Which North Dakota nursing school gives you the best chance of passing the NCLEX-RN on the first try? First-time pass rates at North Dakota programs span 92.68% to 100%, and that gap can delay your first RN job. The schools below rank by that result, not reputation or size.
North Dakota's main routes are the shared Dakota Nursing Program, which offers the Associate Degree in Nursing at community colleges, and four-year BSNs at UND, NDSU, Dickinson State, and the University of Mary. Hybrid and online formats exist, and net price after aid varies widely. Every route ends with the North Dakota Board of Nursing licensure application, but hospitals increasingly prefer BSN-prepared nurses for acute care.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: North Dakota's Highest-Performing Nursing Programs for 2027
A first-time pass on the NCLEX-RN is what turns nursing coursework into a license, a start date, and a paycheck. The North Dakota programs below are ordered with first-time exam results carrying the most weight, and accreditation plus completion and retention records used to settle the close calls. Each entry lists a multi-year pass rate so you can compare programs on the same footing.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Student retention and completion
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- Program accreditation status
- Net price after aid
- Original research on individual programs
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level NCLEX pass rates from the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- In-house program catalog data
University of Mary
#1Bismarck, ND · ~$18,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.8% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Students seeking early-assured BSN admission
A CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing taught on the Bismarck campus, with clinical placements in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and acute care settings. Graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt at a 97.8% rate across the last three reporting years, and the school adds generous support such as the Sanford Health Directors Award and a tuition-free Nursing Academy. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN pathways give working nurses a way in.
- CCNE accredited
- Early-assured admission option
- LPN to BSN and RN to BSN pathways
- Clinical experience in varied settings
- Tuition-free Nursing Academy
- Sanford Health Directors Award
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Financial aid and scholarships available
Minot State University
#2Minot, ND · $13,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.6% (2-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Hands-on learners wanting heavy clinical time
Minot State's campus-based BSN builds in more than 1,000 hours of clinical experience and high-fidelity simulation, and its first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate sits at 97.6% over the school's two most recent reporting years. North Dakota high school seniors can qualify for guaranteed admission, and students get public health exposure through the Adult Health Maintenance Clinic. The program spans 122 credits and runs four years.
- CCNE accredited
- 4-year, 122-credit curriculum
- More than 1,000 clinical hours
- High-fidelity simulation experiences
- Guaranteed admission for ND high school seniors
- No out-of-state tuition increase
- Nursing Student Association for leadership
- Public health nursing at Adult Health Maintenance Clinic
Williston State College
#3Williston, ND · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.1% (3-yr weighted avg)
Williston State College runs its associate degree nursing pathway as a 1+1 sequence: a practical nursing certificate in the first year, then the AAS and eligibility for the NCLEX-RN in the second. Students who tested passed at a 97.1% first-time rate across three recent reporting years, and clinical opportunities are arranged locally. The college also lists a bachelor's degree option in nursing.
- Structured as a 1+1 sequence leading to RN eligibility
- First year leads to a practical nursing certificate
- Second year completes the AAS and NCLEX-RN eligibility
- Clinical opportunities arranged locally
- Bachelor's degree nursing option at the college
- Extends the nursing ladder beyond the associate degree
North Dakota State University
#4Fargo, ND · ~$16,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 96.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
North Dakota State University's BSN spans three professional years and offers pre-licensure, accelerated, LPN-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN tracks. First-time NCLEX-RN candidates passed at 96.3% over the last three reporting years, with clinical work spread across hospitals, community agencies, and rural settings that serve underserved populations. A 2026 agreement with Dickinson State creates a pathway into NDSU's family nurse practitioner program.
- CCNE accredited
- Three-year professional component
- Pre-licensure, accelerated, LPN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN tracks
- Clinical placements in hospitals, community agencies and rural sites
- Focus on underserved and rural populations
- Student Nurses Association chapters in Bismarck and Fargo
- Faculty advisor and pre-nursing advising
- 2026 pathway to the NDSU family nurse practitioner program
Bismarck State College
#5Bismarck, ND · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.1% (3-yr weighted avg)
Bismarck State College's associate degree nursing program is ACEN accredited and part of the Dakota Nursing Program consortium, which shares curriculum across several North Dakota colleges. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates have run at 95.1% over the last three reporting years. Admission is selective, with an entrance exam, a 2.5 GPA minimum, and fall starts, and military benefits are accepted with priority service for veterans.
- ACEN accredited
- Part of the Dakota Nursing Program consortium
- Entrance exam and 2.5 GPA minimum
- Fall start with selective, limited enrollment
- Military benefits accepted
- Priority service for veterans
- Strong science background recommended
- Clinical opportunities arranged locally
- Bachelor's degree pathway at the college
- Builds on the associate degree nursing program
University of North Dakota
#6Grand Forks, ND · ~$19,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.8% (3-yr weighted avg)
The University of North Dakota's CCNE-accredited BSN covers 121 credits across four years and finishes with a four-week preceptor practicum. First-time NCLEX-RN candidates passed at 94.8% across the last three reporting years. The curriculum leans into rural and diverse community care, the RAIN program supports American Indian students, and direct admission is available for high achievers.
