Top Nursing Schools in Oklahoma for ADN and BSN Students

Choosing between a two-year ADN at a community college and a four-year BSN at a university means weighing cost and speed against long-term reach, and neither matters if graduates stall at the licensing exam. In-state tuition runs from about $4,000 a year at Oklahoma City Community College to more than $35,000 at Oklahoma Baptist University, a nursing school cost comparison worth examining. Programs here are ordered by first-time NCLEX-RN pass performance. In 2027, Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa sits first, followed by Rose State College and Oklahoma State University.

Pass rates swing more than most applicants expect, especially at schools with small cohorts. One number is a starting point, not a verdict; prepare for nursing school with more than a single pass rate.

Oklahoma Nursing Schools With the Best NCLEX-RN Outcomes for 2027

What is the best nursing school in Oklahoma? On first-time NCLEX-RN results, Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa takes the top spot for 2026, with Rose State College and Rogers State University close behind. All ten schools below turned in strong first-time pass rates across recent cohorts of graduates, and each card shows what the program looks like on the ground: degree level, location, format, and the kind of student it fits best.

Why Exam Results Drive This List

A nursing diploma and a nursing license are not the same thing, and only the license lets you work as an RN. That is why the first-attempt NCLEX-RN Exam result carried most of the weight in this list.

How the Weighting Works

First-time NCLEX-RN pass rate accounts for roughly 75% of each school's score. Instead of relying on a single year, it uses a three-year average weighted by cohort size, so a tiny cohort with one unusually strong or weak year cannot swing the outcome. Nursing school accreditation requirements and completion and retention rates come in only to break close calls between schools with similar exam results.

What the Ranking Leaves Out

Campus life, school prestige, and research output do not factor in. They matter to some students, but they say little about whether a graduate is ready to pass the licensing exam and start practicing. Cost and earnings also sit outside this scoring. Both are covered separately later on this page, so you can weigh them on their own terms instead of letting them blur the exam picture.

A Practical Tip for Comparing Schools

Always read a pass rate next to its cohort size. A 100% rate from 8 test-takers means less than 95% from 200, because a single student can shift a small program's rate by double digits, while a large program's number reflects a much broader group of graduates. When a school publishes its rate, look for how many students sat the exam, and be cautious if that figure is hard to find.

First-Time NCLEX-RN Pass Rates Across Oklahoma Programs

Rogers State University and Oklahoma Baptist University post the highest first-time NCLEX pass rates by school among Oklahoma programs with published results, and both are BSN programs. One community college ADN program is not far behind.

Pass Rates by Program

The 2025 exam-year figures for Carl Albert State College and Oklahoma City University come from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Rogers State and Oklahoma Baptist figures are from each school's own published outcome data and cover 2024, so read them as a separate year, not a direct match.

• Rogers State University (BSN, Claremore): 94% (2024)
• Oklahoma Baptist University (BSN, Shawnee): 92.5% (2024)¹
• Carl Albert State College (ADN, Poteau): 88.89% (2025)
• Oklahoma City University (BSN, Oklahoma City): 81.31% (2025)

ATA College in Tulsa, Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City, and Carl Albert State College's online LPN to RN bridge track are ADN routes whose individual rates are not shown here. Check the Board of Nursing's program reports for their current numbers.

How They Compare to the Averages

For 2025, Oklahoma's statewide first-time pass rate was 80.47%. The national first-time rate reported by NCSBN was 86.71%, so Oklahoma graduates as a group trailed the national figure by more than six points.

Oklahoma City University's 81.31% sits just above the state average but below the national one. Carl Albert State's 88.89% clears both. Rogers State and Oklahoma Baptist are above the 2025 national rate by a wide margin, but because their figures are from 2024, treat that gap as a strong sign, not a precise measurement.

Patterns Worth Noticing

• ADN can match BSN: Carl Albert State's two-year program outperformed a private BSN program in the 2025 results, so degree type alone does not predict exam success.
• A few programs lead clearly: Rogers State and Oklahoma Baptist stand well above the national benchmark.
• One published result sits near the state average: A program only a point or two above 80% is doing about what the state does, not standing out.

Which Oklahoma Nursing Schools Have the Highest NCLEX Pass Rates?

On the figures available, Rogers State University (94%) and Oklahoma Baptist University (92.5%) lead, followed by Carl Albert State College in Poteau (88.89%). Pass rates shift from year to year, especially in small cohorts, so confirm the latest numbers with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing before you commit to a program.

Two-Year RN Routes: Oklahoma ADN Programs at Community Colleges and Tech Centers

Hospital hiring preferences have shifted toward the BSN over the past decade, yet the associate degree remains the fastest legitimate route to an Oklahoma RN license. Yes, two-year nursing programs exist across the state. ADN programs, including accelerated adn programs, run roughly 18 to 36 months of full-time nursing coursework, typically structured around 60 to 72 credits. The honest caveat: that clock usually starts after prerequisites are finished. Add general education requirements, a competitive waitlist, or part-time enrollment, and the realistic door-to-door timeline often stretches closer to three years.

