Linn-Benton Community College in Albany posts a 99.4% NCLEX-RN pass rate, and Bushnell University in Eugene reports 100%. Those numbers matter because Oregon nursing seats are competitive, and a spot at a program with weak licensure results costs the same time and tuition as one at a strong program.
This ranking sorts schools by NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates and includes Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), BSN, and accelerated BSN programs (ABSN). Community college programs and private universities can land close together on that measure, so price, length, and admission rules become the real separators.
A passing score is only the gate. Oregon employers, especially around Portland, increasingly expect a BSN within a few years of hire.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: Oregon's Best Nursing Schools Ranked for 2027
Programs earn their spot here by how reliably their graduates pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try. The list spans Oregon's ADN, BSN, and accelerated options, from Eugene and Albany to Bend, Ontario, Klamath Falls, and the coast. Where a program's newest pass-rate year is not yet published, the most recent available results are used.
How we ranked these
- Institutional graduation and completion rates
- First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates
- Accreditation status and program approvals
- Student retention rates
- Net price after financial 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
Bushnell University
#1Eugene, OR · ~$21,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 100% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Career changers wanting a faith-based BSN
Bushnell University in Eugene is the only private university in this group offering both a traditional BSN and a 12-month accelerated BSN, so first-time students and career changers apply through different tracks on the same campus. Both are CCNE accredited and mix acute care and community clinicals with a faith-integrated curriculum. The board's published data for the program show a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2023 across 19 candidates.
- CCNE accredited, on-campus program in Eugene
- Clinical placements in acute care and community settings
- Curriculum integrates a Christian worldview
- Faculty bring active practice experience to the classroom
- Military education benefits accepted
- 12-month program, 44 total credit hours
- Priced at $1,225 per credit
- Two start dates per year, in fall and spring
- Cohort-based format with prerequisite courses required
- Program reports a 100% licensure pass rate
- Reports a 93.85% program completion rate
- Clinical experiences in acute care, clinics, and schools
- Faith-integrated nursing curriculum
Linn-Benton Community College
#2Albany, OR · ~$12,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 99.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Local students seeking low-cost ADN training
Linn-Benton Community College in Albany offers an ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing built around an on-campus simulation lab, with clinical placements kept within roughly 40 miles of campus. The college reports first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates near 100 percent for recent cohorts. It is also one of six Oregon community colleges in the BSN Community College Collaborative, which lets ADN-prepared RNs finish a bachelor's degree online with a capstone completed in their own community.
- ACEN accredited, two-year program in Albany
- One start date per year, in fall
- On-campus simulation skills lab with mannequin scenarios
- Clinicals at hospitals, long-term care, and public health sites
- Most clinical placements within 40 miles of campus
- CNA certificate and current BLS CPR required for admission
- 8:1 student-to-staff ratio in clinical settings
- Employer tuition reimbursement supported
Chemeketa Community College
#3Salem, OR · ~$8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 99.4% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Working RNs adding a BSN locally
Chemeketa Community College in Salem pairs a long-running associate degree in nursing with a bachelor's completion route whose first cohort starts in fall 2026. The BSN is hybrid: online coursework, clinical experience with local hospital partners, and a capstone completed at home. Recent board reporting places the ADN among the strongest nursing programs in Oregon, and the college is a partner in the statewide BSN Community College Collaborative.
- Hybrid format with online coursework and in-person clinicals
- Built for nurses who already hold an associate degree
- Capstone project completed in the student's home community
- Created with a statewide consortium of six Oregon colleges
- First cohort starts fall 2026
- Clinical partnerships with local hospitals
- ACEN accredited ADN with 93 total credit hours
- Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Limited enrollment with an early application deadline
- Grades of C or better required in prerequisite courses
- Prerequisites in sciences and math
- Prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN licensure
Central Oregon Community College
#4Bend, OR · $5,000 – $14,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
Central Oregon Community College gives Bend-area students a board-approved associate degree in nursing without leaving the region, and recent board data put its first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in the mid-90s. Graduates who want a bachelor's degree can use the college's place in the statewide BSN Community College Collaborative rather than relocating to a university campus.
- Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Associate degree pathway to RN licensure in Bend
- Prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN
Rogue Community College
#5Grants Pass, OR · $11,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 95.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
Rogue Community College's ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing is taught at the Table Rock Campus in White City and serves students across the Rogue Valley. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates reported for the program have run in the mid-90s, among the stronger ADN results in the state. The program is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing, and the college runs information sessions and advising for applicants.
- ACEN accredited ADN program
- Taught at the Table Rock Campus in White City
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN
- Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Financial aid available
- Information sessions and advising for applicants
Treasure Valley Community College
#6Ontario, OR · $11,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Treasure Valley Community College has been training nurses in Ontario for more than 60 years, and its six-quarter associate degree nursing program is ACEN accredited. Students can sit for the PN-NCLEX after the first year and continue on to the RN exam. The program reports a 100% licensure pass rate and 100% job placement for recent graduates, and board figures for the program sit in the mid-90s.
- ACEN accredited ADN completed over six quarters
- 60 total credit hours
- One start date per year, in fall
- Program reports a 100% licensure pass rate
- Reports a 100% job placement rate
- Optional PN-NCLEX exam after the first year
- Serving the region for more than 60 years
- Annual pinning ceremony in June
Oregon Coast Community College
#7Newport, OR · $8,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Oregon Coast Community College in Newport offers a two-year associate of applied science in nursing that pairs classroom instruction with clinical hours along the central coast. The program is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing and holds co-admission agreements with four universities, so students can move into a BSN without starting over. Board-reported first-time NCLEX-RN results for the program have been in the low to mid-90s.
- Two-year program with 91 nursing credits
- 32 prerequisite credits required before entry
- Combines classroom instruction with clinical hours
- Approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing
- Co-admission agreements with four universities for BSN transfer
- Grounded in caring and compassion
- Financial aid available
George Fox University
#8Newberg, OR · $30,000 – $35,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.5% (3-yr weighted avg)
George Fox University's CCNE-accredited BSN in Newberg blends acute care and community clinicals with a simulation clinic that uses trained patient actors. The Oregon State Board of Nursing's most recent report for the program shows a 90% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, and graduates are licensure eligible in all 50 states. The curriculum is Christ-centered and also prepares students for graduate nursing study.
- CCNE and Oregon State Board of Nursing accredited
- Program reports a 91% licensure pass rate
- Simulation clinic that uses trained patient actors
- Clinicals in acute care hospitals and community clinics
- Graduates are licensure eligible in all 50 states
- Accredited since 2008
- Christ-centered nursing education
- Prepares students for graduate nursing study
Umpqua Community College
#9Roseburg, OR · ~$8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.2% (3-yr weighted avg)
Umpqua Community College's associate of applied science in registered nursing runs six terms in Roseburg with clinical training in a dedicated facility. It is part of the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education, and students can take the PN-NCLEX after year one before continuing to the RN exam. The program reports a first-time NCLEX pass rate above 85% and 90% job placement within six to nine months, and it offers a seamless transfer into OHSU's RN-to-BSN track.
- ACEN accredited, six-term program in Roseburg
- Program reports a first-time NCLEX pass rate above 85%
- Reports 90% job placement within 6 to 9 months
- OSBN-approved curriculum
- Seamless transfer into the OHSU RN-to-BSN pathway
- Member of the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education
- Option to take the PN-NCLEX after the first year
- Clinical training in a dedicated facility
Klamath Community College
#10Klamath Falls, OR · $5,000 – $8,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.1% (3-yr weighted avg)
Klamath Community College offers a two-year associate of applied science in nursing in Klamath Falls, built around a mission of preparing nurses for rural practice, with simulation lab work and supervised clinical experience. The college also provides a bachelor's completion option for registered nurses through the statewide BSN Community College Collaborative, which uses online coursework and a local capstone. Board figures for the ADN put first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates around 92%.
- Two-year, cohort-based AAS in nursing
- Simulation lab practice plus supervised clinical experience
- Four nursing pathways available
- Prior learning credit available for healthcare workers
- Prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN licensure
- Graduates often go on to practice in rural communities
- Designed for registered nurses who hold an associate degree
- Online coursework with a local capstone
- Offered through the statewide BSN Community College Collaborative
- Seven seats at each participating college, 42 statewide
- Lottery-based admission with priority for in-district residents
- Five alternates selected each cycle
Oregon State, OHSU, and RN Timelines: Quick Answers
Two questions come up constantly from future Oregon nurses: where Oregon State fits in, and how long the path to an RN license really takes. Here are direct answers, plus a quick look at how OHSU structures its BSN.
