Nursing Programs in New Orleans, LA

University of Holy Cross’s BSN is an ACEN-accredited program with more than three decades of experience preparing registered nurses. The curriculum layers a pre-nursing foundation of core sciences in the first year, then launches the clinical sequence in the second year, with nursing coursework concentrated in junior and senior years. Every clinical course includes a practicum, reinforcing real-world patient care skills in critical thinking, evidence-based practice, leadership, and health technology. The program delivers holistic, patient-centered care through a Christian lens of dignity and respect. Graduates are equipped for hospital, clinic, and community roles. NCLEX first-time pass rates were 100% in 2023 (34 students) and 2024 (28 students). Admission requirements around ACT/SAT are not explicitly stated; applicants should confirm testing policies with the school.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
• Over 30 years educating student nurses
• Practicum in each clinical course
• Prepares for registered nurse career
• Christian perspective in nursing
• Pre-nursing curriculum freshman year
• Clinical sequence starts sophomore year
• Focus on junior/senior courses

LSU Health New Orleans' Traditional BSN is a full-time, three-year campus-based program with fall and spring entry points. The curriculum begins with pre-nursing prerequisites before advancing to health assessment, pharmacology, nursing theory, and direct patient care clinicals. Graduates emerge prepared for NCLEX-RN licensure and diverse registered nursing roles. The program consistently achieves exceptional licensure outcomes, with BSN graduates posting 94.64% first-time pass rates in 2023 and 95.96% in 2024. Admission is highly competitive and intentionally limited to foster personalized instruction and strong faculty mentorship. Enrolled students benefit from scholarships, financial aid, and a military-friendly environment. Clinical placements leverage New Orleans' dynamic healthcare landscape, exposing students to a broad range of practice settings. This pathway suits ambitious undergraduates seeking immediate, immersive entry into professional nursing.

• 3-Year program
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts fall/spring
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Very competitive admission
• Limited class size
• Pre-nursing courses required

The Career Alternative RN Education (CARE) at LSU Health New Orleans is an accelerated, two-year BSN for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. The rigorous curriculum condenses essential nursing theory, clinical skills, and evidence-based practice while leveraging students’ prior academic experience. Cohorts begin in fall on the New Orleans campus and in fall or spring at the Shreveport campus. Class sizes are limited to promote individualized faculty support. Upon completion, graduates are prepared for NCLEX-RN licensure. The school’s BSN outcomes are impressive, with first-time pass rates of 94.64% in 2023 and 95.96% in 2024. Financial aid and scholarships are available to eligible students. CARE provides a direct, fast-paced pathway to registered nursing careers in diverse healthcare environments across Louisiana.

• 2-Year program
• Starts fall/spring
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• Financial aid available
• Scholarships available
• Prior bachelor's degree required
• Two-year accelerated BSN program
• Campuses in New Orleans and Shreveport
• Fall and spring start dates
• Limited class size

Delgado Community College's Charity School of Nursing offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree crafted to prepare entry-level registered nurses through a five-semester (2.5-year) curriculum. The program blends natural and social sciences with extensive clinical rotations across Greater New Orleans hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Students gain skills in clinical judgment, leadership, communication, and holistic patient-centered care, supported by a dedicated faculty advisor. Admission requires an entrance exam, prerequisite coursework in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and psychology, and a 2.5 minimum GPA. Graduates are eligible for the NCLEX-RN, where Delgado's first-time pass rate reached 90.75% in 2024, a substantial rise from 84.33% in 2023, demonstrating strong preparation.

• Entrance exam required
• 5-Semester program
• Complete in 2.5 years
• 2.5 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Faculty advisor assigned as mentor
• Prepares for entry-level staff nurse roles
• Clinical sites in Greater New Orleans
• Strong foundation in natural and social sciences
• Nursing care across the lifespan

Dillard University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, housed in the College of Nursing, delivers a comprehensive curriculum of 120 credit hours blending general education, nursing core, and cognates. Students gain clinical skills through six nursing laboratories, a state-of-the-art simulation lab, and community service learning. The program offers multiple entry points, including traditional, transfer, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN tracks, supported by dedicated advisors. As the oldest accredited baccalaureate nursing program in Louisiana, Dillard emphasizes ethical, student-centered education within an HBCU and United Methodist tradition. Recent NCLEX pass rates reflect strong performance: 100% in 2023 and 73.3% in 2024. Graduates are prepared for RN licensure and practice across diverse healthcare settings.

• ACEN, Louisiana State Board of Nursing accredited
• 120 total credit hours
• ACEN accredited through 2025
• Six nursing laboratories and simulation labs
• Service learning and community service
• Dedicated nursing advisor support
• Oldest accredited baccalaureate nursing program in LA

For licensed practical nurses seeking career advancement, Dillard University's LPN to BSN pathway offers advanced placement within the same NCLEX-focused BSN program. This ACEN-accredited track builds on existing nursing knowledge, reducing redundancy while completing the 120-credit-hour curriculum. Students benefit from intensive simulation labs, six nursing laboratories, and community service experiences that tie theory to practice. Dillard, a historically Black university affiliated with the United Methodist Church, has prepared nurses for over seven decades and remains the oldest accredited baccalaureate nursing program in Louisiana. Graduates exit ready for registered nurse roles and leadership in hospitals and community settings. The program consistently posts competitive NCLEX pass rates, including 100% in 2023 and 73.3% in 2024.

• ACEN accredited
• 120 total credit hours
• Six nursing laboratories
• Cutting-edge simulation lab
• Advanced placement for LPNs
• ACEN accredited through 2025
• Oldest HBCU nursing program
• Service learning component

Tulane University's accelerated BSN is a hybrid, four-semester program tailored for those who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. The curriculum merges online coursework with campus-based simulations and clinical rotations across New Orleans, emphasizing interprofessional education alongside medical students. Students complete 60 credit hours and 720 clinical hours, developing skills in critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and team-based care. Admission requires 25 prerequisite credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA; no ACT or SAT is listed as a requirement. While the NCLEX pass rate is not published, the program prepares graduates for roles in ER, surgical, pediatric, and community health nursing, and supports further study toward MSN, DNP, or PhD.

• 4-Semester program
• Complete in four consecutive semesters
• 60 total credit hours
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• $93,600 median earnings
• 720 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Interprofessional education with medical students
• Clinical rotations in New Orleans hospitals
• Skills lab and simulation training

This accelerated BSN from Tulane is designed for second-degree students seeking an expedited path to nursing over four consecutive semesters. The hybrid format combines remote learning with hands-on simulation alongside medical students and clinical placements in New Orleans hospitals. The 60-credit program includes 720 clinical hours with a strong focus on whole-person care and community impact. Applicants need a prior bachelor's degree, 25 prerequisite credits, a 3.0 minimum GPA, and prerequisites completed within ten years. The program does not require the SAT or ACT for admission. No NCLEX pass-rate data is provided, but the comprehensive curriculum aims to prepare students for diverse nursing careers and advanced education.

• 4-Semester program
• Complete in four consecutive semesters
• 60 total credit hours
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• 720 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Interprofessional simulations with medical students
• Clinical rotations across New Orleans
• 25 prerequisite credit hours required
• Video submission for application