Nursing programs in Wyoming run on two tracks: associate degree programs at the state's community colleges, and the BSN pathways at the University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. Several of those ADN programs connect directly to UW's online completion routes, the Best Online RN to BSN Programs in Wyoming, so an associate graduate can sit for the NCLEX-RN, start working at the bedside, and finish a bachelor's without leaving the state.
The programs below are ordered mainly by NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates, the licensure measure most comparisons of nursing schools in Wyoming leave out in favor of tuition figures and enrollment counts.
With one public university and small clinical cohorts statewide, the binding constraint here is rarely which program to pick. It is getting a seat in the first place.
Wyoming Nursing Programs With the Strongest NCLEX-RN Results for 2027
Wyoming's prelicensure nursing programs post some of the strongest licensure results in the region, and the cards below pair each school's most recent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate with the details students actually compare: credential, location, format, and who the program is built to serve. Read the pass rates as a signal of exam preparation, then weigh them against the fit factors that matter for your own situation, from clinical travel to transfer options after graduation.
How we ranked these
- Institution-wide graduation rates first
- Student retention and completion
- NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates
- Accreditation status and approvals
- Net price and total program cost
- 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
Casper College
#1Casper, WY · ~$10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.3% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Casper-area students seeking a two-year ADN
Casper College pairs one of the state's strongest licensure records with a deliberately local footprint. First-time NCLEX-RN candidates passed at a 97.4 percent rate in 2025, and most clinical partner facilities sit within five miles of campus. The two-year associate degree follows the shared statewide ReNEW curriculum, so graduates can move into the University of Wyoming's online BSN while already working, and licensed practical nurses can enter through an advanced placement route. The college's overall graduation rate is about 43 percent.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing
- Two-year, campus-based program completed in two academic years
- 68 total credit hours, with 13-14 credit hours per semester
- Clinical sites and most partner facilities within five miles of campus
- LPN advanced placement pathway for licensed practical nurses
- Seamless transfer into the University of Wyoming online BSN
- Prerequisites include English, college algebra, and human anatomy
- Simulated labs plus live practicums across care settings
Central Wyoming College
#2Riverton, WY · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 97.2% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Rural learners wanting small, close-knit cohorts
Central Wyoming College runs a tight, well-supported ADN in Riverton with cohorts capped at 32 students and direct patient care clinicals that begin in the first semester. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates reached 96.4 percent in 2025. The program offers an LPN to RN completion track, a preceptor-guided fourth-semester clinical experience, high-fidelity simulation and virtual reality labs, and a streamlined route into a bachelor's degree. The college's overall graduation rate is about 37 percent, and nursing applicants are reviewed separately from general admission.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing
- 65 total credit hours; cohorts capped at 32 students
- TEAS entrance exam required; 2.5 minimum GPA
- Fall start only, with nursing applications due March 1
- Direct patient care clinicals begin in the first semester
- Preceptor-guided clinical experience in the fourth semester
- LPN to RN completion pathway and streamlined BSN route
- High-fidelity simulation, virtual reality, and NCLEX-style testing
Western Wyoming Community College
#3Rock Springs, WY · $7,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 94.8% (3-yr weighted avg)
Best for: Hybrid learners balancing study with other commitments
Western Wyoming Community College blends synchronous online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals, an arrangement built for students spread across a wide service region. In 2025, 96.42 percent of first-time NCLEX-RN candidates passed on their first attempt. The concept-based associate degree requires a C or better in every course, and clinical placements reach into outreach communities, though students travel to Rock Springs each semester for hands-on work. The college's overall graduation rate is about 33 percent.
- 65 total credit hours; fall start
- Synchronous online classes paired with in-person labs
- All clinical and lab work completed on site in Rock Springs
- Clinical experiences in outreach communities across the region
- Concept-based curriculum with skills and simulation lab practice
- Prerequisite courses required; C or better in every course
- General education options available in the evening or online
University of Wyoming
#4Laramie, WY · $14,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 93.2% (3-yr weighted avg)
The University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing is the only four-year BSN option in this group, and its first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate reached 100 percent in 2024. The CCNE-accredited program moves students through two semesters of pre-clinical coursework and six semesters of clinical training, with cohorts of up to 48 and placements mainly in Laramie and Cheyenne. A senior capstone practicum may require travel to another Wyoming community. The university's overall graduation rate is about 59 percent. It suits students who want the bachelor's degree from the start and plan to pursue graduate or specialty nursing roles.
