Nursing Programs in Albany, NY

Last Updated On Feb 19, 2026

Expert Verified: Jessica Guzzetti, MBA, BSN, RN, CCHP-RN

3 Min Read

2026 Best Nursing Schools in Albany

Choosing the right nursing program is crucial for future success. Registerednursing.org is creating rankings of the Best Nursing Schools in Albany to help students make informed decisions. Our rankings are based solely on NCLEX pass rates, providing a clear metric of program effectiveness. For details on our methodology, visit https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/.

Yearly Pass Rate Trends

Pass rates in Albany have remained stable with slight annual variations.

2024: 89.77% average pass rate with 303 students
2023: 89.66% average pass rate with 329 students

BSN vs ADN Pass Rate Comparison

ADN programs show higher average pass rates than BSN programs in the Albany area.

ADN: 91.22% average pass rate with 205 students
BSN: 87.01% average pass rate with 77 students

Top Performing Schools

These Albany nursing schools demonstrate the highest average NCLEX pass rates across multiple years.

Belanger School of Nursing: 94.26% average pass rate with 104 students
Hudson Valley Community College: 94.05% average pass rate with 168 students
Columbia-Greene Community College: 89.10% average pass rate with 101 students

Pass Rate by Program Size

Smaller nursing programs in Albany tend to have higher average pass rates than medium-sized programs.

Small programs (<50 students/year): 96.78% average pass rate with 62 students
Medium programs (50-100 students/year): 88.18% average pass rate with 220 students

Consistently High Performing Schools

These Albany nursing schools maintain exceptional pass rates over multiple years.

Belanger School of Nursing: 94.26% average pass rate with 104 students over 2 years
Hudson Valley Community College: 94.05% average pass rate with 168 students over 2 years

Maria College of Albany

Albany, NY - Private 4-year - mariacollege.edu

Bachelor's - RN-BS Degree in Nursing Completion

Online Learning - Visit Website

Maria College of Albany's Online RN-BS Degree Completion program offers registered nurses a fast-track to a bachelor's degree in just 12 months through fully online coursework. With an affordable tuition of $385 per credit and no entrance exam required, this ACEN-accredited program provides flexibility for working professionals. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, healthcare policy, and evidence-based practice. For the ADN program, recent NCLEX pass rates are strong at 91.7% in 2023 and 96.49% in 2024, demonstrating solid preparation for licensure. Admission requires an unencumbered New York RN license and an associate degree or diploma with a 2.5 GPA.

12-month completion time.
Fully online program.
$385 per credit tuition.
Requires RN license.
ACEN accredited.
Fall or Spring enrollment.
90 clinical hours required.
Competitive tuition rates.
Designed for working RNs.
Focus on leadership in nursing.

Bachelor's - RN-BS Degree in Nursing Completion

Online & Campus Based - Visit Website

Maria College of Albany's Hybrid RN-BS Degree Completion program combines online and campus learning for licensed RNs seeking career advancement. This flexible program accommodates both full-time and part-time students with no entrance exam requirement, focusing on evidence-based nursing, compassionate care, and leadership training. The ACEN-accredited curriculum prepares graduates for diverse healthcare roles through clinical requirements and management coursework. The college's ADN program shows excellent NCLEX performance with 96.49% passing in 2024, indicating strong foundational nursing education. Admission requires an unencumbered RN license and associate degree, with the hybrid format offering personal attention alongside schedule flexibility.

Hybrid learning format.
Full- and part-time options.
ACEN accredited program.
Focus on evidence-based nursing.
Leadership and management training.
Compassionate care emphasis.
Flexible for working RNs.
Includes clinical requirements.
Prepares for diverse healthcare roles.
Personal approach to education.

Show 1 More Programs ˅

Belanger School of Nursing

Schenectady, NY - Private 2-year - ellismedicine.org

Associate - Associate in Science degree in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Belanger School of Nursing offers a 64-credit Associate in Science Nursing degree completed in four semesters, focusing on clinical practice and hospitalized patient care. This campus-based program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam, with recent pass rates ranging from 85.71% to 96.70% for ADN programs. As an associate-level program, it does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams. The curriculum includes hospital-based clinical training and features articulation agreements with multiple colleges for seamless bachelor's degree pursuit. Graduates benefit from high employment opportunities, with many starting nursing careers at Ellis Medicine.

64-credit nursing degree
Four-semester program length
NCLEX-RN exam preparation
Hospital-based clinical training
Multiple college transfer agreements
Registered Nurse licensure eligible
Clinical focus on patient care

Hudson Valley Community College

Troy, NY - Public 2-Year - hvcc.edu

Associate - Nursing A.A.S.

Campus Based - Visit Website

Hudson Valley Community College's Nursing A.A.S. program provides comprehensive preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam through hands-on clinical experiences at partner healthcare institutions. This two-year full-time or four-year part-time program features state-of-the-art simulation labs and requires competitive admission with specific technical standards. The program is accredited by ACEN and offers weekend options. Recent NCLEX pass rates show strong performance, with 96.1% in 2023 and 92.31% in 2024. As a bachelor's-level program, it does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams.

Two-year full-time option.
Four-year part-time option.
Eligible for NCLEX-RN exam.
Hands-on clinical experience.
State-of-the-art simulation labs.
Weekend and advanced options.
Accredited by ACEN.
Competitive admission process.
Technical standards required.
Partners with healthcare institutions.