Where ADN Programs Live

Oklahoma's associate degree programs are concentrated at community colleges. For the Oklahoma City area, Oklahoma City Community College offers a Nursing Associate in Applied Science that runs 70 to 71 credit hours and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. CareerTech technology centers play a different role in the pipeline: they generally deliver practical nursing programs that lead to LPN licensure rather than awarding the associate degree itself. Some centers maintain articulation arrangements with nearby colleges, but those agreements vary by location and should be confirmed directly rather than assumed.

LPN-to-RN Bridges

With an LPN license, advanced standing can meaningfully shorten the path. Bridge options are commonly available through Oklahoma community colleges, often running about three semesters, with some accelerated formats completing in roughly a year. OCCC, for example, lists a Career Ladder Pathway open to LPNs and paramedics, though the specific credit and semester requirements are worth verifying with the program.

Cost and the Tradeoff

Statewide estimates for ADN tuition tend to fall somewhere in the $6,000 to $15,000 range, which is a fraction of what a four-year university BSN typically costs. Published figures vary widely depending on whether fees, books, clinical supplies, and prerequisites are counted. The Oklahoma Nursing Student Assistance Program offers associate degree students $2,500 per year under its standard plan, with a larger award available when an employer sponsor matches.

The tradeoff is real. You reach licensure faster and cheaper, but many Oklahoma hospitals, especially Magnet-seeking systems, prefer or require BSN-prepared nurses. Plan for an RN-to-BSN completion, and budget for it when you compare total cost across the best online RN to BSN programs in Oklahoma.

ADN vs. BSN in Oklahoma: Which Path Fits Your Time, Budget, and Goals?

If you are cost-sensitive or want the fastest route to the bedside, an ADN is usually the better fit. Career-changers who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's should look at accelerated BSN tracks (about 12-18 months), and anyone aiming for leadership or an advanced practice role is better served by a BSN. Cost figures are listed directory tuition only and may exclude fees, clinicals, and books. The BSN range also includes private schools, so public in-state rates usually run lower.

Registered Nurse Pay in Oklahoma

Statewide figures from the most recent full Oklahoma wage release are shown here. Newer metro data shows pay is rising in the state's largest job markets.

Admission and Accreditation Checklist for Oklahoma Nursing Applicants

Oklahoma has no statewide admission standard, so each school's current requirements, deadlines, and exceptions control. Use this checklist to compare programs.

1. Entrance exam (TEAS or HESI A2)

   Requirements vary by school. Oklahoma State University requires a HESI A2 score of at least 75. Oklahoma Wesleyan's traditional BSN requires a 70% TEAS benchmark within three attempts. Northeastern State uses the ATI TEAS with no fixed cutoff, though scores around 85 or higher are considered highly competitive. East Central uses the HESI A2 in a points-based system. OU, UCO, Langston, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Baptist, and Tulsa do not list an entrance exam, and UCO has dropped its test requirement.
2. Prerequisite and science GPA

   Minimums typically range from 2.5 to 3.0. Examples include OU and Langston at 2.5, East Central at 2.7, Oklahoma City University at 2.75, and Tulsa at 3.0. A GPA of 3.5 or higher is more competitive for BSN seats. OU also requires a 2.5 science GPA and 30 prerequisite hours, and a C or better in prerequisites is standard across schools.
3. Pre-clinical clearances

   Expect a criminal background check, which Redlands Community College lists as part of admission. Clinical sites commonly require drug screening, current immunizations, and CPR certification, so confirm each school's list early.
4. Oklahoma Board of Nursing approval

   The program must be approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing for its graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN in Oklahoma.
5. ACEN or CCNE accreditation

   ACEN accredits programs at every level and is common for ADN programs. CCNE accredits baccalaureate and graduate programs. Accreditation matters when you transfer into an RN-to-BSN program or apply to graduate school. Examples include Redlands Community College's ADN (ACEN) and Oklahoma Christian University's online BSN (CCNE). Verify any program's status in the ACEN and CCNE directories.

Oklahoma and the Nurse Licensure Compact

More Oklahoma ADN and BSN Programs Worth a Look

Not every solid Oklahoma nursing program lands in the ranked list above. The schools below are grouped by region so you can narrow the search to somewhere near home, work, or family, and each entry notes degree level, delivery format, and the school's reported average net price. Treat this as a directory rather than a ranking, and confirm current admission details with each school directly.

Oklahoma City Metro

Tulsa Metro

Eastern Oklahoma

Southern Oklahoma

Western Oklahoma

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