pharmacology, and clinical experiences across diverse healthcare settings, preparing graduates for roles in emergency, mental health, and pediatric nursing. Students must earn a B- or higher in all nursing courses and pass clinical components. Admission is competitive, requiring a 3.0 GPA and a strong science background, with a focus on leadership and quality care. The program's graduates achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022, and 100% are employed upon completion.

• Accredited by CCNE
• B- or higher required
• Includes clinical experiences
• Competitive admission
• 100% employment rate
• Focus on holistic care
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Diverse career opportunities
• Strong science foundation
• Leadership and quality care focus

Plymouth State University's RN-BSN option is a CCNE-accredited completion program for registered nurses with an associate degree. The 120-credit curriculum builds on prior nursing education with courses in public health, business, and social issues, culminating in a clinical leadership course. Students gain skills in evidence-based practice, health promotion, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and can apply up to 57 transfer credits. The cohort model fosters a supportive learning environment, and a minimum 2.7 GPA is required for admission. The university's prelicensure BSN program achieved a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2022. Graduates of the RN-BSN pathway are prepared for leadership roles, with 100% hired upon completion.

• CCNE accredited
• 120 total credit hours
• Cohort-based structure
• 100% job placement rate
• 2.7 GPA minimum
• Approved by NH Board of Nursing
• Clinical leadership course included
• Business and social issues electives
• Up to 57 transfer credits accepted

Saint Anselm College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Manchester, NH, is a highly selective program blending rigorous academics with hands-on clinical experience. Students study anatomy, microbiology, and professional nursing, supported by advanced simulation labs. Clinical rotations begin spring of sophomore year with a low 7:1 student-to-instructor ratio. A 195-hour preceptorship offers one-on-one mentoring in New England hospitals. Unique options include a Spanish minor tailored for nurses and a global clinical rotation in Costa Rica. Graduates have been employed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess, with many pursuing advanced degrees at Boston College or Yale. The program reports a 96.55% NCLEX pass rate (2022). No SAT/ACT requirement is stated.

• 195 clinical hours
• Clinicals start spring sophomore year
• Student to instructor clinical ratio 7:1
• Spanish minor for nursing majors
• Global clinical rotation in Costa Rica
• Simulation labs with advanced patient simulators
• Preceptorship in New England states
• Recent employer: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Graduate school: Boston College

River Valley Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN-RN) hybrid program blends online coursework with in-person learning across four semesters, preparing students to sit for the NCLEX-RN and launch registered nursing careers. The curriculum pairs nursing care courses with anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and psychology, emphasizing patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and clinical judgment. Students gain hands-on experience through clinical placements at critical access hospitals and Dartmouth Health. Entrance requires the TEAS exam. This ACEN-accredited program, approved by the NH Board of Nursing, offers low faculty-to-student ratios on its Claremont and Keene campuses, plus accelerated and LPN-to-RN pathways. In-state tuition totals roughly $21,000. Graduates achieved a 94.87% NCLEX pass rate in 2022.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• $21,000 total program tuition
• 4-Semester program
• Apply by 2027-02-01
• 95% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Low faculty-to-student ratios
• Clinical placements at Dartmouth Health

River Valley Community College's Accelerated ASN-RN program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and immediate employment through a blend of nursing theory, simulation lab work, and faculty-supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinics. The three-year sequential curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and nursing courses, with clinical schedules including days, evenings, and weekends at Claremont and Keene campuses. Applicants need current NH nursing assistant licensure, CPR certification, chemistry prerequisites, and TEAS scores; criminal background checks, drug tests, and medical insurance are required. The program reports a 90% job placement rate and holds ACEN accreditation and NH Board of Nursing approval. River Valley's ADN graduates posted a 94.87% NCLEX pass rate in 2022.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• Starts fall
• 90% job placement rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Simulation lab activities
• Requires NH nursing assistant licensure
• NH Board of Nursing approved

Licensed practical nurses can advance their careers through River Valley Community College's LPN-RN Bridge Program, earning an Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) degree in just three semesters. This hybrid format combines online coursework with in-person clinical experiences, allowing working LPNs to continue employment. Courses such as Nursing Care I–IV, anatomy and physiology, psychology, and microbiology build on LPN foundations, with focus on patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and clinical judgment. Clinical placements occur at Dartmouth Health and other regional sites. The ACEN-accredited program requires TEAS scores, offering reimbursement for the exam. In-state tuition is about $21,000. The 2022 NCLEX-RN pass rate for River Valley ADN graduates was 94.87%.

• ACEN accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• $21,000 total program tuition
• 3-Semester program
• Apply by 2027-02-15
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts summer
• 95% licensure pass rate
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus offers a CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) designed to prepare students for registered nursing practice. This four-year, 128-credit program integrates biological and social sciences with nursing theory, emphasizing evidence-based care, critical thinking, and patient-centered approaches. Clinical placements span acute care, community health, and mental health, complemented by high-fidelity simulation in an innovative lab. A senior capstone transitions students to professional roles. The 2022 NCLEX-RN pass rate was 94.59%. Part-time enrollment, honors study, research, and study abroad are available. Admission requires a minimum 2.5 GPA; no ACT/SAT entrance exam requirement is noted. Financial aid and scholarships are offered.

• CCNE accredited
• 4-Year program
• 128 total credit hours
• Full-time and part-time options
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Capstone required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Innovative nursing lab

The Associate in Science in Nursing at Nashua Community College blends didactic instruction with hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory and clinical rotations at regional healthcare facilities. This 69-credit program covers anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and lifespan nursing, with a capstone emphasizing leadership and community health. Admission requires completion of prerequisite courses and a satisfactory TEAS score. Cohorts are limited to 32 students, promoting individualized mentorship from experienced faculty. The program reports a 100% job placement rate and prepares graduates for acute care, ICU, pediatrics, and emergency nursing. Articulation agreements support seamless transition to BSN completion. On the 2022 NCLEX-RN, Nashua students achieved a 90% pass rate, reflecting the program's solid preparation for licensure.

• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 69 total credit hours
• 100% licensure pass rate
• 100% job placement rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Capstone required
• Small class size of 32 students
• State-of-the-art simulation lab
• Diverse career settings: ER, ICU, pediatrics