Nursing Programs in Portland, ME

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Portland

Rankings assist prospective nurses in selecting programs with strong outcomes. For this Best Nursing Schools in Portland ranking, Registerednursing.org uses NCLEX pass rates as the sole criterion, providing an objective measure of program quality. Our analysis focuses on recent graduate performance. See https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/ for details.

Yearly Pass Rate Trends

Pass rates have improved significantly since 2022, with a sharp rise in 2023 and continued strength in 2024.

• 2024: 94.8% average pass rate (250 students)
• 2023: 93.91% average pass rate (279 students)
• 2022: 75.79% average pass rate (95 students)

Top Performing Schools

These schools stand out for consistently high graduate success, with the top school averaging over 95%.

• University of New England: 95.51% average pass rate (245 students, 3 years of data)
• Southern Maine Community College: 92.74% average pass rate (234 students, 3 years of data)
• Saint Joseph's College of Maine: 83.2% average pass rate (125 students, 3 years of data)

Pass Rate by Program Size

Medium-sized programs outperformed small ones, indicating an optimal balance for student support.

• Medium (50-100 students/year): 98.34% average pass rate (181 students)
• Small (<50 students/year): 85.51% average pass rate (69 students)

Consistently High Performing Schools

Only two schools maintained average pass rates above 90% over multiple years, showcasing exceptional consistency.

• University of New England: 95.51% average pass rate (245 students, 3 years)
• Southern Maine Community College: 92.74% average pass rate (234 students, 3 years)

#1

University of New England

Biddeford, ME - Private 4-year - une.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

The University of New England's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program prepares you for a rewarding career in nursing with a strong foundation in liberal arts and hands-on clinical experience. Over four years, you'll explore courses in adult health, maternal/child nursing, pharmacology, mental health, and community health, building critical thinking and evidence-based practice skills. With more than 550 hours of clinical rotations at leading hospitals like Maine Medical Center, you'll gain real-world experience. The program boasts a 98% first-time NCLEX pass rate and is accredited by ACEN. Unique opportunities include studying abroad in Morocco or Spain, interprofessional education with future doctors and pharmacists, and state-of-the-art simulation labs. Financial aid and scholarships are available. Graduate ready for roles in hospitals, community health, and beyond.

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Maine State Board of Nursing accredited
• No entrance exam required
• Test optional
• 4-Year program
• 98% licensure pass rate
• 3.2 GPA minimum
• 550 clinical hours
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available

#2

Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME - Public 2-Year - smccme.edu

Associate - Nursing Associate Degree

Campus Based - Visit Website

Southern Maine Community College offers an Associate Degree in Nursing that prepares students to become registered nurses. The curriculum integrates nursing theory with general education and provides diverse clinical experiences across healthcare settings. Students learn patient-centered care, clinical judgment, and professional behaviors. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and pursue careers in oncology, emergency, pediatrics, home care, and more. The program boasts a 96.5% NCLEX pass rate and a 97% employment rate within six months. Transfer agreements with the University of Southern Maine, University of Maine Fort Kent, and Purdue Global allow for seamless bachelor's degree completion. Accredited by ACEN, the program requires prerequisites including Anatomy & Physiology I, English Composition, and Dosage Calculations, along with ATI TEAS scores. Financial aid is available to eligible students.

• ACEN, Maine State Board of Nursing accredited
• Entrance exam required
• Exams: TEAS
• 4-Semester program
• 97% job placement rate
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX
• Financial aid available
• NCLEX-RN licensure exam preparation
• Four-semester program

#3

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME - Public 4-Year - usm.maine.edu

Bachelor's - Nursing — Traditional Program

Campus Based - Visit Website

The University of Southern Maine's Traditional BSN program prepares you for a career as a registered nurse through a blend of classroom theory, high-tech simulation, and hands-on clinical experiences. You'll build critical thinking and clinical judgment skills in state-of-the-art labs and the Boyne Family Advanced Simulation Center. The curriculum covers essential nursing techniques, public health, and mental health, culminating in a 168-hour preceptor practicum. USM's nursing graduates consistently achieve a 92% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, and the program is CCNE accredited. With a cohort model, you'll benefit from strong peer support and expert faculty. Graduates work in hospitals, community health, and beyond, with many pursuing advanced certifications or degrees.

• CCNE accredited
• Test optional
• 4-Year program
• Complete in four years
• Apply by 2026-02-01
• 2 start dates per year
• Starts spring/fall
• 92% licensure pass rate
• Cohort-based structure
• 168 clinical hours

#4

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME - Private 4-year - sjcme.edu

Bachelor's - Nursing, BSN

Campus Based - Visit Website

Saint Joseph's College of Maine offers a rigorous on-campus BSN program built on a liberal arts foundation. Students start nursing courses as freshmen and begin clinical experiences as sophomores. The curriculum covers biological, psychological, and social sciences to prepare holistic nurses. Training in the state-of-the-art Jeanne Donlevy Center for Nursing Innovation includes cutting-edge SIM labs for ICU, maternal, pediatric, and home care. Clinical placements at major Maine hospitals provide real-world experience. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and pursue careers as registered nurses. The program features direct entry, small classes, and close faculty mentoring. With CCNE accreditation and a strong NCLEX pass rate, graduates emerge as confident, compassionate healthcare professionals.