Does Oregon State University have a nursing program?
How long does it take to become an RN in Oregon?
How is the OHSU BSN program structured?
RN Programs in Oregon Through Community Colleges: ADN Routes and OCNE
Two routes lead to an Oregon associate degree in nursing: a program inside the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education, or a standalone community college program running its own curriculum. Both lead to the same outcome: NCLEX-RN eligibility and an Oregon RN license. What differs is how smoothly the credits travel afterward.
What the shared OCNE curriculum buys you
OCNE connects member community colleges with OHSU campuses around one common nursing curriculum, with published materials citing nine member colleges alongside six OHSU campuses (partner counts vary somewhat between sources).1 Students complete roughly 45 prerequisite credits before starting the nursing sequence2, then move through the same core coursework regardless of which campus they attend. The payoff comes at the transition point: acceptance into a member program carries a built-in community college to university nursing pathway to OHSU's BSN completion, and Portland Community College describes that OHSU admission as noncompetitive for its students.2 Start to BSN, the full consortium path runs about four years2, and students can then continue through RN to BSN programs in Oregon. Curriculum is shared, but control stays local, and each college admits its own class on its own terms.
Admission is the real bottleneck
Seats are scarce and selection is points-driven. Clackamas scores applicants on a 50-point scale, requires a 3.0 preparatory GPA, fills roughly 30 seats3, and draws more than 350 applicants a year4, close to twelve candidates per seat. Its current cycle runs from September 2026 to a mid-February 2027 deadline, with at least 28 of the 45 prerequisite credits finished by the end of fall.3 Rogue also sets a 3.0 minimum and a 28-credit threshold that must include math and the first anatomy and physiology course, ranks applicants in a first phase, then invites the top 85 forward to essays before seating about 32 students in fall and 24 in spring.5 Columbia Gorge advances its top 70 scorers to a critical thinking exam and essay, then seats up to 30 with a deep alternate list.6 Clatsop requires the TEAS and sees 45 to 50 applications for a 24-student cohort, the friendliest published ratio among these.7 Portland Community College uses its own point system and accepts applications once a year, in winter, for a fall start.2 Entrance exam requirements are not uniform: some programs use the TEAS, others a different assessment, and some use none at all.
Apply broadly, apply in one cycle
Because most of these programs admit once annually, a single application is a one-shot bet on a single points formula. Build your prerequisites to satisfy several colleges at once, then apply to several in the same cycle. Non-consortium programs deserve a spot on that list too; they lead to the same license, just without the automatic OHSU handoff.
Accelerated Nursing Programs in Oregon: ABSN Options Compared
Accelerated nursing programs in Oregon are the fastest route to RN licensure for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree. They compress BSN coursework and clinical rotations into roughly 12 to 15 months. The ABSN programs Oregon applicants can verify for 2026 are compared below. Other private universities may offer second-degree nursing options, but current details could not be confirmed, so contact any school not shown here directly. When comparing cost, note that OHSU quotes tuition per credit, while Linfield publishes its rates in a separate 2026-27 ABSN tuition and fees schedule. Multiply OHSU's per-credit rate by the total credits in its curriculum, and confirm whether Linfield's figures are per term or for the full program, so you are comparing like with like. Before committing, plan for the trade-offs. These programs run at a full-time pace that makes holding a job unrealistic for most students. Science prerequisites such as anatomy and physiology and microbiology must be finished, or nearly finished, before you apply. Start dates are also limited: Linfield admits once a year in summer, and OHSU's Ashland campus has a firm February 1 deadline.