Associate - Weekend Option

Campus Based - Visit Website

Hudson Valley Community College's Weekend Option Nursing A.A.S. program accommodates students balancing work and family commitments with flexible weekend scheduling. This ACEN-accredited program prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam through extensive clinical rotations and simulation lab training. The program offers both full-time and part-time study options with competitive admission requirements. Recent NCLEX pass rates demonstrate program effectiveness, with 96.1% in 2023 and 92.31% in 2024. This bachelor's-level program does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams for admission.

Accredited by ACEN.
Prepares for NCLEX-RN.
Weekend Option available.
Full or part-time study.
Hands-on clinical experience.
State-of-the-art simulation labs.
Competitive admission process.
Experienced faculty.
Diverse healthcare settings.
High-quality education.

Associate - One-Year Advanced Option

Campus Based - Visit Website

Hudson Valley Community College's One-Year Advanced Option offers an accelerated path to RN qualification, compressing Nursing 1 and 2 courses into a single intensive year with summer start. This fast-track program features daytime classes Monday through Friday and prepares students for NCLEX-RN examination and potential BSN advancement. The program maintains strong NCLEX performance with 96.1% pass rate in 2023 and 92.31% in 2024. Eligibility criteria apply for this competitive program, which does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams for this bachelor's-level nursing pathway.

One-year accelerated program.
Summer start option.
Daytime classes only.
Combines Nursing 1 and 2.
Eligibility criteria apply.
Leads to RN qualification.
BSN start option included.
Intensive, fast-track format.
On-campus program.
Specific admissions requirements.

Show 2 More Programs ˅

St. Peter's Hospital College of Nursing

Albany, NY - Private 2-year - sphp.com

Associate - Associates in Science (A.S.) degree in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

St. Peter's Hospital College of Nursing offers an on-campus Associates in Science degree in Nursing that prepares students for entry-level nursing roles. This program does not require an ACT or SAT entrance exam for admission. Students benefit from immersive clinical experiences at nearby St. Peter's Hospital, small class sizes with expert faculty mentorship, and state-of-the-art simulation laboratories. The program maintains strong NCLEX performance, with a 2024 pass rate of 89.87% for 79 ADN students in New York. ACEN accreditation ensures quality education across diverse clinical settings.

Associates in Science Nursing Degree
Near-perfect NCLEX pass rate
Small class sizes
Located near St. Peter's Hospital
State-of-the-art simulation lab
Accredited by ACEN
Diverse clinical settings
Expert faculty mentorship

Columbia-Greene Community College

Hudson, NY - Public 2-Year - columbiagreene.edu

Associate - Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Columbia-Greene Community College's campus-based Nursing program is a 64-credit, two-year ADN curriculum that prepares students for RN licensure through the NCLEX exam. The program integrates behavioral and biological sciences with liberal arts, emphasizing hands-on clinical experience in real healthcare settings. Recent NCLEX pass rates show strong performance, with 95.9% in 2023 and 82.69% in 2024 among cohorts of 49 and 52 students respectively. Graduates report high employment success, with over 90% securing nursing positions within six months. The program offers pathways to BSN completion through SUNY Delhi and provides financial aid and scholarship opportunities. No entrance exam is required for this associate-level program.

64 credits
2 years duration
Campus-based program
Prepares for NCLEX exam
High employment rate
Pathway to BSN
Hands-on clinical experience
Strong NCLEX pass rate
Financial aid available
Scholarships offered

*Reference: U.S. DOE, NCES, IPEDS 2024 data release.

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Albany, NY

Entry-level nursing programs are designed for students who do not have any previous nursing education or experience. The options for entry-level nursing programs in Albany include the Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. Both of these programs will prepare students with an introduction to nursing principles and skills, as well as prepare them to take the NCLEX certification exam. ADN programs are quick to complete and generally less expensive, while BSN programs provide a more in-depth education with additional courses and a longer completion time.

ADN Programs

ADN programs can be found at community colleges, vocational schools, and some colleges and medical centers, and train aspiring nurses for their first entry-level jobs in nursing. As one example, the ADN program at Hudson Valley Community College can be completed in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.

Direct-Entry Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs

BSN programs are generally offered at four-year colleges and universities and include coursework not usually included in ADN programs, such as community health nursing, leadership topics, and research. The Sage Colleges offer BSN programs for high school graduates or students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, which includes 54 nursing credits and 27 supporting credit hours for the bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about New York Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Albany, NY

Many nurses with their associate’s degree consider going back to school to earn their BSN or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in order to earn a higher salary and move into more advanced nursing jobs. Some schools offer specially designed RN to BSN or RN to MSN programs with these nurses in mind. These programs provide an accelerated route to a higher degree, which takes into account prior coursework and clinical experience completed by the working nurse.

RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN programs enable nurses with their RN license to earn their BSN, and in many cases classes are offered online or on flexible schedules to accommodate working students. The RN to BSN program at SUNY Empire State College offers students the option of online or face-to-face courses on a full- or part-time basis for maximum convenience for working students.

Learn more about New York RN to BSN Programs.

RN to MSN Programs

RN to MSN programs are also available in the Albany area, and they allow professional nurses to earn their MSN in preparation for advanced practice nursing careers such as nurse practitioner. Many of these programs allow students to choose from a particular career track, such as the program at The Sage Colleges, which offers the choice of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive-Administrator.

Learn more about New York RN to MSN Programs.

List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs

We provide a list of RN to BSN and MSN programs to help you advance your nursing career. This table shows schools by city and state, with program highlights and links to details. Explore options to find the right fit for your goals.