Nursing Schools in Anchorage, AK

For a nurse who needs to stay close to home, the first real question in Anchorage is not which school is best but which credential a program actually awards: an associate degree that reaches the bedside in about two years, or a bachelor's that costs more and takes longer. The pre-licensure options here are limited, and they split cleanly along that line.

Annual tuition at these programs runs from roughly $7,700 to about $18,400, before net price adjusts for aid, so cost swings widely by school and degree type. The commuting radius is tight: Anchorage proper, Eagle River, Chugiak, and JBER sit within a short drive, while Wasilla and Palmer riders face the Glenn Highway daily.

With so few seats available statewide, admission odds, not coursework length, often decide when you finish.

Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates Among Anchorage Nursing Programs

Below is the ranked list of Anchorage nursing programs, ordered by first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates from the most recent state reporting cycle, with programmatic accreditation, completion, and retention acting as tie-breakers. The spread is narrow: Alaska's 2025 first-time pass rate was 81.0 percent for associate-degree candidates and 78.4 percent when associate and baccalaureate candidates are combined, so a few points separate a strong year from a soft one. Read single-year rates as directional and confirm each program's accreditation and admission requirements before you apply.

ADN or BSN in Anchorage: Cost, Time to License, and Admission Odds

An associate degree gets you to the bedside faster and cheaper; a bachelor's degree costs more up front but can lead to roles an ADN cannot. For most Anchorage students, the choice comes down to how quickly you need to earn versus where you want your career to go.

Is there a two-year nursing program in Anchorage?

Yes. Charter College in Anchorage runs an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, described as a 19-month program that prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. Be realistic about the timeline, though: a "two-year" ADN rarely takes exactly two years once you add the general-education and science prerequisites you must finish before the nursing sequence begins. Budget extra semesters for coursework like anatomy and physiology, and the real door-to-door time often stretches past two years.

ADN vs BSN on cost and early earnings

• Charter College (AAS): In-state and out-of-state tuition sit at roughly $18,400, with an effective net price near $35,500. Graduates report median earnings of about $83,100 one year out and roughly $87,800 four years out.
• University of Alaska Anchorage (BSN): In-state tuition runs about $7,700 (out-of-state near $21,300), with a net price around $15,300. BSN graduates report median earnings near $86,800 at one year and about $93,000 at four years.

UAA's public-university pricing makes its BSN the lower net cost of the two, while the private AAS gets you earning on a shorter clock.

Admission reality at UAA and APU

UAA's BSN is limited and highly competitive. Degree-seeking or pre-major status does not guarantee a seat. You will need prerequisite courses (including BIOL A111/A112, CHEM A103/A104, PSY A150, WRTG A111, and math) completed with a C or better, a minimum 3.00 GPA in those courses within two attempts, and a TEAS score of at least 58.7 (highest score from the last 36 months counts; retakes are allowed only every 21 days). Applications go through NursingCAS, and selection ranks applicants by extracted GPA, science GPA, and exam score. UAA's AAS pathway follows a similar competitive ranking.

Alaska Pacific University admits pre-licensure students through its BS Health Sciences pre-nursing track, with a May 1 deadline for fall and October 1 for spring. All prerequisites must be finished by the deadline (within the past ten years, grade of C or better), with a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA and 2.5 cumulative GPA.

If you start with an ADN, you can still earn a bachelor's later. See the RN-to-BSN section below for how Anchorage nurses bridge up for leadership roles and Magnet-hospital hiring.

Lowest-Cost Routes to an RN License Near Anchorage

University of Alaska Anchorage carries the lowest average net price among the pre-licensure programs here, at $15,301 a year compared with $34,860 at Charter College, and its BSN graduates also leave with less median debt and a smaller monthly payment than Charter's ADN graduates. Published in-state tuition and fees ($7,738 at UAA, $18,375 at Charter) are not what most students pay, because net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships, according to U.S. Department of Education IPEDS and College Scorecard data (2024). Net price is an institution-wide average and your own aid package may differ, so file the FAFSA early and ask each school's financial aid office for a personalized estimate before you compare offers.

LPN to RN Bridge Options in the Anchorage Area

Alaska Pacific University runs the only Anchorage-area LPN-to-RN bridge documented in current sources, and the Alaska Board of Nursing has approved it. The accelerated pathway leads to an ADN and NCLEX-RN eligibility, so a licensed practical nurse can move toward RN licensure without starting a degree from scratch.

How the APU Bridge Works

The program follows a cohort model of three semesters over 18 months of full-time study. Delivery is hybrid: asynchronous online coursework paired with required on-campus classes, skills labs, and clinical rotations at selected Alaska sites. Space is limited, so your preferred clinical site is not guaranteed, and you must attend all in-person requirements at whichever site you are assigned.

Graduates of a nationally accredited LPN or LVN program receive 9 self-determined credits toward the degree. The full ADN requires at least 69 credits, blending foundational and nursing coursework. Before the remaining nursing courses, you complete APU's foundational prerequisites plus NUR 11500, the "LPN to RN Transition" course.

What Working LPNs Should Prepare

• License: An active Alaska LPN license in good standing.
• Prerequisite gaps: Plan for APU's foundational coursework and the transition course before the clinical sequence begins.
• Schedule: The full-time cohort moves quickly, so arrange work hours around required in-person days.

Charter College offers a hybrid AAS in Nursing (ACEN-accredited, as few as 19 months), but sources do not confirm a distinct LPN advanced-placement track there, and the University of Alaska Anchorage has no confirmed bridge. Out-of-state online bridge programs can be an option, though you would still need to arrange clinicals locally.

How Long Does It Take to Become an RN in Anchorage?

Becoming a practicing RN in Anchorage follows the same ordered path whether you choose an ADN or a BSN. Coursework length is predictable. Application cycles, competitive admission, and waitlists are often what stretch the timeline, so plan your prerequisites around program deadlines.

Alaska RN Licensure at a Glance

What RNs Earn in the Anchorage Metro

Registered nurses in the Anchorage area earn well above the national average, which helps offset Alaska's higher living costs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Anchorage, AK

For registered nurses who already hold a license, these Anchorage programs turn an associate degree into a bachelor's without starting over. Coursework is built for working schedules, with online delivery and clinical arrangements that fit around shifts.

Comprehensive List of Nursing Schools Near Anchorage, AK

3 schools within 40 miles, grouped by city. Select a program to see its highlights, and use the Website link for the school's own program page.

Anchorage Nursing School Questions, Answered

These are the questions prospective nursing students in Anchorage ask most often, from program length and cost to licensure rules. Use the answers below as a starting point, then confirm current details directly with the school and the Alaska Board of Nursing before you apply.

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