| School | Campus Location | Program Length | Key Prerequisites | Start Terms | Published Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Accelerated B.S. with a Major in Nursing | Ashland, Bend, or Portland, Oregon | 15 months | Human anatomy and physiology with lab (12 credits); nutrition (3 credits); human development (3 credits); microbiology with lab (4 credits); introduction to genetics (3 credits); statistics (3 credits). B- or better required; most courses must be taken within seven years of the intended start date. | Summer, fall, or winter (Ashland has a final February 1 deadline) | $623 per credit for Oregon residents; $832 per credit for non-residents |
| Linfield University, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) | Portland, Oregon | 12 months | Completed first bachelor's degree plus nursing prerequisites, finished or on track for completion before the program starts | Summer | Listed in Linfield's 2026-27 ABSN tuition and fees schedule; dollar amount not confirmed |
Traditional BSN, Transfer Entry, or RN-to-BSN: Oregon Undergraduate Options
Your undergraduate path comes down to one choice: commit to nursing now, after prerequisites, or after you are already earning as an RN. Each option trades speed against cost and flexibility.
Three Ways Into a Bachelor's in Nursing
- Direct-entry BSN: You are admitted to the nursing major as a freshman, so your seat is secure from day one in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree program. Spots are limited, and competition is strongest here.
- Transfer-entry BSN: You complete prerequisites first, often at a community college or another university, and then apply to the nursing major through BSN transfer programs. It gives you time to build a strong GPA, but admission is not guaranteed.
- RN-to-BSN completion: You earn an associate degree, pass the NCLEX-RN, start working, and finish the bachelor's online. This is often the lowest-cost route, and you earn a paycheck while you study.
Decoding OHSU's Degree Name
If you are researching OHSU nursing program requirements, search for "Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing." That is OHSU's formal undergraduate credential, not "BSN." Its completion pathway, the RN to B.S., is what most people call RN-to-BSN. It runs online and requires a 3.0 GPA, an ADN or ASN (finished or on track to finish before you start), and an RN license from any state within one term of starting. You need 180 total credits, 33 of them in online nursing coursework. Applications go through Nursing CAS, as the nursing school application guide explains, with fall, winter, spring, and summer starts and a separate deadline for each term.
OHSU also offers a concurrent enrollment option for students in the first year of an associate nursing program at an OCNE community college. It also requires a 3.0 GPA. The listed May 14 deadline applies to a summer start, so check the current cycle before you plan around it.
New Community-College RN-to-BSN Options
Oregon Coast Community College launched its RN-to-BSN in Fall 2026 as part of the Bachelor of Science: Nursing Community College Collaborative. That consortium also includes Chemeketa, Linn-Benton, Central Oregon, Treasure Valley, and Klamath community colleges. OCCC's program is delivered online with an in-person capstone and takes about 15 months. Applications opened in June 2026 for a first cohort of seven students. You need an AAS or AS in Nursing and an unencumbered RN license by the end of your first term.
Lane Community College accepted RN-to-BSN applications from December 10, 2025, through August 25, 2026. Requirements include an ADN or ASN, a 2.0 minimum GPA, and prerequisite credits in writing, math, science, and social science. Lane has not clearly stated its delivery format, so confirm that and its licensure deadlines directly.
Which Track Fits You
- New high school graduates: Direct-entry BSN programs offer the most predictable four-year route.
- Transfer students: Transfer-entry programs reward a strong prerequisite GPA.
- Licensed ADN nurses: OHSU's online RN to B.S. or a community-college completion program lets you advance without leaving your job.
Oregon by City
Explore other Oregon related topics
What Oregon RNs Earn
Oregon is one of the stronger-paying states for registered nurses, with roughly 39,730 RNs employed statewide.
Oregon State Board of Nursing at a Glance
More Oregon Nursing Programs to Consider
Beyond the ranked programs above, Oregon has additional nursing schools spread across the Portland metro, the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, the coast, and the eastern part of the state. The directory below is unranked: it lists city, degree level, format, and an approximate institution-wide average net price. Net prices shown are school-wide averages rather than program tuition, and NCLEX-RN results for any program should be verified on the Oregon State Board of Nursing site before you apply.
Portland Metro
- Nursing AAS
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Nursing (RN), AAS
- Nursing (RN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program (Traditional BSNDP)
Willamette Valley
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- RN to BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Southern Oregon
- Nursing, Associate of Applied Science
- Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing
Oregon Coast
- Associate of Applied Science – Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
Eastern Oregon and Columbia Gorge
- Nursing
- Nursing - Associate of Applied Science