- CCNE accredited; HESI entrance exam required
- Four-year, on-campus program starting each fall
- Two semesters of pre-clinical coursework, then six of clinicals
- Clinical placements primarily in Laramie and Cheyenne
- Senior spring capstone practicum may require travel within Wyoming
- Cohorts capped at 48 students per year
- Freshman and non-freshman admission pathways available
- Clinical Simulation Center with state-of-the-art classrooms
Northwest College
#5Powell, WY · ~$7,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.7% (3-yr weighted avg)
Northwest College in Powell offers a five-semester ADN with 70 credit hours, two concentration options, and both fall and spring start dates. First-time NCLEX-RN candidates passed at a 96.2 percent rate in 2025, and students become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN after two semesters. The program admits new, LPN, and transfer students and requires a C or better in every course, with instruction split across theory, lab, simulation, and clinical experiences. The college's overall graduation rate is about 49 percent.
- Five-semester program totaling 70 credit hours
- Fall and spring start dates
- Two concentration options for students to choose from
- Eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN after two semesters
- Admits new, LPN, and transfer students
- Theory, lab, simulation, and clinical instruction
- Grade of C or above required in all courses
- Approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing
Laramie County Community College
#6Cheyenne, WY · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 92.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne runs a four-semester ADN on the statewide ReNEW curriculum, with clinical placements spread across its service area and a bridge into the University of Wyoming BSN. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates were 90.1 percent in 2025. Admission is competitive, applications are filed during the semester before entry, and the program became a candidate for initial ACEN accreditation in February 2026. The college's overall graduation rate is about 38 percent. It fits students in southeast Wyoming who want a clear route from RN licensure onward to a bachelor's degree.
- Four-semester program; apply the semester before entry
- Statewide ReNEW nursing curriculum shared across Wyoming
- Bridge to the BSN at the University of Wyoming
- 2.5 minimum GPA with prerequisite courses required
- Clinical sites across the LCCC service area
- LPN advanced placement option available
- Clinical course fees of about $500 per semester
- Criminal background check and drug screen required
Sheridan College-Northern Wyoming Community College District
#7Sheridan, WY · $5,000 – $11,000/yr (est.) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 88.6% (3-yr weighted avg)
Sheridan College, part of the Northern Wyoming Community College District, trains ADN students in the Perkins Health Science Center with high-fidelity manikins and virtual reality before sending them to regional hospitals and clinics for clinical rotations. First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates were 87.04 percent in 2025. The two-year program uses the ReNEW curriculum statewide framework and partners with the University of Wyoming so graduates can continue to a BSN, while qualified advanced placement and transfer applicants may enter in a later semester. The college's overall graduation rate is about 42 percent.
- ACEN accredited; two-year program starting each fall
- Hands-on training in the Perkins Health Science Center simulation labs
- High-fidelity manikins and virtual reality in nursing education
- Clinical rotations at regional hospitals and clinics
- Partnership with the University of Wyoming for BSN progression
- Advanced placement and transfer applicants may enter later semesters
- Nursing application materials due March 1 for fall admission
Eastern Wyoming College
#8Torrington, WY · $5,000/yr (est. net price) · NCLEX-RN pass rate 84.9% (3-yr weighted avg)
Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington runs the smallest cohort-based program in this group, with a 2.5 GPA requirement, prerequisite courses, a passing TEAS score, and day or night options across the Torrington and Douglas campuses. The ReNEW curriculum keeps it aligned with the University of Wyoming BSN pathway, and graduates are eligible to apply for RN licensure in any state. The college's overall graduation rate is about 52 percent, the highest among the community colleges listed here. It fits students who want close supervision in a small cohort and a straightforward ADN to BSN route.
- Cohort-based program starting each fall
- 2.5 minimum GPA, prerequisites, and a passing TEAS score
- Small cohorts with day and night options in Torrington and Douglas
- ReNEW curriculum shared with Wyoming colleges and the University of Wyoming
- Approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing
- Graduates eligible for RN licensure in any state
- Seamless ADN to BSN progression
- Scholarships available for nursing students
What Drives the Order: Exam Results First, Accreditation Close Behind
The University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, while Wyoming's accredited associate degree programs answer to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. For most applicants, though, the first question is simpler: which program actually gets its graduates through the NCLEX-RN on the first try? That outcome carries roughly three-quarters of the weight here, drawn from the three most recent reporting years and using candidate counts as weights, so one unusually small or unusually strong cohort cannot distort the picture. Accreditation and completion and retention figures account for the remainder.
