Nursing Programs in Providence, RI

Last Updated On Jul 29, 2026

Expert Verified: Melanie Shaw, MSN, RN, CCRN

3 Min Read

2027 Best Nursing Schools in Providence

Rankings help prospective nursing students identify programs with proven outcomes. For our Best Nursing Schools in Providence rankings, Registerednursing.org analyzed the most recent NCLEX pass rates as the sole criterion. These scores reflect a program's ability to prepare graduates for licensure and professional practice. Learn more about our methodology here: https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-ranking-methodology/

Yearly Pass Rate Trends

The average pass rate for Rhode Island nursing programs has risen steadily from 2022 to 2024, indicating improving program outcomes.

2022: 77.48%
2023: 85.25%
2024: 92.25%

Biggest Improvements

Several institutions demonstrated substantial gains in pass rates over the analyzed period. The following schools showed the largest improvements.

Salve Regina University: +19.09% (from 69.62% to 88.71%)
New England Institute of Technology: +16.63% (from 75.21% to 91.84%)
University of Rhode Island: +15.75% (from 81.41% to 97.16%)

Consistently High Performing Schools

University of Rhode Island consistently exceeded the 90% pass rate benchmark across multiple years.

University of Rhode Island: 90.52% average pass rate (3 years of data)

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI - Public 4-Year - web.uri.edu

Bachelor's - Nursing B.S.

Campus Based - Visit Website

The Nursing B.S. at the University of Rhode Island prepares you to become a professional registered nurse. You'll study nursing sciences, develop clinical skills, and gain hands-on experience in simulation labs and clinical placements. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure. Career opportunities include entry-level positions in medical-surgical, geriatric, maternity, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, and community nursing. You can work in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, hospices, or the armed services. The on-campus program offers expert faculty guidance and a supportive learning environment. This degree is your foundation for a rewarding career in nursing.

Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Careers in multiple nursing specialties
Work in hospitals, clinics, hospices, armed services

Rhode Island College

Providence, RI - Public 4-Year - ric.edu

Bachelor's - Nursing BSN

Campus Based - Visit Website

Rhode Island College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year program that blends rigorous academics with hands-on clinical experience. You’ll study health promotion, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, and community health. Clinical placements happen at top healthcare facilities, and you’ll train at a state-of-the-art simulation center. The program prepares you for the NCLEX-RN exam and a career as a registered nurse in high-demand fields like emergency, critical care, or pediatrics. RIC’s BSN is CCNE accredited and ranks #15 in New England for nursing among public universities. With 30+ faculty and a second bachelor’s option, it’s designed for both traditional and transfer students seeking a strong nursing foundation.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
4-Year program
120 total credit hours
Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Clinical placements at nationally recognized facilities
State-of-the-art simulation center
100% benefit from simulated learning
NCLEX-RN exam preparation
CCNE accredited
30+ full-time nursing faculty

New England Institute of Technology

East Greenwich, RI - Private 4-year - neit.edu

Associate - Associate of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

New England Institute of Technology offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree that can be completed in just 18 months. This ACEN-accredited program blends hands-on simulation with real clinical experiences starting in the first term. Students build a strong foundation in nursing practice, including medical-surgical nursing, mental health, pediatrics, and anatomy/physiology. Small class sizes and state-of-the-art simulation labs foster confidence and critical thinking. Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN and pursue careers as registered nurses in hospitals, clinics, and community settings. NEIT’s strong healthcare partnerships with facilities like Rhode Island Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital open doors for employment. The program also offers a seamless transition to the RN-to-BSN online program for continued education. Whether you're starting fresh or advancing from an LPN certificate, this degree provides a fast-track to a rewarding nursing career.

ACEN accredited
Entrance exam required
18-Month program
82% licensure pass rate
94% job placement rate
Prepares for NCLEX-RN
Financial aid available
Scholarships available
Clinical experiences begin in first term
Small class sizes

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI - Private 4-year - salve.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Salve Regina University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a direct-admission, CCNE-accredited degree that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The curriculum covers acute and chronic illness care, mental health, childbearing families, and end-of-life care, with hands-on learning in high-tech simulation labs. Clinical placements at top hospitals in Rhode Island and Massachusetts provide real-world experience, supported by an 8:1 student-faculty ratio. Graduates are highly employable, with 100% employed and many accepting jobs before graduation. The program also offers unique opportunities like a study abroad program in Ireland and involvement in organizations like the Student Nurse Organization. With a 99% NCLEX pass rate and a focus on holistic, patient-centered care, this program prepares students for diverse nursing careers in settings such as critical care, pediatrics, and mental health, as well as advanced degrees like the MSN or DNP.