- CCNE accredited
- 121 credits over four years
- Four-week preceptor practicum
- State-of-the-art simulation center
- Direct admission for high-achieving students
- RAIN program for American Indian students
- Starts fall and spring
- Focus on rural and diverse communities
Dickinson State University
#7Dickinson, ND · ~$14,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Dickinson State's four-year BSN blends classroom instruction, lab practice, and clinical rotations, and graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first try at a 92.9% rate across the last three reporting years. Applications are accepted each year from August 1 to October 15. A 2026 agreement with North Dakota State University opens a pathway into that school's family nurse practitioner program.
- Accredited by ACEN through Fall 2029
- Four-year program
- Application window August 1 to October 15
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Classroom, lab, and clinical preparation
- Career paths in hospitals, clinics, and specialized nursing
Dakota College at Bottineau
#8Bottineau, ND · ~$10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
Dakota College at Bottineau's Associate Degree Nurse program combines classroom instruction with clinical practice and covers maternal child nursing, alterations in health, and clinical application labs. Students passed the NCLEX-RN first time at 92.4% over the last three reporting years. It is part of the Dakota Nursing Program collaboration, and applicants need prerequisite coursework plus a criminal background check.
- Part of the Dakota Nursing Program collaboration
- Entrance exam required
- 2.5 GPA minimum with prerequisites
- Criminal background check required
- Applications due each spring
- Core courses include maternal child nursing and alterations in health
- Prepares for NCLEX-RN
- Graduates work in acute care, long-term care, and clinics
- Bachelor's degree nursing option at the college
- Offered alongside the Associate Degree Nurse program
University of Jamestown
#9Jamestown, ND · $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 91.2% (3-yr weighted avg)
The University of Jamestown's CCNE-accredited BSN pairs theory with clinical rotations at eight local facilities and simulation labs each semester. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates have averaged 91.2% over the last three reporting years. Seniors choose between a 172-hour preceptorship and a study abroad capstone in Africa, and the university also lists an online associate degree route into nursing.
- CCNE accredited
- Simulation lab every semester
- Clinical rotations at eight local facilities
- Senior capstone: 172-hour preceptorship or study abroad in Africa
- ACLS and PALS certifications
- Small classes with an advisor from day one
- Scholarships starting at $8,000
- Online associate degree pathway into nursing
North Dakota State College of Science
#10Wahpeton, ND · $6,000 – $7,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 89.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
North Dakota State College of Science offers registered nursing education through its Associate in Science in Nursing program, with first-time NCLEX-RN candidates passing at 89.9% across the last three reporting years. The college also runs practical nursing education, giving students a stepwise route toward the registered nurse role. It is among the state's nursing education providers reporting capacity to the state.
- Practical nursing and registered nursing education offered
- Associate in Science in Nursing program
- Bachelor's degree nursing option at the college
- Offered alongside the registered nursing associate degree
How We Ranked North Dakota Nursing Schools (And Why NCLEX-RN Results Come First)
A nursing school ranking is only as useful as the measure behind it, and the clearest signal of whether a program prepares you to practice is how its graduates perform on the NCLEX-RN, the national licensure exam every new RN must pass.
What Carries the Most Weight
The first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate does the heavy lifting here. Rather than lean on a single year, this ranking blends the North Dakota Board of Nursing's three most recent reporting years and weights each program by the number of candidates who sat the exam, as How to Read NCLEX-RN Pass Rate Data advises. After that comes accreditation status, with a smaller component for how reliably a program retains and graduates the students it admits.
Why a Three-Year, Takers-Weighted Average
North Dakota cohorts are small. A program with 20 test-takers can swing from an excellent rate, 100% NCLEX Pass Rate, to a mediocre one on just a couple of failed exams. Averaging across three years and weighting by candidate volume smooths that noise, so one unlucky cohort doesn't distort the picture (or one lucky one flatter it).
What This Doesn't Capture
Pass rates say nothing about clinical site quality, faculty-to-student ratios, or campus life. For those trade-offs, lean on the cost and city sections below. And unlike university marketing pages that spotlight a single best year, the Board's data lets us compare programs on consistent, verifiable terms. For context, 86.7% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates passed the NCLEX-RN nationally in 2025.