Why Accreditation Belongs in the Equation
National accreditation is not a formality. It governs whether your ADN credits transfer cleanly into an RN to BSN program, whether MSN Programs in Wyoming or nurse practitioner programs in Wyoming will accept your degree, and whether certain employers, particularly larger hospital systems and federal employers, will consider your application at all.
- University of Wyoming (BSN): CCNE-accredited and state-approved.
- Casper College (ADN): ACEN-accredited and state-approved.
- Sheridan College (ADN): ACEN-accredited; the most recent publicly reported decision was Continuing Accreditation in 2019. State-approved.
- Eastern Wyoming College (ADN): ACEN-accredited with a reported Continuing Accreditation decision, and state-approved.
- Laramie County Community College (ADN): candidate for initial ACEN accreditation effective February 2026, with candidacy running through spring 2028. Candidacy is a step toward accreditation, not accreditation itself. LCCC reports full state approval.1
For the remaining associate degree programs, current accreditation status could not be confirmed from published sources, so verify directly with the school before you apply.
One Caveat on the Numbers
The graduation-rate and net-price figures reported here are institution-wide federal numbers covering all students on campus, not nursing students specifically.
Wyoming NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rates, School by School
The most recent national benchmark in our research is the 2024 NCSBN first-time pass rate of 91.2% for U.S.-educated RN candidates. The 2025 national figure was not available in our sources, so treat that comparison as approximate. Against that benchmark, Casper College, Western Wyoming Community College, Central Wyoming College, and Northwest College all posted 2025 first-time rates above 96%. Sheridan College is the only program with two years of data here: its 89.8% in 2024 and 87.04% in 2025 both sit somewhat below the 2024 national rate. Laramie County Community College came in just under it at 90.1%, and the University of Wyoming BSN at 84.2%. Because many Wyoming cohorts are small, a handful of test takers can move a program's rate several points in either direction, so look for steady results over multiple years rather than reacting to a single report.
| School | Credential (ADN/BSN) | Most Recent Pass Rate | Prior Year Pass Rate | Source & Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper College | ADN | 97.4% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
| Western Wyoming Community College | ADN | 96.6% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
| Central Wyoming College | ADN | 96.4% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
| Northwest College | ADN | 96.2% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
| Laramie County Community College | ADN | 90.1% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
| Sheridan College | ADN | 87.04% | 89.8% | School-reported (Sheridan College), 2025 and 2024 |
| University of Wyoming (Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing) | BSN | 84.2% | N/A | Wyoming State Board of Nursing data, 2025 |
ADN, BSN, or Both? How UW's Four Nursing Pathways Compare
The University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing offers one direct-entry BSN (the Basic BSN), one accelerated route for career changers (BRAND), and two online completion routes for nurses who start with an associate degree or diploma (ReNEW and RN-BSN). ReNEW is what makes a two-year start so practical in Wyoming: students who complete the shared ReNEW ADN curriculum at a participating Wyoming community college can move into UW's online BSN coursework without relocating to Laramie, so they can earn an ADN close to home and finish the bachelor's remotely. Rule of thumb: if you want the full campus experience and can compete for a limited number of seats, apply to UW directly, but if cost, location, or getting to work as an RN sooner matters most, start in a ReNEW ADN program and complete your BSN online.
| Pathway | Route Type | Best For | Starting Point | Format | Length | Class Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic BSN | Direct-entry BSN | Recent high school graduates who want to become registered nurses | No prior nursing degree or license | On campus at UW | Four years | Up to 48 students accepted each year |
| BRAND | Accelerated second-degree BSN | Career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field | A completed non-nursing bachelor's degree | Online and hybrid coursework plus hands-on clinical experiences at sites throughout Wyoming | 15 months | Not published |
| ReNEW | BSN completion (joint with Wyoming community colleges) | Current Wyoming community college ADN students or graduates of the ReNEW ADN curriculum | Enrollment in or graduation from a Wyoming ReNEW ADN program | Online through UW, with all coursework delivered remotely | Not published; confirm with UW | Not published |
| RN-BSN | BSN completion | Licensed RNs who graduated from non-ReNEW ADN or diploma programs | An active RN license | Online through UW, with no on-campus attendance required | Not published; confirm with UW | Not published |
University of Wyoming Nursing Prerequisites Checklist
UW uses the HESI A2, not the ATI TEAS, and does not calculate a separate science GPA for any pathway. Meeting these minimums does not guarantee a seat. Confirm details with the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing before you apply.