CCNE accredited
Test optional
4-Year program
120 total credit hours
99% licensure pass rate
100% job placement rate
Prepares for NCLEX
8:1 clinical student-faculty ratio
35% accept jobs before graduation
Study abroad in Ireland

Bachelor's - RN to B.S. in Nursing

Online Learning - Visit Website

Salve Regina University's fully online RN to BSN program is designed for licensed registered nurses seeking to advance their careers. Complete your degree in as few as 12 months with six start dates per year and asynchronous coursework that fits your busy schedule. The curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care, holistic nursing, and leadership skills, preparing you for roles in diverse healthcare settings or further study in MSN or DNP programs. You'll benefit from CCNE accreditation, affordable tuition at $373 per credit, and support through financial aid, military benefits, and employer tuition reimbursement. Transfer up to 58 credits from your prior nursing education, with a minimum of 30 credits taken at Salve. Guided by the university's mercy mission, you'll graduate as a compassionate, clinically competent nurse ready to make a positive impact on individuals and communities.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
$373 per credit
12-Month program
125 total credit hours
Rolling admissions
6 start dates per year
Starts fall/spring/summer
Asynchronous online classes
Military benefits accepted
Employer reimbursement supported

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Community College of Rhode Island

Warwick, RI - Public 2-Year - ccri.edu

Associate - Associate Degree Nurse Program

Campus Based - Visit Website

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Community College of Rhode Island prepares you for entry into professional nursing practice as a registered nurse generalist. The rigorous, evidence-based curriculum combines nursing theory with hands-on clinical experience in cutting-edge simulation labs. You will learn to lead, manage, and provide direct care to individuals, families, and groups across diverse healthcare settings. As the state's only public ADN program, CCRI offers a welcoming pathway with seamless options to become a CNA or LPN, plus LPN-to-RN and CNA-to-LPN bridge options. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and benefits from dedicated faculty with real-world experience. Graduates are prepared for careers in hospitals, clinics, and community health, and enjoy one of the most affordable tuition options in the region.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
Cutting-edge simulation labs
Only public ADN in Rhode Island
Seamless CNA and LPN options
LPN-to-RN bridge available
CNA-to-LPN bridge option
Dedicated faculty with real-world experience

Bachelor's - RN-to-BSN Program

Online Learning - Visit Website

The innovative RN-to-BSN online program offers registered nurses a flexible pathway to advance their careers without interrupting work. Designed for working professionals, this collaborative program between CCRI and Rhode Island College enables nurses to earn a bachelor's degree conveniently. The program supports career growth, increases job opportunities, and meets critical healthcare workforce needs in Rhode Island.

Fully online program
Seamless pathway for nurses
Partnership between CCRI and RIC
Designed for working professionals
Supports healthcare workforce development

Show 1 More Programs ˅

*Based on: NCES IPEDS 2025 data collection. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Providence, RI

Beginning a new career can feel intimidating, but it helps when the new career you’re starting has long-term job stability, good pay from the start and is all about helping others. Nursing has a range of entry points including LPN to RN, ADN, and BSN to accommodate your circumstances and career objectives. Colleges in Providence, RI offer many ways to get admitted into the nursing profession.

LPN to RN Programs

Patients in nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other long-term care facilities rely on Licensed Practical Nurses to treat their basic medical needs. Though LPNs interact with patients all day, they are restricted in the level of care they can provide. The Community College of Rhode Island in Providence now offers a brand new LPN to RN option for working nurses looking to transition into the RN role. The bridge option, which recently gained accreditation, trains and preps LPNs for the NCLEX exam by teaching core nursing fundamentals, both theory-based and clinical.

ADN Programs

The most expedient way to obtain your nursing licensure is to complete a two-year Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN) degree. The ADN allows you to experience what the nursing profession is truly like before committing yourself, financially and timewise, to a four-year degree. The Community College of Rhode Island in Providence offers an established ADN program that’s designed to put you in the driver’s seat of your nursing career. It focuses on patient-centered, evidence-based care as well as technology such as informatics. CCRI’s pass rate for the NCLEX exam is 89% with a 97% job placement rate.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

If you’ve known for a long time that caring for others is in your heart and your head, then entering the nursing profession with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may be your best choice. RNs with BSNs can earn higher levels of compensation right from the start and can be more selective when choosing an employer. Salve Regina University located outside of Providence, Rhode Island, offers a well-respected BSN program that focuses on both clinical and classroom learning. Students complete their clinicals at area hospitals so they are best equipped to transition to the world of nursing upon graduation. The BSN sufficiently prepares graduates to pass the NCLEX exam.

Learn more about Rhode Island Accelerated BSN Programs

RN to BSN Programs in Providence, RI

Registered Nurses are being asked to take on more patient care responsibilities all the time. By earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, nurses are demonstrating their long-term commitment to the profession. Providence-area schools have made it easy and fast to complete the BSN with flexible distance learning programs.

RN to BSN Programs

Earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing can open up many doors. Whether you want to practice a specific area of study such as pediatrics, gerontology or OBGYN, a BSN will give you a competitive advantage to go after the position you want. To make this undertaking less stressful, Rhode Island College offers an RN to BSN program that grants students 37 credits for their prior nursing education and additional credit for other academic work.

Learn more about Rhode Island RN to BSN Programs

List of RN to BSN/MSN Programs

We've gathered a list of RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs across the country. Each school listing includes its city and state, program highlights, and a direct link to the program page. This table makes it easy to compare options and find the right fit for your nursing career goals. Explore the programs and take the next step toward advancing your education.

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East Greenwich, RI

New England Institute of Technology

RN to BSN - RN to BSN
Online Learning - Website
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- 15-Month program
- Complete in as little as 14 to 15 months
- Part-time available
- 100% job placement rate
- 2.7 GPA minimum
- 80 clinical hours
- Prerequisite courses required