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
• 3.0 GPA minimum
• Prerequisite courses required
• Prepares for NCLEX-RN
• State-of-the-art SIM labs
• Clinical partnerships with multiple hospitals
• Direct entry into nursing major
• Small class sizes
• Faculty mentoring and individual attention
• NCLEX pass rate 90.63%

*Institutional data extracted from: IPEDS 2025, NCES.

Entry Level ADN, BSN, & MSN Programs in Portland, ME

If you are interested in becoming an RN, the place to begin is an entry-level training program that will prepare you for the NCLEX certification exam and your first job as a registered nurse. In the Portland area, there are LPN to RN programs designed to help licensed practical nurses make the leap to RN, and Associate’s Degree in Nursing programs and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program that put an RN license within reach for high school grads with little or no nursing experience. Whatever your background, these entry-level programs can make your dreams of professional nursing a reality.

LPN to RN Programs

LPNs are experts at providing basic patient care such as feeding and dressing patients, taking vital signs and sanitizing patient rooms. For many LPNs, an RN license opens the door to additional responsibilities and higher pay. LPN to RN bridge programs provide a streamlined pathway for experienced LPNs to earn their associate’s degree and become prepared to take the NCLEX licensing exam. The LPN to RN program at Kennebec Valley Community College allows experienced LPNs to enter their ADN program in the second semester, saving students time and money on the process of becoming an RN.

ADN Programs

ADN programs provide aspiring nurses with the education and clinical experience they need to pass the NCLEX exam and secure their first jobs as RNs. Designed for high school graduates and those who are new to the nursing profession, ADN programs include coursework in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and nursing skills. The ADN program at Southern Maine Community College is generally completed in 4.5 semesters of full-time study.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Another entry point to the nursing profession is the BSN degree. Increasingly, top hospitals and healthcare employers are looking for nurses who have a bachelor’s degree or higher education. Research shows that nurses with bachelor’s degrees can improve patient outcomes and make fewer mistakes. If you are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing as your first nursing degree, the traditional BSN program at the University of Southern Maine is a 120-credit program with coursework in nursing research, clinically-applied genetics, leadership management and ethics, community nursing, child health nursing, and critically ill/older adult nursing as well as other advanced nursing skills classes.

Find out more about Maine Accelerated BSN Programs

Direct-Entry MSN Programs

Another option for aspiring nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in another subject is to consider a direct-entry MSN program, in which students earn their master’s in nursing at an accelerated pace. These programs are generally rigorous, but they provide an excellent foundation in nursing principles and advanced practice nursing skills, and prepare nurses for leadership positions in a variety of healthcare settings. The direct-entry MSN program at the University of Southern Maine allows students to graduate with their MSN in three years of full-time study.

Find out more about Maine Accelerated MSN Programs

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Portland, ME

If you are an experienced nurse with an ADN who is interested in pursuing a BSN or MSN degree, consider applying to an RN to BSN/MSN bridge program specially designed for your needs. These programs are made for working RNs, and as such, often offer courses on a flexible schedule or in a distance learning format. Schools offering these programs understand the challenges of returning to school and make every effort to provide a flexible and stress-free experience. BSN and MSN degrees provide nurses with competitive advantages when seeking new, higher paying jobs.

RN to BSN Programs

An example of an RN to BSN program in the Portland area is offered at the University of Southern Maine. The School of Nursing recognizes up to 30 nursing credits transferred from an associate’s degree program, which saves RNs the time and expense of having to repeat that coursework. The program is open to graduates of both diploma and associate’s degree programs and enrolls students on a rolling basis for study in the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Find out more about Maine RN to BSN Programs

RN to MSN Programs

If you are interested in pursuing an advanced practice nursing career, such as a nurse practitioner or nurse educator, you’ll need to earn your master’s degree. For nurses with their ADN, an RN to MSN program provides a streamlined option that builds on existing professional experience and prior nursing coursework. The RN to MSN program at the University of Southern Maine offers nurses the opportunity to pursue careers as adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners, nurse educators, family nurse practitioners, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.

Find out more about Maine RN to MSN Programs

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Portland, ME

Nurses with advanced degrees earn higher salaries and become leaders in their organizations. APRN nurses may provide primary and acute care to patients across the lifespan, become nurse administrators and leaders or educate the next generation of nurses. In many cases, advanced practice nursing degree programs are available in an online or hybrid format, and/or can be taken on a part-time basis, which offers RNs the flexibility to complete their degree while continuing to work.

MSN Programs

St. Joseph’s College of Maine offers an MSN program in an online format, so students can complete their degree from wherever, whenever it fits their schedule and in as little as two years of study. The program allows students to specialize their studies along a particular career track, including Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Education.

Find out more about Maine Nurse Practitioner Programs

DNP Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice programs train nurses for the highest levels of clinical care and prepare them for a number of leadership positions. The DNP program at the University of Southern Maine emphasizes evidence-based practice, effective interpersonal collaboration, and patient safety.  The program is designed to accommodate working nurses, offers classes in a hybrid online/on-campus format on a full-time and part-time basis.

Find out more about Maine DNP Programs