- Basic BSN: pre-clinical courseworkFinish all pre-clinical courses by the end of the fall semester before spring admission, with a C or better (or S) in each. CHEM 1000 requires a B if you use it as the prerequisite for ZOO 3115.
- Basic BSN: minimum GPAYou need a cumulative pre-clinical GPA of at least 2.75.
- Basic BSN: HESI A2 examScore at least 75% on the English, Science, and Math sections. Your application also includes a resume and cover letter and a video essay, and reviewers consider Wyoming residency.
- Basic BSN: deadline and cohort sizeApplications open September 15 and close October 29, 2026, at 5 p.m. MT. Late submissions are not accepted. Each cohort admits up to 48 students.
- Direct freshman optionYou need an unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.75 and an ACT Math score of 23 or an SAT Math score of 560. The HESI A2 is waived with an ACT of 26 or an SAT of 1230. Apply by the fourth Thursday of February.
- BRAND: prior bachelor's degreeYour degree must be completed on UW's timeline. Its pages differ on whether that means December or the fall before admission, so verify directly.
- BRAND: prerequisites and GPARequired courses are PSYC 1000, STAT 2050/2070, LIFE 1010, CHEM 1020, KIN 2040/2041, MICR/MOLB 2021, ZOO 3115, PHCY 3450, and PHCY 4470. Each needs a C or better, and both your prerequisite and overall GPAs must be 2.75 or higher. PHCY 3450 and 4470 must fall within three years of the May start.
- BRAND: certifications and deadlineYou must hold an active CNA certification or LPN license plus CPR/BLS certification. Applications close the second Thursday of December.
Wyoming by City
Explore other Wyoming related topics
Getting Into a Community College ADN Program: GPAs, Points, and Deadlines
What GPA and entrance exam score do you need to get into a Wyoming community college ADN program? Most schools set a 2.5 GPA floor and require at least a C in nursing school prerequisites, but meeting the minimum only gets your file reviewed. Seats are limited, and several programs fill them by rank rather than first-come, first-served. Western Wyoming Community College, for example, totals points from prerequisite GPA, TEAS score, and extra-point categories. Eastern Wyoming College uses its own ranking worksheet. Point values can change, so request each school's current version.
What Each School Asks For
- Sheridan College/NWCCD (including Gillette): 2.5 GPA in courses that apply to the degree. The exam is the HESI A2, not the TEAS, with a 75% minimum and one allowed retake, completed before the March 1 fall deadline. Late applications are not accepted, and admission to the college does not guarantee a nursing seat.
- Laramie County Community College: 2.5 cumulative GPA in completed nursing-curriculum courses, including STRT 1000, MATH 1400, ENGL 1010, and ZOO 2010 or 2015. TEAS overall and reading scores must both meet the national mean on the same attempt. Apply July 1 to 26 for January starts or February 1 to 28 for August starts.
- Western Wyoming Community College: 2.5 prerequisite GPA and an ATI TEAS result of Proficient or higher by May 1, with one retake (the higher score counts). Applications run January through the March 31 priority date, and late applicants are considered until the yearly cohort of 40 fills.
- Eastern Wyoming College: 2.5 GPA and a TEAS score valid for one calendar year; the 2024-2025 handbook listed a 58.7% minimum total. The Douglas day cohort admits in even years, including fall 2026, and the night cohort in odd years.
Verified 2026 requirements for Northwest College were not available at the time of writing, so confirm directly with the nursing department.
Ways to Raise Your Ranking
- Retake weak prerequisites: Where prerequisite GPA drives points, turning a C into an A can move you up the list.
- Prepare before your first exam attempt: Retakes are capped, so use practice tests early.
- Ask about extra points: Find out whether a CNA credential (CNA Classes in Wyoming) or healthcare experience earns credit where you apply.
- Track every deadline: Some schools offer no late window at all.
Apply to More Than One Program
Cohorts are small, so many applicants submit to two or three programs at once. Staggered deadlines across Wyoming make that strategy practical.
What Wyoming RNs Earn
A Wyoming nursing degree leads into a solid statewide pay scale, with a median salary in the low-to-mid $80,000s.
What Do Wyoming Nursing Schools Really Cost After Aid?
Each bar shows a school's average annual net price after grants and scholarships, next to its in-state tuition and fees. Net price is an institution-wide average that includes living costs, so it is not a quote for the nursing program, and your figure will depend on your aid package. Wyoming's community colleges range from $4,764 to $11,634 a year in net price, while the University of Wyoming runs $13,599.