ADN vs. BSN in North Dakota: Dakota Nursing Program, Bismarck State, and Four-Year Routes
North Dakota's shared-curriculum model sets it apart from states where every community college runs its own program in isolation. The Dakota Nursing Program (DNP) is a consortium of four public colleges, Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Lake Region State College, and Williston State College, that teach a common nursing curriculum.1 Instruction reaches rural campuses through the Interactive Video Network (IVN), so students in Garrison, Hettinger, or Williston can access the same coursework as those in Bismarck.3
The PN-to-ADN Ladder
The DNP follows a "1 + 1" structure. The first year leads to a Practical Nursing Certificate, and the second year builds on it to award an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing for RN licensure.2 Students can articulate directly from the PN credential into the associate year, and working LPNs may enter the second year without repeating the first, an efficient LPN-to-RN route. At Bismarck State College, that sequence runs as an 11-month practical nursing program followed by a 9-month associate degree program, though your exact timeline depends on your entry point and completed prerequisites.3
Moving to a BSN
The DNP maintains articulation agreements with Mayville State University, Minot State University, and University of Mary in Bismarck to ease the ADN-to-BSN transition. Current minimum-credit totals and course-equivalency details are not published in the 2026 materials, so confirm them directly with your chosen university. For students who want to stay in Bismarck, BSC lists transfer options, including RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs, after the associate credential.
Matching the Path to the Person
- High school graduates: A traditional four-year BSN or a DNP ladder that stacks the PN and associate credentials both work, but the BSN gives you more options sooner.
- Current LPNs: The associate year or an LPN-to-RN entry point lets you build on your license quickly.
- Career changers with a prior degree: An accelerated or second-degree BSN compresses the timeline for those who already have a bachelor's degree.
One practical note: many North Dakota hospitals hire ADN-prepared nurses for ADN nursing jobs, but a growing number encourage, and sometimes fund, BSN completion after hire. If you start with an associate degree, plan on finishing the bachelor's eventually.
Associate to BSN in North Dakota: Time and Cost at Each Stage
Moving from the Dakota Nursing Program to a BSN typically takes about 3-4 years of elapsed time if you progress without delays. A traditional BSN takes four years, but the ladder lets you work as an LPN and then as an RN while you finish later stages. All figures below are approximate. Per-credit rates exclude fees, books, and clinical costs, and prerequisites, waitlists, or lost transfer credits can add time.
Cheapest Nursing Schools in North Dakota by Net Price After Aid
These schools post the lowest average net price after grants and scholarships among North Dakota nursing programs, based on 2024 IPEDS and College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is an institution-wide average for aided undergraduates rather than a quote for every nursing student, and program-level debt and early-career earnings are not yet published for these nursing programs, so your actual cost and payoff may differ. Every school here is public. Private colleges typically list higher tuition, so compare them on net price after aid rather than sticker price. Community-college ADN routes such as Williston State College and Dakota College at Bottineau, part of the Dakota Nursing Program, usually cost less overall than a four-year degree. Low cost pays off only if graduates pass the licensing exam, so weigh these prices against the NCLEX-RN rankings earlier on this page before you commit.
| School | City | Sector | Nursing Credential | Format | Avg. Net Price After Aid (2024) | In-State Tuition and Fees | NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2-Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williston State College | Williston | Public, 2-year | Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Nursing | Hybrid | $5,932 | $6,128 | 96.2% (52 test takers) |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | Bottineau | Public, 2-year | Associate Degree Nurse (Dakota Nursing Program) | Campus | $10,039 | $5,388 | 98.5% (68 test takers) |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | Public, 4-year | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | N/A | $10,270 | $5,247 | 96.6% (87 test takers) |
North Dakota by City
Explore other North Dakota related topics
Quick Answers for Prospective North Dakota Nursing Students
These short answers cover the questions prospective students ask most often about nursing school in North Dakota. Use them as a starting point, then confirm details with each school before you apply.
Which North Dakota nursing school has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate?
How competitive is admission to the UND nursing program?
What is the least expensive way to become an RN in North Dakota?
Can a North Dakota RN license be used in Minnesota or other states?
Questions to Ask Yourself
How to Become a Registered Nurse in North Dakota: Licensure Steps
Once you finish nursing school, the path to an RN license runs through the North Dakota Board of Nursing. Budget roughly $368 in state and exam fees, plus whatever your fingerprinting agency charges.
- Graduate from a Board-approved programComplete an ADN or BSN program approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing. Either degree qualifies you to sit for the licensing exam.
- Apply for licensure by examinationSubmit your application online with the $125 fee. A third-party summary notes a $20 processing fee may apply if an application stays pending longer than one year.
- Complete the fingerprint background checkGet fingerprinted at a local law-enforcement or private agency. That agency's charge varies and is separate from the Board's fee. Fill out forms SFN 60688 and SFN 62550 (applicant section only) and mail them to the Board at 919 S 7th Street, Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504. Include the $43 state and FBI check fee, payable to the North Dakota Attorney General by money order, cashier's check, or current personal check. Cash is not accepted.
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RNRegister with Pearson VUE and pay the $200 exam fee.
- Receive a multistate licenseNorth Dakota participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Qualifying residents automatically receive a multistate license at no extra cost, as long as they meet residency requirements and are not otherwise ineligible under Compact rules.
- Renew every two yearsRN licenses expire December 31 of the renewal year, and online renewal runs October 1 through December 31. Confirm current continuing education requirements with the Board before your first renewal.
What RNs Earn in North Dakota
Pay is worth weighing alongside tuition and NCLEX-RN results when you compare programs.